Whos the First Person to Greet Your Customer?
I approached her sliding glass window and stood in back of a gentleman whom I assumed she was helping. After about three minutes, I realized he was waiting for the office manager and she could have acknowledged my presence. I stepped up to the window; she did not say good morning; she did not smile; she just glared at me. I started to speak; she pointed a finger at a clip board with a paper to fill out. I placed the completed sheet in front of her, perhaps expecting a thank you or a smile or at least have a seat; the doctor will see you soon.
I was so intrigued by her manner that I watched her interaction with the other patients. The man sitting next to me started to tell me that even though he had an appointment he had been waiting a long time. He told me he was extremely dissatisfied with the way the place was run and was starting to regret his association with this office. With a bit of humor, I told him I was watching the receptionist and asked if she had uttered a word to him. He started to laugh, and said, Come to think of it, not a word!
The next patient to come in was an older woman with a walker. The receptionist was not at her desk so the woman took a seat and waited for her return. She again pointed at the clip board, took the form, threw her sliding glass door closed and said nothing. The next one was the mailman, who Im sure she sees daily. Again, not a smile or a hello; she stuck out her hand for the mail and handed him the outgoing mail.
Now my new disgruntled friend and I were sort of enjoying this and decided that maybe she was a mute.and then it happened. A good-looking UPS delivery man came in. Lo and behold, there was a big smile and a voice that was able to say good morning! That was short lived. She treated the rest of the patients in her same rude uncaring manner, a total lack of personality.
To me, the ability to positively interact with the customer, no matter what the business, is most essential. Hire your receptionist with as much thought as you would hire a sales person. Some smart person once said If today you give a stranger one of your smiles, it might be the only sunshine he sees all day.
What Impression do you leave your clients?
Impressions, as we all know, are blurry ideas in which confidences are given. Marketing materials such as business cards, posters, postcards, flyers, brochures and catalogs must satisfy the customers confidences even at the very first sight of the material.
Catalogs, for instance, must leave a lasting and positive first impression. Before they can encourage potential readers to read on, they must entice them first to come closer and take a look at them. They must have fascinating design and facade to lure the would-be receivers.
To complete the marketing formula, the company or its marketer must entrust the potential masterpieces to a master in catalogs printing. If you have hesitations and worries regarding the printing process, the colors and materials like paper and ink to be used, ask the pool of experts that surround the printing company. They will help you seek solutions to your catalogs printing dilemmas.
Catalogs are made to have easy access on your products and service. You do not have to bring them with you. With catalogs around, there is no need to present the literal product or demonstrate the services that your company is offering. All it takes is an effective modern catalog.
In the production of catalogs, areas of concentration must be established and considered. One area is the product or service. Some product need not be included in the catalog while some are indispensable. Choosing which are to be incorporated from which are not must be carefully done.
After selection, the next area of concentration is categorization or grouping. There are products that can be grouped as one while there are products that need to be presented singly. Samples of these products are the feature for the month and the freshly released products. Same thing should be considered in marketing services. In this area, you have to master one thing and that is sorting.
Next to categorization is the process of creating descriptions. Descriptions must be exact or definite. You can begin by writing the name of the product or service followed by its features. Ideal number of words range from 30 to 60 words for every product or service.
Make a good impression by selecting clear pictures and crisp texts. Be reminded that the heart of every catalog is its overall appearance. Thus, superior artsy taste is a marketing edge.
What Are We Teaching PR Students?
How to do brochures, throw parties, talk to reporters and write press releases? Or, are we teaching them what PRs fundamental premise says we should be teaching them?
In so many words, whether they go to work for a business, non-profit, government agency or association, students will soon discover that people act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable
behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action the very people whose behaviors affect the organization the most, the public relations mission is usually accomplished.
Which is why, after public relations students digest THAT basic touchstone, they should be made aware that, as future managers, their core public relations mission will be to pull together the resources and action planning they need to alter individual perception leading to changed behaviors among their most important outside audiences.
