Why SendOutCards?!?

Hi Friends - It's Danielle! In  a discussion with a friend looking to use SendOutCards this morning, I thought I would share my thoughts on "why SendOutCards is a great business" to you too. While the meeting was initially to introduce this friend to SOC to use for his current business, this guy is smart enough to consider the Opportunity presented by SendOutCards and the second avenue of income for his family.

1. It actually does cost less to use our SOC system then to buy a card from a store. You cannot go to any store and buy a card like we have for 62 cents as a preferred customer... or 98 cents a a customer... and even at the Pay As You Go rate, SOC challenges the competition.

2. The best way to to tell people about this service is to demonstrate and set up a sample account for them. Anyone can do this with about 10 minutes of training, and is an easy NON-pressure sales way of telling others. I love allowing people the chance to "test drive" with no strings attached. 

3. It is then when people have had a chance to use the system a few times, that they ask you additional questions.  My favorite question being "how do I sign up?" I love that I have shared a system, tool and product and others ask us how to get started. We are not 'chasing a sale' or losing friends.. we simply shared SOC.

4. For a company to send personal greeting cards for less than a dollar including postage is unbelievable. You name the profession - and this product can help them do better and more business. Take time to ask those around you if they have  "Follow-Up System" for their current clients and customers. A huge percentage won't. In the two years we've been part of SOC, we have tons of thank yous for the introduction to the tools/system. Businesses are no longer looking for new clients! Now, businesses are taking time to express gratitude for their current client and while feeling appreciated, the current client sends sales and referrals to the Business because of the kindness.

5. The time factor is unbelievable! Most businesses are shocked to be able to send 10,000 cards as quickly as one could send an email and have them be personalized to each card. Businesses found they save a lot of time in one click of a button... this click also saves money in the hourly rate they would have paid their assistant to write, address, stamp and send the same cards.

6. The possibilities are endless. If you need leads open the yellow pages and start dialing. Just ask the sales manager to send a few cards for free. We do a lot of businesses we already have relationships with... real estate agents, lawyers, car dealerships, doctors, dentists, etc.  We have also found that simply by being a "product of the product" and sending true cards (no solicitation) that new business is finding us!

You've heard our story before and we can only begin to tell you how excited we are about SOC.  And since returning from Convention in Las Vegas, "The Future is NOW!" 

This is an 87 Billion dollar market and ran by 2 major greeting card companies until now. SOC is #3.  SOC now has it's own first-class stamp and is working closely with the post-office for tracking each card sent, etc. There is so much more... this is only the beginning. But don't take my word! Her are the details regarding the business opportunity.  There is no way you can fail to make money with it unless you just do nothing.

This is the right company and the right time and new technology that is wonderful - SendOutCards' tag line is "Changing Lives.... One Card at a Time."  We recommend you start with your life first!

Let us know how we can help you!
Sincerely, Danielle & Tim Mohr
Send us an Email 

New Gratitude Challenge Participants

My heart is sooo happy? Guess who is doing the Gratitude Challenge? Yep - our boys! The big boys pooled their money together and are sharing the 30 days to send cards to their teachers, coaches and friends. They are loving it and while I know how I feel and have read your messages, to see my children participate is unmatched.  Take a peek as they show you how easy it is to be part of the challenge by clicking here!

Make someone's day.... What do you have to lose..? That is right - absolutely nothing. Hugs, Danielle

The Fortune is in the THANK YOU!

We have our stories of new second-level customer referrals due to a thank yous to people swtiching companines because of simple appreciation to realtors and the commission of a $50 gift card. Take a minute to read this story from SOC mentor, Laurie Delk - too good not to share.

Don't overlook the power of a thank you!

  

Are you setting yourself apart from your competition? Here is a story that shows WHY SendOutCards is a TOOL EVERY BUSINESS PERSON needs.

  

The Vice President of a major national bank gave a... presentation to the owner of a business pitching for a $100,000 business loan. The VP knew she was at least 1 of 3, maybe 4, banks who had made presentations to this business owner in the past 2 weeks.

Immediately after returning to her office from the presentation she created a personalized “Thank You” card using SendOutCards. She knew she had to further separate herself & her bank from the competition... and wanted to make a lasting, professional impression.

The following week she received a phone call from the owner of the business telling her she had earned all his business: the $100,000 business loan plus the business' banking account and the owner’s personal banking accounts as well!

The owner told the VP of the bank that she was the only person who sent him a “Thank You” to express her appreciation for the opportunity & for meeting him. Professional and sincere treatment like this made him feel confident that she and her bank will provide him with the service his business needs.

Keys to Abundant Living

“Three keys to more abundant living:
caring about others,
daring for others,
sharing with others.”
       --William Arthur Ward

Amazing that our business allows us to do all and make a differnce for our family. We hope you have the same success - if not, we're here to help you.

