My friends just recently experienced the birth of their first child; a beautiful and healthy baby girl.  As I looked at the pictures of their new arrival that they included in their customized birth announcements, I couldn’t help but reflect back to the first day they told me they were expecting.  They were so excited and happy.  Soon after, the whirlwind of pregnancy commenced for them.  I watched, as they set up their nursery, agonizing over the ideal colors, decorations and crib; built an impressive wardrobe by finding the perfect baby outfits; and slowly assembled all the essentials, including a car seat, a stroller, a high chair, a baby swing, baby monitors and everything else you could think of.  They were prepared.  As the due date got closer and closer, the invitations to the baby shower were sent.  These were beautiful, customized invitations that precluded a party that was fun for all the friends and family that attended.  The pink personalized party napkins letting everyone finally know the name that they chose for their daughter was a nice touch.  About four weeks later, but still a few days early, my friends finally had their baby girl that they wanted so much.  The first pictures of their happy new family were included in the customized baby announcement.  The joy on all of their faces was quite evident.

The Christmas shopping season is a hectic time of year. It is also a great time of year to think about family and friends. While I was shopping for gifts this year with my wife, we happened into a clothing store that had a kiosk set up near the register that contained stationery that you could personalize. The idea of the kiosk was that while you were shopping and thinking of family and friends for the holiday season, order some personalized notes to keep in touch or to give as a great gift. This caught us by surprise because we had just happened to have that exact same thought and ordered our own custom  stationery the week before from Giftsin24.com to keep in touch with our loved ones. We always like to comparative shop so we were curious to see what this store provided. They explained to us their process: you picked out your name in the font of your choice, the pattern and color and in three weeks, your personalized stationery would arrive at the store for pickup. We thanked them for the explanation and left shortly after. As we made it back to the car, we started talking about the differences we both noticed. The store’s kiosk had a very limited set of patterns and designs and the idea that your order would take three weeks was a complete surprise to us. Giftsin24.com provided us with a superior product with a much better design selection that was truly customizable. It was delivered in 24 hours as well with the prices being pretty much the same. As we left the mall, we felt great knowing that we had made the right decision to order our personalized note cards from Giftsin24.com.

Did you know the key to happiness is being appreciate of small things that linger in our lives. Generosity is a small gesture that can be a sentimental element that is the pinnacle in human life. Without generosity, generations of human beings can never build prodigies that continue to exist today. Lending a hand to someone in dire need is the most supreme form of alms-giving. The bounties that are blessed upon us are abundant and are true reflection to celebrate life. Reaching salvation from within is achieved through helping others before oneself. The idea of sacrificing one’s own desires to make someone cheery is an idea that is almost non-existent in this modern century.

Dig within and show your affection of some one with a beautiful Personalized Thank You Card. It is a small gesture that can truly make someone feel appreciated in times of hardship and calamities. It solidifies relationship and allow us to be content with any condition we are inflicted upon. Cool their eyes with a personalized notes and bring back the feeling of joy that has been lacking. Indeed, nobility is only achieved through the goodness of heart that defines the benevolence of humanity.

Sending your child off for their first day of school is a bittersweet moment for many parents.  It certainly was for my sister as she sent my niece off for her first day.  She explained to me that the elation of the moment was coupled with apprehension and trepidation.  The idea that her baby was now old enough to attend school was a little hard to accept at first.  As the first day turned into the first week, and then into the second, I asked my sister how she was handling the changes.  She mentioned that she was still adjusting to the idea that her daughter was growing up so fast, but that she was proud to see her taking to school so well.  One thing she described to me was that she had started the practice of including a personalized note card in her daughter’s lunch every day.  It was just a little something special that she used to convey well wishes, thoughts of encouragement or daily affirmations.  It allowed her to feel a part of her daughter’s day when she couldn’t be there.  While my niece seemed to love the surprise of a new note in her lunch everyday from her mom, I think my sister benefitted from the practice the most.

A recent survey of marketing executives revealed that most business leads come from referrals and personal connections, with email and a website being effective, and in spite of the declining mail volume these days, direct mail marketing was still viewed as an effective lead generator.

Of course, as a direct response marketer and copywriter, I was pleased to see that news. I know how difficult it is to generate profitable results with sales letters, postcards and such so I thought I’d share a “lost marketing secret” that you can apply to your direct marketing efforts today. That secret weapon is the use of handwritten notes in your marketing communication.

