It’s expressing your appreciation and gratitude to friends, customers, clients, and colleagues by sending handwritten thank you notes.

Today, when 99% of people complain of too many emails, text messages, advertisements, and intrusions, NOBODY is complaining about receiving too many thank you notes and cards!

This is an important leverage point for everybody watching this video!

You should be using handwritten business thank you notes:

• When you get a new client, customer, patient
• When an existing client, customer, patient gives you a new project
• When someone make a referral to your company
• When a peer gives you helpful advice
• As a follow-up after a meeting or phone call
• For a job well done by an employee, vendor, or associate
• When someone shows you an act of kindness
• Or whenever you simply feel like making somebody’s day a bit brighter!

Here are a few helpful business thank you card tips you should keep in mind when determining what type of card you would like to send:

• Make your own card!
• Use a “tent” design for more space to write a note (and so someone could place on their desk as a reminder)!
• Hand write your message and envelope (use a high quality pen)
• Use CopyDoodles, CopyComics, CopyStamps, photos, caricatures, etc.. to personalize your thank you card and make it unique!
• Use a unique, first-class stamp (think one that even may tie in with your business)

Below is an example of a thank you card I currently use in my business:

This is a great personalized thank you card I received in the mail from Mara Glazer at Glazer-Kennedy (nothing wrong with a bit of humor!).

Below is a thank you card I received from James Malinchak and is a great example of how to maximize the real-estate of the envelope and card.

If you’re looking to create your own thank you card to send to your customers, clients, and patients, check out the brand new CopyDoodles Gratitude Card CopyTemplate which was just posted in the CopyDoodles Access Club site.

With this Gratitude CopyTemplate you receive:

• 6 customizable card templates ready for you to edit
• 165 unique gratitude-themed CopyDoodles
• Six unique Thanksgiving-Themed CopyComics
• The ability to mix and match to design your own card

For more information on handwritten business thank you notes and the November 2011 CopyTemplate, check out the below CopyDoodles TV episodes and blog posts:

www.mikecapuzzi.tv/business-thank-you-letters

http://www.mikecapuzzi.tv/lost-art-of-personal-correspondence-cdtv-episode

http://www.mikecapuzzi.tv/power-of-personalized-handwritten-notes-cdtv-episode/

I’d love to hear the ways you’re using handwritten thank you notes in your business and your thoughts on receiving them.

Please leave all your comments below.

Just this week, CopyDoodles Access Club Member Alan Steacy sent us this note…

Thanks Alan for the kind words.

Alan’s note prompted me to write this article on how others are using CopyDoodles to spice-up their marketing mix and add some “eye dazzle.” I think you’ll enjoy seeing some of these recent additions to our CopyDoodles Hall of Fame!

This first example is one I just highlighted in the current episode of 3 in 3 at www.mikecapuzzi.tv. It’s the world’s largest CopyDoodle (as far as I know) from Darin Spindler's marketing mix. He added a CopyDoodle to the tour bus he’s currently using to tour around the country and promote his Kids Bowl Free program.

I no sooner sent out the email about Darin’s bus, when I received an email from super-marketer Michael McLean who told me he added to his marketing mix, CopyDoodles that were as big as a house on his office building. Check out his newest banner (and green CopyDoodle arrows) on his office up in Perth, Canada…

At the other end of the CopyDoodles size spectrum, I met Dr. Jacquelyn Stanfield at the Glazer-Kennedy SuperConference and she showed me, from her marketing mix, her brand new business card that was inspired by a recent episode of CopyDoodles TV.

It’s a die-cut, multi-panel business card featuring CopyDoodles and more. Talk about eye-catching! Great job Dr. Stanfield for adding CopyDoodles to her marketing mix!

Keeping with the dental theme, Dr. Brian Berg shared his most recent newsletter from his marketing mix where he used our special “punch-out” CopyComics to add a bit of humor and personality to his marketing mix. Check out his million-dollar bill comic and his web site comic…

Switching to an online example, here’s a great looking squeeze page from Michael Carroll's marketing mix where he’s using CopyDoodles very effectively to help build his list.