But thats not all! Then PR students should learn that they will have to persuade those key folks to his or her way of thinking, then move them to take actions that allow their subsidiary, division, department, group or office to succeed.
What we want for our new crop of PR students is the knowledge that the right public relations planning really CAN alter individual perception and lead to changed behaviors among the very outside audiences who will help them succeed as managers.
Should you find yourself explaining the role of public relations, you must ask your audience to remember that their PR efforts will demand more than the use of special events, news releases and talk show tactics if they are to receive the
quality public relations results they deserve.
As to the results they can expect, tell them how glad theyll be that they took your advice when capital givers or specifying sources begin to look their way;
customers start to make repeat purchases; membership applications begin to rise; new proposals for strategic alliances and joint ventures start showing
up; politicians and legislators begin looking at them as key members of the business, non-profit or association communities; new bounces in show room
visits occur; prospects actually start to do business with them; and community leaders begin to seek them out.
Discuss with your audience why its SO important to know how your most important outside audiences perceive your operations, products or services. Above all, be sure they really believe that perceptions almost always result in behaviors that can help or hurt their operation.
Go over with them the need for monitoring and gathering perceptions by questioning members of their most important outside audiences. Have them ask questions like these: how much do you know about our organization? Have you had prior contact with us and were you pleased with the interchange? Are you familiar with our services or products and employees? Have you experienced
problems with our people or procedures?
They should learn that the cost of using professional survey firms to do the opinion gathering work will be considerably more than using their PR colleagues who are already in the perception business. But whether its their people or a survey firm asking the questions, the objective remains the same: identify untruths, false assumptions, unfounded rumors, inaccuracies, misconceptions and any other negative perception that might translate into hurtful behaviors.
Public relations students need to know that here they must establish a goal calling for action on the most serious problem areas they uncovered during their key audience perception monitoring. Will that goal be to straighten out a dangerous misconception? Correct a gross inaccuracy? Or, stop a potentially
painful rumor before it really gets started?
An equally important lesson is this. Setting a PR goal requires an equally specific strategy that tells you how to get there. Only three strategic options
are available to you when it comes to doing something about perception and opinion. Change existing perception, create perception where there may be none, or reinforce it. The wrong strategy pick will taste like mushroom gravy on your pumpkin pie, so be sure your new strategy fits well with your new public relations goal. You certainly dont want to select change when the facts dictate a strategy of reinforcement.
Most students of public relations already know the importance of good writing. Explain to them that now is the time that good writing comes to the fore. They must prepare a persuasive message that will help move their key audience to their way of thinking. It must be a carefully-written message targeted directly at their key external audience. They must come up with really corrective language
that is not merely compelling, persuasive and believable, but clear and factual if they are to shift perception/opinion towards their point of view and lead to the behaviors they have in mind.
This step many of your students will find especially interesting. They must now select the communications tactics most likely to carry their message to the
attention of their target audience. There are many available. From speeches, facility tours, emails and brochures to consumer briefings, media interviews,
newsletters, personal meetings and many others. But be certain that the tactics they pick are known to reach folks just like their audience members.
Another reality PR students need to know is that the credibility of any message is fragile, so how they communicate it is also a concern. Which is why they may wish to unveil their corrective message before smaller meetings and presentations rather than using higher-profile news releases.
As always, the need for a progress report should cause them to begin a second perception monitoring session with members of their external audience. Fortunately, theyll want to use many of the same questions used in the benchmark session. But now, they will be on strict alert for signs that the bad news perception is being altered in their direction.
Reassure your student audience that, should program momentum slow, they can always speed things up by adding more communications tactics as well as
increasing their frequencies.
Students everywhere need reassurance that theyre on the right track, and future business, non-profit, government and association managers getting their first exposure to PR are no different. What they need to know about public
relations are three realities.
First, as outlined above, they must marshall the resources and action planning needed to alter individual perception leading to changed behaviors among their most important outside audiences.
Second, they must help persuade those key folks to his or her way of thinking.
