Tips for Writing Thank You Notes

Don’t you just love the feeling you get when you receive a personal thank you note? This simple gesture goes a long way. On the other hand, coming up with the perfect thank you note can seem like a daunting task. What should you say? How can you express yourself without getting too flowery, or on the opposite end, coming off as cold?

We ship out hundreds of thank you notes every day, so we have seen the good, the bad and the ugly. From my experience, I think the best thank you notes have these 4 qualities:

Sincere

Briefly mention the specific act of kindness in your note, whether it’s a business opportunity, thoughtful gift, or help during a difficult time. You can also write about how you felt when you received your gift, or how you feel about the person who provided it.

Examples:

• I’m so grateful for the opportunity to help you find your new home.
• Just wanted to say a big THANK YOU for the coffee shop gift card.
• I truly appreciate you helping us care for our grandmother.

Personal

Whenever you can, mention something personal in your thank you note. If you received a gift, mention how you you will use it.  If you received a business referral, tell the referrer about how things are progressing with the new opportunity.

Examples:

• I am meeting with Mr. Smith to discuss our services next Tuesday, and I will be sure to keep you in the loop as our discussions continue.
• It gets chilly here in the winter, so I know I will wear the scarf you gave me quite often!

Short & Sweet

A thank you note is about one thing: showing appreciation for the kindness given to you. A good, concise thank you note should have between 4-7 sentences.

Warm Closing

Now it’s time to wrap up your note with a warm closing. There are plenty of options, so use the phrasing you feel comfortable with.

From Hallmark, here are some examples for thank you note closings: