The art of handwriting

There is still a place for the handwritten card in today’s communications regime. KIRSTY DUNPHEY

By Kirsty Dunphey

Why send a handwritten card?

1. People keep them – I’ve seen plenty of handwritten cards lovingly saved on the fridge, desk or a mantle. I’m yet to see too many emails, faxes or text messages souvenired like this.
2. Hand written envelopes are more likely to be opened – because people then know it’s not going to be a bill, some lame business letter or a speeding ticket.
3. It’s different – in this day of email, texting, IMing, Facebooking and MySpacing, a handwritten card harks back to a gentler era where people cared more – OK, I agree that’s a bit lame, but it shows that you were prepared to spend two minutes of your time and a stamp rather than just firing off some ill thought-out misspelled email.
4. Why send a handwritten card? Cos the ones written with your feet just aren’t as neat.

Tips for sending a handwritten card:

1. Find a groovy card that says what you want and stands out. I’ve had my own line done up with quotes that reflected the type of message I want to get across, like: “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible – Walt Disney”.
2. Make it stand out. Use a marker instead of a pen. Again, it’s different to what people usually get. Different makes people look. Your message will keep them looking.
3. It’s a personal form of contact so take the time to write a personal message! This goes for your Christmas and birthday cards as well – there’s all that blank space inside the card so that you can actually write something. “Dear Kirsty, from Kirsty” ain’t gonna cut it.
4. Attach a business card. It’s personal, sure, but a business card means the person can easily get in touch with you afterwards – to thank you, to do business with you, to get a coffee, whatever.

Kirsty Dunphey is one of Australia’s most publicised young entrepreneurs and is the founder of www.reallysold.com – the ultimate tool to help real estate agents write amazing advertisements. The youngest ever winner of the Australian Telstra Young Business Woman of the Year award, Kirsty started her first business at 15, her own real estate agency at 21, was a self-made millionaire at 23 and a self-made multi-millionaire at 25. For more information on Kirsty or either of her books – Advance to Go, Collect $1 Million and Retired at 27, If I can do it anyone can, or to sign up to her weekly newsletter head to: www.kirstydunphey.com

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