Between emails, instant messages and texts, it's easy to forget about pen and paper. Research done in 2012 found that of 2,000 study participants, a third could not remember having written by hand in the preceding six months. Handwriting may be in decline, but small-business owners should consider brushing up on their penmanship.
Hand written notes are an excellent way to network. The clearest reason for this is that they're unique, since most business correspondence happens over email. Because letter writing was such a standard practice before the popularity of email, the rarity of hand written letters only makes them stand out in a good way. Handwritten letters are really impactful for the person on the other end. Consider the last time you got a handwritten letter: Odds are good you were excited the moment you noticed your name in ballpoint ink on the envelope.
The excitement factor isn't the only effect your handwriting will have on the people in your network. Because handwritten letters are more personal than email, or even printed letters, they send a clear message. Actually writing out a letter to someone tells them that you valued reaching out to them enough to put in the effort. After all, anyone who has ever written a letter by hand knows that it calls for more time: The absence of a backspace key is nothing to scoff at. Letters also allow for a more personal touch, content-wise. Using the opportunity to touch on something you spoke about in person that's a little bit off-topic shows you remember them as a human being, not just another LinkedIn contact.
There's also something to be said about the physical aspect of snail mail. Sending a letter is an opportunity to give the reader something you forgot to hand them in person. There are probably people in your network you've only ever spoken to online or over the phone: Writing a letter is a chance to slip a business card or flyer into the envelope, reminding them what you and your business bring to the table.
Mastering the Handwritten Letter
If you're used to communicating through email, letter-writing can seem like a daunting task. Here are some quick tips to making sure your letter says all the right things:
- If your handwriting looks like a 10-year-old's, practice your penmanship. This takes time, but can be done pretty easily just by writing by hand more often. If you're not sure where to start, Paperpenalia.com has an extensive handwriting guide.
- Pre-write your letter on scrap paper so that you can get out any phrases that only make sense at the start of the sentence. Writing is a creative process, and you're going to make mistakes. Pre-writing helps those mistakes happen before you begin writing on your nice stationery
- If you don't have nice stationery, get some. High-quality paper sends the right message of care and detail, and a clear letterhead serves as a quick reminder for how to contact you. That way, your letter recipient can reach out to you with wonderful things like referrals and contracts.