One of the best ways to get your direct mail opened, read and acted upon is to use genuinely produced handwritten addressing. Results don’t lie. I have been proving it for almost 18 years now in hundreds of direct marketing campaigns from clients and for myself. Going beyond this, a handwritten sticky note on a letter or a handwritten note card can have dramatic impact on the marketing and sales results that you seek. How do you react when a handwritten addressed envelope comes in? You place it at the top of the pile or you open it immediately.

Yes, there are automated services that use computer-generated fonts to give the illusion that you took the time to write a real note. Hogwash for the most part, if truly memorable, personalized communication is the goal and you are trying to influence your prospect with a warm message. Computer-generated handwritten fonts do have their place in direct marketing and I have used these services in past campaigns, but it is all dependent on the campaign objectives. Actual handwritten notes will always be more effective.

Here are some of the benefits of using handwritten notes in your marketing.

Powerful follow-up: A handwritten note is the best way to follow-up on an initial lead, and it’s a powerful tool in your lead nurturing process. Whether that note is on a Post-It Note, written on a sales letter or a personal note on a thank-you card, it will deliver impact. Consider a handwritten “P.S.” at the bottom of a letter, or a handwritten note with an article of interest forwarded to a prospect.

Great relationship builder: It conveys a message to your client or prospect that you care enough about them to take the time and recognize them as an individual who is important to the sender. A handwritten note tells the recipient that they were on your mind and that you value the relationship.

Show your gratitude: Pay attention to this one. One of the easiest ways to let your customers know how much you care, and value their business is to send a handwritten thank-you note on your custom-designed stationery. Case in point: We have mailed out more than 300,000 genuine handwritten thank-you notes to loyal cable customers for a client who needed to fend off a competitor’s new fiber optic alternative. You can say thank you to your customers either annually, or triggered by a purchase.

A lost customer rejuvenator: A handwritten note campaign to inactive or lost customers can create a stampede of business for a cash flow infusion and restart revenue streams that were once lucrative.

A true differentiator: A handwritten note positions you above the others trying to do business with your prospect.

If you are a consultant, salesperson or a solopreneur, consider having a custom-designed card on hand, as well as a roll of stamps and drop a handwritten note in the mail immediately after meeting your prospect or customer. Be prepared, make it a habitual part of your sales routine and stick with it. Make it part of your stay in touch system. You will be amazed at the response. It is a great way to close deals and generate referrals. People will be impressed. If you are a business owner, handwritten notes will be among your smartest marketing investments.

Don’t overlook this marketing secret weapon. I’ve used it to sell cars for dealerships, sell consulting services for myself and others, sell enterprise software, caskets, industrial components, food products and more. Now it’s your turn to start writing.

Of course, the words themselves matter greatly. If you would like a copy of our report “Seven Ways To Achieve Great Marketing Power With a Pen” send an email with “Seven Ways” in the subject line. Include your address and this report will arrive by U.S. Mail.

Thanks for reading. Now go write a note to a customer.

Bob Martel is a Marlborough-based marketing consultant, direct marketing copywriter and author of the book “How to Create All of the Business You Can Handle.” He can be reached at 508-481-8383 or by e-mail at bobmartel@jmbmarketing.com.



Freedom, independence and excitement of the unknown were the main feelings I experienced as I left home and embarked on my first semester of college.  I couldn’t wait to start my post high school academic career, meet new friends and truly be on my own for the first time in my life.  I viewed it as a milestone achievement and a right of passage.  While it was everything I thought it could be, it was also a bit overwhelming.  Like many students that go away to college, I started experiencing feelings of homesickness.  Those feelings grew little by little as I began to comprehend that the support network of family and friends I had relied on for the first 18 years of my life were no longer there.  Before those feelings grew beyond control, I received my first care package from home.  My parents sent me the obligatory junk food, personal items and well wishes from home that I sorely needed, but more importantly, they provided me with my own personalized cards.  It was this that I came to appreciate the most.  I used that personalized stationery often to keep everyone I cared about updated on my life while I was away.  It was my lifeline back to my family and friends that I had to leave behind.  It kept me connected until my next trip home, and that made all the difference in the world.

