The Lost Art - Hand Written Notes and Letters

When was the last time you received a handwritten letter or note? How did it make you feel? Now, when was the last time that you took the time to hand write a letter to someone?

I recently surveyed a few of my colleagues at dinner. I asked them - “When was the last time you received a handwritten note from someone.” One guy immediately responded, “not since grade school.” He was joking, of course, but I bet that many of you feel exactly the same way. It’s been a really long time…

So why don’t we engage in this type of personal communications any more? Let’s take look at some of the reasons why this might be a little uncomfortable for us.

The most obvious reason, obvious that is to everyone except our parents, is the fact that the digital world has had a profound effect on how we communicate. Easy access to cell phones, crackberries, e-mail, and the internet have made an already attention-span challenged generation even more so. We’ve adapted to our digital surroundings with enthusiasm. It’s a relatively simple matter today to write a quick e-mail note, upload a few pictures of a recent trip, and blast off a communication to all our buddies at once. This is a really cool and effective way to move information, but this style of communication will not meet all of our needs, particularly when it comes to business.

Handwritten communications are not something that we practice everyday - we’ve gotten to the point where the keyboard, not the pen, is what we are most comfortable with. With a pen, you now begin to second guess yourself - “will they be able to read my handwriting?” “Is my grammar and spelling correct?” We’ve become so dependent on the tools of a technology-driven generation that we’re not sure if we can really write anymore. The bottom-line is that we’ve gotten rusty at writing letter and notes. And, because productivity in our fast-paced lives has become paramount, we just don’t take the time…

So, let’s ask ourselves - “What’s the point”? Why would you want to turn back the clock and start communicating this way? What’s to gain?

To begin with, a handwritten note will SET YOU APART! It distinguishes you as an individual who values personal correspondence (and takes the time to make a direct connection). People are always pleased and surprised to receive a personal note. Whether it’s a thank you note, regrets for not being able to attend a gathering, or a condolence - you’ll find many everyday uses for this intimate type of correspondence.

Now this may seem a little old-fashioned for some, but putting this into practice can really pay off, especially in terms of the good-will that you will generate. And, it doesn’t take a lot to make it happen - all you really need is some good paper (or better yet some good note cards - preferably engraved) and a nice pen and you’re all set.

To find out what MEN are doing for personal correspondence today I made an informal survey of a local stationer that caters to an upscale clientele (I encourage you to do the same). I hope you find this helpful…

• Men are most frequently purchasing what are called “correspondence cards”. These are 4 1/4 x 6 3/8 cards made of varying degrees of high-quality stock (based solely on individual preference). A typical correspondence card bears the man’s name at the top, a monogram, or a family crest with an address optionally printed at the bottom of the card. Corresponding envelopes with an address on the back complete the set.
  
• Men most often selected Black, Navy, or Hunter Green as their primary ink choice.
  
• More than 50% of the cards sold to men were ENGRAVED (more on this below)
• Stationery was also a product that was commonly ordered by male clients. Men typcially order “Monarch Size” paper (7 1/4 X 10 1/2) printed in very much the same styles and colors as the correspondence cards.
• Business statonary (8 1/2 X 11) was more typically furnished, not for personal correspondence, but for business communication.
• I was very surprised to learn that men were still using “personal calling cards”. Similar to business cards, a personal calling card is made from a high quality stock printed with a name, address, and sometimes phone number (they are almost always engraved).

*A note on engraving - There are really two ways to achieve a raised ink effect. Both the engraving and thermography processes produce similar results. The engraving process (the more expensive of the two) involves cutting an image or letters into a metal plate, the plate is then inked before moistened paper is pressed against the recessed plate in order to transfer the ink. Thermography, on the other hand, involves the addition of a special powder to the ink. After the ink is transfered to the paper it is then “cooked” in order to raise the letters. The easiest way to tell the difference between the two processes is to simply turn the finished product over. If you see the plate mark indentions in the paper then it was printed using an engraving process.

As an alternative to custom stationery, you will find a variety of pre-printed and embossed paper products at your local office supply store. This can be a great way to get started (especially if you have a pressing need). Try it for a week or two and I guarantee that you’ll be hooked - you just won’t believe the look on people’s faces when they get a personal note from you.

Here are some suggestions for getting started - you can send a note for almost any reason:

• A thank-you note
• A personal follow-up from a business meeting
• A note to accompany a gift

I always carry extra correspondence cards and envelopes in my briefcase. If I get your business card, you can bet that you’ll get a quick follow-up note from me… It’s a simple, straight-forward, and classy way to say how much I appreciated meeting with you.

If you would like to get more information on this subject, please check out some of the following books (you can order them directly by clicking on the associated links).

The Art of the Handwritten Note: A Guide to Reclaiming Civilized Communication By: Margaret Shepherd (Purchase this book at AMAZON.COM)

Business Notes: Writing Personal Notes that build Professional Relationships By: Florence Isaacs (Purchase this book at AMAZON.COM)

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