There is one business tactic that most of you have not put into your daily practice and could easily put you directly in front of your competition.

It is a hand written, self-stamped THANK YOU NOTE!

Not a quick email, meaningful tweet or facebook post, but a sincere old-fashioned pleasantry. That’s right, sending a thank you note has become a lost art.

Some would say building relationships has become easier with the aforementioned social networks. This may be true in quantity but unfortunately not always in quality. I like these social networks as much as the next guy but we have lost the importance of “personal touch.”

Sending a meaningful thank you note will set you apart from your competition and make you stand out in this fast-paced, busy world. Be creative, be specific and include details to show you truly care.

The easiest and most cost-efficient way is to get a stack of postcards with your logo on them. The postcard above is one I created for my husband (yep, he's in sales too). You can use these as reminders, follow-ups and thank you notes. Have these sitting on the corner of your desk to help make this a daily practice.

There are three simple rules:

·Be Timely – best if you send these within 24 hours. (Just get it done.)

·Be Brief – no need to make writing these (or reading them) a chore.Keep it simple.

·Be Sincere – don’t use standard clichés. Just be honest and affirm your gratitude.

Always remember to proofread. You don’t want to appear sloppy and unprofessional.