With the environment being such a hot topic these days, everyone wants to go green.  An idea that always seems to get mentioned when you start talking about the environment is the paperless office or home.  Society has shifted to e-mail and texting for communication, and e-books for reading entertainment.  These are steps that some believe are in the right direction.  However, there is something tangible that is lost when we abandon thoughtful, handwritten correspondence.  You can still order your favorite personalized stationery, thank you cards, and personalized note cards while still being environmentally conscience by utilizing the eco-friendly line at Giftsin24.  It allows you to be green while still enjoying all the wonderful products that you have come to know and love.  So do your part and become eco-friendly in the New Year.

This Chinese Proverb wasn’t uttered in a time when smart phones were taking over the world and yet they still hod as true (if not more) today. What can’t be shared in a phone call that can be shared in a personalized note?  A lot, actually.  Although most of my friends and family appreciate the time I spend writing a handwritten message on a personalized or embossed note, there are still some hold-outs who wonder why a simple call won’t suffice.

For one, a phone call can be made practically anytime and requires little to no preparation or thought.  Writing a note takes time and effort.  First there’s the act of picking out which personalized note works for you.  Is it embossed? Raised ink?  Monogram? Floral?  There is such a large collection to choose from that the decision truly speaks to you personality. Some of my friends think this part is the biggest pain, the time and money it takes to get personalized stationery.  With these friends I just showed them my secret: Giftsin24.com and they realized that personalized stationery can be affordable and fast if you know where to look.

Once you’ve personalized and finalized the stationery you have to ponder what to write. What you say in a note can’t be unsaid. While memories fade and conversations are incorrectly remembered, what’s written on a note is permanent. A note can be kept, and revisited, a phone call can’t.   Your words have to be carefully selected and crafted.  Even if you’re deciding to write simple thank you or happy birthday, how do you say it?  A letter on a personalized piece of stationery shows time and effort was put into whatever words rest on the page.

We’re all used to picking up the phone and in some cases merely hitting a button to connect with each other.  The art of writing personalized notes is becoming a true art, phone calls are for amateurs.

I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to convince the few hold-outs to order and send their own personalized stationery, but I have secretly witnessed some of them pull notes out of a special place to revisit the words scribbled on them, try that with a phone call.

2012 is Officially here! How did you ring in the New Year?!

Did you make a New Year’s Resolution?

This year I decided to make a different kind of new years resolution. I didn’t give up sweets, nor, did I make a promise to work out more and loose weight.

This year I made the New Year’s Resolution to become closer with my family and friends. I want to spend more time with everyone and keep in touch. I spend a few days thinking about how I could make this happen.

I decided the best way to keep in touch with friends and relatives that live close and far was to start writing to them. Yes, writing personalized note cards and enclosing pictures.

I figure If I send a few notes a week it will keep me up on my writing skills and it will also help me remember all the small things that happen in my life. There are so many little things that happen we simply forget because we don’t write them down.

I was looking for quality notes and stationery, believe it or not its not easy to find quality stationery for cheap low prices. After doing some searching on the internet I realized giftsin24.com has the lowest prices on personalized note cards.

I thought I would give them a shot since they ship order in 24 hours. I was pleasantly pleased with the fast shipping, great quality and low prices. I sent out my first note card the other day and my mom was raving about it!

What can I say I found the perfect New Year’s Resolution!

Shop all Personalized Note Cards and Stationery Today

Did you know Giftsin24.com has a new name for our Personalized Stationery and Napkins Blog? We do!

Giftsin24.com has been creating the most beautiful and unique Personalized Stationery and gifts for years now. We are known for our custom Monogrammed, Printed and Embossed Personalized Stationery.

The leader in designer cards, notes, note cards, notepads, custom napkins, gift enclosure cards and stationery gifts.

Giftsin24.com has the largest selection of personalized stationery, custom gifts, thank you note cards and custom greeting cards. You will find all the custom stationery you need for this holiday season, for upcoming birthday parties, thank you notes and the entire year.

To celebrate our great selection of stationery and our love for writing. Giftsin24.com has created a personalized stationery blog with everything you need to know about writing and personalized stationery. Our Custom stationery blog is updated daily and has a fun new name of “Daily Notes” Giftsin24.com official personalized stationery blog.

It’s time to get daily tips and information on personalized stationery and writing. Find exclusive savings and great deals on personalized stationery,napkins and gifts. Get special online only coupon codes for great stationery sales.

If you want more sign up for our Weekly email. This email has even more information on upcoming sales.

Check out our Daily Notes Personalized Stationery Blog and share it with your family and friends.