Serial letter
A form letter is a document that is sent to many recipients. It is therefore a category of communication logistics . Address, salutation and parts of the content are usually personalized and can give the appearance of a personal cover letter.
As a rule, serial letters are now computer-based. The basis is a database or a simple table, e.g. B. in CSV file format and a document template that contains the non-variable text parts.
Techniques are implemented that have been established with the typewriter since the 1950s , that worked with punched tape and with ASCII code or their predecessors.
The database contains the variable data (e.g. name, address, salutation, customer number), which are integrated into the document template with the help of fields (bookmarks). In addition, target group-specific form letters can be created using the information in the database. On the one hand, the addresses can be filtered according to various criteria in order to only address a specific target group. On the other hand, parts of the content can be linked to conditions in order to achieve further individualization.
Most text programs and CRM systems ( Customer Relationship Management ) support the creation of form letters . Modern word processing programs offer an assistant that accompanies the creation of form letters step by step.
In CRM systems, the recipients can usually be selected using various criteria and the documents created can be entered in the contact history of each recipient. Often, additional functions are also integrated for further, subsequent work as part of a campaign .
The processing of serial letters can in part also be carried out by external service providers who, in addition to data maintenance, printing and enveloping, also take care of postage optimization. This saves the sender's personnel and financial resources when dealing with large quantities.
See also
Web links
- Create mail merge with Microsoft Word
- Create serial letter with serial letter V2
- Create mail merge with OpenOffice.org
- Create serial letters with the TelMarkt CRM system
Individual evidence
- ↑ Christopher Methler: Mail merge with Word: Automatically create and send a personalized mail merge. Retrieved December 23, 2019 .