How to Write a Thoughtful Thank You Note
How to Say "Thank You for Your Thoughtfulness" in a Thoughtful Way
When someone does something nice for us, we often feel grateful. It's natural to want to express that gratitude in some way. One of the best ways to do that is by writing a thank you note. A well-written thank you note can show your appreciation in a very meaningful way. It can also make the person who received it feel good about themselves.
But sometimes, it can be hard to know what to say. How do you capture all of your feelings and put them into words? And how do you make sure your note is personal and unique? And how can you ensure that your sentiment conveys as completely as possible? Certainly, writing "thank you" isn't difficult, but making your message heartfelt and profound, while keeping it focused on the recipient can be more challenging.
Don't worry! We're here to help. In this article, we'll discuss various techniques for writing thoughtful thank you notes. We'll also briefly touch upon the importance of gratitude and personalization. Ready? Let's get started!
SEE ALSO: Should a Thank You Note Be Handwritten?
The Importance of Conveying Your Gratitude to Others
It can be hard to put your feelings into words, but when you let someone know how much they've done for you, it's truly invaluable. After all, showing appreciation is one of the best ways to bring positivity to someone else's life. And doing so will make them feel good about themselves as well as about their kindness towards you.
To maintain a strong relationship with someone, it's helpful to send them heartfelt thank you notes when the occasion warrants it. This will show the recipient that they are valued and appreciated for what they've done. In other words, it lets them know you're thankful for their gifts and attention.
Getting into the habit of writing these notes will also help improve your own life as well as those around you. Expressing gratitude can benefit not only your relationships but also your overall outlook on life. People who practice gratitude tend to be happier than those who don't express appreciation often enough, so remember this next time you feel like taking someone for granted!
SEE ALSO: Zapier Thank You Cards
Fostering Relationships Through Gratitude
As mentioned above, expressing gratitude is one of the best ways to build rapport with another individual. But you don't have to thank a person face-to-face for your words to be effective. In fact, sending a letter or card is an excellent way to strengthen ties with others because it allows you to focus on exactly why you appreciate them so much without any distractions or interruptions.
It's also easier to express yourself when you don't have to worry about the other person responding immediately, as they would in a face-to-face conversation. If you're stuck as to what to write, consider using one of these three generic categories:
Offering Support
If someone has been there for you during a tough time, then show your support by thanking them for their help and trustworthiness. Let them know that you understand how valuable they are and how much their support means to you. Offer them a warm welcome and promise to be there for them. And don't be afraid to tell them why you feel the way you do!
SEE ALSO: How Do You Say Thank You Meaningfully?
OFFERING GRATITUDE
If someone offered to help you with something or listened to what was wrong, it's essential that you thank them accordingly. That means writing an honest note about how happy you were when they extended a helping hand as well as why they made such a difference in your life. It might even be helpful to mention some of those times when things were tough, but they supported and encouraged you along the way.
Informing Someone About the Impact They've Made
If a mentor or close friend has been molding your outlook on life, then take a moment to let them know how much they mean to you. After all, there's no better way of showing appreciation than informing someone just how much their wisdom has improved your life in some way. By taking the time to write this kind of letter, you'll be able to thank them on a personal level while also letting them know what they've brought into your life.
Gather Your Thoughts Before You Begin
People often write notes stream-of-consciousness. They start at the beginning and just write whatever comes into their mind. This can be problematic for handwritten thank you notes because it's difficult to undo what you've written. If you miss an important point or forget to mention something, you'll have a difficult time working it in at the end.
Instead, jot down all of the things you'd like to say on a separate piece of paper. Don't worry about editing yourself or writing too much. At this stage, you're simply gathering a bunch of potential material. Once you begin writing your thank you note, you'll use this "brain dump" to guide your process, editing, and structuring as you go.
SEE ALSO: 7 Thank You Letter Closings
Writing Your Thank You Note
Now that you've got your thoughts in order, it's time to write the letter itself. There are several ways to make this task easier for yourself:
- Try writing on stationery instead of regular paper. It will automatically set the right tone and make the words more formal. If you're writing in a card, choose a design that accentuates your desired message. That way, the front of your card sets the stage for what your recipient will find inside.
- If you're not confident in your own penmanship, have someone else type up what you want to say, then print it out before adding your own personal touch with a handwritten message. The extra care you put into something handwritten will show just how much thought went into each word (or have Simply Noted write them for you.)
- If possible, send a thank you note within 24 hours of receiving the gift or favor. That way, you'll strike while the iron is still hot, and their memory will be fresh in their mind. The longer you wait to say "thanks," the less impactful your sentiment will be. Wait too long, and your thank you might flop completely.
SEE ALSO: How Do You Start A Late Thank You Note?
Giving Your Thank You Note an Extra Personal Touch
Whether you're thanking someone for birthday money after they attended your birthday party or you're thanking people for thoughtful gifts they brought to your baby shower or graduation party, it's important to add a personal touch. Beyond handwriting your thank you notes, there are other things you can do to personalize them:
- Include a picture with your thank you card so that they can see how grateful you really are. It doesn't have to be anything fancy; any photo you take on your phone should do the trick. Just make sure that whoever's face is in it knows how much they mean to you!
- Add a handwritten poem or quote to show that you took the time to read what they wrote and make it meaningful.
- If you're writing a thank you note for your family, add in a photo of everyone together. It's not only a great keepsake but also one more way to put a smile on their face!
