Holiday cards - Already? But, it's only September! True. But as we know in the world of sales & marketing - time flies. Before you know it, you'll be sitting around the Thanksgiving table, feeling guilty about not having plans to send holiday cards to your customers.

Due to lack of planning, many greeting cards don't arrive until after the holidays. You've seen that sad stack of cards that arrived at your office after New Years. The thought was there, but the impact was lost.

This year, do it right. Plan ahead. Here a list of tasks that will help you to start making your holiday card plans (inspired by a Pen & Paper Marketing Blog post):

1. Choose a Holiday to Celebrate. Most companies send Seasons Greetings or Christmas cards. You could be different and send Thanksgiving or New Years cards. Decide which holiday you want to celebrate and plan around that date.

2. Prepare Your Mailing List. Who do you want to send cards to? Start organizing your mailing list now. This may be the most time-intensive part of this process. Plus, before you order your cards, you'll need to know how many people you're mailing.

3. Order Your Cards. Prevent expensive rush shipping charges and allow at least two weeks for your cards to arrive. Order now, so you have plenty of time to select the best cards and prices. If you want customized cards, companies like Cards Direct and VistaPrint offer nice options. Or, if your list is small or you don't need a customized message, you can find cards at a stationary shop or in stores like Hallmark or Staples. Go early while there are still plenty of designs to choose from.

4. Hand Address the Cards. If there is ever a time to send a personal message to your clients, this is it. It's worth the extra effort to personalize your cards by hand addressing them. You can do it yourself, use a member of your staff, or outsource to a company that specializes in handwriting services (Write On Results can help).

5. Set a Target Mailing Date. Ideally, you'll want to have your cards addressed and stamped right after Thanksgiving (unless of course you're sending Thanksgiving cards). This way you'll get them out in plenty of time and won't risk them arriving the day before holiday vacation.

6. Buy Interesting Stamps. Why use the standard Liberty Bell or American Flag stamps when you can spice things up a bit. Buy seasonal stamps or other interesting designs to catch your clients' attention and show that you're taking the time to send them something special.

7. Mail Your Cards. Get your cards in the mail and celebrate. You've just sent a personal greeting to your customers and have accomplished something that many other businesses are unable to do - you mailed your holiday cards on time!

 A Great Quote...

"Unless commitment is made,
there are only promises and hopes... but no plans."

Peter Drucker
(1909 - 2005)

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