Holiday cards are a great way of letting loyal customers and potential business relationships alike know that you are thinking of them and appreciate them. A simple card at the holidays can serve as both a thank you as well as a reminder of the good service you have provided to customers over the past year.

Being strategic about your company's holiday card is important when making the most of holiday cards. Be sure to put thought into your business holiday cards because they can send the wrong message if not thought through completely. Consider the following when sending out your holiday cards for business:

1. Choose simple holiday cards so you are sure to include everyone no matter what holidays they celebrate.

2. Customized holiday cards can be used to show a more personal side of your company.

3. Sending out different holiday cards for current customers and potential customers will allow you to customize the message.

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Choose simple corporate holiday cards that are all inclusive

With the wide variety of holidays that your customers celebrate, make life easier and choose cards that can include everyone. Choose a holiday card that has a winter scene or a nature landscape. These types of holiday cards can apply to everyone, no matter what holidays they do or do not celebrate. This prevents you from having to worry about who celebrates what and having to have multiple versions of holiday cards.

I recommend: Ezine points out major mistakes to avoid when sending out your corporate holiday cards. The Gallery Collection suggests many options for your business holiday cards.

Customize your holiday cards to show another side of your company

During the year, most likely, you are all business. Depending on the type of relationship you have with your customers, consider having a card made that is more whimsical and shows a more personal side of you and your company; maybe a side of you that your customers will best relate to. You can have customized cards made online with pictures and logos that make them specific to you or your customer. Ordering in bulk can help you to get discount holiday cards.

I recommend: Print Centric discusses the advantages of custom business holiday cards and walks you through the process. Executive Greeting Cards specializes in just that -- executive greeting cards.

Remember that holiday cards for potential customers and current customers may take a different angle

Think about sending out different styles of holiday cards. Holiday cards for your current customers could show a 'thank you' or 'thinking of you' type of theme, while a card to potential customers could be more of a 'looking forward to meeting you' or 'remember us' type of message. Consider the image you want each of the groups to have of your company when choosing your holiday cards.

I recommend: Majon International offers some tips to choosing your corporate holiday cards. LoveToKnow suggests some tips to sending out unique business holiday cards.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take the time to personally sign your corporate holiday cards. Physically signing the cards yourself will show your customers you have made the extra effort.

Holiday cards are a great way to show the people with whom you do business that they are important to you. Clients, customers and business associates alike will appreciate the remembrance, and bonds may even be forged with new prospects that you've been hoping to win. Personalized business holiday cards or cards which contain your logo can make even better holiday gifts, since they double as advertisements for your company.

Here are some folks you'll want to consider sending corporate holiday cards to this season.

1. Colleagues

2. Suppliers

3. Customers

4. Clients

5. Employees

6. Prospects

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Try personalized holiday cards for business associates, clients and prospects

Everyone on your list will enjoy receiving a classy corporate business card from a website that knows what constitutes an impressive holiday card for business people.

I recommend: Executive Greeting Cards offers a large variety of holiday cards for business giving. The Holiday Card website offers both business appreciation and business-to-business cards personalized with your company name or logo. CardsDirect also offers business holiday cards, discount holiday cards and charity cards.

Look for websites that offer a little something extra in holiday cards for business giving purposes

Many companies do their best to go the extra mile for customers by providing extra features when you buy their cards.

I recommend: VistaPrint offers a variety of customizable holiday cards, Christmas cards and decorative holiday postcards. All are available in photo varieties. Along with its collection of personalized company name/logo holiday cards, Brookhollow offers a few profession-specific designs for business holiday card giving. BestHolidayCards.com offers several categories of business holiday cards, along with your choice of holiday verse for your cards. 1st Class Christmas Cards offers a huge selection of business holiday cards and gives you the option of choosing--or writing--your own verse.

Send corporate holiday cards that spread some holiday cheer to your favorite charity

Quite a few websites focus on charitable giving while providing you with the corporate holiday cards that will help your customers, clients and associates remember you fondly.

I recommend: Aside from letting you choose the verse, ink color and personalization for your corporate holiday cards, Cards for Causes also donates 20% of the cost of your order to the charity, non-profit or worthy cause of your choice. Heartfelt Charity Cards sells business holiday cards with various charities' mission statements and web addresses printed inside, along with a message stating that 10% of proceeds from the sales benefits the charity. You may choose a suggested verse or create a custom greeting. Good Cause Greetings also donates 10% of its sale proceeds to one of various charities represented by its cards each time you buy one. The American Lung Association also sells a variety of holiday cards, many of which are suitable for business giving purposes. These cards come with the added benefit of knowing that you'll "help others breathe easier."

If you're the artistic type, make your own corporate holiday cards online or off

Making your own holiday business cards will not only put your creativity to work; it will help you save money, in effect enjoying discount holiday cards for your business giving.

