Written Communications Your English Teacher Would Love

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I am going to make an assumption that if you are reading a marketing blog, you are looking for ways to improve your marketing efforts. One of those improvements is to use written communications through social media to connect ourselves with people we have not met in person. I would like to postulate that marketing done correctly promotes your best side. It shows your best face to the world. Proper use of language in your written communications is the key to this part of your marketing effort. This week, I received 3 letters through LinkedIn which did not do any of the senders any favors toward making a positive impression. In fact, only one of them received a return email from me.

On Linkedin, I have about 3500 connections, roughly 2/3 of whom I have not met. When I get a new request, I take a look at their profile and send them my Standard Response. I use a couple of standard responses because, a) it is easy and b) to just hit YES in response to the connection is not helping me begin to build a relationship with my connections.

The first one:
“Hi (insert first name)! Thank you for connecting with me on LinkedIn. I follow my facebook pages more frequently so it may be a good idea for you to like my www.Facebook.com/YuloffCreative page and friend me up at Yuloff Creative page you will get a constant stream of marketing tips and on https://www.facebook.com/HankYuloff you will get a constant stream of… well… me. Friend me up and let me know what a good referral for you would be so I will recognize it when I see it!
Thanks again,
Hank
(800)705-4265
PS – (I LEAVE THIS BLANK TO SHARE SOMETHING WHICH MIGHT RESONATE WITH THEM BASED ON THEIR PROFILE)”

The second one:
Thanks so much for connecting with me.
I wanted to reach out to you to say “Howdy” and learn more about you.
I took a quick look at your profile and I would like to know more about you and your professional background. Since I do a lot of networking and referring business, are you open to a quick phone call or cup of coffee?
By the way, how is LinkedIn working for you in helping you grow your business? I’m very knowledgeable about that platform (and facebook, too) and might have a few suggestions for you to improve your results after we talk.
Once again thanks for the connection. I hope to hear from you soon.
All the best,
Hank Yuloff

Notice how even in my written communications I am letting my personality show through, while remaining professional. No typos. No fractional sentences.
I want to use today’s blog to share three letters I received this week through the Linkedin email system. Each person had sent me a connection request and received my standard response.  I have not altered anything.

Hi Hank,
Please keep (company name)’s services in mind for clients in 2015.
(Company Name) partners with small businesses to manage Human Resources, Benefits, Payroll, etc. and ensure compliance with California labor and employment laws.
Sender Name and Info
_____
Hello hank,
Thanks for reaching out to me. I’d be interested in setting up a call. I’m curious though, are you just looking too add a graphic designer to your professional network or are you just trying to sell me some advice. Because if that’s the case (no offense) I’m not too interested.
Otherwise I’d be glad to share a few things about my profession and possibly hear a few things about yours. I’m highly fascinated with marketing and I’m sure you are too.
Sender first name only
_________
Hey Hank thanks for reaching out My professional background is actually mostly Customer service but slowing building a UX brand. I haven’t really used linkedin to network most because of lazyness but currently on a 30 day goal of providing as much as value as I can give to people and trying to figure out how to brand my message of real world usability.
I am currently following M.S, T.L. and A.M. among others podcast so maybe they can provide you some valuable knowledge.
You can call me almost any time (Phone)
Thank you,
Sender first and last name

Our lesson for today is that when you send written communication, it should be solid. It should be something your high school English teacher would grade at a B or above level. This is especially true when you are communicating with someone new.
Remember the saying “You only get one chance to make a first impression” so take the time to make a good impression.
Another way to look at it is this – When I was a sales manager for a Promotional Products company, I had to interview 100s of people each year. In order to narrow it down from the 1000s of resumes I received, I had a process of elimination. Experience was one way, but bad cover letters and typographic errors were reasons for immediate elimination. Your letters, written connections through social media, are a resume, asking for business or to be referred. Make them count.

When you want help creating a perfectly clear image on social media with excellent written communications. We would like to offer you a Free Marketing Consultation. Most small business owners that take advantage of this conversation report back to us that this success call was worth at least $10,000 in increased sales and savings to their bottom line. Let’s begin our conversation by increasing your profits. Go now to www.FreeMarketingConsultation.com.
Or you can give us a phone call at (800)705-4265.