Five tips on how to give a holiday card before the end of December (and what to do after December)

When it comes to the holiday season, we wait until the last minute and forget to send a card. Before you sing your next holiday song, start the next year on the right foot with the following five tips:

Tip #1: Make a list of 10 - 20+ people you want to send a holiday card 

If you haven't made a list of people before you did your holiday shopping, spend some time to create a list. If you are a job seeker, make a list of any job interviews or informational interviews, you had this year. Be intentional, not desperate.

Tip #2: Make sure your cards match the person you send.

Not everyone will celebrate the holiday or religion you celebrate. If you know which holiday the recipient celebrates, send the right card. If you don't have cards to write, buy a box of cards at Staples or go to a store to buy blank holiday cards.

If you love going to Amazon.com, buy cards with no Santa, holly, or a menorah. In other words, keep the cards religion-free if you don't know the person.

Best choice for cards: cards from a charity or cause you belong to, or plain blank cards with no decorations.

Tip #3: Be memorable

Why write a message, you ask. The goals are to stand out and be memorable. Last year, I mailed a holiday card and got an email message on December 12th, 2019:  

"Happy Holidays, Craig!

Thank you for the holiday card. Best wishes to you and your family over the holidays and the new year!"

When you write and send a card, you are building and raising the level of your relationships. You also build goodwill. 

Tip #4: Card script on what to write and what not to do

How I write my card is like this:

On the top right-hand side of the card, write today's date. 

On the card, write:

(Name of person you are writing to), wanted to wish you and your family a happy holiday season, and a happy and safe new year! -(Your Name) 

Keep your message simple, polite, and gracious. Don't mention anything about the job interview, informational interview, or your job search. If you mention it, now it's a bait and switch, and your recipient won't like it at all.

Because of the pandemic, to be safe, take a picture of your handwritten card. Send the picture to your email, and attach it to your recipient's email message. Make sure you mention to the recipient that you are attaching the card.

Example: "I'm attaching a handwritten card to wish you and your family a happy holiday season, and a happy and safe new year!"

Tip #5: When to send the cards and what to do if you forget to send in December

The best time to send the cards is within the first three weeks of December or earlier. During the weeks of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, people will be taking a vacation for the holiday break. If you forget to send the cards in December, send the cards within the first two weeks of January.  

Change the email message to say: "Attached is a handwritten card to wish you and your family a happy and safe new year!"

For your January card message, use this: (Name of person you are writing to), wanted to wish you and your family a happy and safe new year! -(Your Name) 

These five tips will help you with how to give holiday cards. What is one holiday card tip you have learned that you are going to work on today?