About Appreciation Letter

About Appreciation Letter

Appreciation letters show good manners, sophistication and class. If someone has gone above and beyond his
typical duties to help you in some way, you should take the time to write a letter of appreciation. By learning
about what it takes to write a meaningful one, you can feel less intimidated and take on this worthwhile task.

Function
1. An appreciation letter is very similar to a typical thank you letter. The difference is that thank you
letters are more personal and casual while an appreciation letter is typically more formal. For instance, you
might send a thank you letter to your aunt for a birthday gift. A letter of appreciation, on the other hand, is one
you might write to someone with whom you do not have a personal relationship, such as a business contact or
someone who assisted you in some manner.
Types
2. Appreciation letters, while serving the same basic function, can be written for a variety of reasons.
Each type will be just a bit different. An appreciation letter to an employee should define the specific behavior
or undertaking you want to recognize. A letter penned for your child's teacher, though, will reflect many ways
she made a difference in your child's life. Appreciation letters are also appropriate for business colleagues,
clients, customers, retailers and networking contacts.
Features
3. If you are writing a letter to a teacher, employee, or perhaps a customer service representative who
took extra time to help you solve a problem or find the perfect item, composing the letter in your own
handwriting on attractive stationery or a blank note card is a nice touch. If the letter is meant for a business
connection, you can use your computer's word processing program and print it on business letterhead.
Addressing it personally and copying the letter to the person's immediate supervisor makes it even more
meaningful.
Time Frame
4. A letter of appreciation should be sent as soon as possible following the action or performance you
want to recognize. However, if you meant to write a letter but it slipped your mind for some time, write it
anyway. It does not matter if the occurrence took place weeks, months or even years ago. Many schoolteachers
 can tell you about letters they received from students they taught years or decades prior and how meaningful
those notes are.
Considerations
5. Proofread your appreciation letter before mailing it. Even if you used a word processing program with
a spell check feature, it may have missed a "to" that should have been a "too." Ask someone you trust to read it
also, or read it aloud to him. You might want to use a thesaurus to find the ideal words for your sentiments, but
do not go overboard. The key is that you are honest and sincere

Read more:About Appreciation Letter | eHow.comhttp://www.ehow.com/about_4689340_appreciation-

letter.html#ixzz12qzK0Cke

About Customer Appreciation Letters

By Leslie Whittaker, eHow Contributor

In a hectic world where people often barely acknowledge you (let alone show you their appreciation),
customer appreciation letters are a way for companies to connect with consumers. As
a business owner, realizing the tremendous potential of demonstrating your appreciation for
customers through a quick, hassle-free letter presents your company with a strong competitive edge.
The Facts
1. Everyone loves to feel appreciated. In fact, a study, by Hallmark Business Expressions
revealed that 73 percent of consumers, when asked about their receptiveness to business
communication via a greeting card or letter, indicated a positive response. These responses
included appreciating the gesture, feeling like the company genuinely cares about them and being
more likely to do business with the company again. 

In any industry, customer appreciation, even a seemingly minor gesture like an appreciation letter, is
rarely utilized to its utmost potential. Professionally written, a customer appreciation letter should
remain short and express the reason for showing appreciation. Traditionally, most companies also
include a coupon, sample or similar item with the letter to enhance the overall effect. When written
immediately following an event that warrants a written response, a customer appreciation letter can
be a valuable asset to your company's marketing campaign.
Function
2. A customer appreciation letter is written by a company to express its thanks to a customer
for patronage. Although it is a professional letter, the letter should still convey warmth and sincerity.
A letter lacking a reason for writing and genuine gratitude will not fulfill the purpose of expressing
appreciation.
Effects
3. When well written, a customer appreciation letter typically will reward the company with a
loyal customer base that encourages others to become patrons of the company because the
 customer feels important and valued. A few letters of appreciation may serve as a company's best
marketing campaign, because word-of-mouth advertising is the most compelling method of
advertising.
Misconceptions
4. Unhappy customers do not advocate your business, so make sure your letter bridges the
gap between satisfaction and loyalty. Don't allow your letter to come off as a cheap marketing ploy to
increase your bottom line.
Benefits
5. Aside from retaining existing customers and expanding market share, customer appreciation
letters are relatively inexpensive. They only cost a few cents per letter, take only moments to write
and, most important, they establish a personal connection with a customer. Furthermore, when
applied consistently and strategically, customer appreciation letters can result in exponential growth
and profitability.
Significance
6. Customer appreciation letters strengthen a company's relationship with its customer base.
Such a small token of gratitude can make your company memorable. 

A customer appreciation letter can be a surefire way of convincing customers to perceive a product
or service as being of higher quality, simply because of the personal connection established. This
type of perception results in increased market share and an expanded bottom line for the company.

Read more: About Customer Appreciation Letters | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_4566307_customer-

appreciation-letters.html#ixzz12qzwClSl