Back to Basics – The Handwritten Note

The mass reach of technology has incredible advantages for the event planning industry and should be used to increase brand awareness. Social media also has the ability to build a connection with your audience through more personal interactions and real-time response. Even with this said, in our age of insta-everything, hashtags, texting slang, and emoticons nothing may make you stand out more than a handwritten note.

In the spirit of the lazy days of summer, we poured ourselves a glass of lemonade, set up the hammock, and took a moment to think about how even in today's fast paced world, event planners could use handwritten notes to their advantage.

• Inviting High Profile Speakers - in addition to reaching out to them through their assistants and communication departments, think about writing a note that highlights why you think they would be a great fit for your event and what they will get out of it.
• Sponsor Thank You - imagine you invested thousands of dollars in an event. Of course you want metrics on the online click throughs, the lead gen lists, and the feedback on sponsored sessions. What if some of that information was delivered with a handwritten thank you note from event organizers highlighting the impact you had on the event? Something tells me that event may get priority in next year's budget.
• Vendor/Venue Thank You - after an event, take the time to write notes to the vendors and venue staff that made your life easier. Highlight their role in making your event a success. This practice not only meets the etiquette standards of Emily Post, but could earn you some incredible goodwill that may be reflected in the next cost estimate you get from the recipient.
• Gift for Small Events - we've written here about how smaller more intimate events are an opportunity to host in-person gatherings in light of smaller planning and travel budgets. Perhaps at one of these events, give attendees a stack of notecards (branded with your logo or event logo, perhaps) and encourage them to follow-up with one another after the event.

What about you? When is the last time you received a handwritten note for business? Do you make a practice of writing notes yourself? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Image credit: http://www.trailblazercoaching.com/286/82310-norms-1-operating-principle/