Maybe regular mail is so dated that it's retro. Or maybe it helps your LOI or query stand out – instead of being one e-mail in a clogged in box, your physical letter or package will appear on the potential client's desk, like magic. Either way, it's likely that the person you're approaching will recognize that you took the time and effort to print out and post your proposal. (Sorry, I couldn't resist the alliteration.)

The main reason I decided to test that theory was because I have trouble wading through my own e-mail, sorting real messages from spam. Sometimes legitimate messages get caught in a spam filter, too. E-mail is easier, but it's also easier for it to be ignored.

It's also great for some major magazines that don't publicize editorial e-mail addresses. Sure, they don't want the editors flooded by e-mail from readers or wanna-be writers. Look up the office's physical address and mail your LOI or query.

The success rate of using regular mail to initiate contact might vary a lot depending on the industry, but it's worth a shot for any non-tech type businesses and publications.

It's worked for me.