The power of a ‘Thank You’ card

By | September 7, 2017

Remember that warm and fuzzy feeling that you got last time you received a handwritten card in the mail?

Dr. Wehking

Dr. Wehking

In a world that seems to grow more pessimistic every day, I’m using good ‘ol Thank You cards to celebrate the little victories in life and spread good vibes.  These little celebrations are helping not only my personal development, but also the growth of my practice.

Gratitude in my personal life:

My personal goal is to write one random Thank You note or positive Google/Yelp review per week.  I find that this goal helps me find the goodness in the every day activities like grocery shopping or ordering at a restaurant.  For example: “Wow!  Sheila really went out of her way to help me find the vitamins!”  Instead of, “Ugh, why are the vitamins always so hard to find?”

Gratitude in my practice:

Each new patient receives a thank you card from every team member that they came in contact with during their visit. While this may sound like a pain in the neck and just another thing to keep track of, it’s actually super easy.  We paperclip a Thank You card to each new patient’s paperwork and as we hand-off the patient from dentist to assistant to hygienist, every person takes 10 seconds (YES, IT LITERALLY ONLY TAKES 10 SECONDS) to add a little note to the card.

_DSC2728Writing a card (or leaving a review) gives me time in the day to stop and be thankful.  It’s my time to remember that my patients have chosen to trust *me* to care for them.

_DSC2718Sending good vibes is also a great marketing tool.  Not only will the patient get the warm and fuzzies when they receive your card in the mail, but its another point of contact with them to keep your office on their mind.  You know what’s really cool?  Sometimes we get a Thank You card back!  You certainly can’t deny that it just plain feels good to be appreciated.

Dr. Dawn Wehking graduated from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in 2010. She is a member of the American Dental Association, Colorado Dental Association and the Boulder/Broomfield County Dental Society. She was awarded Fellow status with the Academy of General Dentistry.  She finished the Spear Education curriculum, a place where great dentists go to learn how to be exceptional dentists.  She  serves as visiting faculty at Spear Education. Dr. Wehking is also an ADA Success Speaker, teaching dental students about life after dental school. Dr. Wehking owns a small private practice in Lafayette, Colorado. On her days off, you’ll find her with her furry children, enjoying Colorado’s great outdoors.

7 thoughts on “The power of a ‘Thank You’ card

  1. Pingback: The power of a ‘Thank You’ card - DENTAL COUNTRY

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  3. Od. Luis Marcano

    Thanks a lot!

    I think gratitude is a way to show we care, so, I write these lines to show you I care that you took the time to write this warming post!

    Best wishes from Caracas, Venezuela!

    Reply
  4. Pingback: Keeping it Personal at Your Orthodontic Practice - Ortho Sales Engine

  5. Tess Zigo, CFP®, CPA

    Absolutely loved this post! I’m in a different profession working as a financial planner but I love writing handwritten cards to clients and it really gives me as much joy as the person receiving (if not more). I would love to receive a card from my dentist -i think it’s such a nice, Human touch in the digital age we live in. It’s all about the little things.

    Reply
  6. Dr Sally Farhandi

    Whilst social media, texting and email are all relevant, this is one Brisbane dentist that tries to give a personal touch where ever possible, and a hand written card makes your business both personable and stand out from the crowd.
    It is a little gesture that goes a long way in an ever increasing online world.

    Reply

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