Holiday cards have become such a standard that they have lost much of the impact they had in years past. It's much more challenging to get beyond a "oh-hum, another holiday card" reaction.
So, if your company wants to send a holiday greeting and acknowledge appreciation for a great year to your customers/clients (and, holiday cards don't cut it like they use to), what are you to do?
Here are a few ideas:
Idea 1: Send a greeting outside of the December holiday season. We sent out Thanksgiving cards this year. Last year, we did a New Years Celebration card. Perhaps make up your own holiday, like "January Thaw Day."
Idea 2: Rather than sending a card, send something that has a useful value beyond the greeting. This year, one of our team members received a "Holiday TV Family Listings" from his credit union. It listed every holiday related program, on all channels, with dates and times. If you have kids, you know that you're keeping that around for a few weeks.
Holiday Family Guide - A thoughtful holiday greeting that provides a
tangible use beyond the greeting.
Idea 3: If your budget can afford it, send them something that has a useful value year-round, such as branded coffee mugs, mouse pads, calendars or flashlights.
People appreciate useful items. If your company's name is visible on those items, you not only receive the benefit of your customer/client receiving an appreciated gift, you also further strengthen your brand visibility.
You may even consider shifting some of your yearly advertising budget towards holiday greeting items that have a useful value.
More people can recall a brand printed on a promotion product than a brand
observed on a traditional advertisement.
In a 2009 survey, it was revealed that 76% of respondents could recall the company name on a promotional product they had received in the past 12 months … but only 53% could recall a single advertiser they’d seen in a magazine or newspaper in the past week. Depending on your marketing strategy, tangible and useful promotional items can provide a bigger bang-for-the-buck.
What other ideas do you have for an outside-the-box holiday greeting?
