Today’s guest post was written by Arian Radmand, CEO & President of IgnitePOST

Why handwritten notes make sense

Consumers crave connection. They want to be made to feel special – to be interacted with in a mindful, human way. Every point of contact a brand has with a consumer is an opportunity to provide purpose, bridge a deeper connection, and build a meaningful relationship.

So why are so many brands still relying solely on impersonal digital efforts? In 2019, 293 billion emails were sent and received worldwide every day. To stand out, brands need to cut through this clutter and stand out in a memorable way. Handwritten notes help brands stand out. 

Touch is the first sense we acquire. It’s a language in and of itself, but one that is getting left behind in favor of mass digital communication. New research suggests that touch is fundamental to human connection and bonding. According to Psychological Science, exploring objects through touch can generate detailed, durable memories for those objects, even when we don’t intend to memorize the object’s details.

When we give another person a tangible object, we are nearly guaranteeing a lasting memory. Touch is an untapped market, a memorable and authentic means of communicating with consumers. If used correctly, the massive influx of emails people send each day, as well as the number of ads thrown at us could not compete with touch. So what’s the best way to leverage this vast market? The answer lies in handwritten notes or letters.

Reclaim the art of the handwritten note

It’s time for businesses to reclaim the lost art of the handwritten letter. Taking the time to write to someone does not go unnoticed. It shows you value that person. This is because letters are tangible. There is emotion attached to receiving a letter. In fact, 57% of people claim receiving mail makes them feel more valued.

By using handwritten mail, businesses meet consumers’ needs in a way competitors can’t. Despite the digital revolution, Americans are still incredibly enthusiastic about their interactions with personal letters and cards, with 95% of young adults saying they feel positively about receiving a personal letter. In an age of constant communication, the deliberate act of sending a letter is novel. We’ve become so accustomed to receiving an email or text message, that our brain glosses over them. In contrast, when we receive something in the mail, audience attention is instantly captured. This letter will take a person away from the distractions of technology. It will require them to disconnect for just a few moments to soak up the message on the page. This is a significant act.

According to Scientific American, researchers have suggested that people comprehend less when they read on a screen, as compared to paper, because screen-based reading is more physically and mentally taxing. Sending a handwritten letter offers consumers a chance to disconnect from technological stimuli for just enough time to appreciate and take note of the gesture.

Print never really left

It’s not that ‘print is coming back.’ In many ways, it never really left. We as humans just have the perception that it ‘left’ because we’ve grown so accustomed to the quickness and convenience of the digital era. Perhaps this is why businesses shy away from sending their consumers handwritten notes as, compared to instantaneous emails, they take more time to craft. This, however, is no longer the case. As more companies tap into the ‘market of touch,’ automated handwriting services are on the rise.

Companies like IgnitePOST, for example, offer robotically handwritten notes at scale. With this technology available, delivering handwritten notes to loyal customers can be as easy as sending a text message or an email. This allows businesses to accelerate and foster meaningful, memorable relationships and experiences without adding workload. Handwritten letters make for a massive opportunity to stand out to your audience in the digital world. 

About our guest author Arian Radmand

He is the CEO & Founder of IgnitePOST.com, a handwritten mail service that enables businesses to develop deeper relationships with customers & prospects. IgnitePOST does this by combining software and robotics to allow businesses to send real pen & ink letters that are indistinguishable from human handwriting. We believe authentic, personalized communication is the key to more sales and happier customers.

Prior to IgnitePOST, Arian was CoFounder at CoachUp, Inc. CoachUp is the nation’s leading sports coaching company. There, he raised $15M in venture-capital, built the category-leading brand, was fortunate enough to partner with 2X NBA Champion & MVP Stephen Curry as CoachUp’s lead spokesman, and made the Inc 5000 list in 2018. For this, Arian was a Forbes 30 Under 30 Award Winner in 2015.