Finally, Linda Steele Thom used CopyDoodles in their marketing mix on a recent coffee mug promotional piece for a trade show she attended. Another fun and eye-grabbing example how folks are using CopyDoodles in their entire marketing mix!

So not only are CopyDoodles perfect for traditional marketing projects like direct mail and online marketing, they can be used on the sides of buses, office building and even coffee mugs!

I would love to see how you’re using CopyDoodles in your marketing mix - drop us a note and let us know what you’ve done and we may add you to our CopyDoodles Hall of Fame!

He was excited that something as simple as adding a few handwritten CopyDoodles could bring new life (and response) to one of his existing direct response marketing campaigns. We discussed his direct response marketing and then he asked me what I thought was a very interesting question…

“Mike, if you could do only one thing in 2011 to create better-performing marketing, what would you do?”

And without even having to think about it, I answered, “Increase the 1:1 personalization of all my marketing efforts.”

Friends, I believe in this day and age of “too much noise” we don’t have to be searching out the latest and greatest shiny object to cure what ails our marketing.

Sure, things like social media and video marketing have their rightful place in our direct response marketing arsenal, but I believe THE MOST IMPORTANT marketing strategy we can all use is to increase the feeling that I am talking directly to you and only to you with information that is relevant to your business or life.

This is the power of personalized marketing and it’s more important than ever to be using these strategies as much as you can.

To give you some ideas on how you can increase the personalization of your marketing, here are 7 easy-to-implement personalized marketing strategies I recommend.

1) Personalize your story – Everybody knows that in order for people to do business with us, there’s a “know, like and trust” factor that comes into play. Depending on what you’re selling the degree varies, but regardless, it’s important for our prospects and customers to have an insider’s glimpse on why we do what we do.

How much of your life you want to broadcast is up to you, but sharing at some level is important. Sharing stories and things that have happened to you (that are relevant to your market) via direct response marketing, email marketing, social media, newsletters or even a Web TV show are important ways to help build the know, like and trust factor.

2) Personalize your copy writing – Today’s technology makes generic, “Dear Reader”-type marketing obsolete. At a minimum you can personalize your copy writing and direct response marketing pieces by simply dropping the recipient’s name in your copy, but there’s so much more you can do, including adding personalization to offers and guarantees.

You can personalize the copy of your offer in a way that makes it feel like I am the only one receiving the offer, by including specific copy based on my previous buying history or knowing something specific about me (e.g. the type of pet I own or the type of car I drive, etc.).

For example, if I was marketing dog food, which do you think will get more attention and more response?

“Dear Dog Owner, we can help keep your dog fit and trim with our natural dog food.”

or

“Dear Mike, we can help you keep your dog Zoe fit and trim with our natural dog food formulated exclusively for German Shepherds ages 2 – 8.”

Obviously the second example is much more relevant to me, since by using this type of direct response marketing technique, they are talking to me directly about my specific pet. This example includes four specific personalized elements that illustrate how you can increase the personalization of your copy. Of course this does put the burden of collecting and using this data on you, but once started, it’s not difficult.

3) Personalize with CopyDoodles – In this day and age where just about everything is computer generated, the use of CopyDoodles has a unique “pattern interrupt” effect on readers.

CopyDoodles create the effect the writer had some final important points to make after the copy was written and wanted to especially make sure the reader saw them. Used in the proper context, there’s nothing like CopyDoodles to convey the “me to you” connection.

Study any of the great copywriters and direct response marketing designers and they will all tell you the proper use of handwriting and doodles in your copy can increase readership and response.

4) Personalize with photos – Did you know readership and response studies have shown that photographs are one of the first things people look at when looking at any direct response marketing piece, advertisement, letter or marketing piece?

Photos are an important way to connect with others, not only to tell your story, but also to create more of a 1:1 connection to support the personalized copy. You can include fun and interesting photos of your workplace, employees, family, vacations, etc. in direct response marketing.  Again the goal is to create a connection with your market.

