It's trivial ... really!

Not all holiday trivia is created equal. This summer, a series of holiday catalogs will feature a collection of questions that you won't necessarily find in your local paper or on the back of a cereal box. Questions like:

"What does the name "Max" have to do with the holidays?"
and
"When did Santa make his debut in advertising and what was he selling?"

The holidays should be fun and interjecting useless trivia when socializing with colleagues, clients and/or friends is all about fun.

P.S. - If you can't figure out the answers to these questions, keep checking back. The answers will be posted later this summer.

Business holiday card tips

A quick review of the tips from past years blog posts....

Watch for returns.

If a card comes back with an address correction, pull out another envelope and resend to the new address. If no address is provided, do some research and find the new address. If the card has been damaged, bent, torn or mangled in the first round, WRITE A NEW CARD! No one will believe it’s the Post Office's fault when the envelope arrives in perfect shape and the card inside is not.

Update your holiday card address database all year long.

In November, it’s too late to scramble for addresses, so maintain and update your holiday address list all year long.

If you sent a coupon or special offer, track the results.

Why send offers in your company Christmas card if you don't know what works? Keep track and use that info to improve future mailings.

Make your extra cards count.

If you have extra cards, send a greeting to a wounded soldier at a veteran’s hospital, brighten the holidays of a homeless family in a shelter with a card and gift certificate for a local store, or take the cards to an assisted living facility and give them out while visiting the residents.

Match the card to your company’s image.

By selecting a look that reflects your company’s values, you are saying "This is who and what we are, and we connect with who and what you are." Without shouting it, the message will get across.

Cards build customer loyalty.

Studies have shown that sending holiday cards is an extremely effective tool in establishing and supporting customer loyalty and reinforcing name recognition.

Holiday cards build team loyalty.

Receiving a signed holiday card from one’s employer has been shown to increase employee identification as "part of the team." Choose a card with a humorous or lighthearted image to reinforce a sense of belonging.

Holiday cards can reassure customers and clients in uncertain times.

An elegant, well-worded corporate holiday card can convey gratitude for past service or business, offer wishes for a prosperous New Year, and show recipients that your company is still successful.

Small tokens can mean a lot.

Enclosing a gift card for a local grocery store or gas station is a wonderful way to reward employees. It’s less expensive than a big holiday party, but still lets employees know you care.

...More coming next post!

Exciting new cards coming soon!!!

Fun, different, new, not-your-everyday business holiday cards will be hitting mailboxes soon! If not yours, then stay tuned for a link to our website.

Catching up with your customers

One of the great uses for a business holiday card, whether it's a Thanksgiving, season's greetings, Christmas or New Year's card, is as a tool to catch up with your customers and find out where they are and what's new.

This might sound counter-intuitive. After all, YOU are the one sending the card, so how does that help you find out what's new with them? The answer is in a call to action.

A company holiday card does more than just say "Happy (fill-in-the-blank)" It says that as a customer, this person/family/business matters and has not been forgotten. Just THAT alone can inspire some people to stop by your store or check out your website, particularly if it's been awhile. Consider it a little poke, designed to remind them you exist.

But you can take it further, too. What about:

• Adding a message offering them a subscription to your newsletters
  
• Creating a special spot on your home page for card recipients to visit for special promotions
  
• Actively inviting them into your store or onto you site as part of your card's holiday message
  
• Inviting recipients to complete a pre-paid postcard with a few basic questions about their needs or status as related to your products or services
  
• Having a brief quiz/questionnaire right on the card, and offering a discount/prize/contest entry for bringing in the completed quiz

Get creative. Sending a holiday card from your company doesn't have to be a one way street. Change it from a monologue to a conversation and you'll be able to catch up with your precious customers.

Top 10 Reasons to Send a Business Holiday Card

10) It's cheaper than a catalog, discount offer or coupon

9) People hang up their holiday cards and others look at them, so the word spreads, making your cost per viewer is really lower than the already low cost of a card

8) The season is ready-made for getting your company's name out without seeming salesy or pushy

7) Making a holiday card list creates a good opportunity to update mailing lists and make sure all info is current

6) Businesses that send holiday card are perceived of as "friendlier" than those who do not

5) Employees who receive company holiday cards and other business greeting cards report higher levels of engagement and loyalty than those who do not

4) Sending a company holiday card can become a company tradition. And companies with observable traditions last longer then companies without them

3) Selecting a company Christmas card encourages management to think about the company image and message. According to Stephan Covey, companies with a clear picture of their image and message are far more successful overall.

2) Sending a card to employees that says "thank you" results in a more employee-focused company culture, which promotes productivity, lower absenteeism, and lower turnover.

And most importantly,

1) People genuinely like getting holiday cards, even from businesses, so sending them makes customers happy. And above all, you want happy customers.

