Scrambling through card samples? Stressing over tight timelines? Struggling with a limited budget? Perhaps it's time to consider holiday e-cards? When compared to traditional print cards (and postage), e-cards are considerably less expensive and a huge time saver! You're probably thinking we're going to say skip traditional cards altogether but no, that's not the moral of this story! Let's explore whether holiday e-cards should become part of your mix...

Know Your Audience
Before joining the holiday e-card bandwagon, it should come as no surprise that first and foremost, you really need to think about your audiences! Think about who they are and how they would react to an e-card rather than a traditional printed card. For example, a 25-year-old software engineer would probably be quite content to receive a holiday e-card. However an etiquette-conscious grandmother of six who's not online might react differently! Plug that kind of thinking into your audience profiles and go from there! Odds are you've got a mix of people, which brings me to my next point...

Do a Combination of e-Cards and Print Cards
Thanks to the e-card you might be able to reach a larger portion, maybe even all, of your database! You've only got so much time and so many dollars so mix it up a bit! Here's an idea - perhaps 20% of your database receives a traditional print card while 80% receive an e-card! Choose the 20% however you like - perhaps some key customers or partners receive the traditional card while prospects or lapsed customers receive the e-card. This is just an idea! It's not to say that one option is better than the other. It's to say that choices are a good thing! It's to say know your audience!

View some e-card options!

View some print card options!

Keep it Promotion-Free
The holiday e-card is not - I repeat NOT - a chance to seek out end of year revenue opportunities. Instead it's a chance for you and your organization to say hello and extend warm wishes for the season. However with either the print or electronic approach, I would suggest you include your logo on the card as a little branding never hurt anyone! And here's the bonus with the e-card, you can make the logo link to your web site. Why not, right? It's a subtle thing, it's not pushy and in my books, it's totally acceptable.

Support a Good Cause
By shifting some of your traditional card budget to e-cards that support a charity such as H'Art of Ottawa, you'll also demonstrate goodwill! And this is something you can share with each e-card recipient. In addition to your holiday message, you can add a line saying something like: "In support of H’Art of Ottawa and in lieu of traditional cards this year, [your company name] is sending unique e-cards with all proceeds being donated to support H’Art of Ottawa."

So don't be afraid of e-cards! Think of e-cards as electronic alternatives that support traditional print cards.

Interested in learning more about this e-card fundraiser?
Read this article in the OBJ…