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.

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.

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!

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!

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?

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!

So what's it gonna be? Thanksgiving, Christmas, Happy Holidays or all Three?

It's almost time to pick out your company's holiday cards.

Oh, don't give me that look! Yes, I know it's June and it's 90 degrees outside. But I'm serious! The holidays are 6 months away (or less, if you include Thanksgiving) and it's time to get cranking on those company Christmas cards...or whatever kind you're sending this year.

So in honor of it being THAT time of year (again, with the looks?!), here are some links to the info you need to get started on your holiday card season:

What holiday to choose?

Sign them or print them?

Making a business holiday card list

Why the cards you choose matter

Employee holiday cards

When to send them out

Fa-la-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la...making my list, checking it twice....

Last chance for company Christmas cards!

It's December already! So where did the time go? And where are your business Christmas cards?

Opps! There are only 23 days until Christmas, but it's not too late to order holiday cards today! Here are some tips for last minute business Christmas card orders.

1) Keep it simple. Now is not the time to design a custom verse, create a new logo or fret over the format of the signature. Get your orders in with a minimum of custom work and you have the best chance of getting the cards done right and on time.

2) Overnight your paperwork. Now is not the time to trust regular mail or lower-cost three or five day package delivery. Spring for the first thing in the morning delivery, then follow up to make sure it was received.

3) Opt for e-mailed proofs. Forget seeing your signature and logo on the card itself. Time is short, and you want those cards delivered on time. Opt for an e-mail proof, then double and triple check spelling, verse and layout. There's no time for reprints!

4) Order from a company that understands business needs. While there are lots of quick and cheap printing companies online, many have never dealt with a large or critical corporate order. They are just not B2B professionals. With time as a critical factor, go for one of the B2B specialists with a long history in the business like G.Neil or HR Direct. They understand your needs and your schedule, and have the experience to get you what you need.

Got a couple of extra cards?

If you find yourself with a handful of extra company Christmas cards after you've written all you need to for your employees and customers, here are some ideas for putting those calorie-free leftovers to good use:

Send a card to a wounded soldier

Write a message of healing in those extra business holiday cards and send them to:

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

Send a card to a sick child

Check out the Hugs and Hope website for information about sending cards to kids who are facing frightening illnesses or injuries in the hospital this holiday season.

Reach out to the homeless

Send a message of hope to the homeless in your city with a holiday card. Write a seasonal message of hope in each, then enclose a gift card to a fast food restaurant, Wal-Mart or grocery store. Then take them to the local shelter or food kitchen and hand them out along with cookies and hot cider. If it's a family shelter, bring small wrapped toys along.

Cheer up local seniors

Many residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities have no family or friends. Brighten their day and their season with your leftover cards. Take small holiday decorations, CD's or small gifts like bright holiday socks. If you want to take food, check with the staff in advance to learn about special diets. Let employees take the cards and gifts to the facility and spend some time with the residents. That will boost employee morale, as well.

No matter how you decide to use those extra cards, you'll know you're making a difference in a life, instead of just filling a trash can. And isn't that what the holidays are all about?

Creating your business holiday message

Before you select your company's holiday greeting cards, and certainly before you begin to pen a message inside, take some time to think about what your business holiday message should be. What do you want to convey, besides Happy Holidays, to those who will read your card? Here are some things to think about:

What is the core value of your company? Is it service? Reliable tradition? Something to make life more fun? Offering cutting-edge technology and gadgets?

Who are your customers? Can you identify a key demographic? Are they older, well-educated professionals? Young, liberal people just starting out in their lives or professions? Families? Sports and/or outdoors enthusiasts? Corporate employees?

Just brainstorm the answers to those two keep questions. Ask others in your organization for their first thoughts. Use the information to create a picture of who you are and who your customers are, painting both with broad strokes rather than specifics like age or annual income.

Now use this information to select a card that will convey a holiday message that reflects your company and your customers.

Start with the picture on the front of the card. For example, if your company stands for environmentally friendly or nature oriented values, an image if pristine snow in a wooded setting would be a better choice than one of a city street crowded with shoppers and decorations. Companies who want to convey a message of friendly, non-traditional service to a younger or more active audience might want to select an image with playful penguins or polar bears instead of a Thomas Kincaid-like scene of a cottage in the countryside.

There is important psychology in action here. By matching the image on the card to the image you see for your customers and your company, you are saying "Hey this is who and what we are, and we connect with who and what you are." Without shouting it, the message will get across.

Tomorrow, I'll talk about what the holiday message inside says about your company. Believe it or not, even the font counts!

It's not too late to get your business holiday cards -- but it will be soon!

It's just over a month until Hanukkah and Christmas, and you're still on the fence about ordering company Christmas cards? The economy is in the toilet, your customer base is hanging on to their dollars like they're the last flotation device on the ship, and your employees are spending more energy focusing on how they can afford to fill their grocery cart than on that new project.

And you're waiting? Considering NOT ordering cards?

Studies have shown that sending holiday cards works well to establish and support customer loyalty and name recognition. Other studies have found a link between little things like company holiday cards and employee identification as "part of the team."

And yet, you might pass up this inexpensive and powerful tool, saving maybe a few hundred dollars and missing out on many times that in loyalty and impact!

If the budget is so tight it squeaks, (and whose isn't?), choose more affordable business holiday cards. Skip the foil lined envelopes and oversized format in favor of a more modest silhouette and regular envelopes.

The impact isn't in the size of the card, or the suede finish paper...it's in the name at the bottom, and the personal notes and signature you add. It's in the hand-addressed envelope instead of a computer printed label. It's in the thoughtful verse, and the timely delivery -- all the things we've talked about in this blog.

