Holiday Cards
By Marques,,,,,, Dan,,,,
Holiday cards are fast becoming an effective small business marketing tool. There is no denying that promotional gifts are also a great way to carry out small business marketing, but holiday cards are beyond a doubt a more cost effective and discreet. What makes holiday cards such an important marketing tool is that they are not discarded instantly, and will most likely be put up on a mantle with other greeting cards.
Contrary to popular belief, holiday cards are an ideal way to market a company without being conspicuous. For example, executives in a large organization may receive hundreds of promotional gifts, but a holiday greeting is almost always read by the executive himself and a smartly placed company logo can always advertise a company or organization discreetly. With so many designs and patterns to choose from, one does not always have to make a card from the ground up. An internet user can log on to an online printer’s website and then select from thousands of pre-defined templates.
If you are looking to use holiday cards for promoting your organization here are a few tips to help you make an informed decision:
Be discreet
While designing the holiday card, leave the face of the card free from any logos or company branding. Although, there are contrasting views on where the company’s logo or name should be placed, a holiday card should ideally have the company’s logo on the inside of the card. There is always space for the company’s logo on the inside of the card or at the end of the greeting message.
If you must insert your company’s logo or brand on the face of the card, try and keep it as discreet as possible. The best way
to do so is by inserting the logo at the bottom of card or by displaying the company’s name in a colour that matches the cover graphics.
Choosing the right card
Contrary to popular belief, there is a subtle difference between holiday cards designed for friends and family and those for small business advertising. Although, the term ‘professional holiday cards’ might seem a little paradoxical, but a holiday card designed for promoting a small business should be a little more sober and somewhat ‘professional’ looking. For example, a Christmas greeting does not have to have Santa Clause on the face; a holiday card can be red with a Christmas tree or a Christmas ornament on the face and still be a Christmas greeting.
In essence, the holiday card should be festive but at the same time have a professional look to it. If you are not sure of how to achieve the intended effect, just browse through some online templates to get a better idea.
In conclusion, holiday cards are a great tool for business marketing, and small businesses stand to gain a lot from customized holiday cards and holiday cards are also a cost effective and discreet means of business marketing.
For holiday cards and thousands of templates visit http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/holiday07/holiday_cards.aspx
Brad Roy is the author of this article on Holiday Cards. Find more information about Small Business Marketinghere.
