Trafcom News

A handwritten note sets you apart

These days, most of my communication takes place via email. Sure, I’m on the phone a fair bit, and see people face to face, but email is the most likely way for me to send and receive messages.

Every once in a while, amid the sea of electronic blips,  someone surprises me by mailing a handwritten note or card. In the past 90 days, I think this has happened half a dozen times, which is pretty much a record. Not since I had a relationship with a pen pal in the 8th grade have I seen so many genuine pieces of communication (not bills or ads) in my mailbox.

Those who mailed me these memorable and personal notes and cards were clients and people I’d met at networking events, and the proprietor of a B&B where I’d stayed recently. Is this a trend? If so, I like it.

This love of handwritten communication runs in the family. One of my daughters was delighted to receive a lovely note from the officer at the bank where she’d just opened an account: “Mom, we had a nice conversation, she asked me about my trip to Europe, and then she sent me this note card. Look!” You can bet that my daughter’s opinion of TD Bank is much higher than that of her former institution, which (to my knowledge) didn’t follow up by post after she closed her account.

So the lesson for us as communicators and marketers is clear: pick up a pen, get some decent cards or stationery, and take the time to write a sentiment in your own hand. In particular, a handwritten note of thanks will really set you apart. (Now I need to work on my horrible penmanship, made worse by my reliance on a keyboard.)

The calm after the storm: the VoloMedia podcasting patent

Like a lot of my podcasting brethren, I was concerned about the announcement from VoloMedia regarding their “podcasting patent” on July 29. But since I was madly trying to meet a slew of deadlines, I decided to fret about it later. Well, fortunately, I waited so long that no worrying is needed. (Maybe there’s a lesson there!)

My friend and fellow Podcast Asylum “Professor” Sallie Goetsch has produced an excellent blog post on this kerfuffle as well as a first-rate audio report, which I first heard on For Immediate Release: The Hobson and Holtz Report. Her research reveals that VoloMedia has apparently patented a podcatcher; they are not trying to patent podcasting.

Thank you, dear Sallie, for reading the patent and contacting the VoloMedia PR people to clear this up. Sadly, the whole thing would not have become such a contentious issue if the VoloMedia people had taken more care in crafting their news release and its inflammatory headline. Maybe a lesson learned for them?

Oakville Mayor Rob Burton talks Twitter

The microblogging site called Twitter is becoming a popular communications medium.

In a 40-minute Trafcom News Podcast, Oakville Mayor Rob Burton talks about how and why he uses Twitter and other social media tools. Perhaps his experience with Twitter and Facebook will help him to meet one of his goals: Being the most accessible and engaging mayor in the history of Oakville. You'll also learn why the discipline of 140 characters is great for politicians.

Find Oakville Mayor Rob Burton on Twitter here.

You can download the MP3 file for this podcast or listen to it directly or read the extensive show notes by visiting the Trafcom News Podcast page.