Printing Handwritten Letters w/ Mail Merge

9 replies
One of our mail pieces in our mailing campaign is a letter that appears to have been written by hand, which is written on yellow lined notebook paper.

The only thing that differs on each letter is the person's name at the beginning, and the address of the property we're contacting them about, which is located within the second paragraph.

Other than these two portions of information, everything else prints out onto the letter out of the copier. The copies are made from a white piece of paper that I sat over a piece of yellow lined paper, as I wrote the message with by-hand to make sure the words print-out on the blue lines of the paper when the copies are made.

I manually write the name and address on the letter for each recipient on each letter after they're printed-out.

My goal is to create a mail merge that can use my custom font to insert the names and addresses on the letters, so that I don't have to manually fill these in on each piece.

I just created a custom font for my computer that uses my handwriting, so I "could" type the letter out in Microsoft Word using my custom font, and just Mail Merge the name and address into the document from the Excel spreadsheet.

The issue with that approach, is that it's going to be tough to get the print-out to align properly on the lines on the notebook paper.


Do you have any suggestions as to how I can mail merge the two pieces of information so that they align properly on the notebook paper?

Or am I going to have to print the letters out on paper that ISN'T lined if I plan on using the mail merge/custom font to print these letters without having to manually write on each piece?
#handwritten #letters #mail #merge #printing #w or
  • Profile picture of the author Robert Domino
    Originally Posted by mrniceguy123 View Post

    Or am I going to have to print the letters out on paper that ISN'T lined if I plan on using the mail merge/custom font to print these letters without having to manually write on each piece?
    Just do it without the lines, which should have low impact on conversion anyway. Also, try pink paper, it has worked great for me.

    Now if I could find a decent postcard printer that does mail merge..
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8881088].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author mrniceguy123
      Why do you think the pink paper has made a difference?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8881338].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author savidge4
        Is it possible to line up the print to the lines, well kinda. you might get one or 2 but not 50 for sure. Just by the nature of the paper delivery process, it is far from exacting. However, I will note that HP products are easier to come darn close with. The preference having to do with the grabber / roller feed vs. the gravity feed.

        Ultimately the solution is going to lie somewhere in the middle. I would say that a handwritten perfectly straight piece of copy is not going to have the same effect of the lined paper.

        So the plausible solution.... Add the lines!

        Hope that Helps!
        Signature
        Success is an ACT not an idea
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8882334].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Robert Domino
        Originally Posted by mrniceguy123 View Post

        Why do you think the pink paper has made a difference?
        Why are you using yellow paper?

        Because it's different and catches people's attention. Anyone getting a handwritten letter on pink paper is going to read it.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8882612].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author karenfisher252
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8882818].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author andylan
      So you have added your font to your pull file in excel and when you complete the merge the size of that font messes up the format to where it doesn't fit your lines? If that isn't the problem let me know where in the process you are, there should be an easy fix if its just formatting
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8883951].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author PDA Marketing
    Recently I was speaking to someone about the letters on Yellow Lined Paper and he said that he had been using it successfully for years but recently stopped because it was getting expensive. He said that his calls just stopped. He was frantically trying to regroup and gain back the ground that he lost. This was one of many calls like this that I have taken. I do agree that the letters on Yellow Lined Paper produce leads, but to address the concern about whether it produces sales is the question. This really depends on your strategies for the conversion process. Are you a good closer or are you just another guy in the pack of guys going after the same piece of business? The letters on Yellow Lined Paper will get your piece to the "A" pile of mail and actually get it opened first, but for action to take place the what's next component must be addressed. Have you enclosed a business card or given the person some incentive to call you? Are you driving them to a landing page or free report that engages them? Will they get a second and third touch? OK...some of you are saying, "I just want the guy who is ready to sell his house." That's great, but remember this person is getting hammered with many messages. What will set you apart? What will set you apart is the personal touch. A hand written font like the "Andrea" font helps, but the language that you use to communicate is more important. Does your letter reach out and virtually shake the prospects' hand? Does it introduce you or your services? Does it EXPLAIN why you chose to use the Yellow Lined Letter? Wow...never thought of that, did you? The greater the ticket or more lengthy the process the more you need to focus on the trust-based aspect to your marketing techniques. People don't want to be sold. They want a problem to be solved. Here is why the letters on Yellow Lined Paper and hand written font (including copy enhancements) work, they are wrong. The person's brain receiving the Letter on Yellow Lined Paper views it as wrong.
    Look what Psychology Today says about this:
    It turns out that there are two typical brain responses to mistakes. One looks like a "wake up call." The brain hones in on the negative outcome, and treats it like a problem that needs solving. What happened, and why? The brain also increases its attention during the next decision, as if it is trying to prevent a repeat of the mistake. When this happens, people are much more likely to improve their performance and learn from the mistake.
    The second brain response looks more like a shutting down. The brain reacts to the negative feedback itself as a threat. To escape feeling bad, or doubting one's abilities, the brain chooses to not think about the mistake. Interesting, people whose brains show this shutting down response pay much more attention to positive feedback.

    So...once you have captured the attention of the audience, provide the positive personal feed back that is needed and response will increase.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9010177].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author RRG
      No one is going to read your 50-line paragraph.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9012999].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author LastWarrior
        Originally Posted by RRG View Post

        No one is going to read your 50-line paragraph.
        LOL! Said by someone who subjects his customers to lengthy monthly newsletters instead!

        ===========================

        mrniceguy123,

        You said it's a mailing campaign letter. Is this a first time sales letter? If so.... and I were to receive it, I'd maybe feel odd as to how it looks... and why? I understand the personal touch and all and in the service industry, it's a great move. So is this a first time contact or some sort of follow up contact for previous customers?

        LastWarrior
        Signature



        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9013243].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author RRG
          Originally Posted by LastWarrior View Post

          LOL! Said by someone who subjects his customers to lengthy monthly newsletters instead!

          ===========================

          mrniceguy123,

          You said it's a mailing campaign letter. Is this a first time sales letter? If so.... and I were to receive it, I'd maybe feel odd as to how it looks... and why? I understand the personal touch and all and in the service industry, it's a great move. So is this a first time contact or some sort of follow up contact for previous customers?

          LastWarrior
          I think you missed the point.

          No one is going to read a 50-line paragrah.

          But 15 three-line paragraphs . . . much more likely.

          As for newsletters, my way of doing them . . . you can read a 4-page newsletter cover-to-cover, word-for-word, in 7-10 minutes.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9014026].message }}

Trending Topics