I read the opinion piece by syndicated columnist Tom Purcell about handwritten letters (Sept. 3 Review-Journal, “The handwritten letter makes a comeback”).
Over the past several months, I’ve discovered that trying to increase my customer base by locating the emails of principals of companies has pretty much become a non-starter. Even though practically everyone has an email address, it is not easy to get one of those belonging to the person in a decision-making position.
Seems they all have a host of “gatekeepers” who prevent most anyone from contacting them. Then, if you are successful obtaining the email address, chances are it will “bounce back,” as you are not on their list of approved contacts.
As a result, I’ve started using the old-style method of letter-writing. Not a cursive style, but a professionally created business letter. Though that person may not open and/or read your email message, once a letter arrives, that person will open it and read it. Do they respond? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. However, had I not taken the initiative to write, that person would never have known who I am.
