Snail Mail vs. Email: Which Is Better?

Sending mail has come such a far way. From being delivered on horseback, which took weeks, to instant, digital delivery. There are so many differences between snail mail and email, but they each have their ups and downs. In addition, they each serve a purpose in this day and age. 

Are you wondering what the best way to send personal and business communications?  Let’s take a closer look at the differences between physical and digital mail so that you can decide for yourself. 

What Is Snail Mail, and How Is It Different From Email?

Unless you have worked for the post office, you’re unlikely to understand the steps that a piece of mail takes from sender to recipient.

Snail Mail‘s Journey From Sender to Recipient

First things first: you write your letter, address the envelope, put a stamp on it then, place it in your mailbox, and raise the flag. Once your letter is picked up, it goes to the post office and gets stamped by USPS. Then your letter goes into a truck where it is transported to another facility. From there, various factors affect how long it will take for it to arrive to its destination.

Depending on how many zip codes it is passing through, it may be transported by plane. If it is close enough, it will make the trip on land.

When it arrives at its final destination, it will be sorted, loaded into the mail truck and sent to your recipient.

Email‘s Instant Delivery Process

The benefits of email make up for almost everything that snail mail lacks.

Email is practically instant. As soon as you hit send, it arrives at its destination. And since most email services are free, were not paying postage rates for each email we send. 

With the “green” movement growing, we are consciously using less paper and resources. Sending items through snail mail uses paper for the letter, envelope, stamp, and fuel to deliver. 

A Quick Overview of Snail Mail

When we’re looking at the positives of using the post office for sending personal and business materials, we can see plenty of pros.

Receiving snail mail has become nostalgic because it rarely happens anymore; unless it is bills or “junk” mail. There is less a chance of your snail mail getting overlooked, which typically happens with email.

The Art of Writing Letters

Snail mail is much more thoughtful and personable than email. Sending an email about a personal subject is fine, and most people wouldn’t judge if you decide to go that route. However, handwriting a letter or receiving one stands out due to the time and attention they require.

However, simple solutions like Handwrytten can help for both personal and business letters (including pen pals!).

Snail Mail vs Email: Which Is Better?

Considering snail mail and email, we compare efficiency, time, effect, and sustainability. Since 1775, we’ve been sending mail through the post office, and about 200 years later the first electronic mail was sent.

Downfalls of Snail Mail

The nickname for traditional mail says it all. “Snail mail” insinuates that mail sent through the post office takes a long time. Since we are used to things being done instantly, snail mail is not as time-efficient as email when it comes to business. 

Another downfall of snail mail is that it can get expensive as we pay for each piece of mail that we send, and the price of postage continues to rise. Because snail mail is a physical piece of mail, there’s also a chance your mail could get lost before it reaches the end destination. That’s unlikely to happen with email.

Downfalls of Email

As for the downfall to email, there isn’t much to discuss. Email is quick and common, but doesn’t stand out. Sending a client email is likely to be overlooked or ignored.

Email is also dependent on internet connection. So, if there’s an issue with your connection, your email won’t go through.

As people rely less on snail mail and switch to paperless billing, we are using the post office less. We’re now thinking about being environmentally conscious and not the effect that it is having on the post office.

However, there are over 500,000 people employed by the postal service. We are indirectly putting those jobs in jeopardy with each email we send. 

Since we’ve been trained to expect everything to be instant, we typically go for whichever option is quicker. In-town mailcould be delivered the next day, and across the country takes 3-4 days. On the other hand, emails are nearly instant.

You Choose Which is Better

Consider is the impact of a handwritten envelope, rather a typed envelope that is mass-produced. Handwritten, physical mail has a personal touch, while emails tend to get lost in all the spam.

Letters changed the world and can change your business. Sticking to good old-fashioned snail mail could be the thing that sets you apart from other businesses.

When it comes to marketing, consider the nature of your business and your target audience. Studies show that older generations prefer good, old-fashioned snail mail because it’s what they’re comfortable wtih. Electronic mail is a more modern concept.

Send Snail Mail with Handwrytten

The best way to send mail depends on your desired outcome. Comparing snail mail and email puts timing, sustainability, and reliability to the test.

For direct mail and personal mailings, consider sending handwritten letter to stand out from the crowd. Click to learn more.