We understand the appeal, we do. E-cards are convenient. Why would you head to the store, handwrite a card, address it, and stick it in the mail when you don’t need to? E-cards are sent instantly, created easily in a simple, online interface and you’re able to send the same sentiments you would in a physical card, but with far less work.  

 You tell yourself that your recipient doesn’t care. “People are used to getting e-cards today, “ you think. “There’s no real benefit to sending a handwritten thank you card anymore.” 

 Well, your instincts are almost certainly good, but they’re misleading you on this one. E-cards are convenient, but they’re a poor substitute for the immediacy and physical presence of a handwritten thank you card. E-cards are cheap in a recipient’s eyes. They require no investment, either financial or time, so they hold little value. They’re essentially email, dressed up with pictures and a bit of animation. 

 Handwritten thank you cards are the best way to put emotional gravity behind your gratitude. They require care and intention, putting pen to paper in an act of direct communication. Their creation takes a force of will — an attempt to reach out across the distance by sending a piece of the writer. When you want to say thank you, only a handwritten card does the trick. 

 And here’s where things get interesting. With Simply Noted, you can send handwritten thank yous as quickly and easily as an e-card. Ready to ditch e-cards now?

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HANDWRITTEN THANK YOU CARDS AREN’T CONVENIENT? THINK AGAIN

Traditional handwritten cards certainly trade convenience for a broader emotional appeal. But handwritten cards no longer need to be written by hand. You can order them easily, using a simple online interface — much like an e-card — and they’ll be generated by advanced handwriting machines using real ballpoint pens. Simply Noted fuses the convenience of an e-card with the physical presence of a handwritten thank you card. 

 You don’t need to trade away authenticity, either. We’ve developed proprietary smart fonts, powered by a sophisticated AI, that replicate the subtle variances and details of natural handwriting to create a convincing illusion that’s indistinguishable from the real thing. You can opt to complete the illusion by sending in a handwriting sample to recreate your style in stunning detail. 

 With Simply Noted, you don’t have to trade convenience for a heartfelt, handwritten message. And you aren’t limited to a single card. We can handle any volume of handwritten thank you cards, from tens to thousands. Each can be personalized on the fly to include recipient-specific information. When you switch to Simply Noted, your family, friends, customers, and clients won’t realize you stopped hand-penning your cards. It’s the best of both worlds.

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NEED MORE REASONS TO DROP E-CARDS? TRY THESE

For every reason to send e-cards, you’ll find two that support handwritten thank you cards. If all you’re concerned about is price — and you don’t care that your recipients aren’t impressed — you can stick with e-cards. For everyone else, the decision to leave e-cards behind should be simple.

A Handwritten Thank You Card is More Personal

Your handwriting is an essential part of your identity. No one else shares your penmanship style. It’s unique Your voice is also exclusive to you. When you speak, people you know recognize your voice immediately. It conveys the subtleties of nuances of your unique perspective. Your conversation partners recognize it immediately. 

 When you send a handwritten card, you’re expressing yourself with your handwriting instead of your voice. Both are equally expressive and incomparable in different ways. An email feels cold by comparison.

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Cards Feel Like a Gift

When we’re celebrating someone, we give gifts — for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and more. The present is a physical manifestation of whatever sentiment we’re hoping to convey. Gratitude is another form of celebration, one that honors the sacrifice someone made for you. We don’t generally give gifts in this situation — we send handwritten thank you cards instead.

A Handwritten Thank You Card Is a Keepsake

The human brain likes tangible objects — items we can touch, manipulate, and display. E-cards have no physicality. Apart from your computer screen, they don’t exist. After they’re read, they fade into obscurity. 

 In comparison, handwritten cards can be keepsakes, placed on a table or rest on a display case. They serve as a memory of the occasion, reminding the recipient of your message each time they open the card.

SEE ALSO:  5 Examples of When to Send Thank You Cards

Handwritten Cards Are Exciting

Consider the last time you received a hand-addressed letter or card in the mail. Can you even remember when it occurred? Handwritten cards are rare in our digital world. What was once a dominant means of communication is now relegated to special occasions. When one arrives, it feels like an event, and it’s likely the first piece of mail you open. 

 Saying “thank you” when someone does you a favor is the right thing to do. Saying it with a handwritten card is the best way to do it. You transform a moment for gratitude into a moment of anticipation.

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Handwritten Thank Yous Feel More Genuine

When you care about something, you invest in it. You put in the time required to make it perfect. By contrast, if it’s something you aren’t worried about, you’ll put in less effort. You put your energy into the things that are important to you. In light of this, consider the message e-cards send. 

 They say, “I needed to say ‘thanks’ but wanted to put in as little effort as possible. I don’t really care about what you did for me, but I’m socially-required to respond with gratitude.” 

 Handwritten cards send the opposite message. “I wanted to make certain you really get how much I appreciate what you did for me,” they begin. “Through my pen, I poured my heart into this card so that you’ll hear me say ‘thank you.’” 

 There truly is no substitute for a handwritten thank you card. They’re the next best thing to big hugs and in-person gratitude. When you can’t be there, send a card. A real card. From beginning to the end of your thank you card, it's better with Simply Noted.