Make the most of the holidays for your company. A card is best way to let them all know you care.

Don't miss the chance to connect with business holiday cards

It's November.

Do you know where your company's holiday cards are?

It's not too late to order holiday cards for your business! Here are some important deadlines you might want to keep in mind to make sure your company Christmas card gets to its destination on time.

Christmas: Thursday, December 25th
Hanukkah (First night): Sunday, December 21st
New Years Eve: Wednesday, December 31st

The USPS sets up mailing deadlines for holiday cards and packages to make sure items arrive on time. For Christmas delivery, the 2008 schedule is available online. The new schedule includes military and international deliveries..

Remember, the dates shown are the deadlines. Since late is far worse than earlier, time your mailings well in advance of the date on the chart.

Use humor to address tough economic realities this holiday

Everyone knows times are tough, so why not laugh at what we can't change?

That's exactly the idea behind a line of holiday greeting cards just released by Order of St. Nick, a company that specializes in edgy, funny greeting cards. Their new collection uses images and verses to hit at today's worse financial issues, from foreclosures to high gas prices.

One card deals with a lost 401K and offers the recipient a timely wish:

"Have a Great Depression and a Subprime New Year."

Another shows a Depression-era child rejoicing because Christmas dinner will feature squirrel instead of rat. Check out the whole line at Depressing Times.com.

These cards might be a good way to get a laugh out of customers stressed by recent events in the stock market and at the supermarket. But you have to be careful in your choice of recipients. Sending a subprime mortgage themed Christmas card to an employee or client who has just lost their home would be cruel, and we often don't know who is facing that issue.

If you decide to go for humor, but want a slightly lighter touch. A reindeer tangled in Christmas lights or a stack of cheering penguins might bring a smile to a recipient's face without a tear in their eye.

And right now a good laugh or even a small smile might be exactly what your clients and employees need.

Don't wait until the last minute!

It's December 20th. The business holiday cards you ordered three days ago in a last minute panic have arrived. You tear though the pricey overnight rush delivery package you had to pay extra for. You open the box and there you see hundreds of lovely cards with an idyllic rural winter scene -- and your company's name misspelled on each and every one.

What are you going to do with 600 pretty Christmas cards that proudly call your business "Shakespeare's Booksnore." It's 5 days until Christmas, Hanukkah has already started, and the New Year is almost here. It's too late to send them back, wait for a reprint, and then sign and send 600 cards.

Don't let this happen to your company! Mistakes can and do happen, and any good greeting card printer will replace the misprinted or otherwise unacceptable cards at no charge. But that won't help you when the cards arrive too late for a fix.

Today is October 24th. Two months from today is Christmas Eve. Have you ordered your company holiday cards yet?

G.Neil, my personal fave for company greeting cards, has some great specials right now. And they really do a nice printing job too. Very clean, no smears or stray ink spots (I am a fanatic about clean printing!) But wherever you order, order NOW! It's almost Halloween! Can Hanukkah and Christmas be far behind?

Is a corporate holiday gift a good idea? You bet!

As businesses compete for fewer and fewer consumer and even B2B dollars, the race is on to make your company stand out from the crowd.

Sending a company Christmas card or business Thanksgiving card is certainly one way to reach out to customers. But what about those really special customers? Or that market segment your business is trying to break into? Is a corporate holiday gift a good way to stand out from the crowd?

If you choose the right gifts, the answer could be yes!
Here's a case study...

Sue and Stan's custom construction company had always been number one in their area. Then a combination of decreased home owner spending and some new, lower cost competition combined to put a real dent in their business. And the holidays were just around the corner.

Of course they would send out company Christmas cards to past clients and people who had expressed an
interest at the local home show over the summer. But there were a handful of really wonderful clients who had not only used Sue and Stan's services in their own homes, but had also referred quite a few clients to them over the years.

For these special customers, they decided to add a corporate holiday gift to the usual card to let these special clients know how much they appreciated their on-going business and referrals.

After looking around, they decided on a small but elegant desk clock and calculator combination. They took advantage of the free engraving to add a message of thanks that related to the gift..

"When it's time for home renovations, count on S & S Custom Builders"

They sent these holiday gifts to 30 of their best clients, along with a gift certificate good for $100 off a new project with each referral who scheduled their own home renovation or custom building project.

The result of their investment of about $600? In the following 4 months -- 18 new projects for just over $92,000 in net profit.

A side note...the company Christmas cards sent to 150 people contacted at the summer home show yielded another $80,000 plus in projects booked for the months following the holidays.

In this season of silver and gold, are you using holidays cards and gifts to keep your business in the black?

Green business holiday cards

If you're making greener choices in your business, why not carry your commitment through to your business holiday cards?

Now wait...I know what you're thinking! Recycled Christmas cards are brown. And scratchy. And ugly!

Not so!

Paper recycling has come a long way since its early days. Recycled papers are now available in a wide variety of colors including white. They have an elegant look and feel. So recycled Christmas cards no longer look like they're made of old paper grocery bags!

Add natural inks...soy and other plant based inks are safer and recyclable. That makes them ideal for a green office to send.

Once you've decided to buy recycled holiday cards, shop around. Look for cards that are made from at least 20% post consumer waste, with soy or agra-inks. Check out some of the traditional business product sites, including those to the right in the resource list...many of them are now carrying beautiful cards made from recycled paper. Also check to make sure the envelopes are made from recycled paper -- there is little point, from an environmental standpoint, to send recycled cards in a virgin paper envelope lined with foil!