Greeting Card Tango: How To Impress, Not Stress, During The Holidays

When it comes to holiday greeting cards, to send or not to send is often the question. Once you have decided in the affirmative, you then have to determine who to include on your list, what kind of card to choose and how to address the envelope.

There are lots of reasons for sending those holiday cards. You might want to enhance your current business relationships, attract new customers, remind old clients that you exist or show appreciation to those who have faithfully supported you during the year. What is obviously a well-meaning gesture can actually offend the people you want to impress when it is not done properly.

The first place to start is with a good quality card to show that you value your clients and colleagues. Skimping on your selection can be interpreted in a number of ways. Your recipients might take it as a sign that business has not been good or that they aren't worth a little extra investment on your part.

Make sure your list is up-to-date with correct names and current addresses. If you do this on a regular basis, it does not become a dreaded holiday chore. As you gain new clients and contacts throughout the year, take a few minutes to add them to your database and mark them for your greeting card group. This way you won't overlook anyone or embarrass yourself by sending the card to the old address.

Sign each card personally. Even if you have preprinted information on the card such as your name - which is an impressive detail - you need to add your handwritten signature. The most elegant cards should still have your personal signature and a short handwritten message or greeting. Sound like a lot of trouble? If the business or the relationship is worth it, so is the extra effort. This is your chance to connect on a personal level with your clients and colleagues.

Take the time to handwrite the address as well. If you are ready to throw up your hands at this point and forget the whole project, then have someone else address the envelopes for you. Whatever you do, don't use computer-generated labels. They are impersonal and make your holiday wishes look like a mass mailing. You may save time and even money, but lose a client or a business associate in the process.

You may mail your greeting to the home if you know the business person socially. Be sure to include the spouse's name in this instance. The card is not sent to both husband and wife at the business address unless they both work there.

Whether you are addressing the envelope to an individual or a couple, titles should always be used. It's "Mr. John Doe," not "John Doe," or "Mr. and Mrs. John Doe, rather that "John and Mary Doe."

Be sensitive to the religious and cultural traditions of the people to whom you are sending your cards. Find out whether they observe Christmas, Hanukah or Kwanzaa and make sure your message is appropriate for each individual. If you decide to go with one card and a single message for all, choose a generic one that will not offend. "Season's Greetings" and "Happy Holidays" are both safe bets.

Mail your greetings in time to arrive for the designated holiday. If you find yourself addressing the envelopes on Super Bowl Sunday, keep the cards until next year and send out a high-quality note thanking people for their business during the previous year instead. The best way to avoid the last minute greeting rush is to have all your envelopes addressed before Thanksgiving. Then during December you can leisurely write a short message - one or two lines are all that is necessary on each card, sign your name and have them in the mail with a minimum of hassle.

You now have all the time in the world for the shopping, baking, decorating and celebrating that accompany the holiday season.

*************************************************

Additional Tips for Addressing Envelopes

If you are about to address your holiday greeting cards or the invitations to the company party and you are confused about the correct way to do it, you are not alone. There are situations that we have not had to consider before. There are more women with professional titles, increased numbers of women who retain their maiden name after marriage, and couples choosing alternative living arrangements. The simple act of addressing an envelope has become quite complicated. Here are a few tips to cover the majority of those demanding dilemmas.

Always write titles on the envelope. The card or invitation goes to "Mr. John Smith," not "John Smith." It is addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith," instead of "John and Mary Smith."

When you address a couple, use titles, rather than professional initials. It's "Dr. and Mrs. John Smith," not "John Smith, M.D. and Mrs. Smith."

If both the husband and the wife are doctors, you write, "The Doctors Smith." However, if they use different last names, you address the envelope to "Dr. John Smith and Dr. Mary Brown." The husband's name is placed first.

If the wife is a doctor and the husband is not, you send your invitation to "Mr. John Smith and Dr. Mary Smith."

Try to get it all on one line. When the husband has an unusually long name, the wife's title and name are indented and written on the second line:

The Honorable Jonathon Richardson Staniskowsky and Mrs. Staniskowsky

When a couple is not married and share a mutual address, their names are written on separate lines alphabetically and not connected by the word "and."

