It's November: What's your plan for Holiday Cards?
With Halloween now behind us, can Christmas be nearer than you think? Indeed it can be, and is.
When acknowledging your customers and industry contacts, it’s not necessarily bad manners having two or more tiers of communication and appreciation.
- Lowest Level: Ecards – Send to casual friends or business acquaintances (perhaps people you know, but have no actual business relationship with, as yet).
- Highest Level: Gifts – Long standing customers and industry contacts who refer you, or hire your company, regularly. (Note: This will be a special focus in a future blog).
- Medium Level: Holiday Cards – Send to those people who fall in the middle, such as: Annual customers, fellow members in trade associations, your accountant, and the like.
Notice, I said holiday cards, not Christmas cards. No it’s not a religious issue, really.
It’s a timing and attention thing.
My experience says, the best strategy is to send Thanksgiving cards. Yes, Thanksgiving cards!
“Why?” you ask. Here’s the logic… Many companies are deferring their decisions about holiday parties (yes, no, how opulent, how understated) as long as they can. Their final plans may be influenced my sales, profits, layoffs, the presidential election, or any number of factors you’re unaware of.
Rather than wait until December, if your product or service is tied to a holiday party or December business (such as gift baskets, balloons, or stationery), then get out in front with a Thanksgiving card. Send a card that is received between Wednesday, November 19th, and Monday, November 24th.
Your holiday wishes will be among the first received, and you will be top-of-mind with people who know you, like you, and are in a position to rehire you or refer you business.
And, by the way, it’s OK to put ONE business card in each envelope. Final thing, make sure the card is signed by ALL your office staff, if possible. Not just you.
Looking for a marketing edge to trump your competitors? Stand out from the crowd by sending Thanksgiving Cards. Then listen for the phone to ring.
Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Authority
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Respectfully, don’t some, more savvy, people see this for the gimmick that it is? I mean, if someone sent me a Thanksgiving card I would think that was somewhat odd.
Please don’t hate me for saying so, but it seems more sincere & credible to just send out greetings to simply wish the person happy holidays & not have any ulterior motive.
John, I understand your point (taken respectfully), but I disagree with the term ‘ulterior motive.’
If one is going to send a Holiday Card, at all, why not send it at a time when it is more likely to be noticed and appreciated.
In a hectic business climate, it is extremely important to stand out from the crowd. It’s a holiday card, not a business solicitation, asking people to ‘book now for the holiday season.’
Subtlety is important.
I think you may be looking at the doughnut hole, rather than the doughnut.
Andy