6 reasons why your business should send Christmas cards
1. Be different. It’s a big digital sandbox we all play in these days and it is hard to stand apart and get noticed. Sending a ‘pen-to-paper’ Christmas card is a sure fire way to etch yourself in someone’s memory. It also speaks to your commitment to stellar, specialized service.
2. Go old school. Yes, it would be easy to mass e-mail your clients and partners some holiday cheer, but you stand the chance of coming across as tacky and insincere. Why? Because it is. Your client base already receives multiple emails, promotions, requests, from you as it is. Christmas is special. And your greeting should be too.
3. Mine your database. Sending out Holiday greetings should not be just for current clients. You might want to consider lapsed clients as well. But I would encourage you to think about partners that would least expect it. Perhaps even, dare I say it, competitors?
4. Element of surprise. Receiving a Christmas card is not the norm these days (sadly in my view) and so it is a surprise to get one. Nothing like it creates delight for the receiver. Nothing like it builds loyalty and relationship.
5. Handwritten is a must. I know, you’re thinking I’m insane, but stay with me for a moment. Why not? I mean really, you are already using a paper card, what is 5 seconds of scribbling your signature (make sure you use a label, stamp or something to identify you and your company so they know who it is from on the envelope). That is bare minimum. If you really want to be remembered, jot down something more. Perhaps a reference to family (resist the urge to treat it like a business card). Always professional and appropriate, of course.
6. Don’t stop at clients. The holiday season is the perfect time for you to pen a card to your team members. If you didn’t have them, you wouldn’t be able to keep the workshop open. Don’t chintz out and not give them a card (at minimum). Of course, in this case, it will make all the difference if you spend a few minutes writing something thoughtful in each card. This is no place for a Scrooge.
Does your business send out Christmas cards? Or, as client/staff, have you received one and how did you feel?