Using handwritten notes for deal sourcing?

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April 16, 2026

by a searcher from The University of Chicago - Booth School of Business in Seattle, WA, USA

Hi everyone, As inboxes get more crowded, email outreach is increasingly trashed or spammed without ever being read. I’m curious if handwritten mail is a more effective way (though costlier, of course) to source deals and actually get a founder's attention. Would love to learn about your thoughts or experience!
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Reply by an intermediary
from Gonzaga University in Lake Stevens, WA, USA
HI Minka, have a business acquaintance who works with complex structures and high value targets. While not directly to your point, he noticed the email inbox placement, open rate, and response rate were steadily dropping. He tried postcards, didn't work. Tried letters got a response rate of 1.4%. I don't know what the conversion rate was. Hope that helps in your consideration; it's a great question - what's old may be new again. Let us know if you go this direction what your results are: Inquiring minds want to know.
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Reply by a searcher
from The University of Chicago in Seattle, WA, USA
Thank you for sharing that Mark! Very helpful to know. May I ask which industry does your acquaintance work in? My current thought is that given the higher cost per outreach, it's probably best to refine the list to a more targeted audience; for example in certain industries or services. Will definitely share any findings!
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