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Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Business holiday card tips, Part II

And some more bits of wisdom and etiquette from previous posts....

Match your message to your business.

When deciding on your signature line, consider matching the message to the services you offer. For instance, an insurance agent could wish clients a “Happy and safe New Year,” while a medical practice might elect to offer wishes for a “Healthy and happy holiday season.” Those greetings work as mini-marketing messages, reminding recipients about the services you offer.

Not sure who celebrates which holidays?

Go with a Thanksgiving or New Year’s card. You can convey the same message without worrying about religious issues.

Hand signed cards work twice as well.

Have a signature line professionally imprinted for a crisp, business look. But add a personal signature to each card to double the impact. Hand-signed cards are twice as likely to result in a sale as cards with only an imprint.

Never use printed address labels on holiday cards.

Printed labels are great for catalogs and invoices, but when it comes to holiday cards, those with a handwritten address are far more likely to be opened and read.

Go for quality when choosing holiday cards.

Saving a few pennies per card by choosing a cheaper cardstock or lower quality printing reflects badly on your company’s image. Let your clients and customers know that you value quality in everything you do, including your choice of holiday cards.

Check with the post office for mailing deadlines.

Make sure your business holiday cards are in the mail well before the post office deadlines, especially if some of your cards are being sent to military or overseas recipients, or are oddly shaped and require special handling.

Consider ordering different cards for different people.

Selecting one design for employees, one for existing clients and one for prospectives allows you to customize the look and the message for maximum impact.

Include a personal message if possible.

Taking the time to add a line or two to each card can significantly improve business relationships. Letting star performers or valued customers know that they’re important to your business can yield great results in the coming year.

Mail employees’ cards to their homes.

Simply dropping cards on desks isn’t nearly as meaningful as receiving a card in the mail. As simple as it seems, that little extra effort tells employees a lot about their value to the company.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Getting in the mood for business holiday card shopping


It's mid-September. In much of the country, temperatures are still in the 70's or even 80's. The sun is shining. So how do you get in the mood for ordering company Christmas cards...or signing them? You know it's the right time...the deals are great, and you need time to address and sign all of those cards for employees and customers...

But it's tough!

Fear not!

If you're responsible for selecting your company's holiday cards this year, here are some suggestions to help you get in the right frame of mind for dealing with business holiday cards....

  • Crank up the a/c and pull on your favorite cozy winter sweater or soft hoodie. A little bit of shivering will distract you from the sunshine and sultry temps outside your door.

  • Pour some cooking oil or even better, spray some silicon, onto your front steps. That frantic grab for the handrail will help bring back memories of winter's glory. A bonus -- a sprained ankle or twisted knee will give you plenty of time to sit and card shop online!

  • Start working on your family holiday newsletter. It could take a couple of months to reframe last year's losing football season into a "wonderful family lesson in accepting the ups and downs of life" or sort through disasterous family vacation memories to find those few tidbits worthy of inspiring envy in friends as they read of your "exciting summer get-away." You'll have the holiday spirit in no time!

  • Pull out the November and December calendars, and start working on scheduling everyone who wants the same 10 days off during your busiest season. Suddenly selecting and holiday cards will seem like a delightful alternative!


Ready to shop for those cards yet? We thought so!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

And the countdown begins

Well, it's official now. I went into my neighborhood Target and there were Christmas decorations on the shelves. Yup, there amid the Halloween costumes and Thanksgiving table cloths were the first of this year's Christmas decorations.

The holiday season has arrived! So now it's time to decide...Thanksgiving cards for your employees and customers? A good way to jump-start seasonal sales, and remind people of what you have to offer before their shopping is done. A good way to get your name in front of potential customers before your competitors send out their business holiday cards...

Hmmmmm... Not a bad idea, right? And a pretty card with a colorful autumn scene...I can tell you I would welcome it, especially since Florida for all its charms, lacks autumn colors. Ditto for much of California, the southwest, and Hawaii. And by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, the north will have left autumn colors in the past...you could give them one last look at nature's finest display -- and get your name out there!! Clearly a win-win!

Other reasons for sending a Thanksgiving card?

It avoids the whole Christmas versus Hanukkah versus Winter Solstice versus Diwali etc. dilemma...it's a national holiday!

How about this...Thanksgiving cards first, to remind customers how much you have to offer them, and to say thanks to overstressed and overtired employees who really need acknowledgment. And then a Christmas or holiday company card in December to follow up. That double dose of holiday greetings will go far towards reminding customers exactly who you are and what you represent.

Good marketing, cheap marketing, effective marketing!