Should your company send Thanksgiving cards this year?

The experts agree - sending business holiday cards improves customer perception of a company, increases the likelihood that a given customer will select your company over a non card-sending competitor and reduces the likelihood that your company will be seen as financially unstable, even in troubled economic times.

Okay, so we know that sending a business holiday card is good. Now the question is, what kind? A traditional company Christmas card with a wintery view? A modern Season's Greetings or Happy Holidays? Maybe a New Year's card with a calendar?

What about a Thanksgiving card?

A Thanksgiving card offers several advantages:

1) It gives your company a head start on competitors who send out their cards only in December

2) It allows you to sidestep the "which holiday" issue associated with the winter celebrations

3) The holiday naturally lends itself to expressing gratitude, which is a perfect message for customers and employees alike

4) You can still send company Christmas cards or other holiday cards in mid December, for a double-dose of contact and name recognition.

It's not too late to add a Thanksgiving card to your company's holiday marketing plan. And the results may leave you expressing thanks of your own.

Business holiday cards are critical this year!

A few organizations are claiming that the recession is over and recovery is right around the corner.

I would love to believe them. But the fact is, none of us really knows when the day will come when we can all take a collect sigh of relief and go on with our businesses and lives without worrying about the rising foreclosure rates or the latest round of layoffs.

So until we know for sure that all is well, companies cannot afford to neglect the little things that keep their name in front of customers.

Business holiday cards, company Christmas cards or whatever you want to call them, are one of those things companies cannot afford to let slide. For very little cost (around $1-2 each), business holiday cards make a major impact on customer perceptions about your business.

Studies have shown that the majority of customers feel more positively about businesses which send holiday cards. They are perceived as more stable, more reliable and more accessible.

Always sent company Christmas cards in the past, but thinking of cutting back this year? Thank again! Another researcher found that companies who stopped sending cards were perceived as less financially successful and less of a safe place to shop, because they may not be around down the road.

Is that really the message you want to send?

Time to pull out that holiday card list! Winter is almost here!

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.

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!

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!

What's your company style? A quiz to help you pick the right business holiday or Christmas cards

The cards you choose to send as your company holiday cards say a lot about how you see your company, and what you want to say to your customers. Now there's a quiz to help your find the right card style for your company's personality. It's only 8 questions and it's free! You just might learn something! :-)

Who should get a business holiday card, the second tier

My last post was about who MUST get a holiday card from your company this year.

Now it's time for the SHOULDS.

1) Prospective customers who really fit your target demographic, whether that is lifestyle, income, age or ideally, all of the above. The more closely they resemble your target group, the higher they should be on your priority list. Remember, these are not the current or recent customers -- those folks were on the "Must Send" list. This is prospecting.

2) The geographical matches. These are the people who live so close to your business, that they might choose you if they needed your products/services simply because you're close (and the gas prices are still over $2.50 a gallon)

3) The broader demographics. This might be groups of people who hit only one target, but just might become a customer. If you're lucky. REALLY lucky! Save this group for last. This is the target if and only if you still have cards left over after sending them to everyone in the last post AND the first two groups above.

Make sure your must-have are well cared for with a quality holiday card and a personal signature. Then step into these groups, with nice business holiday cards and imprinted signatures. Different groups, different rules. Learn the right order, and your holiday cards could be just what your business ordered.

Who gets a business holiday card?

Step one in the business holiday card process is to make a holiday card list. So who's on it? Who should be, who would be nice and who absolutely better be there?

Let's start with the who better be on the list.

1) Your employees.

Every last one of them, from the Board Members to the kid in the back who started last week as a floor sweeper.

Each and every person who works for you should get a card from you, come holidays, birthdays or employment anniversaries. It's a cheap but effective way to say that they matter, and as silly as a seems, it makes a big difference in a feeling of being part of the team.

Before customers or vendors or clients or prospects, make a card list that includes every employee, and then send a company Christmas card or holiday card to their home. Trust me on this. Yeah, I know it's easier to drop them on desks, but don't. I'll write a post soon on why this matters, but for now, just do it.

2) Your loyal customers.

It's often said that your most important prospects are the customers you already have. It's often said, but seldom followed, however.

But think about it...these are the people who have already handed over their precious dollars to you. They know you. You don't have to get them to come in -- they already do. You just need to get them to buy MORE. Much easier to do than to acquire and convert a new customer. So put these people on your must-send list.

3) Your vendors and suppliers.

How far would your manufacturing line get without raw materials? Or your restaurant without food or beverages? A hotel lacking linens would be in a terrible mess. Imagine a law firm without paper or a hospital without medication. It's your vendors and suppliers who get you the things you need to turn your business into...well...a business.

