Making your business holiday greeting card list

07/19/09

Business holiday cards are a great way to impress your customers and colleagues by spreading a little holiday cheer. They also show your thoughtfulness during the holidays, nurture current business relationships, attract potential customers and remind old customers you’re still out there.

Sending holiday cards can be an overwhelming chore if you’re not prepared. The first step to successfully distributing your holiday cards, without giving you a headache, is by maintaining a current business holiday greeting card list of all clients and contacts. The following are some simple tips for making your business holiday greeting card list: Keep a running spreadsheet of holiday card contacts. Create a spreadsheet on your computer and save it in a place where it can be easily accessed.

Add contacts as you acquire them. As you acquire new contacts, remember to add their information to your running list of holiday card contacts.

Include names, business titles and addresses. Be as thorough as possible when collecting contact information. Every envelope should be addressed properly (Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc.) and sent to the contact’s office.

Find out each contact’s preferred holiday. Acknowledging an individual’s holiday tradition will show that your business pays attention to detail. If you aren’t sure or don’t know, use a generic greeting card message to be safe.

Review your list for errors and anyone you may have missed. Before addressing envelopes, review your business holiday greeting card list for possible errors.

Complete your list with time to spare. Be sure to give yourself enough time to address and sign each card before the holiday mail rush. Cards should be mailed at least ten days before the holiday for timely arrival. Allot more time if sending cards internationally.

A small act of kindness around the holiday season can be the difference between a customer saying true to your business or taking a look at what your competitors have to offer. Maintain a thorough list and the task of sending business holiday cards will be a stress free task that will benefit your business in the coming year.