How to use Facebook for thank you notes

We're all a little lax when it comes to sending as many "thank you" notes as we should.
That's where Facebook comes in. It's the perfect platform for thank you missives that can be personalized and shared, giving a public shoutout to someone who's done you a solid.

See also: Fake a handwritten note with these 4 online services

Here's our how and why of using Facebook to say thanks. Let us know your ideas in the comments below.

Thank you scenarios

Image: Facebook

There are endless ways in which Facebook is ideal for sending a thank you note.

• Someone's given you/your child/your pet a gift. Snap a picture of the recipient with said gift and create a photo post, tagging the giver as a thank you. You get to show her how much the present was appreciated and she gets a public shoutout for her thoughtfulness.
• You enjoyed a delicious meal at someone's home. Be sure to grab a tasty-looking image of the food and the next day, post a Facebook #foodgram complimenting his amazing cuisine and tagging him as the chef. He'll be flattered you liked the food so much to create a post.
• You were invited to a party or other event. Take some arty shots and create a mini-gallery on Facebook, tagging the organizer. Make sure you mention details (the decorations, the venue, the music, etc.) so the organizer knows you really noticed the small things.
• If you want to say a thank you for a deed or kindness, but there's no obvious visual, think about what your recipient really loves. A cute picture of her favorite animal, a quirky image to make her smile, or a beautiful arty photo can work just as well.

Unlike traditional thank you cards, the great thing about social "thank yous" is that the person, or people, you're thanking get to post an instant "you're welcome" by commenting under it. Good feels all around.

Native Facebook posts

Image: Facebook

Once you've created your photo post, don't forget to tag the person (by typing the "@" sign and selecting their name from the list that appears).
You can also add a "feeling" emoticon to further enhance your message. Just click on the yellow smiley at the bottom of your post to choose a suitable emotion, such as grateful, loved, thankful or delighted.
If you think your recipient would like it, add cartoon "stickers" to your photo: Once you've uploaded it, hover over the pic and click on the paintbrush-shaped "edit" icon. You can browse and add stickers.

Creating your own

Of course, you could always make your own digital thank you card and upload this as a Facebook image. A variety of sites and apps can help. We like the Red Stamp app for iOS. It lets you pay to create real cards and send them, but also gives you the ability to make free digital versions.
You can choose from a great selection of thank you card templates, add images and designs to make it personal, then upload your finished design to Facebook, remembering to tag the individuals you want to thank.

Image: Mashable, MJ Franklin

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