During last week's #aptchat (Fridays, 4PM Eastern time on Twitter!!!) I had little brain firework go off.  We were discussing different follow up methods, and for some reason (probably because it was Friday), my mind drifted to that scene in Legally Blond where Reese Witherspoon gives the professor her resume, which is on pink paper and scented.  "It gives it a little something extra, don'tcha think?" she says.  After she has left the room, he hands the resume to his assistant and asks  him to smell it.  The assistant asks what it is and is told it's her resume.  "Smells good."

You know, if you've read some of my other blog posts, that the sense of smell is a powerful tool not to be overlooked.  It can trigger someone to buy or to walk away, it can revive memories, and through the use of pheramones, it's even responsible for the mating of most mammals (though this hasn't been conclusively proven in humans, but I'm personally leaning to the not being with stinky people side of the scales...).  Even the words, "Scratch'n'Sniff," take me way back to the days of fruit stickers on my homework.  So why not, as I brainstormed last week, scent your thank you and follow up notes?  It's that little extra touch that will help you stand out from your competition, and you can change the scents as the seasons change.  Right now, Bath and Body Works has a great fall smell, Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin, that would make your stationery stand out and be noticed.  A bottle of the "body spray" is about $9.50 and should last you quite a while, depending on the number of notes your office sends out.  One pump per note card would be plenty and the body spray is cheaper than the perfume while giving you the same effects.

Some other ideas to use smelly stationery to your advantage: If you're choosing to scent your office for the season, why not use a matching scent for the memory trigger?  Or, if you have several sister properties, why not agree on using the same scent between you all to help with your branding efforts?

You're only limited by your own creativity!  If you try this, I'd love to hear how it works for you!

 

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Heather is a consultant, speaker, and trainer in the Seattle area with BTLD Consulting.  Check out more of her property management ideas at www.behindtheleasingdesk.com !