As a solution to this problem, many websites offer e-cards as an easy and fast way of getting ones feelings across. Being an inexpensive and great way of staying in touch with family and friends, e-greeting cards can lighten up a loved ones day by letting them know that they are cared for. Compared to the traditional greeting cards, making ones own e-greeting cards gives people an opportunity to personalize messages with their own art, words, animation and music, in a couple of minutes.

Selecting a Design

Creating e-greeting cards is a gradual process, which starts with the choosing a design for the cover of the card. Many sites offer a variety of categories to help make it easier to choose an e-greeting card. The categories include birthdays, holidays, friendship and love etc. Some sites have e-cards devoted to particular days, like St Patrick Day or Easter.

After you select the category of e-card, you will see small, thumbnail images of the actual e-card. Click on the thumbnail to see the animation and text of that e-card. When you select the card, the website will then direct you to the next step in the procedure.

Composing

You can compose an e-greeting card and make it very attractive by choosing a different color or font style. You can also add a signature and use the online invitation feature. Today people have various ways of customizing and composing their e-greeting card.

. Greeting- You can select a greeting from drop-down menu of the site, or can create one of your own. For instance, if a greeting you want is not listed in the site menu, you can type your own message in the given text box. If you dont select or type in the box, nothing will appear above the e-greeting card.

. Closing- Like the greeting, the closing, which appears after the message, can either be selected from a drop-down menu or can be typed in the provided text box.

Sending

Before sending the card you can preview and make all the necessary changes. You have various alternatives for sending an e-card: you could enter an e-mail address, send the greeting to a specific group, or access the address book for choosing from a personal list of addresses. You can also customize the subject line, and change the way the e-card appears in the recipient inbox.

Once the card is ready, you have the option of sending the card at a later date, or instantly. In the case of some sites, you can save the e-card in a personal account to send it later. You can also get a copy of the e-greeting and a mail notification that the card has been be sent and viewed.