I recommend: PrintingforLess.com lets you custom design your greeting cards from scratch or use one of the site's templates to create your card(s). You may upload a photo or logo and personalize your message, as well. Microsoft Office Online offers a downloadable business holiday card design template, which you can use to create this understated, yet attractive card. Digital Trends highlights several computer programs you can use to make your own holiday cards.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Look for holiday business card designs that reflect the personality of your company, leaving an impression that 'feels' right. This will go a long way in fostering a great relationship with the recipients of your holiday cheer.

Holiday cards are a way to show business contacts and customers good will during the holiday season. However, these cards aren't limited only to traditional Christmas cards. Your company can make a lasting impression on your contacts by sending out Thanksgiving cards or cards for any other holiday.

In this time of economic uncertainty, most businesses are looking for ways to save money without alienating customers and contacts. Here are some tips to help you save money on your company's holiday cards:

1. Go electronic and save money on postage costs.

2. Think outside of traditional holidays for sending out holiday cards.

3. Take advantage of any discounts available by the company you order holiday cards from.

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Send electronic cards for holidays

Electronic cards can save you a considerable amount of money since you don't have to pay postage, you aren't spending time signing the card and there isn't an envelope to address. Many electronic holiday cards can be customized with your company's logo or a personal message. An added bonus of e-cards is that you can get a confirmation of who is opening your cards.

I recommend: CorpNote offers an online E-card service that includes customized holiday card options, as well as thank you cards, survey cards and compliment cards all year long. Progressive Media offers personalized e-cards for businesses. This company offers text cards and flash cards, which can be personalized to fit any business.

Time your holiday cards for business contacts

To get the most effect, consider sending out Thanksgiving cards or mailing your Christmas cards the day before Thanksgiving, which increases the publicity your card will get since businesses usually put cards out as soon as they arrive. If you send out holiday cards to customers, sending them out early is a good way to remind customers about your company during the busy holiday season.

I recommend: Brookhollow offers discounts to businesses who order holiday cards before the start of the season. Invitations4Less.com sells Thanksgiving cards at a deep discount. Some cards are less than $1 per card. Free upgrades, including foil lined envelopes for certain cards increase your savings.

Look for discounts on business holiday cards

If you purchase corporate holiday cards just before the holidays, you will pay top dollar for them, even if you order from a company that specializes in discount holiday cards. However, saving money on holiday cards just before the holidays is possible. Look for quantity discounts, free or flat rate shipping, inexpensive printing costs and assorted boxes of cards. If you are just below the minimum number of cards to qualify for a quantity discount, consider ordering cards for next year.

I recommend: CardsDirect.com offers assortment boxes of holiday greeting cards. Another money saving feature of this website is that they offer flat rate shipping, which saves money on large orders. Christmas Cards Direct sells all types of holiday cards, including Thanksgiving cards. This company offers discounts for order of 50 cards or more. In some cases, you will save over $1 per card on your order.

Corporate holiday cards are a well established way to create positive rapport between you and your clients. Sending a holiday card to every customer may not be always be an economical choice, so buying discount holiday greeting cards and bulk sets of cards can help lower the price and allow your business to send out holiday cards within your budget.

Personalizing corporate holiday cards also can be expensive, but a number of services exist that allow you to create a customized holiday card at a lower cost than using a design service. Photo cards allow you to quickly and easily upload your own image for use on the card, while other cards allow you to personalize the message included to reflect your own company's holiday wishes.

When estimating holiday cards pricing and costs, consider the following options:

1. Buy boxed sets online when you only need to send a few holiday cards;
2. Use photo cards to send customized business holiday cards to your clients;
3. Buy corporate holiday cards in bulk to pay less per unit.
   

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Get just the right amount with boxed sets of holiday cards

If you have a small client base and are sending fewer than 100 holiday cards, the most economical choice may be to purchase boxed sets of 10 to 20 holiday cards at a time. Boxed sets reduce the unit cost of holiday cards for business below that of purchasing individual cards, while still keeping the overall cost under $25 in most cases.

I recommend: Tropical Greetings offers tropical themed cards in boxed sets of 15, while cards4heroes sells sets of 10 holiday cards for major military-related holidays. Most boxed sets are priced between $14-$25 depending on the quality of the cards.

Customize business holiday cards at a low rate using photo cards

The cost of customizing cards for your company is a big influence on holiday cards pricing and costs, but you can cut back on high design fees by designing your own photo cards. Use photos of corporate leadership or staff to personalize business holiday cards online that reflect your company's unique image and cost as low as $1 per card.

I recommend: Create business holiday cards online at Tiny Prints or Photo Affections. Both site price photo cards between $1 and $2 per card, with prices adjusted when you order to be slightly higher per card on small orders and lower on large orders.

Get discount holiday cards when you buy in bulk

If your company sends a large number of holiday cards every year, one way to obtain discount holiday cards is to buy bulk sets of holiday cards for business. Bulk sets come in multiples of 100 cards for $100-$200 per 100, with shipping providing an additional savings advantage if you plan ahead and buy enough cards to last several years.

I recommend: Cards Direct offers birthday cards for businesses for $130-$150 for 100 cards. You can also find a wide range of holiday cards for business use at Hammond Greetings and Promotions, priced between $100-$200 per 100 cards.