Shoot for the Moon - Danielle & Tim

I wanted to share a video from February 2011 when I was interviewed by Patty Farmer, Your Branding, Marketing and Networking Expert on Kathy Hines' Celebrity U Radio/TV Show.  We talk about your ROR (aka: Return On Relationships), as coined by Patty Farmer.  If you are a business and do not have a follow-up systerm for customers, clients or prospects - please watch this video.  If you are a business that has a follow-up system, but needs something better - please watch this video.

Click here to watch how easy it is to send card and gifts... for all your relationships.

Lesson from the Video & our best buisness advice: Appreciation will "win" over self-promotion everytime.  Imagine the return on a $5 Starbucks card for a referral or a box of brownies... Imagine the impact you just made on someone's day. "Give to Give" without strings attached and you'll be amazed what happens.

My best to you, Danielle

PS: I know I should smile more (thank Mom!). However, to my defense I had just had my braces put on and between the pain of placement & vanity, I didn't want others to see the, ;o)

100 Marketing Ideas (Link)

Hi Business Friends,

After posting a link to Senior Marketing Advisor's recent magazine article on our Facebook page, we received half-a-dozen phone messages today from businesses wanting to know more.  While we take the weekend off, I promise to return these calls on Monday.  For the rest of you, I didn't want you to miss out, so I'm sharing the link to the original article. 

If you are looking for sales and marketing ideas, here are 100 of the best ever!  We like #45 - and you can too.  Allow us to show you how easy it is to use our system to send 1 card or 1,000. Phone, Skype or Coffee - we'll connect.  Save time and money with SendOutCards and us!

Remember, "a card a day keeps the cometition away."
We are happy to assist you.  --Tim & Danielle

Say What You Mean... Today

The month has just begun and we've already had the need to send sympathy cards to Friends for family losses.  My heart aches and I will never know what our Friends are feeling, nor will we have the "right" words when we send a heartfelt note.  But we do just that - we sit down and send a heartfelt card with our own sentiments.  Forget that it is in our handwriting and signatures, but just think about the impact that our Friends feel with this gesture of love.

We're blessed to use our SendOutCards system/tool so we can immediately act on our intention.  Too often we have the intention, but due to time or money we may not act on it.  Although are words won't be the "right" words, they will be there for Friends to read and re-read for comfort.

Don't be afraid to express yourself. We share so much admiration and praise for others in their eulogies.  We want to provide you a system/tool to act on your intention and celebrate those around you TODAY!  We encourage you to reach out and tell someone what they mean to you. 

If you love someone, have praise/admiration or the need to say thanks - do so today.  Seize the day. Never have regrets. And most importantly, stay close to your friends and family. Reach out and tell them TODAY because when you decide that it is the right time it might be too late. 

Have the thought to send a card now? Click here to send greeting card for FREE! 

Hugs, Danielle

Don't Forget to Follow-Up

I sit down to write today’s blog entry and I have so many ‘business strategies’ I want to share.  Why?  Because today, I was notified from Send Out Cards that one of our team members and friend, Ashley earned the Cruise Incentive and will she’ll be sailing three days from Long Beach, CA to Ensenada, Mexico.   Tim laughed at me (in a supportive way) as I was more excited to see Ashley succeed than I was when I heard I made the trip earlier in May.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled to be on the cruise and will get my passport renewed ASAP; however, it was seeing someone on our team succeed to the next level.

I do feel like a big sister who supports those ‘younger’ than me in our business.  I don’t know all the answers, but I will share what works and what hasn’t. The biggest challenge for many is in goal setting – I’ll sit down and write the specific goal and then work backwards and make smaller steps. 

For example, Ashley knew her goal…. The Cruise – She knew what it took to earn the Cruise (She’d need to sign five new distributors) – And she knew the deadline (May 23).  And before Ashley would achieve signing five new distributors and earning the cruise, she needed to sign her first distributor.  Yep, that’s right – in a month’s time, Ashley signed five new people into the business.  A win-win for both the distributor and those she sponsored as they now have a tool for sending cards & gifts AND just found their own vehicle for financial freedom.

How did Ashley sign five new distributors?  It’s all in the relationships… and in the follow-up.  Just like our business, those on our team and others within the SOC family, we believe in the relationships and how can we help you utilize this tool… for personal or business needs.  The fortune is in the follow-up… you’ve heard this no matter what your business is and you’ve seen the outcome.  Using Send Out Cards for customer & client follow-up, as a warm marketing tool and for personal relationships will make an impact.  Ashley had made lot of connections and built relationships, she then tackled the fear of follow-up... and thank goodness she did.  She followed up with those who had expressed an interest - and tada.  Sometimes 'no,' just means 'not now;' however, what you are offering may fit at a later time. Do you see a similarity in your business?

