August 12, 2011
There are hundreds of situations in life that require letter writing – from personalized thank you notes and condolence letters to resume introductions and novel queries. Sometimes writing a letter doesn’t require a particular event or circumstance, you may just feel like saying hello to an old friend or you want to take a moment to remind someone special that they’re important to you.
Informal letters to friends and family are one of the easiest, as well as most enjoyable, types of letters to write. Aside from a few basic parts that are shared by all types of letters, there aren’t really any rules to remember when you write a letter to a friend – just be yourself and share your feelings!
Getting Started
Before you write an informal letter, you need to decide on a method of delivery. You may want to consider digital delivery via email or maybe you prefer a traditional handwritten letter delivered by regular postal mail. You could even hand deliver your letter if you’re writing to someone you see on a regular basis.
Taking the time to write a letter with pen and paper is a thoughtful sentiment that is greatly appreciated in today’s age of computers and text messages. If you have chosen this option, you can make your letter even more meaningful with stationary that reflects your personality or interests.
Tips for the Perfect Informal Letter
Whether you’re writing a friendly letter to your grandmother, a romantic note to your spouse, or telling a good friend that you’re thinking about her, the thing that will make your letter a success it to write like you are having a conversation with the recipient. Use informal language, the same way you would if you were talking to the person, and include questions that you would ask in a conversation as well. Most importantly, make sure your feelings are expressed through your words.
- Heading: A properly formatted letter would include your address in the upper right hand corner of your page, followed by the date. If you’re writing to a close friend or an immediate family member, the date alone will suffice. Hand delivered letters don’t necessarily require an address either, but if you expect a response, you may want to include a proper heading.
- Greeting: “Dear Name,” is the most common greeting used in informal letters, but there are dozens of variations that are acceptable. A romantic letter, for example, may begin with “My sweetest love,” or a fun letter to a friend may start out with something as simple as “Hey girlfriend,”. The best greeting for your letter will depend on your relationship with the recipient, your personality, and the tone and purpose of the correspondence. Remember that the greeting is placed on the upper left side, below the heading, and ends with a comma.
- Body: Typically in spaced paragraph format with the beginning of each paragraph indented, the body of your letter is where you write whatever it is you want to say. Remember to write in a conversational style with correct spelling and grammar.
- Closing: After the final paragraph of the body of your letter, the closing is placed in line with the heading and expresses a sentiment to the letter’s recipient. Some common closings include “Sincerely”, “Yours truly”, “Love”, “Your friend”, and “All the best”. Like the greeting, the best closing will depend on the tone of the letter and your relationship with the reader. The closing is also followed by a comma.
- Signature: Finally, end your letter by signing your name directly below the closing. Because this is an informal letter to a friend or family member, your first name or nickname should be sufficient.
Informal Letter Sample – To an Old College Roommate
Dear Jennifer,
I can’t believe it’s been 5 years since we graduated! How have you been? Did you get the job at Microsoft that you were hoping for? Right after school, I got a position with a local software developer here in Charleston and worked with them for a couple of years. I’m doing freelance work now and trying my hand at creating a game idea I’ve had for awhile. Can you believe it?? Me trying to make my own program! It’s been a real challenge, but it’s been a lot of fun!
Do you remember David? He and I went out once or twice back in college. I think he may have been in your psych class. Well, we started dating regularly right after I left Tech Programs – he’s from Charleston too – and guess what?? We’re engaged!!!! I am so excited! The wedding is set for next summer and I’m really hoping you’ll be able to make it out! Maybe you can plan to visit for a week before the wedding so we can catch up.
What about you? Anyone special in your life right now? Any kids yet? I’m hoping to have a couple, but I want to wait until we enjoy some newlywed time first.
I hope to hear from you soon! Let me know if you think you may be able to get out to Charleston next summer.
Talk to you soon,
Karen
Informal letters to friends and family can be written any time, for any reason. Remember to use everyday language, to engage the recipient with questions, and to express the way you feel through your words and your letter is sure to be a success.
The Priceless Writers team is here to help ensure the success of all your writing projects, from letters and creative written gifts to web content and marketing copy. Contact us to discuss your needs.
