Marketers! How to write the perfect Christmas cards ??
Published: Tuesday 10th December 2024
Get Creative with your Christmas cards & show your clients how much you care.
Oh, Christmas! The big day is fast approaching, and if you are anything like me, you have failed to get a Christmas tree, do any present shopping, or buy your turkey – yet have managed to attend at least three slightly boozy Christmas lunches, watch Elf twice and eat about 17 million mince pies.
For us marketers, the end of the year is a busy one. We’ve got to finalise our Q4 campaigns, ensure we’ve got appropriate client cover during the holidays, and be absolutely certain we’ve ordered the perfect secret Santa gift for the end of year party. So sending out Christmas cards might not seem like a priority.?
However, while it might be yet another thing to add to your to-do list, a few words of festive cheer can go a long way. Writing a thoughtful card will end the year on a positive note. It also might make up for that time you used Google translate for an international campaign, and it decided that ‘Got Milk?’ was best translated as, ‘Are you lactating?’ in Spanish. *This actually happened.
?In the business world, as in life, Christmas cards offer an excellent opportunity to connect meaningfully with others. Whether you're expressing gratitude to a client, fortifying ties with a supplier, or building goodwill with stakeholders, a thoughtful Christmas card can make your business relationships stronger and more personable.
Are Christmas Cards A Thing Of The Past?
In the fast-paced digital world of email newsletters and LinkedIn updates, some might argue the humble Christmas card has lost its relevance. It’s not uncommon to see businesses proudly declare their intention to forgo cards altogether, whether they see them as a waste of time, money or other resources.
However, a well-crafted Christmas card is a way to stand out in a crowded marketplace. It's a gesture of thoughtfulness and professionalism, a reminder that there are real people behind the business relationships you've built beyond transactions and deliverables.
What will make your Christmas cards pointless and wasteful is if you don't write anything of value in them. I don't know about you, but I could do without pieces of card adorned with just the scribbled signatures of my colleagues, family, and friends littered about my home or cluttering up my inbox (even if some of them do have pictures of puppies wearing Santa hats on them). However, receiving cards from friends and colleagues? that are full of words of appreciation,? love or laughter – well then I’d happily receive Christmas cards every day of the year.
The Origins of Christmas Cards: A Lesson in Connection
The sending of Christmas cards is a tradition that dates back to 1843 when old Sir Henry Cole (I'm just assuming he was old; he's certainly old now) came up with the idea to promote the use of post offices to the ordinary man. So, together with his artist friend John Horsley, he designed the first Christmas card and sold it for the highly reasonable sum of 1 shilling.?
It was a masterstroke of marketing and connection, allowing families and friends to maintain their bonds despite physical distances, and simultaneously positioning the post office as the institution that made this happen.
Like Cole’s original intention, the Christmas card remains a symbol of connection, albeit one that businesses like ours can leverage strategically to strengthen partnerships. Writing a meaningful card can leave a lasting impression on clients, collaborators, and suppliers alike.
Paper vs. Digital: Which Approach Works Best?
When deciding how to send your business Christmas greetings, the question of paper vs. digital inevitably arises. Both options have merits, but the choice depends on your brand’s values and audience preferences.
Physical Cards
Pros:
Cons:
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Digital Greetings
Pros:
Cons:
Pro Tip: Don’t settle for generic e-cards if you decide to go digital. Tailor the content to the recipient and consider adding a creative flair, such as a holiday-themed GIF of your team or a virtual message from your CEO.
How To Avoid Christmas Card Writing Burnout
When you’ve got 100 cards to send out to everyone from the boss you to your great aunt Sally, or is it Susan? *(texts mum, who responds with an admonishing ‘you ask me this question every year'), to all the kids in your child’s primary school class (whichever parent started this tradition, I curse yee),? to do anything more than just hastily scribble ‘Merry Christmas!’ might be asking too much. But if you want your B2B cards to make a good impression, you are going to have to dig deep and put some effort into their content.
While Christmas card writing might become a bit exhausting, if you want to avoid burnout, we’ve got some great tips. Segment them by group, do them in batches, and tackle them with some Christmas music playing, a mince pie in hand, and a glass of something mulled to keep your spirits high (if permitted in the office of course, we don’t want to get anyone the sack -not even Santa’s)!.?
Crafting Christmas Cards to Sleigh Your Competition
Whether you opt for physical or digital, the content of your card matters most. Avoid bland corporate clichés like “Wishing you a prosperous New Year!” Instead, make your message meaningful and tailored to the recipient. In short, write more than a swift one-liner – make it worth the effort of turning their attention away from wrapping up their own work to really let your carefully curated message sink in.
Top tips to make your Christmas card un-fir-gettable!
Gratitude Tell them why you think they are great – give them the gift of a fabulous compliment! Thank the recipient for their support over the past year. Whether they’re a loyal client or a reliable supplier, acknowledge their role in your success.
Personalisation? & Humour Reference a specific project, collaboration, or achievement you’ve shared. This shows that the card isn’t just a generic token but a sincere gesture. Keep the tone light and friendly; you aren’t sending a dismal financial report after all. Remember, business relationships thrive on authenticity, so no business jargon required! It’s also an opportunity to make them laugh – laughter is the best medicine, even for clients,? (except when in a turkey-induced food coma, where what you really need is to lie very still and let the meat sweats wash over you – they will pass, eventually - I promise).
Seasons Greetings & Storytelling Share warm, festive wishes for the holiday season. If you know them more personally, why not get creative? Tell a story or take a gander down memory lane – everybody loves a good yarn at Christmas time. Include a fabulously wintery poem, jot down a haiku, tell a joke -is it a Christmas cracker? Is it a Christmas card? – Who knows?!
Oh, the fun you could have.
Looking Ahead Get out your crystal all and look into the future. If appropriate (and not too assuming) include a positive note about your continued relationship in the coming year and wish their business ongoing success for 2025.
Make Your Christmas Cards Snow-ticeable This Year!
Here at Seed, we believe that writing thoughtful Christmas cards to our clients, suppliers, and stakeholders is an excellent opportunity to connect, express gratitude, and make them feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Whether you choose physical cards or digital greetings, remember to make your message meaningful, personal, and reflective of your brand’s values to show how much you appreciate your business partnerships.
So, this year, don't let the art of writing Christmas cards fall by the wayside. Instead embrace it as an opportunity to bring some joy and authenticity to your professional relationships. So why not put those creative talents to good use and crack the art of writing the perfect Christmas cards this year?? I can't think of a better way to spread a little festive cheer.