COUPLE COMMUNICATION Information Exchange About Card System - 11/30/07

[Smartmarriages]

I receive the Sherod and Phyllis Miller Couple Communication listserv and
thought this issue was one to share.  Step by step for an idea for growing
your community marriage initiative network. - diane


USING GREETING CARDS TO PROMOTE COUPLE COMMUNICATION

At ICP, we regularly receive requests from COUPLE COMMUNICATION (CC)
instructors for ideas on how to market their services. So when one of our
instructors tells us about a method that has worked, we are happy to share
it.

Gary Blake, a counselor and Certified CC Instructor in the Kansas City area,
uses an easily manageable system of sending post cards and greeting cards to
a wide network of people. (These are actual cards sent through the mail and
not electronic ones.) Gary says that the cards keep his name and service
before the recipients, and these folks become referral sources for him. To
have the card system work successfully, Gary follows three basic principles
and then uses technology to manage the process.

THE PRINCIPLES:

1. Build honest and sincere relationships. These provide a network of people
who know who you are and what you do. These are people who like you and
trust you.

2. For building the relationships, give genuine attention, appreciation, and
recognition. These messages win out over self-promoting messages.

3. Send your messages through a "Keep in Touch" system using cards -- lots
of cards: postcards and greeting cards. The mailed cards touch people's
lives in a way that emailed cards do not.

THE TECHNOLOGY

Manage the process by using  technology to make it relatively inexpensive,
quick, and easy once you set it up. With the technology that Gary uses, you
go online with your computer at home or office to:

Select a card from a very large assortment.
"Overwrite" the standard card sentiments with your own words, if you choose.
Make up your own card with your picture or logo on the front.
Add thought or dialogue "bubbles," captions, and borders to the card.
Select a font for the sentiments and your name.

The next morning the cards are printed, stuffed into an envelope, stamped,
and mailed for you. A history is recorded of the card sent, so you can keep
track of who gets what.

SYSTEM WORKS WITH A CONTACT MANAGER

We at ICP have long recommended using a "contact manager" on your computer
to keep track of the network of people you develop, so you can promote your
CC classes to them. (In fact, see our website: www.couplecommunication.com,
then click on "Instructor Training," Article Archives (across top), and then
the article, "Five Steps for Recruiting Couples Effectively to Groups.")
The card system that Gary works with has a "contact manager" within it,
which is easy to set up and use. With this tool, he organizes his contacts
into various groups. The ones he finds helpful to promote his services and
CC instruction include:

Ministers
Church Secretaries
Physicians and Chiropractors
Couples who have Attended his CC Program in the Past
Attorneys
Friends
Relatives

Besides name and contact information, Gary includes birthdays and
anniversaries. When one of those special days comes up, the system notifies
him about seven days ahead, and he can arrange for a card to be sent. (If he
wishes, he can select a card months in advance and set the dates for sending
it.)

WAYS TO USE THE SYSTEM

Here is how Gary says he uses the card system:

"I never, anymore, forget a birthday or anniversay. I 'store' cards to send
thank yous for those who make referrals to me or to a new client for
selecting me for their service. I send reminder cards. At the end of most
days, I send unexpected highly personalized greeting cards to people I have
met throughout the day. These include glad-to-meet-you cards or
enjoyed-lunch-with-you cards. I send cards of appreciation to my doctors,
dentist, to the salesperson in my men's clothing store, friends I have known
for years but have never told them how much I appreciate them, and so on."

Gary uses a "campaign" type of card, as well, for instance for announcing
dates for CC workshops he will be doing. When the THRIVE Sphere/Profile,
which is part of the revised CC Program, is ready, Gary will make up a
"campaign" of two or three cards to go out automatically at specified
intervals from their first date of taking it. These will be to remind the
couple of the two follow-up times that they are alloted to take it.

RESPONSES TO THE CARD SYSTEM

Through connecting with people via the card system, Gary has had many
positive responses. He says, "I have received touching comments, hugs, and
praise from people. Many of the cards have downloaded photos on them that I
have taken of the people with my digital camera (which I keep with me), and
I hear that they put the cards on their mantels at home or post them at
their office. Some tell me about the 'wonderful' card they received from
me."

"Because I am keeping my name available in their minds, when they need or
want to refer someone for the services I provide, they think of me. I am
getting more and more business. In fact, I expect to reduce my Yellow Pages
advertising and get most of my business through referrals."

COSTS OF THE CARD SYSTEM

Once the system is set up, generally the cost of the cards is as follows:

49 cents for a postcard plus 26 cents postage
98 cents for a greeting card plus 41 cents postage

The set-up fees are at two levels:

A "retail" account one-time set-up fee is $99.00. (This translates into 50
postcards and 25 greeting cards.)

The account can be upgraded to a fee of $298.00 for a wholesale package,
which gives you more features, such as using your own handwriting and having
four different signatures (for example, just your first name, a more formal
signature, and so on). With the upgrade, you receive a 35 percent discount
on the cards, meaning 31 cents for a postcard and 62 cents for a greeting
card.

Gary has found the card system so enjoyable and rewarding to use, he has
become a distributor. Through his experience with using the cards to build
his practice, he now also helps others in ministry, counseling, or small
business to apply the system to grow referrals. He welcomes you to contact
him, and he can become your coach to help you set up the process.

For more information about the card system, contact:
Gary Blake
drgdb at juno.com
913-381-6460

If you wish to be removed from this CC Information Exchange, please write
REMOVE in the subject line and reply to this email.

Interpersonal Communication Programs, Inc. (ICP)
30772 Southview Drive, #200
Evergreen, CO 80439

Toll-free: 800-328-5099
Ph.: 303-674-2051
Fax: 303-674-4283
Email: icp at comskills.com
Website for CC: www.couplecommunication.com

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