Image: Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
September 18, 2010
When we first started out in the business, we really liked the simplicity and writing-related theme of our blog, but as timed passed – we outgrew the color and design.
We’ve decided to use a theme that complements our website. We’re proud to announce that in a few weeks, we’ll unveil a new look, weekly features, and a backlog of posts for your reading pleasure.
August 18, 2010
Get a little back for doing good.
With Priceless Writers, marketing and promoting your green business is now more affordable. From press releases to content to blog posts to social marketing , eco-companies and green websites can enjoy a 10% discount on all of our creative services.
Take the time to promote your sustainable products. Market your eco-friendly services on an international level or simply inform the world about the importance of adopting a green lifestyle.
Whatever your eco-initiative, Priceless Writers helps you save some green to spread the word and further your business. *Discount available to new clients only.
In our continuing commitment to earth-friendly causes, news, and information, feel free to browse some of our latest articles and blog posts concerning products and services that place less stress on the environment.
By Samantha Cummings
By Yona Williams
By Danielle Bullard
By Samantha Cummings
June 10, 2010
Recently, I found myself having to create a business proposal for a gig I really, really wanted. I have written these for clients before, and a lot of thought and work goes into them. All that hard work pays off though, because a really great business proposal will stand out from the crowd – and will get you noticed. I’m thrilled to say that I got that gig, and wanted to share a few tips with you that might help you take your proposal from good to fantastic.
1. Organization
It’s important for the reviewer to be able to get through your proposal quickly, and find important sections easily. Organization is key. For my proposal, I created a table of contents so the reviewer could easily skip ahead to sections that he was most interested in seeing. In addition, I placed the entire proposal in a document cover and added tabs to the paper so the reviewer could flip right to the different chapters. This is especially important if the proposal is a long one. Imagine trying to get through a 20 page proposal that has no page numbers, no sections, and no table of contents. When you think about the fact that a reviewer might look at dozens of these each day…it can make for a real headache!
2. Highlighting and Bullet Points
My proposal was for the purpose of obtaining a book deal, so I had to create a tentative outline of the book. In addition to small chapter summaries, I had to estimate the word counts of each chapter. This is a lot of information that was stuck in the pages, and I wanted that information to be as easily digestible as possible. So, when applicable, I used bullet points to break up the information and create easy-to-read lists. In addition to the bullet points, I highlighted certain things that were particularly important, such as the word count estimates. This took the big block of information and separated it neatly, making it much easier to read.
3. Images and Visual Additions
While you don’t want to fill your proposal up with pictures and images, a few strategically placed ones can really spice up the proposal and add to the value. For instance, in my proposal, I included a map in a part that discussed a certain area of land. This gave the reviewer a reference point, which made the experience of reading the proposal better. You might consider which areas of your proposal could really benefit from a quality image.
4. Personality
The last thing you want to do is try to impress the reviewer with gimmicks…and you want your proposal to be professional. That said, inserting some of your own personality into the proposal can certainly benefit you. Imagine reading through 10 or 20 stuffy, verbose proposals a day. Coming across one that contains light humor and that gives you a real feel for the author would be quite refreshing, wouldn’t it? Don’t be afraid to use light humor here and there, and be entertaining. Allow your unique personality to shine through in the writing, while maintaining a professional and polite tone.
5. Use Simple Words
This might go against your natural instinct to create a smart-sounding, professional proposal, but it’s important to keep the proposal as simple as possible. Don’t use the word ‘meritorious’ when you could use the word ‘worthy.’ You want the proposal to sound professional, but with a friendly tone, as if you’re simply speaking to a colleague you respect and like. This makes it much easier to read than if the reviewer is wading through words that are three inches long on a page. Filling the proposal full of these long words can also make it come off as pompous or arrogant.
When you really write your proposal from the heart and rely on your experience and skill, it will stand out. Use the above tips to ensure that the proposal is as wonderful as it can be. Of course, if you don’t have the time or feel uncomfortable writing your proposal yourself, hire a proposal writer from Priceless Writers and we’ll do a great job for you.
