Holiday Greeting Cards - 13 Do's and Dont's

Every holiday season business greeting cards make the list of top holiday gifts.

Greeting cards are an easy way to show your appreciation to your clients and employees.

Greeting cards can be used to say Thank you for business throughout the year, keep your best customers connected to your company and kick of the New Year on a positive note.

Despite being one of the top holiday gifts, many business people make simple mistakes with their greeting cards that can ruin a perfectly good opportunity to connect with your customer.

Here are 13 simple (but often overlooked) things you can do to ensure your holiday greetings cards have to best results.

1. Make sure recipients name is spelled correctly
   
   If you have ever received a card or any correspondence with your name spelled incorrectly you'll know that it not only boarders on insulting, but you won't care what's inside. If you are unsure of the correct spelling, make a quick phone call to the recipients company and ask the receptionist to verify the spelling. Tell them you are sent out a holiday card and you just want to double-check.



2. Hand write the name and address on the front of the envelop
   
   This small step might take a little time, but the results are well worth it. A hand written name and address instead of a computer generated label shows that you took the time to think about who is receiving your holiday greeting cards and that you value them as clients or employees. Too busy to do this? Consider hiring a student (with good penmanship) to write out your cards.



3. Personally sign your cards
   
   This part you should probably do your self. Once again, perception is everything. The more time and effort your customer sees you've invested in sending them your holiday greeting cards the more they will value it.



4. Be sensitive to traditions and the recipients background
   
   Saying Merry Christmas seems to be a thing of the past. It's important to recognize this and be sensitive to your customers background and traditions. If your client is a Kosher deli or a Halal meat shop owner, greeting cards depicting the Virgin Mary under the star of Bethlehem may not be the best fit. No disrespect to those of the Christian faith, but this post is about the business side of the season.



5. Always be in good taste
   
   That last point leads us to making sure you maintain a level of respect for your company and your clients. Holiday cards of shirtless hunks or girls in Santa inspired Bikini's are probably not the best choice. If I have to explain this any further......?????



6. Keep it simple
   
   Simple messages like Season Greetings or Happy Holidays will generally be more than adequate. You don't need to be a poet, just wish you client well for the season and the New Year.



7. Personalized your message
   
   Before you simply sign you card, take a moment to think about your interaction with your client. Did they make a big purchase sometime throughout the year or make some kind of achievement in their business? Add one quick line such as, "Thank you for your widget order this year, your business is greatly valued and I appreciate your trust in our company", or "Congratulations on a great 2009. Winning the Best in Show and the 2009 Widget Fest was a great accomplishment, I look forward to helping you do the same again in 2010".



8. Purchase quality
   
   Buy only quality greeting cards. Look for a thick stock that feels heavy and make sure the images are vivid and bright. Looking cheap here lessens the value of your gesture and sends a signal to your client that you don't value them as much as I am sure you do.



9. Hand deliver if possible
   
   Any time you can hand deliver your holiday greeting cards - do so. It gives you a chance to connect with your clients just before a special time in their lives. Your conversations can also open the door to more contact after the New Year when you ask them how their family trip to the in-laws was or how little Billy enjoyed the new bike he got.



10. Send them in time
    
    If you can't hand delivery your greeting cards - make sure they are delivered in time. This year December 18th is the absolute latest you will want to be putting you cards in the mail for any clients located in North America.



11. Keep the recipients company policies in mind
    
    Keep in mind that many firms can have restrictions on receiving gifts from suppliers or vendors. A quick call to the company receptionist should help clear this issue up, but generally speaking, holiday greeting cards will be suitable for all businesses.



12. Know what your co-workers are doing
    
    It's a good idea to be aware of what your co-workers or managers of other divisions are giving their contacts for the holiday season. If you are giving a greeting card and the sales rep for another territory is giving greeting cards attached to a $100 bottle of wine, you may need open the budget vault to keep up. I know it sounds bad, but this all about perception, and you don't want your accounts or employees finding out you're the Grinch that skimped on their holiday gifts.



13. Represent your company properly
    
    Remember, holiday greeting cards are simple and easy, but you need to give as much thought to the impression you are making in the same way you might when crafting an advertisement. Make sure the images on you card, the messages inside and the look and feel reflect your company values and positioning.

If you are in the market for holiday greeting cards, please take some time to check out the details for the Plant Your Tree greeting card program.

We are offering custom design greeting cards made from FSC certified, 100% recycled paper (No new trees were harvested to produce our cards).