Do you wonder, like I do, if an email thank-you note is an appropriate way to show appreciation in a business context? Well, a growing number of decision makers consider an emailed business thank you note acceptable. But why not take that one step further and get the power of hand written, business thank you cards?

In a survey that goes back to 2003, the temporary staffing company Accountemps asked decision makers if they considered an email thank you message acceptable. Of those who responded, 26% considered an email response very appropriate, while another 52% considered it somewhat appropriate. On the other hand, 22% considered an email thank-you note either somewhat inappropriate or very inappropriate (you can make some allowance for changing attitudes in the marketing communication field since 2003).

Still, the chairman of Accountemps suggests that job seekers follow up with a personal, hand-written thank-you card. Max Messmer recommends an immediate note sent by email, with the hand-written card to follow up. From personal experience and from what I’ve heard from others, this seems like a good strategy, whether for job seeking, sales, or other encounters.

When you send a business thank you card, you’re getting the decision maker’s attention once again. As you likely know, many sales occur after multiple contacts. Those of us who sell would like to think we can get the sale on our first contact, and sometimes we do. But, for many products and services, especially those that have a significant price tag, it can take many contacts before the sale occurs.

That’s reasonable, too, when you think about it. After all, on first contact the prospect likely doesn’t know us or what we represent Only after a series of contacts will the prospect get to the point of trusting us and accepting our solution to his or her problem. Which helps explain why many sales managers emphasize follow-up, follow-up, and follow-up. Persistence pays.

The same could well be true for job seekers, who normally get just one chance to make an impression. By sending thank-you cards, though, candidates get a second chance to imprint their name and face on the mind of the recruiter. Sending a second, hand-written card, doubly emphasizes your interest and sincerity. In fact, I’d wager that the arrival of the hand-written note would have an even greater impact on the recruiter.

If you’re looking for a job, keep this in mind: the survey found that only 39% of job seekers followed up with a thank you message of any kind. So, by sending a business thank you card, you put yourself into a distinct class; by sending a second one, and especially if they’re personal and hand written, you’ve really set yourself apart from the rest of the pack.

Whether you’re selling yourself or selling widgets for somebody else’s company, don’t overlook the power of business thank you cards.