Many months back, I'm sitting in a conference room meeting with a public relations professional and she made a comment about my materials arriving via the USPS. She seemed a little surprised, but it sure got her attention.
We are in a society in which we are bombarded by e-mail. Being a nerd, I went back and counted.
Yesterday, I received 47 e-mails. It was actually a light day for the middle of the week. Also, I received one direct communication through Linkedin, two through an Ning I belong too and I don't have a clue how many tweets. Add to it that, while I received no e-mail through Facebook, there were quite a few "updates" from my friends. I'd hate to count.
That's why when I get a letter - an actual letter - it stands out. Letters of introduction, thank you notes, reminders, etc., are perfect fodder to sit down, write something out, address an envelope, actually stick a stamp on it and mail it off.
And I don't know...the appeal of getting such a letter today definitely exists, and its awfully nice to open your mail and get something that's not junk and not a bill.
Plus, it makes an impression.
Here are several in the last couple years that really impacted me:
- A thank you note. My best friend's son spent a couple weeks with me and about a week after he went home, I got a hand-written thank you note in the mail from him. That's classy in my book.
- About 18 months ago, I had to put a cat to sleep. The vet sent me a card with a thoughtful hand-written message, through the mail, after my final visit there. It was much appreciated and I still have it.
- Another thank you note. I was publisher of a newspaper and this note came from a public relations professional. Hand-written, I got the impression that she appreciated the time I gave her during our breakfast meeting to discuss her client.
Next time you really want to make an impression, think about sending a letter or note instead of an e-mail. Trust me, it works.
Note: Over the next week or two, I'll be moving to a new blog location, http://www.nashvillecopy.com/blog. I'll keep you posted about when the final move will take place.
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