Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I am writing a letter (email actually) to a client I really want to do business with. I don`t want to appear desperate and I have this bad habit of typing this out:

I hope to hear from you.

Then I delete it and change to:

I look forward to hearing from you.

Any advice on this? The sentence prior to this is:

Again, I enjoyed meeting you last night and wish you much success!

And is that corny, too? I don`t like putting "I`ll call you next week to follow up." when there really is nothing to follow up on. He didn`t ask for a quote or discuss any project. But he did indicate there are times when he would need my services.

The purpose of this email is to confirm what I told him last night: that I would enjoy the opportunity to work with him. And I will follow up a month or so from now with another email asking if there is an upcoming opportunity.

Am I okay here? Or can I improve on this process? I`ve never really put much thought into selling myself, but my luck of getting clients may run out one day. Thanks in advance for your input.

All of them sound fine.  If you use the last one you might want to say "yesterday" instead of "last night".  I am not sure any of them make that much difference.  If you want to do business with the person you need to make sure your message contains something they want in it.  You should make sure your email also gives them a reason to take action or at least contact you again.  Be more mysterious than overly anxious.  The sample fact that you are doing a follow-up email will give them the message you are interested and you are on the ball.  That is very good.  Keep it short and simple.  This works for me.

J,

I like to make a few suggestions.
Phrasing and wordings I`ve learned.

Suggestion: I look forward to building a
strong business relationship. Continue to
make this the best day ever.

I suggest this, becuase it comes across with
confidence, in the first sentence. And then the
next sentence displays a high positive energy
level. People like confident and positive people.

I`m learning from my business coach, to ask
for what it is you desire. And the term "hope"
isn`t firm.

The last one, "wishing you much success" reads
like a farewell.

I hope you`ve found some value in what I`ve
shared.

Won`t Be Denied!
C.F. Jackson

Lighting 1,000 Dreams Worldwide!

Dawg - There are some good suggestions above and I lean toward the positive suggestions - don`t like using the word "hope" either. I think you answer your own question in the quote section I included.

The PURPOSE of your message. Put this into words. This one email is not going to make or break this relationship. Relationship building is long-term.

I will make a suggestion that I think in this instance has merit. Don`t send an email. If you really want to stand out, send a USPS mailed letter. Your client WILL remember a printed letter from you more so than an email. Do the follow up you mentioned in a printed/mailed letter, too. Experience tells me this works. Try it.

In this day of high-speed, get-it-fast, right-now, 100s of emails inour boxes every day - a mailed letter can stand out from the crowd. Hopefully, you have some nice letterhead stationary and envelopes. Go Big or Go Home.

R@

Thank you all for your comments. The feedback is great and exactly what I was looking for. Many of you touched on a factor that I think is so important these days: building a relationship.

For me, a hard sell is a challenge. I just don’t like doing it. I don’t like having it pushed on me either. There is a fine art to being pleasantly persistent! But I completely get that one has to be firm and speak with action, as Bret and CampSteve suggest.

And I also see importance to have a line that separates you from others and tells a little bit about your personality as LifeTranscender suggest. It’s all about balance!

Keycon, your comments really defined my issue. And the letter writing is something I will be using more frequently.

Two weeks ago, I meet with a possible associate, someone I can refer clients to for a particular service. A week later, I received in the mail a hand written note from him. This impressed me so much, the next day I bought some nice blank cards. Perhaps later I’ll design some with my logo. But I was very impressed. Thanks for confirming that the written word can mean a lot!

Hi everyone!  I am sending my new product to Macys for review.  Should I send my typical press kit with sample?  My press kit features the press release, product brochure with pictures, recent media attention, and thats about it.  Please advise.

All are great suggestions, Keycon`s idea of sending a letter USPS would be how I would handle it.  I would also send it in a Priority Mail envelope, because the message before the letter is even read would say "you are a priority with me". 

I send personal email thank you`s to all of my customers.  At first I wasn`t sure if I was being pushy (which I don`t like either) but I have found that not only do they appreciate the personalized thank you but (95%) have taken the time to write a nice note back expressing their gratitude. 

Showing confidence and enthusiasm (like CampSteve said) will show the client you know you can do the job. 

I recently had an experience with a manufacturer that I wanted to do business with.  I sent them an email requesting information.  I got an email in return from the customer service rep in my area that said "call me and we can make an appointment to meet".  I made the decision then not to do business with them.  They had my information, I felt that if they wanted my business they would call me.  We all react differently but you want your potential client to know that you want their business, and they are important to you!

Best of luck to you!