Business greeting cards

Worth the hassle and cost?

[javahava]

I have a list of about 150 clients, yearly recurring revenue. Do you think sending business cards would make a lick of difference to their renewing in the summer? Things to consider: if I do it this year, I'd likely have to do it next year and consecutive years (or else might send a strange message). Doing this properly would take a chunk of time and cost as well. Anyone else gone through this thought process?

[Jon_King]

I think to show a small appreciation for their year-long business is worth it.

[reuben101]

Depends on how you do it. If you have some standard message pre-printed it tends to have the same effect as a standard sales mail piece. If you take the time to write a personal note for each one it can pay off big in goodwill and potentially additional benefits. Takes time, but it seems to be worth it, but I'm one of those sentimental types around the holidays and like to do these kind of things anyway... *<:)

[Essex_boy]

Two firms that I deal with do something like this.

One sends out preprinted cards with a photo of teh office on covered in snow. Gets a thats nice, when I show it around.

Th eother sends out brand name (Expensive) chocs - so guess which one I like dealing with through out the year?

[928s4]

Just finished sending our clients 250 cards, and a dozen gift baskets (for our large customers). We look at it as both a way to say "Thanks You" for the previous years business, and as a way to promote branding for the coming year.

We did include personal notes on many of the cards- and it's amazing how receptive these clients are to our calls over the next few months!

[EileenC]

I do regular client thank you greetings, but seldom at Christmas. This year, I did it at Thanksgiving, with a message about being thankful for their business. I also send Valentines, believe it or not. This year I sent a plain Hershey bar in a simple box and put a pink wrapper around the bar with a message printed on my laser printer saying, "It sure is sweet doing business with you." I also sent them to my top dozen or so prospects, modifying the message to "It sure would be sweet doing business with you." Because I'm a copywriter, it demonstrates that I'm creative, but I don't have to spend a lot of money to do it.

In past years, I've also sent out my yearly greetings for the 4th of July, and tie it in with a message about "Ain't America great, love doing business with you, yada yada yada."

By sending greetings twice a year, and not during the Christmas holiday season, you stand out from the crowd.

[anallawalla]

Unless your cards go out very early, they might arrive with 20-30 others and the receptionist would be the only one to glance at the contents. I recommend the off-season approach, e.g. the anniversary of your business relationship.

[Matt Probert]

I have a list of about 150 clients, yearly recurring revenue. Do you think sending business cards would make a lick of difference to their renewing in the summer?

People know (or at least perceive) that christmas cards, and other greetings cards, from businesses are purely cheesy marketing, and actually annoy many people!

A personal call is far better. If they are really worthwhile, take them to dinner, or arrange a soire and invite them.

Matt

[iamlost]

I stay away from holidays, however commercial, and instead send birthday cards with small boxes of chocolates (to clients' secretaries/assistants - not the clients), thankyou cards on the anniversary of first doing business to each client with tickets for a game/show that I know they will like, and every April 01 a totally awesome goody box of junk food to the IT dept of each domain host of sites I maintain.

The cards are limited editions of original artwork (I built and maintain the artists site in return for free cards forever!) that are often framed and displayed by clients. Conversation about these displayed prints have resulted in several referrals.

The chocolates are hand made locally, are totally natural and totally scrumptious, but sadly I do have to pay for them as they manage their own site.

The junk food is simply junk food. But I get very prompt service whenever needed.

Every card includes a handwritten message. It takes time and effort to learn who has what birthday, who likes what entertainment, to write and post each card, etc. (I did 214 this year) but I do not "advertise" in any other fashion, it sets me apart from any other supplier, holds current clients, gains new, and I enjoy it.

[Syzygy]

At work the majority of Xmas greetings cards we recieve are from firms we have no knowledge of...

Those we do know generally have a personalised greeting inside. For ourselves, we stopped sending such things out some years ago.

Syzygy