Whether you are the sole proprietorship or are the Chief Executive Officer of a Fortune 500 corporation, sending business Christmas cards can serve to boost your customer relations and greatly improve your bottom line. About half of all businesses send holiday cards - sometimes with unintentional negative consequences. Here are some tips to ensure that your caring gesture will be interpreted in the best possible light.

Choosing the Appropriate Card

All business has an image it portrays, whether through its logo, its branding efforts, or its marketing strategy. The design of business Christmas cards you chose should emphasize that image. If, for instance, you are a stockbroker, a Wall Street winter scene might be fitting. On the other hand, if you are a pediatric dentist, more fanciful greeting cards are in order. For most businesses, elegant and tasteful card is always suitable. When it comes to selecting a greeting card company, there are many online sources available for business Christmas cards. Make sure to select one that is well recognized and has a track record of satisfying customers. The best online greeting card companies will send you sample cards upon request, and even offers personalization, free coordinating foil-lined envelopes, and printed envelopes.

When ordering business holiday cards, bear in mind that not everyone celebrates Christmas. A card expressing "season's greetings" or "warm holiday wishes" will keep you from inadvertently offending those who aren't of the Christian faith.

Sending Your Business Christmas Cards

In business, timing is crucial. Although you have established a leeway in sending out your business holiday cards, the rule of thumb is to send them between December 1 and December 15. If you're a business-to-business company, bear in mind that many businesses close or have reduced working hours during the holiday season, so be certain that your card arrives in advance of the holidays. In order to send your holiday cards out in a timely manner, make sure to place an order early. Personalized business Christmas cards can take a few weeks to make, so make an effort and place your order by mid-October.

The Personalized Style

The principle of sending business greeting cards is to motivate warm feelings in the recipient. That won't surely happen if your Christmas cards have address labels and are run through a postage meter. Burn up some extra effort and have someone on your staff with a nice handwriting address the envelopes by hand. In addition, be sure to use a postage stamp instead of a meter when applying postage. In the same vein, although it is necessary to have your cards printed with the company's name, the cards should also be signed by hand. The best way is to have those who closely work with the recipient sign the card by hand. If you have a small enterprise, you may have a card signing party one afternoon, and have each person on your staff sign each card. This will go a long, long way, making a positive impression on the recipient.

Be a Courteous Recipient

There's little doubt that your company will also receive business holiday cards from your vendors and business associates. Be a courteous recipient and display the cards in your workplace. It will not only bring a bit of holiday optimism to your office, but it will also delight those who have sent a card to you and see it displayed.