At this time of year, many businesses send Holiday cards thanking customers and associates alike for their business and wishing them the best for the season and the new year ahead.
Inevitably the question is asked if e-cards are an O.K. as a replacement for the expensive paper greeting cards sent out each year in the snail mail. Let’s make a comparison:
Card Cost:
e-cards: $0 – small fee
greeting cards: $1-$3 each
personal touch: none — no value
Postage Involved:
e-cards: $0
greeting cards: .42 cents each
personal touch: handwritten sign off, message of thanks and good wishes — invaluable
Time Involved:
e-cards: 30 minutes to load e-mail addresses — if that, click Send.
greeting cards: depending on number of greetings sent, time to print labels (additional cost) or hand-write addresses and sign, stuff envelopes and apply stamps. Trip to the post office to drop off.
So based on the above, one could easily conclude that by sending e-cards, one has chosen the easiest and least expensive way to send their best wishes and gratitude. Is that the impression you want to make?
Aren’t your customers and associates worth the extra time and cost?
Thoughtful is as thoughtful does. What do you think?
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I work for a university and we chose two years ago to start sending out e-cards instead of paper ones. We did this for environmental reasons and in an effort to promote sustainability rather than traditional wasteful paper cards. This is the wave of the future and it’s time to get onboard. Also, believe me, making a custom flash e-card is a million times more work than our paper cards used to be. I think your assessment is off here.
Hey, Gloria:
Your POV is one I or my clients, customers, associates or partners seem to share as evidenced by the the number of cards currently surrounding me here in my office,
Let’s be honest, most folks do not know how to create a custom Flash Holiday card — nor do they want to entertain the expense of hiring a programmer to do so.
I’m glad you’ve found a way to celebrate the Holidays in a way that is in line with your views and beliefs.
Merry Christmas!