- Use stickers or stamps with symbols that remind them of the person who gave them the gift or did something nice for you, such as an anchor if your friend is the captain of the football team, a skateboard if they always ride their board around school—you get the idea! Not only will this further personalize your card, but it will let them know how much thought went into choosing these details.
SEE ALSO: 5 Sample Sympathy Thank You Notes
Letter Templates You Can Use for Thanking Someone
If you're having a tough time starting your thank you message, here are a few ideas as a starting point. You can use them as they are or change them around to fit your situation. Whatever you do, speak from your heart. When you mince words and cloak your true feelings, your message usually gets muddled and loses its impact. The same goes for the end of your thank you card. Whether you're thanking your boss, your friend, or your business contact, read on.
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Dear Bill,
Thank you so much for helping me with [the aided situation]! I can't tell you how grateful I am that you were willing to do that for me! It means a lot since it showed me that you care about my well-being and our relationship. Right now, I honestly don't know what I would do if it weren't for you. You are such a thoughtful friend, so thank you again for everything, and take care!
Big thanks!
Joe
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Dear Leslie and Jim,
Thanks so much for the generous wedding gift. We will be forever grateful for such a thoughtful gift. Your card was really moving, and we're certain that your generous gift card will come in handy as we set up our new home together. Thanks again for the lovely gift. It was great seeing you at the ceremony, and we're glad you could spend our wedding day with us!
Warm wishes,
Bob and Goldie
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Dear Linda,
I want to thank you so much for offering such valuable advice when I was in a difficult situation! Not only did your words give me the strength to persevere, but they also taught me how important it is to trust myself and my instincts. You helped make all of this possible, and I can never adequately express my gratitude because of that! Thanks again for being such an amazing friend!
With gratitude,
Larry
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Dear Philip,
I just wanted to say how much your support means to me. I'm so grateful for everything you've done, and it was such a comfort knowing that you're always there to listen or offer encouragement. You've helped make this difficult time much easier, and I honestly don't know what I would do without a sweet friend like you.
Thank you again!
Sally
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Dear Randy,
I just wanted to thank you again for the wonderful meal the other night. It was so delicious, and I meant every word when I said that it was one of my favorites. You've really outdone yourself! We all had a great time, too, and it was great being able to sit back and relax with everyone after such a tough day. Thanks again, Philip, we'll definitely be talking about this for years to come!
Well done!
Nick
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Dear Gary,
Thank you so much for coming over last week while we were moving Mom into her new place. It really meant a lot to me to have your support during such a stressful time. Even though there's still a lot left to do, just knowing you are there is enough. Thank you for everything!
Your friend,
Brenda
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Dear Michael,
Thank you so much for the thoughtfully written letter. I'm glad that both of our minds were put at ease after reading it. It meant a great deal to me, and I'm grateful beyond words that we have friends like you around during this trying time!
Sincerely,
Rhonda
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By using one of these templates (or creating your own), you'll be able to say exactly what needs to be said without having to stress over the wording.
When you let another person know how grateful you are for their help or advice, they will be positively impacted. This is because receiving gratitude makes people feel validated and appreciated. And thusly, this encourages them to continue doing good deeds for others.
SEE ALSO: Best Friend Thank You Card Ideas
The Importance of Personalization
When writing a thank you note, personalizing it as much as possible is important simply because it allows your letter to stand out from all of the others that have been sent out by other people. You want your thank you cards to really strike home with those who receive them, so make sure that there's always something unique about each one.
Imagine you were a business sending out thank you notes to your customers. If you chose a single, generic thank you message and sent it to everyone, what do you think are the chances that each customer will feel you're thanking them personally?
Probably not very good. They'll recognize that you put very little effort into expressing your gratitude, sending the same message to everyone.
SEE ALSO: 8 Donation Thank You Letter Ideas
How Personalization Makes a Difference
How different would the reaction be if you personalized your thank yous? If you address each recipient by name and include some personal information that only applies to them, suddenly, your gratitude feels focused on the recipient and thus considerably more impactful.
The key here is to make your note feel like it's written specifically for them, not just the standard generic message that could be used for anyone. You've likely received generic messages yourself, and one of the reasons they're boring is because they aren't tailored to any particular person—they could have been sent by anybody. Being able to address someone by name gets across the fact that what they did had meaning to you personally. And this technique can also emphasize how much their contribution has impacted you, too!
When crafting personalized thank you messages to a friend or family member, take some time to investigate what made them happy or satisfied them in some way. This can help you to pinpoint what they did for you specifically. To show your gratitude, find the action that meant the most to you and thank them in specific detail—not just in passing or with a single word. You want to make sure they know exactly how much they've done for you!
Handwrite It and Mail Your Thank You (or Better, Let Simply Noted Do the Work)
One thing about writing an email is that there's no guarantee it will get read; sometimes, messages are lost in spam folders or never opened by recipients. Additionally, when people read your words on their computer screen, they aren't able to feel what you actually wrote like they would if reading on paper.
That's why it's better to handwrite cards and send them through snail mail. When someone puts effort into writing something down by hand, it's usually assigned significantly more value.
If you send large volumes of thank you notes, consider the time savings available from Simply Noted. We utilize a fleet of custom-designed handwriting machines and proprietary smart fonts to create the most convincing, automated handwritten cards and letters on the market. With Simply Noted, you get the emotional impact of handwritten communications, along with all of the personalization, without any of the work!