And third, move them to take actions that allow their division, subsidiary, department, group or office to succeed.
Top Performers Have These Customer Relationship Skills
Do you want to advance your career and income? If you answered yes to both of these questions then you need to become a Top Performer in your profession. Whether you are now a Manager, Executive, Consultant, Sales or Service Specialist, then Customer Relationship skills will be one of the keys to your success. Experience and knowledge in your area of specialty may make you an above average performer, but to be a Top Performer start implementing the following 24 Customer Relationship skills and action items today.
Top performers are successful by being honest, respecting a clients intelligence and focusing all their energies on how to make a difference in a clients life. After reviewing the following Top Performer Customer Relationship skills and action items, you will know how to be more effective, efficient, and successful.
Building a strong relationship with your customer will last a lifetime and will be your #1 success factor in your career.
1. Show off your offering Live by hosting seminars. Customers viewing offerings first hand will dramatically improve positive reactions.
2. Make mentoring available to your customers. Provide one day a week, one day bi-monthly, or one day monthly where you are available face to face with the customer. Give them a list of what you can do during this time period. Example, training, audits, project reviews, etc.
3. Do a 20 customer road show twice a year. Nothing beats going into the field and meeting customers face to face to better understand what they need and show them what you have to offer.
4. Make the selling process as easy as possible. A long, complex selling process will turn off customers and drive them to your competitors.
5. Showing or presenting an offering three or more times to a customer will result in a more positive impact.
6. Setup an annual meeting with your customer to discuss where there business is going the following year and review your companies long term vision.
7. Connect with a customer on a personal level through common interests and goals. Make efficient use of the buyers time, be courteous and polite.
8. Create a pattern of dependability by making small promises and over delivering on results.
9. Be an honest advisor. Present both the strengths and weaknesses of your offering. It is better for the customer to learn about your weaknesses now than to discovering them later.
10. Reduce customer stress. The easier it is for the customer to do business with you the greater their likelihood of repurchasing.
11. Be polite and respectful of a customers time and schedule. Always ask when the best time to see and talk with them.
12. Ask for small things first. A customer who says yes, is more likely to say yes to bigger requests later.
13. Positive momentum creates positive momentum. Ask a customer first, How are they doing? When the customer states they are feeling good, they are more inclined to give you a positive response to your next request.
14. If you smile, people will respond in kind and be more open to your message.
15. Keep your tone upbeat. Make a point to elevate everyone you come in contact with . When they hear your name, their mood will be lifted.
16. When a customer cant buy or wont buy, fall back and ask for names who might have an interest.
17. When a customer says no to your first big request, ask for a smaller one. Customers feel obligated when you make a concession. Present your most expensive option first.
18. We prefer to buy from people we like. We really like people who like us. Being likeable is as simple as helping customers feel happy, relaxed, and even feel good about themselves.
19. The more you make a relevant, yet unexpected connection with their lives, the greater chance of gaining their interest.
20. Mimic your customers feelings, tone, attitude, and gestures. They respond better to like people.
21. Meeting over food and drink has a positive impact on customers reactions to your offering. Dine, drink coffee, listen, talk, connect. Sharing meals has significant impact on customer attitudes.
22. Remembering a customers name and personal details can have a dramatic impact on your ultimate success. This shows that you value them.
23. Keep silent. When you dont speak, you create the need for the customer to make a decision or keep talking providing you with more information.
24. Pay attention to details. Customers make a direct connection between attention to detail and competence. Pay attention to spelling, out of place items, grooming, dress, hotels you use, etc.
Tips For Selecting The Right Public Relation Firm
Sometimes, a great product is not enough to get the attention your company deserves from the public. Sometimes, you need to make waves the right waves in order to get noticed and employing a public relation firm can help you gain your place in the limelight.
The relationship between a company and its public relation firm should be long-lasting. IF you change public relation firms periodically, the public may end up being confused with the ever-changing messages of your ads. Start advertising right with the right public relation firm.
