And this time…it’s personal. Why handwritten notes are making a comeback

On this blog, the other week, I was going on about old school communication, having received a handwritten letter (sort of) from my MP and a postcard from Jerry Marshall, who I’d met networking.

So, I had a few of my own postcards printed up and I’ve been sending them to people I’ve met out and about at networking events and conferences. I’ve even used them as thank you cards.

They were pretty cheap too. About £60, I think, for two hundred and something. Four colour one side and black on reverse.

I even fished out my old Waterman fountain pen to use and bought some new green ink. The downside, of course, is that my handwriting is a bit of a scrawl. And I’ve now got an inky middle finger. Sigh. Just like the old days.

 

Turner Ink postcard

IMG_0001

 

So far they’ve been really well received. And they’re a nice alternative to email.

What do you think? Do you send handwritten notes at all?

10 Comments
  • Ashleigh Grange
    Posted at 13:27h, 08 July Reply

    Absolutely! And I really think that writing personal, handwritten notes is an important part of my business and brand. I write thank you notes, postcards, greeting cards to clients to say hi, and other types of correspondence. I think sending something via postal mail every once in a while shows you have a deeper commitment and appreciation for your clients and their business than just sending a quickly jotted email.

  • Anne Michelsen
    Posted at 03:11h, 09 July Reply

    You bet! I have a huge box of illustrated greeting cards of my own design (I’m an artist as well as a copywriter/marketing consultant) and send them out as thank-you notes anytime anyone does anything nice for me (even if they’re not someone who might bring in business.)

    People seem to really like them. They provide a personal touch that’s often missing anymore from modern life.

    • Sarah Turner
      Posted at 11:14h, 18 July Reply

      Ashleigh and Anne
      Fantastic! Anne, I’d love to see some of your illustrations.

  • Clare Lynch
    Posted at 11:00h, 12 July Reply

    Great idea – would be interested in knowing where you got them done.

    • Sarah Turner
      Posted at 11:09h, 18 July Reply

      Hey Clare
      Prontaprint! I had them printed on card that was glossy one side and matt the other. So they’ve got that slightly old style 70s vibe going on!

  • Ben Locker
    Posted at 12:17h, 17 July Reply

    Brilliant idea. I always scribble a personal note on compliments slips, but that is very slapdash in comparison!

  • Johnny
    Posted at 14:32h, 19 July Reply

    Great post, thanks. Really like the glossy/ matt combination. And I think that handwritten notes feel a bit more trustworthy than emailed stuff(and show you’ve made an effort too).

  • Sally
    Posted at 14:22h, 20 July Reply

    This is a brilliant idea! I’m all for handwritten, personal messages – whenever we get a thank you card etc that someone’s taken the time and care to write and send it definitely means a lot more than a quick email (although that’s better than nothing!).
    Love the postcards you had printed too – fab picture on the front, old school typewriter for an old school postcard.

    • Sarah Turner
      Posted at 14:26h, 20 July Reply

      Thanks Sally! I just need to improve the ol’ scrawl. Although I did meet a handwriting expert yesterday who told me the worse your handwriting the more creative you are. So that’s my excuse. :-0

  • Mike Garner
    Posted at 10:39h, 19 September Reply

    I’ve been writing letters on Basildon Bond blue paper just like we used as kids when we were forced to write “thank you” letters. They certainly get attention!

Post A Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.