Ask Dallas, Make Your Best Impression Blog · October 10, 2009
Hello, Dallas:
Following your suggestion, I now keep stationary in my car, so I can hand write letters to people I meet when networking. It is a great method of differentiation from other professionals. However, when is it appropriate to send an email and when should I still send hand written letters? The specific situation follows. I met yesterday with a professional contact to discuss how our services are complementary. Would it be best to send a follow up via email or via a hand written letter? I do not want overkill here, but I want to continue to be highly professional.
Thanks, Dallas
Answer:
Dear John,
I would recommend both. First send the email thanking your new contact for their time yesterday. Follow it with a thank you note to express your desire to work with them to help them meet their needs – e.g. whatever you all discussed. The note will be the extra effort and your potential client will have a favorable impression. This is what sets one apart from their competitors.
Warmly,
Dallas, Impression Engineer
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In Professionally Polished, Teague-Snider steps outside the bounds of boring etiquette books and uses real-life blunders, both humorous and horrifying, to illustrate common mistakes and lessons-learned. Some will make you laugh out loud, others will make you cringe, but all will entertain you as you learn what you need to know to recession-proof your career and get the professional edge that will make you an indispensable asset to your organization.
Dallas on the cover of Personal Excellence Magazine! The founder of Make Your Best Impression and author of Professionally Polished, Dallas Teague Snider appears on the cover of the March 2009 edition of Personal Excellence magazine.