Heres how to find the perfect public relation firm for your companys needs:
Work Experience in a Particular Industry and Location
Hiring a public relation firm with extensive experience in advertising and marketing hotels is not a good decision, no matter how many awards it had garnered, if your business belongs to the medical industry. Hotels and hospitals are two completely different things and thats why you need a public relation firm with experience in handling public relations of hospitals, not hotels.
Likewise, hiring a fancy New York public relation firm may not be a good choice to make if your business is located in the smallest and most traditional town of Texas. Again, New York and Texas are two completely different tastes and inhabited by completely different people, so what may work in New York could absolutely fail in Texas!
Party, Party, Party!
Public relation firms are best known for their ability to create glitzy events. Availing the services of the right public relation firm will enable you to create parties that are nothing but exciting and fun without having to spend half as much as you imagine you would for such events.
Offering Something beside Trendy
Most individuals believe that hiring a public relation firm is necessary only when you have to organize a party or get the right people to notice your product. The right public relation firm, however, can give you more than that if you know the right things to ask for.
A public relation firm understands that each company is unique from the other, even if theyre competing in the same sector. This means different strategies as well. Given the opportunity, a public relation firm can also help you determine the right positioning in the industry, make brand recognition possible and identify the target market for your company and products.
Public relation firms are not all about parties and fun. They can get down to business too, if youre dealing with the right firm.
The AllInOne Media Kit
Getting heard is not enough; the best public relation firms know that saying the right things in the right manner are equally, if not more so, important. The right public relation firm takes the time to get to know a company inside and out in order to generate the right kind of media frenzy.
Numbers They know that figures carry considerable impact, but too much of it can make a report boring and uninteresting.
Events Narrating the companys history can be tedious, so it must sound exciting while remaining factual at the same time.
Testimonials Customer cases are tricky; too much gushing can make a reader suspicious while lack of information will make a reader lose interest.
Ability to Solve Crises and Sensitive Issues
Publicity firms generally act like problem solvers. When a crisis ensues that threatens the reputation or credibility of a company, a good public relation firms able to step in to smooth out ruffled feathers and restored damaged company images.
Creativity and Out of the Box Thinking
The right public relation firm never runs out of creative ideas to help promote your company. Because it knows that the world around us is constantly changing, its also aware that the company must have continuous use of dynamic advertising for their success.
Adapting a Maternal Role
Lastly, the right public relation firm is one who acts like a mother hen to your company. It knows how important it is to listen to your concerns and your complaints, but it also knows when its right to stand firm and push for its suggestions while ignoring your recommendations. The right public relation firm always has your best interests at heart -even if it may not seem so at first glance!
The Start of Your Own Business
Excitement at the thought of starting your own business venture, fear at the thought of failure, are the two major emotions that people face when thinking of starting their own business. For many the fear of failure is enough to hold them back from taking the chance at starting their own small business; however, with careful planning and some luck a small business will be set for success.
When starting a small business it is important to step back and decide what exactly the company will be focusing on. What type of products or services will it be providing and to what group or niche will the company be aiming towards as its target audience. This seems like a simple enough step however many people many people either try to cater to too broad of an audience or to too small of a group. Although trying to appeal to a large audience may sound great at first, it can be harmful for a small business. Trying to cater to a broad spectrum of people makes the company lose focus and ultimately lose its identity. Targeting too small of an audience is a problem simply because a small target group makes for a small population of potential customers.
Another thing to consider is the supply and demand of the market that the company will be focused on. A company will need to either be excellent at what it does, very unique in what it does, and most importantly lucky to succeed let alone survive. Choosing a market that is largely in demand and short in supply will increase a companys chance of survival immensely. The opposite can be said for a market that is low in supply and large in demand. Try to study where current business trends are headed towards and what is needed or wanted by todays consumers. Also, it is important when looking at trends to try and think about its long term viability. The last thing that you want to do is start a business based on a fad that is over within a year or two.
