Designing a Well Rounded Welcome Packet | BRAND BUILDING | TEAM CULTURE
Out of all the people in the world, your partner(s) chose YOU to do business with and that my friend is something to celebrate! I believe we have this teeny tiny window to show new partners just how excited we are about their decision and including a WELCOME PACKET is a great addition to any on boarding strategy.
So let's start by looking at ideas for the actual content.
There aren't any "rules" for content, after all this is your WELCOME PACKET but there are a few things to think about? What is the overall goal of the packet? For me, I want my new partners to feel welcome and I also want them to know some basics about our team and the business they joined. While a WELCOME PACKET is super fun (and it should be) it also serves a purpose for my team and that purpose is to set the stage for my leadership style, our team culture, healthy boundaries, etc.
Here is a list of things to consider:
An introduction, who are you as a leader
An overview of the team
Include what you need from them (if anything)
How partners can contact you
Your business hours
Include answers to all frequently asked questions
Team Swag
Whatever you choose to send it should be authentic to you and your team. This is a chance to give your new partners a look into what you stand for. My personal welcome letter focuses on welcoming them and reinforcing the decision they made. I remember when I started my business and while I was super excited, I was also scared. Don't underestimate how important reassurance can be for your new business owners.
FIVE TRUTHS
Next I outline what I call the FIVE TRUTHS about the business model, duplication, my role as their leader and more importantly their role as a business owner. You might have more than five or less than five "truths" to share. What's important here is to share your "truths". Take yourself back to when you first started and think about what you would have liked to hear as a new business owner. This section is all about setting your partners up for success.
WISH LIST | RECOGNITION
A person that feels appreciated will always do more than is expected and as a leader we have the honor of bringing out the best in others. Recognition can play a HUGE role in this. So, when you see something beautiful in your partners, speak it, share it, celebrate it ...
To make things easier on you and to have the biggest impact ask your partner how they prefer to be appreciated? We use LOVE LANGUAGES/APPRECIATION LANGUAGE on our team. If you don't know about this and would like to learn more, simply click the link and take the free quiz.
Now, it gets FUN. I ask my new partners to share with me their WISH LIST. I learn about their favorite brands, favorite stores, favorite candy, etc. I also learn their preferences for gift in various amounts because it isn't always the monetary value that matters. So find out a wide range so that you have several price points to work with. I ask the following:
If I were to send you a gift that cost ...
$5
$10
$20
$50
$100
$200
$500
What would you choose?
I keep this list on hand and reference it when I send them goodies. This way I know I'm sending something they value.
WHERE TO FIND ME
Think of this as your social media contact card. Where will your new partners find you and how can they contact you? In this section, I share all my social media profiles and my personal contact information. I also share my personal preference for interaction, my business hours and how/where to schedule time with me. Sounds pretty basic, huh? And it is but it helped cut down on all the initial back and forth that typically comes when a new partner joins your team.
SWAG
I LOVE LOVE LOVE swag! Who doesn't love cute swag?!? The options for swag are endless and I'm happy to share things I've done and the vendors I've used but before we do that here are a few things to consider:
Cost
Duplication
Storage
Weight
Cost is important because we're savvy business ladies FIRST which means we understand how to manage budgets and how to properly identify what our promotions/marketing spend should be based on profits. So be smart, know your cost per unit and ensure it fits within the budget you've set aside. SUPER SAVER ... If you're able to do your own design work, it will help significantly with costs.
If you're purchasing in bulk (which also helps with cost) make sure you know where you're going to store the items? I've used my office closet as well as the raw storage in our basement. Get creative and organized so you can quickly and easily put your WELCOME PACKETS together.
The overall weight of each item can impact shipping costs so work with your local post office or shipping service of choice to know weight and size limits. For example, the cost of shipping a coffee mug is higher than the cost of shipping a tumbler. You get the idea.
I like to include items that will be used like notepads, pens and tumblers as well as items that can be used for business like these awesome conversation starter cards.
The opportunities are endless and there isn't a right or wrong here. Think about what you would like to receive and that will be the start of an incredible WELCOME PACKET.
PACKAGING
Packaging is just as important as what's inside! You haven't gone to all this effort to go cheesy now. Think about how you feel when you open a beautifully wrapped gift. It makes you feel ridiculously special! How about if that same gift was carelessly put into a brown bag. Still the same gift but the vibe is totally different. The brown bag is definitely a vibe killer, right?
We're not going to let your WELCOME PACKET fall victim to unattractive packaging. Make sure each element of your packaging blends well with your brand and team culture to get your partners excited about their choice to work with you from the GET GO!
I chose these sturdy white mailer boxes from ULINE to house our WELCOME PACKET goodies with colorful shredded paper (also from ULINE or smaller quantities from Target or Wal-Mart). The boxes come in a variety of sizes so you can get just the right size and they are super sturdy which means your contents will be protected. They are also fun to open!
The welcome sticker is from Sticker Mule and the packaging tape is made by Scotch and comes in a variety of patterns. To find a pattern you like, click here.
There are tons of options and ideas that you could include in your WELCOME PACKET that is specific to your leadership style and your team culture. I hope this inspires YOU to come up with something that is authentically YOURS and shows your new partners just how much you appreciate them.