March 25, 2010
Do you have some extra time planned for this weekend? If so, Online Universities has put up a new blog post detailing the top 25 movies for writers. It includes some really great ones like Adaptation, Shakespeare in Love, and The Shining.
I have to say, while I love the list, I’ll have to add my very own favorite movie (for right now) to the ‘based on writers’ category. Becoming Jane, based on the life of one of the most incredible writers of all time – Jane Austen – is a fabulous movie! Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy were phenomenal and who isn’t inspired by a woman who dropped everything to follow her dream, even when everyone told her it was impossible?
Thanks to Online Universities for the heads up. Let us know your favorite movie in the comments below!
January 29, 2010
“I run my business by myself and seem to spend a lot of time doing administrative tasks like answering emails from customers or tracking down shipments so I can verify whether or not they’re in transit. What is a good way of minimizing these tasks without cheating my customers?” ~ Rochelle
One of the most important ways of reducing administration time answering emails is to place a FAQ on your site. Include the questions you’re getting over and over so that your customers can find it right away and don’t have to email you. With more and more shoppers being internet savvy – most people look for an FAQ automatically anyway.
Not only will an FAQ help your customers find answers right away, but it can be a great way to help optimize your site for the search engines. Using strategic keywords in your questions and answers can help individuals find your site via Google, Yahoo, MSN and other search engines.
They’ll appreciate getting their answer right away instead of waiting for an email, too. As for tracking shipments, perhaps having a tracking number emailed to your customers so they can track it themselves would be a better solution… 
December 25, 2009
The Priceless team would like to wish you and your family a Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas. May the New Year bring everyone prosperity and happiness!
December 9, 2009
Whether you’re writing a thank you letter, a note of condolence, or a query for your latest novel manuscript – it is extremely important that the method you use to send your letter is acceptable and appropriate for the recipient. Not too long ago, letters always arrived in a traditional mailbox. Personal notes were handwritten on pretty stationary or notecards, while professional correspondence was typed and printed on crisp white paper or letterhead.
Today, businesses and individuals tend to check their inbox more often than their mailbox. News is delivered digitally and the green movement has caused us all to take a second look at the amount of paper we consume. In many situations, email has become an expected delivery method for both professional and personal letters.
When is it Okay to Email a Letter?
- Prospective Employers: Digital resumes and portfolios are not at all uncommon in today’s marketplace, but even if your prospective employer received a hardcopy of your resume it is usually acceptable to email a thank you letter after the interview. The best practice is to gather contact information before leaving the interview. A postal follow-up may also be beneficial in extremely formal situations, but email is fast and convenient for both you and your prospective employer.
- Personal Thank You Notes: Handwritten thank you letters are still considered the proper way to convey your gratitude in most cases, but there are some situations where an emailed thank you note is okay. Small gifts, favors, or a casual thank you to someone you regularly correspond with digitally are all instances when an emailed note is acceptable.
- Sympathy Letters: Again, handwritten correspondence is still deemed more personal than email when it comes to expressing your condolences. Close friends and those you regularly communicate with via email will appreciate an emailed sympathy note, but it is still a good idea to mail a letter or make a phone call as well.
- Professional Thank You Letters: Thank you notes to clients, donors, and other business-related correspondence can be emailed if you typically do business via the internet. Studies have shown that most consumers prefer digital communication from companies and are often more likely to read an email than a post letter.
- Invitations and RSVPs: Birthday parties, informal showers, and casual events are all situations when emailed invitations are completely acceptable. Formal invites, especially to weddings, should still be sent by regular mail and should be addressed by hand. It is okay to request digital RSVPs for both formal and informal gatherings, however.
When is Postal Mail a Necessity?
As technologically advanced as our society has become, there is still no substitute for the heartfelt emotions that flow from the tip of a pen. Taking the time to handwrite a sympathy card or thank you note allows you to connect with your recipient on a much more personal level – these tokens of gratitude and condolence are also memorable keepsakes for many people.