Now that Ashley is headed to Mexico will she slow down? Highly doubt it – she’s got some great momentum and has a team of five… her next goal… Manager.   The one thing about our Send Out Cards business is that others can duplicate the same success. There are no area meetings, no inventory or parties.  Despite that, Tim & I are there to help Ashley with her new goal of Manager because at this new level she will see her income change; it is a great milestone and will really change her business. 

For those of you reading this – as our team or friends of our team, please know how important you are to us. It is a blessing to be part of your business and your families. I just wrote about that in my Gratitude Journal yesterday, but my heart is full this week. You guys are working so hard and making great changes for your family.  Keep shooting for the moon; we are here for you!  --Danielle

Stay Connected with Others

We are all busy with our schedules and often forget about enriching other people's lives. Making time to reach out to loved ones and strengthen connections is good for all of us. Connecting with friends & family is a simple gesture that has the most impact when it comes to showing someone how much you care.

One of those simple gestures is sending a greeting card to remind people someone is thinking about them.  A recent survey by the Greeting Card Association found that almost 9 out of 10 Americans believe they are as close or closer to their friends and family than they were one year ago.  Sometimes one person connecting with another will set off a boomerang effect of reaching out!

Did you know that 62% of people feel inspired to send someone a card if they receive one from that person?

How do you stay connected and in touch with family & friends?  (1) Set some time each day to reach out to others. Reaching out doesn't take a lot of time, but it can be very meaningful to those we touch. A simple phone call, e-mail or card reminds our loved ones how much we care. (2) Take time to reflect on what is important and of value in your life. See my blog entry about my gratitude journal. (3) Do it now!  Don't wait for a reason to connect. Send a "thinking of you" or "just because" card can be one of the best ways to show someone you care – and we believe in celebrating people and milestones NOW and not in their eulogy.

Hold on to these connections through memories. One of the best ways to keep our connections top of mind is by holding on to a physical memento or keepsake. Reflecting on old letters and cards helps us to remember our most special connections… and your card – with your words, photos and handwriting will be cherished. Promise.

I know we appreciate you – as our friend, follower and fan.

Wishing you Mohr memories and success. -Danielle

Business & Spring is Blooming

I hope you had a great Easter weekend, and if you didn't celebrate the holiday, then join me in celebrating the Spring. I love Spring… I love Easter… I love the new start!

How did or do you celebrate? Growing up, holidays were and still are big events. My mom’s family consists of eight siblings and each of my aunts/uncles had an average of three kids each. I have great memories of going to church Easter morning in our new Easter outfits followed by a home-cooked meal/pot-luck lunch and egg hunts.  I also remember flying kites – and one year hooking the kite string to the reel of a fishing pole. (Now there is an idea I need to patten.) Boy, flying a kite was never so easy.  J

This year, we will celebrated Easter quietly, but that is ok.  Sometimes I like the quiet time to reflect with the kids. All our family is out of state; however, we have two things that bring us close together.  First, the boys have Easter cards on the mantle from grandparents. To say the boys LOVE getting greeting cards from their grandparents is an understatement.  My parents are the best because they celebrate the little things with the boys… and they celebrate the big things.  They use the Send Out Cards system to create & send these cards and yes, they do make an impact!  How much of an impact? Well, the boys keep all these personal cards because they have photos of them & the grandparents/family in them from past events.  The boys carry them around the house and look at them often.  I’m looking at a Halloween card as I type.

The second thing that brings us together is Skype. Yeah for Skype! Skype is such a blessing for so many families for so many reasons. There are so many uses, for example: connecting with military overseas, parents on business trip chatting with a child, separate families at holidays and so much more.

Now imagine combining online technology with offline (aka: real) greeting cards.  Imagine no more.  As we conclude our beta test period, SOC plans to open up the use of video cards – still delivered via USPS by the end of May. Use your smart phone & snap the QR code or type in the URL for a You-Tube video.  This technology is amazing!  This business is amazing – whether you are User or a Distributor… make SOC work for you. 

Do you want to send a thank you card? Imagine the impact now when you add the video of the kids opening the gift. Do you want to send your save the date wedding cards? Add a video of the proposal for those who missed it.  Do you want to showcase a new home for sale, you want to give how-to steps/tips, or other needs for your business? You can add that too!

I think one of the reasons I love Spring is because it is a new start.  Everyone comes out of hiding from the winter weather, the kids are back to playing outside and running to & from friends’ homes, and flowers are in bloom.  This is why I love empowering others – perhaps we are sponsoring a new distributor or we’ve just rekindled the passion of someone who has done the business for a year, but now they are motivated to make a difference. 

May your business bloom this spring and the entire year. Cheering you on - Danielle

The Impact of Staying in Touch with Your Customers

Not my original blog post, but wanted to share this great article.

