Jenn HollowellE-mail vs. Snail Mail Querying
September 23rd 2008 15:00
I know I have touched on this topic in the past, but it is worth bringing up again. I have been in the freelance writing industry since 1999 and, in that time, I have sent literally 1,000’s of query letters through e-mail and snail mail leads. How have each stacked up in comparison to each other?
In my experience, it has been odd. I have not received one positive response or acceptance through snail mail. And, out of the responses I receive through e-mail, I’d say about 80% of them are acceptances (this is not counting those who do not reply to queries at all).
Why is this the case? I tested my little theory out again when querying a newspaper calling for “book lovers.” Anyone who knows me, or has even heard of me, knows that a lead like this is one I will definitely jump on. I crafted a query and, as the ad requested, I included my resume and clips. What did I receive in response? Exactly what I sent to them housed neatly in my SASE.
What? Are you kidding me?! No rejection letter. No note scribbled across my cover letter. No post-it note with a “no thank you,” stuck anywhere. Only my materials were in the envelope. So, this seals the deal with me. I have absolutely no luck with snail mail queries and, therefore, I will be sticking to my stand-by e-mail query! If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it . . . isn’t that how the saying goes?
Which do you have more luck with, e-mail or snail mail queries? Have you seen many positive responses to your snail mail queries?
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