Don’t be Missed During the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
The holidays are quickly approaching (I know, how did this happen?). It’s the time of year when everyone is finalizing budgets, reviewing strategies and, the biggest decision for every organization, poring over what holiday message to send to business partners, clients and customers!
What, not you?! Don’t worry, you’re not the only one! But don’t let the end-of-year grind keep you from reaching out and thanking your customers and partners. Holiday greetings are a great way to keep your company and brand top of mind while expressing your appreciation for clients’ loyalty and business.
Not sure what to say or how to send the perfect holiday message? Here are some quick tips to ensure your message is well received.
Timing is Everything
Ever had the best intentions, but days got away from you and your Happy Holidays message turned into a Happy New Year message instead (me, embarrassingly raising my hand…)? It happens to the best of us. Don’t let this year sneak up on you. Put it on your calendar with reminders each week to work on or approve the holiday greeting.
Want to know the best time to send? Direct mail pieces should be mailed the first week in December to ensure they arrive a week before Christmas. Emails or digital cards are okay to send about two weeks out. Don’t let your message arrive when everyone is out of the office on vacation. You want your card with your brand to be displayed in their office for as long as possible.
Make it Personal
This can be difficult, especially if you are sending messages to hundreds of clients. Incorporate an office photo, fun slogan or saying, or fun facts about your business into the design of your card. If you have time to individually sign cards, leave a brief message to the recipient so they know you were thinking of them specifically. If you don’t have that much time, make sure your logo and electronic signature is on the card.
“We see holiday cards as an opportunity to stand-out, keep our names and faces fresh in our client’s mind, and to demonstrate our approachability. If we can put a smile on our client’s face at a hectic time of year, we see that as a win. The positive feedback we receive from this approach is far greater than what we had with standard messaging.”
–Allison Corbyn, Director of Business Recruitment, Big Sky Economic Development
Say Thank You, Not Buy This
The perfect message should thank your customers for the great year, highlight how you have made their life easier or solved a problem, and express your excitement for serving them in the future. People will be turned off by a salesy message. It won’t leave a good taste in their mouth – even if it’s accompanied with some peppermint chocolates!
Remember, this is the time of year to show your appreciation to your clients, not pitch to them.
Follow-Up
While we don’t suggest using your holiday message as a sales tool, it does provide you with a great opportunity to catch up with clients. Schedule some time to send an email or call them after the greetings have been sent out. You can ensure they received the message and then ask them about any end-of-year updates or needs. It’s a win-win, really!
Holiday greetings are extremely important. They allow you to make a big impression on your customers, clients and vendors. You don’t have to break the bank to do this either. A simple, personal and fun message will mean more to your clients than a box of candy with no note.
Not sure what to do this year? Call us! We love putting together holiday cards and are offering some special pricing for both printable and digital cards. Plus, we can help with print management or digital sends, allowing you to focus on the important things this holiday – relaxing with eggnog and cookies!