Make sure each and every vendor and supplier gets a company holiday card thanking them for all they contribute to your business. Even if you've had problems with them...or especially if you've had problems with them...send them a nice card, on time.

TOMORROW,the "should send" list....

Don't fence yourself in with holiday cards

If yours is like most U.S. businesses, times are rough. Customers are hard to come by, and harder to keep. Sales are down and costs are up. The last thing you want is to spend more money!

But before you deep six your traditional business holiday cards, spend some time brainstorming about all the ways those little messengers of holiday cheer could help your business thrive in the coming year. Step out of the box and soar into the wide open spaces of new possibilities. (Thus the lovely video today!)

Here are a couple of ideas to get you started on new ways to use your company Christmas cards to generate business.

Run a contest. The entries are your company holiday cards "remade" into something else. It could become anything...a gift box, a fan, a hat or a paper airplane (reason number two for my film choice!) Give prizes for the most original, funniest, etc., and make the day of judging a party.

Glue "golden tickets" or other prize certificates into the cards. Make it clear that the reveal has to happen in the store to qualify (that gets them in the door!) Add another layer by making the tickets 3-D so shoppers must don paper glasses in the store to see their prizes.

Send cards that do not match your region and then give away a trip as a prize. If your business is in a sunny warm clime, choose cards with icy, snowy images. Those in the north would send cards with scenes of tropical beaches. Customers can bring in their cards as an entry into the drawing for a trip. Floridians might win a trip to Minnesota, while those in New England would find themselves relaxing on a beach.

Ready to come up with your own? Who says a business holiday card is limited to putting it in the envelope and mailing it?

Picking out the right business holiday cards for your company style

Business holiday cards are a wonderful marketing tool. And employee holiday cards are a great way to create a team spirit and boost morale.

Or at least...they can be. IF you pick the right cards for the right people.

Earlier in this blog, I told you about paying attention to the recipients' religions. And we discussed using Thanksgiving or New Year's cards to sidestep that with some customers or employees.

But there are other factors that affect the card you choose for your company. Before you place that card order, here are some things to consider:

1) The quality of the card. I've said it before and I'll say it again, when it comes to using business Christmas or holiday cards as marketing tools, the quality of the holiday cards and even the envelopes MATTERS! A LOT! Sending a cheap card doesn't tell the recipient that you are cautious with expenses. It says:

a) I'm cheap -- too cheap to buy a good card, so expect cheap service

or

b) Our business is not doing well, so find someone more stable to hire/buy from because we probably won't be around next year

Is that really the message you want to send with each and every card? Spend the extra few cents a card and send a message of quality and stability instead. The ROI will be worth it.

2) The match between your company style and your card. The holiday cards your business sends out should be a reflection of your company's overall image and style. If there is a significant disconnect between your company image and the card you choose, you could end up hurting rather than helping business. For example, a very casual and lighthearted card from a very traditional oak-desk style law firm, or a heavily foiled card from a green business.

3) The timing of your card's message. If your holiday cards arrive far too early, or even one day too late for the holiday, the message will be that you are not an organized company. Make sure you allow enough time for mailing -- the post office publishes schedules for domestic and overseas holiday mailing each year, so take a look before you plan your card schedule.

If you want to get in the first word with potential or existing customers this holiday season, do not mail out your Christmas cards in November. You will just look as though you cannot read a calendar. If early is important, send out cards with a Thanksgiving message, too. That will take your business to the front of the holiday season.

Choosing the right cards makes all the difference in the world to your marketing and PR efforts. Spend the time up front to find the right card for your business and for the time you will be sending it. The results later will be worth the time now.

Business Christmas card special!

G.Neil is running some pretty cool specials on their company Christmas cards and other business holiday cards. From now until 8/14 (next Friday), you can choose to save 50% on your card order (minimum 200 cards) or you can get cool premiums with your order like digital picture frames or DVD players!

You know I like G.Neil's cards, but this is even better than just getting the cards!

Just go to their website and start shopping! The key codes are Z3666 for the 50% off deal, or Z3668 for the gifts. Share those codes! Anyone can use them!

Off to shop!

The Halloween stuff is in the stores...time to buy Thanksgiving holiday cards!

I always know when it's time to pick out our company Thanksgiving cards.

The day I see the Halloween stuff on the shelves at my local Target (pronounced Tar je', of course!) is the day I need to get my act together and pick out some Thanksgiving cards to send to clients, customers, vendors and employees.

Why do I start so soon? After all, Thanksgiving is still a couple of months away. I start now, because between now and early November when I mail the cards out, I have to:

• Pick out a card
  
• Double check our address lists
  
• Come up with a total for the number of cards to order (and the extras to order for all those last minute changes and additions to the list!)
  
• Deal with employee schedule changes because of kids going back to school
  
• Decide on the signature for the cards
  
• Decide on the changed signature for the cards (no, these things never get done in one step...you know it's true!)
  