Ms. Mary Brown

Mr. John Smith

When the woman outranks her husband, her name is written first. It's "Major Mary Smith and Lieutenant John Smith."

Note: The man's name is always written first unless the wife outranks him or if the couple is unmarried and her last name precedes his alphabetically. So much for "Ladies first."

(c) 2004, Lydia Ramsey. All rights in all media reserved.

About The Author

Lydia Ramsey is a business etiquette expert, professional speaker, corporate trainer and author of MANNERS THAT SELL - ADDING THE POLISH THAT BUILDS PROFITS. She has been quoted or featured in The New York Times, Investors' Business Daily, Entrepreneur, Inc., Real Simple and Woman's Day. For more information about her programs, products and services, e-mail her at Lydia@MannersThatSell.com or visit her web site http://www.mannersthatsell.com.

---

Christmas Gifts to Last a Lifetime

Do you know what you are giving to the children... Read More

The Rose

Lifestyle is style over amount. And style is an art... Read More

Valentine Gifts From The Heart

One of my fondest childhood memories is of my mother... Read More

Tis The Season For Love ? and Stress!

The holidays are upon us and for many people this... Read More

Online UK Florist Saves the Day

Here it is Thursday afternoon, and Evelyn sees no break... Read More

Birthday Gift Guide

A birthday gift is the opportunity to show your loved... Read More

Great Games for Your Halloween Party

If you're having a Halloween party you need to play... Read More

Giving Thanks

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is only a few weeks... Read More

10 Reasons Santas Broke This Year

1. Santa Spends More Than He MakesSanta's paychecks are nothing... Read More

How Parents Can Win the Battle To Keep Your Child Safe From Strangers This Holiday Season

When we think of Holiday shopping, we think of all... Read More

30th Birthday Gift Ideas

Choosing a birthday gift for a friend about to turn... Read More

Saint Nick to Santa, the MOST extreme makeover?

It's the holiday season, and the first thing that comes... Read More

Mother?s Day Crafts

Make these quick and easy crafts with your children for... Read More

Home For The Holidays: Happy Times, Right

This time of the year is supposed to be happy.... Read More

Successful Holiday Gift Giving Starts with a Plan

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas and the... Read More

Mothers Day Shopping Ideas

Do you know a Mom who needs to be thanked... Read More

Perfect Presents for Mom

Every year we search our brains for a unique, exciting... Read More

A Priceless Birthday Gift

Kelly was a very wealthy Hollywood actress, who was used... Read More

The Origin of the Christmas Tree

Have you ever wondered why we decorate a tree for... Read More

New Year?s Resolution ? Why Not Resolve To Take Back Your Life?

It's time once again for the dreaded New Year's Resolutions.... Read More

Romance on a Budget

Valentine's Day is often synonymous with lush velvety looking red... Read More

The History And Origin Of Valentines Day

The oldest Valentine card still in existence was sent in... Read More

What Are And How To Use Free Ecard and Free Ecards

You can consider free ecards as being the same thing... Read More

Ready to Skip This Holiday? Why No Just Make It Your Own?

Do you feel panicked, or exicted? Are you experiencing joy... Read More

2 Quick and Easy Halloween Crafts

Making Halloween crafts can really get you into a festive... Read More

Holiday Gift Ideas For Antique Lovers

1. Knowledge is Power. Whatever the area of collecting ?... Read More

Camping And The Right Kind Of Tent

Campers all over the globe prefer to use tents in... Read More

Thanksgiving

I was not planning to write this article. Instead, I... Read More

Trick or Treating Safety

Halloween is such a fun time of year for kids... Read More

Ready for Christmas? Enjoy an Organized Holiday This Year

1. Keep a stack of directions TO your place for... Read More

Great Gifts Under $5

Gift giving is at its absolute finest during the Christmas... Read More

Survival Kit for the Holidays: Grace, Gratitude and Random Acts Of Kindness

If you*re like me, the holidays always have a way... Read More

What Are You Doing This Halloween?

When it comes to Halloween there's no lack of variety... Read More