When a general direction is decided for your small business, it is important to then think about the things that your company will do better than your competition. What will make you unique? What will make people choose your products and services over anyone elses? Most importantly, is there something that will make people choose you over your competition? There is definitely a problem if the last question was met with hesitation or a no. There needs to be something that sets your company apart from the rest and pulls you out from the mold of every other business.
Finally when all of that is set, it is important to think of how you will get your name out to your consumers. Marketing and advertisement are crucial in getting your business known to your audience especially at the start of your business. If its possible getting a public relations firm to help market your name will help immensely.
Steps to a Writing an Effective Press Releases
ant to get the most media attention and spotlight for your business? Then the first place to start is with a GREAT press release. Now I can almost see half of you leaving now, dreading the thought of having to write one of these. But wait!! Im going to show you easy methods to make your press release work for you and get the attention it deserves. Ready? Lets go.
Well briefly go over the basics because of their importance. Editors want to see things done the RIGHT way. I would bet that a lot of good releases simply get tossed out just because they arent set up properly. To a busy editor, that all too familiar 10 second glance says a lot for you and your business; it lets them know if youve done your research enough to warrant that release to be placed in their newspaper or magazine.
Here are your essentials:
“FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE” on the top left of the page.
Your contact name, phone number, e-mail address, and website follows.
Headline is next, normally in bold and centered on the page. Summarize what the release is about and capture their attention. Spend almost as much time on your headline as you do writing the release. Its that important.
The press release body starts with the location of the release and the date (Margate, Florida, May 5, 2005.)
Most press releases are between 200-500 words, and no more than a page. The first paragraph has the most important information. Dont save the best for last, it wont get read. In this paragraph answer the questions, who, what, when, where and why?
It is recommended that you write press releases in the 3rd person and use short sentences and paragraphs. Do not go over board, trying to dazzle the editor, it wont work.
Target your release. You will be sending your release to a specific audience so make sure that in your release you keep to what would appeal to that audience. What dont they know that you can add? Nothing works better than getting an AAH HAA when an editor is reviewing your release.
Provide statistics. Do some research and find some relevant information that applies. You can easily do this through Google. Once you find your quote, do a Google search or Yahoo quote on that particular topic. However, dont stop on the first Google link and take that for gospel. Research it a bit further. Have it come from a respectable company or magazine.
Include relevant quotes from experts in your field that will reinforce what you are saying. Approach authors, leaders in your Industry, and other experts that back up the facts you are stating in your release. They will normally appreciate the added publicity and you get the quote youre looking for. For example, as an author Ill often get asked to provide a quote for an article on home-based businesses or the virtual assistant industry. I welcome the opportunity as it provides me more publicity.
Also, if you have a satisfied client that you feel will add credibility to your Release, add a quote from them as well. The first time you mention the expert, write out their full name. Then list them by last name or Mr. and Mrs. Smith only. I normally prefer the last name.
The last paragraph should be your call to action. Youve talked the whole release about your business or product, now tell them what to do with the knowledge they just acquired.
At the bottom of the release include ### to indicate you are done, followed by a short bio. Make sure if you include your website that you include http:// in front of it for search engine recognition.
Your bio should include your information, any books authored, etc. Double check this for accuracy. At this point, youre tired and done with the Release. But if it goes out to the world with the wrong web address, the valuable time spent even writing the Release has been wasted.
Thats it! The basics for writing a press release. Now one other thing Id like to add in, they work! They truly work. Ive had a recent release get accepted by PRWeb (and yes they do reject bad ones!), and then go on to hit several other major newspapers and media outlets and the Google alert, which resulted in our paper in the area contacting me. You want to set up a Google news alert for your name so that you can follow the path and see when you make the news so you can follow up. Also, PRWeb at http://www.prweb.com has complete guidelines for setting up a good press release. Go with the extra money and spend $20.00. Its worth it to get the additional exposure.
Smashing the Myth of the Press Release
A musician spends years honing his craft. He writes world-class songs and performs them in a manner that moves his listeners to tears. He records a demo tape and sends it to record labels. He gets a contract and becomes rich, famous and adored.
