If your sales team is tired of emails that get ignored and LinkedIn messages lost in the void, you might be looking for something different. Enter Handwrytten, a tool that lets you send real, handwritten notes—without ever touching a pen. Sounds old school, but in a sea of digital noise, sometimes a real piece of mail actually lands. This guide is for B2B sales teams who want to know if Handwrytten is actually useful, how it really works, and where it’s worth your time (and where it isn’t).
What Is Handwrytten—And Why Would a Sales Team Use It?
Handwrytten is a SaaS tool that lets you automate sending physical, handwritten cards to prospects or clients. You type your message, pick a card, and the platform uses robots (yes, actual machines holding real pens) to write and mail your note. It integrates with CRMs and can be triggered by workflows, so it fits into modern sales automation stacks.
But let’s be real: the novelty here is the tactic, not the tech. The idea is that a real card stands out in a way digital outreach just doesn’t anymore. That’s the promise. Whether it delivers depends on your goals, your process, and your expectations.
How Handwrytten Actually Works (No Magic, Just Robots)
Here’s how a typical sales team would use Handwrytten:
- Upload or Integrate Your Contacts
- You can upload a CSV with addresses, or connect directly to tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, or Zapier.
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The CRM integrations are decent, not flawless. Expect some fiddling to get contact mapping right.
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Write (or Choose) Your Message
- Handwrytten gives you templates, or you write your own.
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You can use variables like first name, company, etc. This helps with basic personalization, but don’t expect AI-level copywriting—what you put in is what comes out.
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Pick a Card Design
- Lots of options, from plain to quirky.
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Custom cards with your logo cost extra and require a setup process. If branding matters, budget some time for proofing.
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Schedule or Trigger the Send
- Send one-off cards or automate them based on CRM actions (like after a demo, or when a deal hits a certain stage).
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There’s a queue and batching system, so you can plan ahead or drip out notes over time.
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Track Delivery & Results (Sort Of)
- You’ll know when cards are sent, but not always when they’re delivered or opened. There are no read receipts in snail mail.
- Some teams add unique URLs or codes in the card to track responses. That’s on you to set up.
Pro Tip: Test your own card before sending to prospects. Sometimes the handwriting looks a little too neat, or the ink can smudge if handled roughly.
Real-World Use Cases for B2B Sales Teams
Let’s cut through the fluff. Here are the most common (and actually useful) scenarios where B2B sales teams use Handwrytten:
1. Breaking Through to Cold Prospects
- When to use: If your emails and calls get you nowhere, sending a real card can get noticed by gatekeepers—or even make it onto a CEO’s desk.
- What works: Short, honest messages. “Saw your recent funding news—congrats. Would love to talk shop.”
- What doesn’t: Generic “Let’s connect!” notes. If it sounds like a mail-merge, it’ll land in the trash.
2. Following Up After Meetings or Demos
- When to use: Send a thank-you note after a demo, especially if the deal is complex or high-value.
- What works: Mention the specific conversation. “Enjoyed our chat about your Q3 goals. Here if you want to revisit cost-savings ideas.”
- What doesn’t: Brown-nosing. Keep it professional and brief.
3. Re-Engaging Lost Deals
- When to use: When a deal goes cold, a handwritten note can reopen the door months later.
- What works: Acknowledging the pause. “Didn’t work out last quarter, but I thought of you when this new feature launched.”
- What doesn’t: Acting oblivious or desperate.
4. Customer Appreciation & Expansion
- When to use: For renewals, upsells, or just thanking a long-time customer.
- What works: Real gratitude, and maybe a small branded gift.
- What doesn’t: Overdoing it. No one likes a hard sell in a thank-you card.
5. Event or Trade Show Follow-Up
- When to use: After meeting someone in person, follow up with a note referencing your conversation.
- What works: Mention the event (“Great chatting at SaaStr…”), and keep the ask clear.
- What doesn’t: Generic mass-blasts that don’t mention the event at all.
Where Handwrytten Shines (and Where It Doesn’t)
The Good
- Stands Out: Physical mail gets attention because so few use it.
- Easy to Automate: Integrates with most major CRMs and Zapier, so you can trigger sends from workflows.
- Decent Personalization: You can merge in names, companies, and other fields.
- Saves Time: No more handwriting notes yourself (unless you like hand cramps).
The Not-So-Good
- Cost Adds Up: At $3–$7 per card (including postage), this isn’t cheap. Use it for high-value targets, not every lead.
- Handwriting Isn’t Foolproof: Some fonts look more “robotic” than others. If the recipient is picky, they might spot it.
- Delivery Is Slow: Mail takes days, not minutes. If you need instant follow-up, this isn’t it.
- No Real Analytics: You’ll know what you sent, but not what landed. Tracking ROI is on you.
- Setup Can Be Clunky: Custom branding is possible, but the process isn’t instant or always smooth.
Ignore: The idea that this will “revolutionize” your pipeline. It’s a tactic, not a strategy. If your sales process is broken, a handwritten note won’t fix it.
Handwrytten vs. The Alternatives
- Old-School DIY: You can always buy cards and write them yourself. Cheaper, but time-consuming and impossible to automate.
- Other Automated Services: Companies like Scribeless and Thankster do similar things. Pricing and card quality vary, but the core idea is the same.
- Direct Mail Vendors: Some print postcards or swag, but don’t do “handwritten” notes. If you want the personal touch, Handwrytten is one of the few at scale.
Bottom line: If you’re sending more than a handful of notes a month, automation wins on convenience. For the occasional VIP, handwriting it yourself is always more personal (if you have the time).
Who Should Actually Use Handwrytten?
- Best for: Sales teams with long or complex deal cycles, ABM (account-based marketing) shops, or anyone targeting hard-to-reach execs.
- Not for: High-velocity SDR teams blasting thousands of leads, or anyone looking for cheap, instant results.
Rule of thumb: If you wouldn’t spend $5 to get this person’s attention, don’t send a card.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Handwrytten
- Pick the Right Moments: Save cards for key deals or milestones—don’t carpet-bomb your list.
- Keep It Short: Aim for 2–4 sentences. No one wants to read an essay.
- Test the Handwriting Styles: Some look better than others. Mail samples to yourself and pick the most natural.
- Combine With Digital Outreach: Reference your card in a follow-up email (“Just sent something your way…”).
- Track Manually: Add a field in your CRM to track who gets a card and watch for any bump in replies or meetings.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Overthink It
Handwrytten is a useful tool for breaking through digital noise, but it’s not a silver bullet. Use it where real-world mail actually helps—opening doors, warming up cold leads, or making real clients feel appreciated. Don’t waste it on mass outreach or every prospect in your CRM. Try it in small batches, look at what works, and build from there. Keep it simple, measure what matters, and don’t let the robots do all the talking.