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As a person who handles mail for a living I can assure you a typewritten letter, or should I say envelope, is a sure-fire way to have somebody open the letter.

As a person who handles mail for a living I can assure you a typewritten letter, or should I say envelope, is a sure-fire way to have somebody open the letter. I once used a typewriter to ask a large Ranch technological Training Company company if they had any scholarships for old-time programmers ( I was one) who were out of the game for a decade or so. I was told my letter was passed around like a novelty and - yes I did receive the scholarship and was able to learn iOS 4. (And learn about HN)

jseliger 10y ago
I can assure you a typewritten letter, or should I say envelope, is a sure-fire way to have somebody open the letter. It's interesting that you say that, as I'm a consultant who does grant writing for nonprofit and public agencies (see http://www.seliger.com http://www.seliger.com if you're curious). We send fee quote letters via email but we also send snailmail letters that arrive a day or two later. Potential clients often make their decisions before the letters arrive, but sometimes those letters jar indecisive potential clients into making a decision, and sometimes those letters sit on their desks for months until another grant opportunity comes along. A physical letter and card are often easier to find and sort than voluminous email. This might not feasible for high-volume businesses, but it's been very effective for us. The email follow-up arrives the same day, and the physical letter a few days after that.
- losteverything 10y ago
  I bet you use a real stamp too that has to be "pasted" on. First class letters get forwarded too. I throw so many letters "away" (UBBM) and the sender has no idea it never made it. Plus many people don't open theor mail right away or they are away from their house for a long period Of time. A first class letter that doesn't look machine-made is always an intriguing "open"

jseliger 10y ago

I can assure you a typewritten letter, or should I say envelope, is a sure-fire way to have somebody open the letter. It's interesting that you say that, as I'm a consultant who does grant writing for nonprofit and public agencies (see http://www.seliger.com http://www.seliger.com if you're curious). We send fee quote letters via email but we also send snailmail letters that arrive a day or two later. Potential clients often make their decisions before the letters arrive, but sometimes those letters jar indecisive potential clients into making a decision, and sometimes those letters sit on their desks for months until another grant opportunity comes along. A physical letter and card are often easier to find and sort than voluminous email. This might not feasible for high-volume businesses, but it's been very effective for us. The email follow-up arrives the same day, and the physical letter a few days after that.

losteverything 10y ago
I bet you use a real stamp too that has to be "pasted" on. First class letters get forwarded too. I throw so many letters "away" (UBBM) and the sender has no idea it never made it. Plus many people don't open theor mail right away or they are away from their house for a long period Of time. A first class letter that doesn't look machine-made is always an intriguing "open"