The lesson: demo tapes are the secret of becoming a famous musician.
Wait, you say, the demo tape was just a tool, just his way of conveying his talent. It’s his ability as a musician that got him the contract and made him famous.
You’re right, of course. He could have become just as famous if a record executive saw him in person, or heard about him from a friend, or as a result of a variety of other events.
Which brings us to the press release.
Somehow, the press release has taken on a magical reputation as the alpha and omega of publicity. Wanna become rich? Send out a press release. Wanna become famous? Press release. Wanna get on the cover of Newsweek? Press release.
Publicity “gurus” are springing up all over the Internet touting the press release as the answer to all marketing ills. Just knock out a release, mass e-mail it to journalists, sit back and wait for Oprah to call.
It’s a cruel joke.
Here’s the reality: the press release is no more important to your potential of scoring free publicity than the demo tape was to our musician friend. If he had no talent, if his songs sounded like garbage, the best recorded demo tape in the world wouldn’t get him signed. Ditto for the publicity seeker. If you don’t have a story to tell, your press release is utterly worthless.
I’m not knocking the press release — it’s an important tool. But it’s just that: a tool. It’s not the first thing you need to think about when it comes time to seek publicity. In fact, it’s one of the last. And it’s not even absolutely necessary (I’ve gotten plenty of publicity with just a pitch letter, a quick e-mail or a phone call).
If you worship at the shrine of the press release, it’s time to rearrange your priorities. Here, then, are the things that are MORE important than a press release in generating publicity:
1. A newsworthy story. This is the equivalent of our musician’s talent. It’s the very basis for your publicity efforts. Without it, your press release means nothing. To learn about how to develop a newsworthy story, take a look at http://publicityinsider.com/questions.asp and scroll down to “Is my company/website/life really newsworthy?”
2. Learning to think like an editor. Oh, what an edge you’ll have in scoring publicity over all those press release worshippers once you learn how to get inside the head of an editor. Give an editor what he wants in the way he wants it and you’ll do great. I’ve got an entire article on the subject at
http://publicityinsider.com/freesecret.asp Go there now and absorb it all. Trust me, it will make a world of difference.
3. Relevance. Tie in with a news event, make yourself part of a trend, piggyback on a larger competitor’s story, but, by all means, make your story part of a picture that’s bigger than just your company. Stories that exist in a vacuum quickly run out of oxygen.
4. Persistence. Sending out a press release and waiting for results is lazy and ineffective. If you really believe in your story, and you believe that it’s right for a particular media outlet, you need to fight to make it happen. Call or e-mail the editor to pitch your story BEFORE sending the release. If one editor says no, try somebody else. If they all say no, come back at them with a different story angle.
Getting publicity involves so much more than just sending out a press release. Treat it as seriously and with as much respect as our newly minted rock star treats his craft and you’ll be well on your way to success.
Six Tips For Perfect Email Pitches
Your media pitches can go straight over the plate. With a little forethought, and a few tips, you can throw fewer balls and more media relations strikes.
Brevity is the soul of wit. Shakespeare could have been giving media relations tips when he penned this gem several hundred years ago. If you can’t get to the point in your subject line in 10 words or less, you need to work on your message. Keep the subject line short and to the point, and include the time frame if it is important to the pitch. For instance: “Entrepreneurs Storming NC General Assembly Tuesday”
Surprise! If you have a startling or interesting fact, use it as a hook. I am developing a story idea about local home prices. My initial thought for a subject line is: “Average Lake Norman Home Listing Price Spikes To $413,000.” Recently I used these subject lines to get coverage: “Interest Rates Hit Six Month Low” and “No Credit Score, No Problem”.
Humor Me. Humor is not for everyone. It is best to use it only if you know the reporter has a sense of humor or appreciates quirky items. Maria Stainer, assistant managing editor of the Washington Times, was quoted recently about an email pitch that got her attention and coverage. “Teach Your Dog To Meditate” was the line that hooked her on a story about a new book on animal behavior.