Going back to the dog food example… consider how much more powerful it would be to include a picture of a German Shepherd in the piece that was sent to me?

Whenever you use photos in your marketing, make sure you include a caption (studies have shown captions are the next thing readers look at after the photo) that has personalization in it.

5) Personalize with comics, cartoons and caricatures – The use of these unique graphics in direct response marketing is underutilized in most business owners marketing efforts and offer a unique opportunity to connect with people for many of the same reasons photographs do.

Comics, cartoons and caricatures can allow the smart marketer to create visual connections that simply cannot done any other way, including the use of humor, which is a powerful human connection.

You can put comics, cartoons and caricatures on your direct mail pieces, in your direct response marketing emails, on your web sites, wherever you want to create an emotional connection and don’t forget to use personalized elements in your captions!

6) Personalize with handwritten notes and thank you notes – Recently I wrote an article on my blog and created a video (www.mikecapuzzi.tv) about the power of handwritten thank you notes. For the sake of this article I am going to expand and include the use of handwritten notes as an important personalized direct response marketing technique.

Today, when everybody complains of receiving too much email, junk mail and irrelevant marketing and advertising messages, NOBODY is complaining of receiving too many handwritten notes or thank you notes. The use of handwritten notes (either real handwriting or simulated handwriting fonts) offers every business owner a unique opportunity to connect with their readers.

7) Personalize with PURLs – A lot of successful direct response marketing uses personalized URLs, which are a relatively new way for marketers to create unique, 1:1 messages and help drive people to personalized and customized web sites that have been created specifically for the individual reader.

An example of an effective PURL would be:

http://Julie-Doe.HasaGiftFromMike.com

This PURL arouses curiosity for Julie and with the proper motivation will get her to visit the PURL (in this case to see what the gift is I am giving her). Once she arrives at her site, I can now personalize the page using all of the strategies I described above.

I’ve used PURLs in my marketing since 2004 and they offer many unique benefits, including a relatively inexpensive way to create a very personalized, 1:1 message with your market.

Personalize and Profit!

If you would like know more about how I use personalized direct response marketing and about a brand new special software system I developed for my business, I invite you to download a free, 28-page report at http://www.MikeCapuzzi.com/personalize.pdf.

One important final note… there’s always a few critics who poo-poo the ideas and strategies I outline above. Their contention is that these are all thinly veiled techniques that reek of “fakeness.”

I want to make it clear that I am not supporting any strategy that is not congruent, meaningful, and real to your business and helping improve the lives and businesses of your market. These personalized marketing strategies must be used in ways that are real and authentic.

In order make the human connection personalized marketing offers you, it must not appear contrived. The goal is not to use personalized marketing for the sake of personalized marketing, but to make your marketing appear as real, natural and 1:1 as humanly possible!

If you would like to discover more ways that your marketing can stand out with the use of CopyDoodles and copy cosmetics, check out our Copy Boosting Profits Secrets Course and our CopyDoodles Best Practices Webinar Series!

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This article originally appeared on the NO B.S. Not So Daily E-Zine which publishes useful direct response marketing tips and business advice.

As 2010 winds down, the smart entrepreneur automatically starts thinking about starting off 2011 with new and powerful initiatives.  I myself have spent a number of hours recently with my team thinking about creating even more value for my customers and clients.

This is a question you should be pondering too.  How can you create even more value for your customers, clients, or patients?

I have a number of new things to help business owners and entrepreneurs get more juice out of their marketing in 2011 and beyond.  Here's a list of the biggies and you can watch the video above to learn even more about each of these (and maybe get a few ideas for your business too!).

1. Former customer (and creator of the Lauren Edition of CopyDoodles), now marketing director, Lauren Wuscher has joined our team and will be focused on spreading the gospel of CopyDoodles.

2. Lauren will be publishing a CopyDoodles Access Club Members-only e-newsletter that will be chock-full of cool ideas to polish the look of your copy.  It's called CopyBling and the first issue is will be sent to Members later this week!

