'Tis the Season for Business Greeting Cards

Whether you are part of a big corporation or a small business, you want to maintain a good rapport with clients and associates. Business greeting cards are designed to help you keep the lines of communication open in a warm, caring way. They do with while maintaining an air of professionalism as well.

This is a very difficult balance and you may find that you disrupt this balance if you break certain unspoken rules when it comes to business greeting cards.

Do You Say "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas"? 

Holiday business greeting cards are especially delicate because of the current controversy about the Christmas celebration. Some people take offense with the word "Christmas;" others seem to be offended if the word "Christmas" is not used.  You want to choose a greeting that communicates a neutral tone, but you don’t want the correspondence to be cold and unfeeling. 

Business Greeting Cards Might Remind Clients to Give You a Call 

Many business owners are shying away from sending holiday cards because of the Christmas vs. Happy Holidays issue,  but they are really missing a great opportunity if they forgo the process. Sending business greeting cards can help a company build relationships. They can remind old clients that the company is still available to provide goods and services, too.

I received a business greeting card from my veterinarian. She was just wishing my family and pets a wonderful holiday season. This greeting card jogged my memory -- the cats were due for their shots.  I made an appointment with the veterinarian the next month.  Had she not sent her card, I probably would have continued to forget!

Add a Personal Touch With Your Own Signature

Business greeting cards can also show that you appreciate your clients and associates. A simple handwritten note in a card says a great deal, and is one of the most important rules of etiquette for business greeting cards that should be followed. Even if you don’t write the sentiment yourself, make sure that you sign the card by hand.

In this day and age of emails and impersonal mail correspondence, it is nice to receive a heartfelt message signed by the owner of the company. This speaks volumes to the recipient. The person receiving the business greeting card feels important and appreciated.

Send Your Business Greeting Cards to the Right Person, at the Right Address

Make sure that you are up to date on the person’s information. Sending cards to the wrong addresses or if there is a misspelled name on the card can create a negative impression. People move, so wrong addresses might be understandable -- but misspelled names are highly offensive to some people.