Much of today’s business communication is done electronically, with hundreds of emails, text messages and social media posts sent out every month to keep people up to date. For most business owners that wouldn’t sound at all excessive as the norm is to be available virtually for much of the day so that we can travel, attend meetings, be available to co-workers and still check in at home.

So, it’s kind of interesting that in today’s flurry of electronic messaging a handwritten thank you card can still find its way to the forefront of our technology-driven attention spans. It evokes a different kind of response because it’s a message that is truly personal, demonstrated by a unique penmanship that says something between the lines about the person who sent it.

When you receive one, you know that it took a little more time to prepare, wasn’t the most cost effective option, and it probably made you think of the person who sent it and smile. Chances are it also had an artistic appeal and even sat on your real desktop reminding you of that person and your relationship with them for at least a week. You probably even ended up talking about that person with others who saw the card on your desk and asked about it.

So, before going back to business as usual, (that is sending emails, texting, and posting), consider who your customers are. When you want to acknowledge someone who has helped to build your business or who has exceeded your expectations, consider sending a handwritten thank you card. For an older demographic, receiving a handwritten card validates some of the social values that they may feel are missing in a society led by technology. Sending a hand written card to those who have grown up with technology may evoke more than one reaction. They may feel both appreciated and inspired by the art of saying thank you.