3. If you're heading to the Glazer-Kennedy Insider's Circle InfoSummit, make sure you stop by the CopyDoodles booth and say “Hi” to Lauren.  While you're there, she has a special, valuable gift for all attendees, so make sure you grab your Copy Cosmetics tip sheet in Baltimore!

4. We’ve updated our CopyDoodles Affiliate Program and are actively looking for the right Affiliates to help promote CopyDoodles.  We are also looking for Joint Venture partners to create industry niche editions. Let us know if either of these opportunities might be right for you.

5. I am starting a new Web TV network with two shows on it.  The first show is CopyDoodles TV, which is back in production for the third year.  Each month, I plan on releasing two valuable episodes to show you innovative ways to increase the attention-grabbing power of your marketing with CopyDoodles and everything else found in the CopyDoodles Access Club.

I am also producing a brand new Web TV show.  It's called Mike Capuzzi's 3 in 3 and you're gonna love it.  Each episode is only 3 minutes long and will contain 3 unique ideas, resources or tips to help you and your business.  It's very cool and our first episode is scheduled to debut on Tuesday, November 2, 2010!

6. Hundreds of folks have attended my CopyDoodles Success Webinars and based on the positive response, we'll keep bringing these to you.  These LIVE webinars will feature some of the smartest marketers and entrepreneurs I know in a content-rich, no-pitch monthly webinar.

7.In 2011, I will be hosting my second year of my Elite Experience Mastermind Group.  I am hosting an introductory webinar on November 4, 2010.  Details at:

http://www.mikecapuzzi.com/webinars/mastermind

8. And finally, I’ve spent the last year working on a very unique, very powerful "personalized marketing" software system that I plan on opening up to the world in early 2011.  Early adopters love it and it has the potential to change the way bricks and mortar business owners create marketing campaigns.

So that's what we are up to.  I hope each of these initiatives can help you build an even more profitable business in 2011!

With this in mind, I am launching a series of free, LIVE CopyDoodles® Success Strategies webinars where I will interview some of the best and most relevant marketers I know, who are creating extraordinary marketing with extraordinary results.

These are not going to be the typical “interview the guru” type webinars you are familiar with. Instead, my goal is to showcase everyday entrepreneurs who are getting big results with their marketing.

Each webinar will be jam-packed with useful content you can take to the bank!

The first webinar is on August 12, 2010 at 8:00 PM EDT and my special guest is Renegade Marketer, Michael McLean.

Click here to reserve your seat at the next CopyDoodles® Success Strategies webinar.

Michael is a former professional hockey coach and now runs a super-successful insurance agency in Canada. He is also the founder of Renegade Insurance Marketing where he helps hundreds of other insurance agency owners create more profitable marketing in their businesses with his Renegade Insurance Marketing program.

In 2009, Michael was awarded the 2009 Glazer-Kennedy Insider's Circle Marketer of the Year Award for his phenomenal marketing strategies and results.

Over the years, Michael has created some of the most attention-grabbing, outside-the-box marketing techniques I've ever seen and because of his impressive results and unique use of CopyDoodles, I've asked Michael to share some of his biggest tips and strategies for you.

Click here to reserve your seat at the next CopyDoodles® Success Strategies webinar.

You’re guaranteed to get some big, BOLD ideas from Michael and discover what's working now! On this webinar, Michael will be sharing:

• How he's used CopyDoodles to create BIG bumps in his direct mailings
• His unique techniques for using CopyDoodles to create personality in his printed newsletters
• How and why he uses CopyDoodles in his emails, web sites and squeeze pages
• H ow he "CopyDoodled" his recent television commercial campaign with a big bump in response!
• His philosophy on how to market with success in 2010 and beyond!

This webinar will be 100% content and one you won’t want to miss. Join Michael and me on Thursday, August 12, 2010.

Click here to reserve your seat at the next CopyDoodles® Success Strategies webinar.

I just got back from the 2010 Glazer-Kennedy SuperConference in Dallas, Texas.  It was another four days of intense learning and powerful networking and as usual, it was great to see old friends and meet new ones.

