Letters. Simple, written correspondence. In paper form.

It's a client's project that got me thinking about this. For the past year, we have been lobbying clients to consider - just consider - adding printed communication back to the employee comm mix. Why? Because emails and intranet sites have lost their impact. Sure, they are cheap and quick, but they don't always move the engagement bar the way we need.

So, when a client came and asked me "what do you think about a printed employee magazine?" I almost exploded. I think it's awesome!

I love it for several reasons:

• What's old is new again. 10 years ago, we got excited about an email, and threw away our paper mail. Today, we trash the email and enjoy the printed communication. 
• Every employee that gets the magazine can share it with their family. Be genuinely proud of their company.
• They can keep it. Not to say every employee will, but there will be some that keep that piece lying around LONG after their email box is full of junk again.

At the end of the day, we need to ask the simple question: "What are we trying to accomplish?" I can pretty much guarantee that no matter what the answer is, it starts with getting noticed. And nowadays? Print is getting noticed again.

Feel free to send me your thoughts - for and against. I would LOVE a letter:

Eric Berrios
Realm Advertising
5901 Peachtree Dunwoody Road
Suite A550
Atlanta, GA 30328