 
Services Have Opened to Help Businesses Customize Yet Automate Their Card-Sending Processes
By JAN NORMAN - The Orange County Register (August 28, 2010)

When Cap Poore was a salesman, he started sending cards to prospects and clients.

"There were a hundred of us selling the same stuff. I had to figure out how to stand out in the crowd," said Poore, who lives in Laguna Hills.

Poore found that customers needed continual reminders of his existence. Just as important, he discovered that sending cards for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas or even Columbus Day made the recipients feel special. And positive relationship building always benefited his business.

Former independent book publisher Diane Fallon of Irvine said, "I love sending cards. It's fun. But I'm amazed how many businesses don't stay in touch with their customers."

A recent survey by Hallmark Business Expressions, the business-to-business subsidiary of the greeting card giant, found that 69 percent of respondents had received a birthday card from a company and of those people, 47 percent said the card made them more likely to do business with that company.

"Customers notice and appreciate when a company sends them good wishes around their birthday….Cards make a lasting impression and encourage repeat business," said Hallmark spokesman Marc Wagenheim.

The impact isn't limited to birthday cards, said Jane Saeman, owner of Aim High Tutors in Dana Point. "I periodically send out unexpected thank yous for their business," she said. "I think receiving a card without reason is more heartfelt and better received than the expected birthday card from a business."

While birthday cards are big sellers, many companies buy cards to send employees on the anniversary of their hiring date, said Glenn Richards of Intergreet.com, an Anaheim Internet wholesale distributor for American Greeting cards.

The core of Intergreet's business is gift shops and florists. It doesn't sell to the public. However, it has a corporate division for companies that buy in quantity. "We don't promote it, but people find us, and they buy cards for 50 percent off the retail price," Richard said.

"They have various reasons to send cards.Macy's just placed an order for sympathy cards," he said. "Real estate companies buy 'welcome to your new home' cards. Not so much now; we're affected by the housing downturn."

Other types of businesses that buy large quantities of greeting cards for customers or employees include insurance agents and car dealers, he added.

"The majority want a card that looks like one that you'd find in a store rather than a bulk item printed with the company logo," Richards said.

The hardest part about sending cards is, well, sending cards.

Poore, who sends out about 700 cards a month plus 4,000 Christmas cards in December, used a New Mexico service called CardSendersthat automated the process for him. When the owners wanted to retire in 2003, he bought the company and is changing the name to CardSenders/Client Touch.

One reason for the name change is to avoid confustion with a fast-growing direct marketing company is named Send Out Cards.Also, Poore emphasizes a client appreciation program that is broader than just sending greeting cards.

"Communicating with people is important in business," Poore explained. "You should 'touch' your clients every month and you want to do that in different ways: newsletters and phone calls as well as cards."

He still sends out large numbers of greeting cards to set a good example for his clients.

Send Out Cards exemplifies the growing business value of staying in touch. It is now the nation's third largest greeting care company behind American Greetings and Hallmark.

Users of Send Out Cards services "are aware how important it is to remember people in ways other than 'hey, your bill is due,'" said Barry of Anaheim Hills.

Fidel helps individuals and companies set up automated reminder and card sending programs, and cards are important marketing tools. They can merely be card senders who like the discount – cards average $1 each – or become distributors.

He practices what he pitches sending about 2,000 a year. "If I hear somebody got a new job, I send a card. I send lots to friends and family."

Like CardSenders/Client Touch, Send Out Cards has recognized the importance of having a huge selection, Fidel said. "When I started with them three years ago, they had only 1,000 card choices. Now they have 14,000 images in eight super categories and 80 subcategories. Plus I can send motivational books, brownies, gift cards."

Former book publisher Fallon has also jumped on the Send Out Cards bandwagon, but mostly for fun.

"I do help businesses keep their name out there with customers," she said. "Many of them send a bulk mailing once a year and it's thrown away. If they send a card with a heartfelt message, people tend to hang onto it and they remember you."

Fallon personalizes her own cards with photos she has taken of the recipient and uses software that captures her handwriting when composing the message. "What I love is personalizing my cards. A business can do it too. A caterer can put a recipe in the card. A Realtor can take a picture of a client in front of the house he just bought and put that in the card."

Poore recommends personalizing the card as much as possible, from the message written specifically for the recipient, to commemorative stamps, not just standard American flag postage stamps and definitely not a postage meter imprint.

"All this says to the person, 'You're important to me,'" he said.

It sounds biased if I say, great article... but it really gives you great advice on taking care of your business and your customers.  And for those of you who want to use Send Out Cards for personal reasons, think of the impact you have on someone's day for celebrating even the litle things.  We are always here to answer questions, get you started and provide support along the way. 

Shoot for the moon! --Danielle