Holiday Card Etiquette for Everyone

There’s no questioning the fact that we live in a fast-paced electronic world, many facets of which certainly save us time and make the day-to-day tasks of living easier and more efficient. However, one activity which should not be accomplished electronically is the expression and sending of holiday cards to family, friends, business clients and colleagues.

Email is great for quick notes, memos, distributing business documents and spreadsheets, and everyone enjoys getting the occasional cute or funny e-card that is opened, read and usually deleted. But at the holiday season, a beautiful, quality paper holiday card, artfully signed and addressed, speaks volumes about the sender’s attention to holiday card etiquette. There’s a good feeling that comes from receiving a real card in the mailbox, rather than just the usual bills and ads! Holding a paper card and reading it gives the recipient a sense of the value the sender places on the relationship (whether business or personal), as well as appreciation for the time, personal touch, effort and postage that was invested in this simple gesture.

Some rules-of-thumb should apply when sending holiday greeting cards. In general, the recipient should be considered when sending the card. It’s usually wise to think “different strokes for different folks.” Many businesses send “Season’s Greetings” or “Happy Holidays” sentiments, which address all faiths without creating uneasiness to business associates of differing denominations. “Peace on Earth” or “At Holiday Time” themed greetings may also be considered appropriate messages for the business community. Some businesses also opt for Thanksgiving cards, which can include greetings that encompass the entire holiday season.

Additional Tips for sending Holiday Greeting Cards:

• Be sure that names and addresses are current and not misspelled. Use titles such as Mr., Mrs., Dr., Esq., etc. correctly.
• A return address is a must. It will ensure that any undeliverable cards are returned to you and will conveniently provide your address to your recipients.
• Order a small surplus over the quantity you think you will need. This way, you can reciprocate quickly to clients and colleagues who send to you, even though you may have omitted them from your original list. Having extras at your fingertips helps you to avoid last-minute re-orders and late mailings.
• Business Holiday Cards should be mailed to the business address. If the sender enjoys a social relationship with a colleague, and especially if the sender has met the colleague’s spouse, it is acceptable to address the card to the family and send it to their home address.
• Try to get the cards mailed early in the season. Cards sent late in the season sometimes get lost in the flurry of holiday activity.
• If a woman uses her maiden name either personally, professionally, or both, her preference must be respected and the card should be addressed accordingly.
• Holiday newsletters have no place in a card addressed to a business. If professionals or executives have close personal relationships with each other, it is acceptable to include a family letter in a card addressed to the family at the home address.
• Whether hand-signing holiday greeting cards or adding a personal signature to an engraved card, it is imperative to use a good pen that will not leak or smudge. Signatures and short personal messages inside an engraved card compel the recipient to actually read the card instead of just glancing at the sender’s name. Adding this personal touch is another sign of the value placed on the relationship. Also, be sure to use good penmanship. If the recipient cannot read your signature or if it looks messy, they will think you didn't care to take the time to really think about them as you were signing the card.