Writing a Heartfelt Thank you Card

Saying It With Meaning.

In this digital age, it’s easy to forget that sometimes the best response is a paper thank you card.

A lot of us have lost the skill of hand writing because texting and emailing is what we do in this era of instant messaging. Nothing is wrong with that, really, but it certainly is not the appropriate response when writing a thank you card.

Here are a few tips to bear in mind when you’ve got to compose the perfect thank you note. Do it right, and the recipient will remember your graciousness always. Get it wrong, and they might miss the thank your message entirely!

1) The greeting should be informal. You don’t need to use “Dear” before writing the individual’s name unless this is a business thank you. If that’s the case, using “Dear” is fine. But if this is a thank you card for, let’s say, a wedding gift, begin with “Hello” and the person’s first name. And spell the name correctly! Nothing says ‘rushed’ like incorrectly spelling someone’s name on a thank you note, so take the time to confirm it, even if you think you know how it goes. Remember, even simple-sounding names like “Suzie” can be spelled unusually, like “Suzi,” perhaps, or even “Suzy.” Never assume you know.

2) Begin with why you’re thanking them, and be specific. Keeping with our example of thanking someone for a wedding gift, after the salutation, get straight to the thanks. A line like, “I’m writing to thank you for the lovely dishes you gave us on our wedding day” is clear, concise and to the point. Thank you cards aren’t meant to be lengthy diatribes. Use the 3 s’s as your guide- keep it short, simple, and sincere.

3) Say why their actions were so appreciated. Let’s say the dishes you received were on the list of wedding items you most wanted to receive, tell the recipient so. Say something along the lines of, “I know you had to order the dishes from out of town, and we greatly appreciate you going the extra mile to get them.” Again, one sentence usually sums up why you’re thankful, so be sure to include it.

4) The closing is just as important as the opening. When you finish the body of the card, close with “thanks again,” or words to that effect, do not use “yours truly” unless this is a business thank you for, perhaps, someone giving you an hour of their time at the office. If it’s a personal note, keep the closing personal too.

Thank you, cards have, in some ways, become a lost art since we have phones and computers so readily at our disposal. But they are every bit as vital as they’ve ever been, even if they’ve become a little less commonplace.

Writing someone a thank you card for their generosity or kindness should never fall out of fashion. Follow these tips, and even if you’ve never written one before, you can write a classy one, appreciated, and cherished. Sincerity is the key to a proper thank you card, so mean what you say, and the writing will take care of itself.

…..from a photographer and her shoes 📸👠