Don’t Get Too Attached. Don’t ever attach word documents or photos files to an email pitch. Did I mention that you should not send attachments? To get past email filters and to avoid hacking off your media contacts, wait until they ask for additional information before sending photos and documents. And, if you make them mad, your next pitch may be deleted before it is ever read.
Be Cool. You’re fired up to fire off that media pitch you have just written. Don’t. Let it cool off a bit first. Ask for input from others before you send the pitch to the media, particularly if you are trying to use humor or be quirky. You don’t want your pitch to fall flat.
Be Relevant. Friend David Mildenberg, a reporter at the Charlotte Business Journal, has the best tip of all. “I think email pitches can be effective for all the obvious reasons: If they contain news relevant to the publication and its readers, if the pitches are concise and if the pitches are understandable,” he says.
Wind up and start pitching.
Send Business greeting card this holiday season
The holiday season is around the season. There are lots of cards and gifts being exchanged, with lots of money being spent in the air. This is the season to be jolly, and also to make others jolly through greeting cards and phone calls.
When the holiday season comes, one starts deciding on whom to send business greeting cards to, and on whom not to send cards to. Then comes the decision of what kind of business greeting card to choose, and how to address the envelope. The main reasons business greeting cards are exchanged are to attract new customers to your business, enhance your current business relationships with people, to show appreciation to all your supportive clients and to remind old clients that you are still existing! Whatever the reason, proper business greeting card etiquette has to be exercised as a well meaning gesture may offend the person you tend to impress, if not done properly.
When sending business greeting cards, it is important that you buy and send good quality greeting cards. It is better to start with a good quality business greeting card to show the value you hold of your clients and colleagues. If you do skimp in your selection, it may be interpreted in a number of ways, to thus lead to misunderstandings like that the business is not doing good or that the clients aren’t worth a little investment. Even though you may have preprinted information on the business greeting card, it is important that you add your own handwritten signature on the card. Even the most elegant of business cards should have your personal signature and a handwritten message to give that personal touch to the business greeting card. The recipient is sure to feel happy at seeing your personal signature on the card. Before starting on sending business greeting cards, it is important that your list is up-to-date with correct names and addresses. It will be easier if you do this on a regular basis, to avoid it becoming a dreaded holiday chore. Change changed addresses periodically to avoid embarrassing yourself by sending the card to the old address!
Avoid using computer generated labels when addressing the envelopes as these are impersonal and make your holiday wishes seem like mass mailing. If you don’t have the time to write the addresses, at least have someone else address the envelope for you. Make sure you use titles of Mr. or Mrs. when addressing the envelope to an individual or couple as a sign of respect to the customer or client. If you know the small business owner around the corner, mailing the business greeting card to the home produces better and happier effects on the recipient’s part. If married, include the spouse’s name on the envelope as it is not always that you find both the husband and wife working at the same establishment. Be sensitive with traditions. Find out if the recipient follows Christmas, Deposal or Hanukah, and then find out if the message is appropriate for the individual. Or else, you may go in for a card which will not offend anyone like “Season’s Greetings”.
It is best to avoid the mail rush by mailing the business greeting cards way before the actual festival. This is because around the festival time there will be a mad rush of cards for the postal department to sort out, and that in turn may that take lots of time. If needed, you could also think of inserting a business card along with the business greeting card to remind the recipient of the services or product you excel in. It is actually a good idea of getting next year’s Boxer Day cards a few days after this year’s Boxer Day. This saves a lot in terms of time and money! Not only can you send clients and friends business greeting cards; in fact, you can also send them to employee for employee motivation. As everyone enjoys being recognized, you could build team spirit by having everyone to sign on a colleague’s holiday greeting card. Avoid having corporate logos printed on the business greeting card; else it may look like it has been pulled off the company stationery shelf.
The best time to send business greeting cards are went the recipient least expects it. Perhaps you could send it during the customer’s birthday or something. So whatever business greeting card you do send, and for whatever reason it may be, make sure you use the right etiquette when sending greeting cards for the holiday season, or birthday!