At the 2009 GKIC SuperConference, I had the opportunity to be a presenter and this year my SuperConference participation continued with me leading a marketing round table and my company exhibiting for the first time ever.

For two hours I hosted a number of packed marketing round tables on the topic of “increasing conversion” – can you find me in the pic?

Many thanks to the hundreds of SuperConference attendees who stopped by and visited us during exhibit hours.  It was humbling to hear so many CopyDoodles success stories and get so many video testimonials!

And a very special congratulations to the following ten individuals who became CopyDoodles customers and won our Mastermind Experience Contest, which includes a one-day mastermind experience and attending a Philadelphia Phillies game with me in a private V.I.P. suite in July.

Mastermind & Phillies Game Winners!

Jeff Giagnocavo, Mitch Tublin, Rollie LaMarche, Traci Bild, Glenn Fukuda, Will Fishkin, Jill Wolforth, Greg Lake, Barbara Hales and Barry Wells.

Dan and Carla Kennedy stopped by to say hi to my wife Becky and I at the booth.

During the exhibit, we showed for the first time ever, the brand new CopyDoodles® Access Club.  Our fans are calling this “CopyDoodles 2.0” and it is indeed the future of all things CopyDoodles!

This exciting new advancement will allow existing and future CopyDoodles customers to access all our powerful, attention-grabbing content –  even faster and easier than EVER BEFORE!  This includes CopyDoodles, CopyComics, CopyFonts, CopyFlash, and our innovative CopyGenerators.

A sneak peak at the brand new CopyDoodles Access Club!

You will be hearing more the CopyDoodles Access Club over the next few weeks as we begin to roll it out, so stay tuned.

There are two things that made the 2010 SuperConference truly memorable for me.  The first has to do with the amazing generosity of SuperConference attendees and Bill and Karen Glazer.  In December of 2009, the GKIC world lost a master marketer and member when my friend and GKIC-Philly chapter member Eric Paul lost his battle to cancer.

Eric Paul

It was just two years ago Eric attended the 2008 SuperConference and predicted (and I agreed) he would be a future GKIC Marketer of the Year.  Unfortunately life threw a curveball and Eric is no longer with us.  He left behind four beautiful young children.

At the SuperConference, my friend Darin Spindler, created an emotional video and attendees donated over $10,000 to help Eric’s family as they deal this their loss.  It was amazing to see a line of hundreds of attendees as they turned in their contribution forms.

On a more upbeat note, GKIC-Philly member and my Elite Experience Mastermind member, Charlie McDermott, won the title of the 2010 GKIC Marketer of the Year!  It was during our February Elite Experience Mastermind meeting that our group suggested Charlie enter the contest and being a man of massive action Charlie accepted the challenge and won the entire contest!

Charlie McDermott getting feedback during our Elite Experience Mastermind meeting in February.

This is an amazing accomplishment for Charlie, especially since he’s only been a GKIC member since the fall of 2008.  Congratulations to Charlie and his team for their impressive presentation at the 2010 GKIC SuperConference!

And finally, I want to thank all the GKIC-Philly chapter members who attended the SuperConference (and stayed up late to get this photo).

GKIC-Philly in Dallas! Andrew Mazer, Becky Capuzzi, Dan Kennedy, Jeff Giagnocavo, myself, Jim Palmer, Bill Glazer, Charlie McDermott and Dave Frees

For the first time ever, we’ve decided to host a booth and get a chance to meet all the great folks at the Super Conference!

We also have some exciting information to share at the event about the future of CopyDoodles and our never-been-seen before CopyDoodles Access Club.

We also have two special gifts for attendees. For the first 250 who stop by and drop off their business card, you can have the official CopyDoodles luggage tag identifier. I don’t know about you, but I can never tell my luggage from the next person’s and these neat little things make my luggage quite visible.

And if you’re not yet a CopyDoodles customer (or you’re want the latest and greatest I have to offer)…just stop by booth #2 – the CopyDoodles booth – for a very, very special opportunity! I’ll be stopping by and my wife Becky (a.k.a “BeckyDoodles”) will be there too!