In most cases, personal thank you letters for gifts and notes of sympathy should always be delivered via postal mail. Holiday cards and birthday greetings are typically best received by post as well, although e-cards are acceptable for close family and friends. Professional correspondence depends on your typical communication methods with the recipient – an online company’s clients, for example, would expect an emailed letter while an offline charity donor would appreciate a postal delivered thank you.
Before mailing or emailing your letter, consider these tips to help you make the right decision:
- Is the recipient comfortable with email? Friends and relatives who rarely check their email or don’t spend much time online may not see your letter until months after it has been sent.
- Do you regularly communicate via email? Clients, family members, and friends who are used to speaking with you in person or over the phone rather than email may not appreciate the sentiments of an emailed letter. Contacts that you rarely communicate with should usually always receive correspondence through post.
- Does the situation suit the delivery method? The most important factor to consider is the reason for your correspondence. Someone who took the time to select a gift for you deserves the attention of a handwritten, post-delivered thank you; an emailed followup would be expected after an online job application or novel query.
Images by Mattox and 13dede
December 6, 2009
“I’m considering hiring bloggers to maintain my blog for me as I just don’t have the time to do it myself. In your opinion, would it be a better idea to hire bloggers and have continuous new content or post when I have time – which would probably be about every 2 to 3 weeks?” ~ Shawn
This is a problem a lot of online business owners and marketers have – outsourcing their blogs or not. You know having a blog is a great way to brand yourself and get important information to your potential customers, but finding the time to post daily or even weekly can be difficult. There are a few different solutions you could consider.
a.) Hire bloggers if you want bi-weekly, daily or more frequent posts. If you’re in an industry where up to date information is key, this might be the answer for you. However, you need to keep in mind that hiring trustworthy, dependable bloggers can be tough.
You’re going to need to find bloggers who are passionate about your industry and keeping your customers informed. It could be a long search and a process of trial and error before you find the bloggers that are right for you and your business, but when you do, it can be a rewarding relationship.
b.) Only post every 2 to 3 weeks, but make sure that when you do, you take the time to post well thought out and useful information. Provide valuable tips that aren’t likely to be outdated soon.
In either case, your customers will appreciate receiving valuable information that helps them in some way.
Extra Tips for Making Your Blog Interesting:
There are a lot of things you can do to keep your blog interesting and valuable to readers. First and foremost – accurate, well-written information. Individuals who are interested in your subject matter will trust your blog if it is found to be as accurate as possible. Below are a few extra tips you can use to keep your blog interesting.
- Make it Easy-to-Read: You should always write your blog posts in a simple, easy-to-read fashion. For instance, rather than using large words, use simpler ones. Write in a very basic fashion so that a large group of readers will benefit. Sure, you might sound smarter if you use 30-letter words rather than-5 letter words, but readers can quickly get fed up with trying to translate!
- Offer Solutions: Depending upon what subject matter your blog deals with, offering solutions is a great way to keep your blog interesting. It also offers value to customers. Ask readers to weigh in on solutions as well, and comment on the blog with their ideas.
- Engage Readers: Blog readers may enjoy themselves more if there is a chance for them to participate. Offer contests, ask them questions, and interact with readers. This is a really great way to make your blog more interesting and valuable to readers.
Also, check out these tips for getting more readers to your blog.
December 4, 2009
Would you like to analyze the substance of your Twitter dialogue? What ideas are you exchanging the most in the world of social marketing, and are you conveying the right message as an individual or business? An easy method of tracking your Twitter presence is to create a Tweet Cloud. @icodeforlove is the mind behind a convenient online tool that analyzes and then creates a colorful arrangement (or cloud) regarding the keywords you use most on Twitter.
Interested in your own Tweet Cloud?
It only takes three easy steps:
1) Do you want to analyze your activity for 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months or 1 year?
2) Do you want a small, medium, large or huge cloud (a little or a lot of keywords)?
3) Do you want to post a link of your Tweet Cloud on Twitter? Then click “make cloud.”
Our @PricelessTeam medium cloud above analyzed one year of Tweets and it looks like we’re staying in line with our goal of providing green news, eco-friendly information, writing tips, and sharing a little bit about ourselves along the way.