• Continue to do my regular job here at work
  
• Order the cards
  
• Pick out Halloween costumes for the kids (work/life balance, remember?)
  
• Address all the cards
  
• Make sure everyone's annual performance evaluations are on schedule (life at work goes on!)
  
• Add personal signatures to most of the cards (remember, signing by hand makes a big difference, especially to customers!)
  
• Mail the cards
  
• Deal with any card returns, including looking up new addresses and send out a fresh card (no re-sends, people!)
  
• Plan a Thanksgiving feast for 20 picky relatives (back to that work/life balance issue -- one brain, lots of tasks!)
  
• Send out the three or four dozen last minute Thanksgiving cards managers, salespeople and others forgot to request.

And all of this has to be done by a week before Thanksgiving AT THE LATEST!! Doesn't seem too early to start now, does it?

Gobble, gobble! Off to get started!

The new holidays cards are in!

I was just browsing at G. Neil and saw that the new holiday cards are up!

There are some really nice choices this year. If you like something classic and elegant, I saw a rich burgundy and gold one that would be perfect for clients or even employees.

Another reminded me of the deep winter snow I had at my farmhouse in Pennsylvania. Such a peaceful scene, especially on a 90+ degree summer day!

They had cards with flamingos and cards with penguins. Tradition Christmas tree Cards and abstract images of ribbons and lights.

I guess the point of this is that it's that time of year. So I'm going to be updating my posts on business holiday card ROI, etiquette, best practices and best choices. I'm going to be prodding you to get that Christmas card list done, and card order in. And I'll be reminding you why we send them.

So here, in the heat of mid-July, I wish you a very sincere, but very early, Happy Holidays!

PS..I'm getting the farmhouse one!

Saying it with chocolate

There are a few of them out there...people who don't like chocolate.

But for most of us, the rich flavor of a good chocolate makes any occasion better. Odds are, most of your employees and customers feel that way, too. So it only makes sense to treat them to the sweet stuff whenever you want to send a special message.

As a confirmed and unrepentant chocoholic, I am here to offer you some tips for slipping some chocolates into your thanks, congrats or invitations.

A gift of chocolate is perfect for:

• Saying thanks for a job well done
  
• Welcoming a new employee or team member
  
• Reminding employees about special events, such as Safety Month or a Customer Service initiative
  
• Rewarding new customers for their business
  
• Creating a memorable token for attendees to take home from conventions, meetings, grand openings or other significant events

In these days of tight budgets and vanishing perks, the sweet taste of a chocolate candy bar might be the sweetest way to tell employees or customers they matter to your business.

Creating a motivational tool bag

Motivation in the workplace is the art of finding out what works for the employees you have, to help them become the employees you need.

The tricky part is finding out what tools it will take to get from Point A to Point B. Despite what the advocates of the trendiest motivational theories will tell you, when it comes to employee motivation, there isn't just one magic bullet that will work for every employee -- or every organization.

So where do you start?

1) Start by reading about the nature of employee motivation, or just motivation in general. Get a feel for the different types of morale builders and motivational tools they recommend. Just remember that motivational theories are just that -- theories, so don't limit yourself to just one

2) Look closely at the corporate culture. With the theories and tools you've read about in mind, consider which would work best to encourage performance within the existing culture. Yes, some aspects of the company may be due for a change, but start with where you are.

3) Think about the people you need to motivate. What do they want? Need? Not just at work, but in their lives. Is money an issue? How about time off? Acknowledgment? Are there complaints of boredom or being stuck in a rut? Are they what you would call a "fun" group, or are they more serious-minded?

4) With your new-found collection of information, and a good sense for who your employees and company are, it's time to start building your motivational tool bag. Somethings you might want to consider are:

• Ice-breaker games to improve communication and aid in team building
  
  
  
• Relevant motivational stories to illustrate your goals
  
  
  
• Financial rewards you personnally manage, whether they are bonuses, reward cards or other perks that appear in money form. Make sure you have the final say in these -- promised rewards denied further up the line are a powerful demotivator! Not what you want!
  
  
  
• Small rewards. Little things like chocolates, gift cards to local restaurants, event tickets or desk accessories like pens are good things to keep on hand for spur of the moment rewards and morale boosters.
  
  
  
• Cards for saying thank you, good job, welcome or congratulations. Keep a supply of employee appropriate cards on hand to use for a quick note or a special pat on ethe back. Studies continue to show that Employee motivation and morale are significantly affected by written messages from managers and supervisors.
  
  
  
• Look for opportunities for growth. Whether it's a seminar an employee asks to attend, or a chance for each team member to cross train and learn new skills, find out what kind of enrichment works for your employees. Then make it happen.