How to NOT write a professional holiday card

Holiday cards are a valuable way to strengthen a relationship with a partner organization and to show your appreciation for a person who you’ve connected with a lot over the past year. But many people fail to take advantage of this excellent opportunity to further the relationship with another organization.

Here are some of the things not to do:

• Get a generic card and just write “To ____, Happy holidays! From, ____.” This is fine if it’s a friend or family member. But if it’s someone you’re trying to build a relationship with and that you know personally, why not add a personal note? Thank them for something specific they did this past year. Tell them how much you appreciate their help on a project. Emphasize how much you’re looking forward to continuing to work with them in the future. Compliment them on a characteristic you admire. It only takes a couple minutes, but it will stick with that person.

• Sign it using a printed label pasted to the card. Honestly, this is just lazy, and so impersonal. How much longer does it take to write your name than to print off a label and stick it on the card? Take the smidgeon of extra time to sign your name. It can make all the difference to the relationship.

• Misspell their name.This is a given. Please double and triple check how to spell their name ahead of time.

• Say “Merry Christmas” if you don’t know what their beliefs are. “Happy holidays” is a very nice phrase that rolls off the tongue well, is casual and friendly, and gets around any religious tones. Stick with “Happy holidays” to avoid any offense.

• Get an over-the-top card. This goes for being too cutesy, serious, funny, religious, etc. etc. (depending on the organization you’re with, of course). In general, sticking to a nice wintery scene can be one of the nicest-looking cards to get.

[tweetthis]5 tips for how to NOT write a professional holiday card. #businesstip #holidayseason[/tweetthis]

Stick with these tips to ensure that you write a great professional holiday card this season!

What guidelines do you go by to write professional holiday cards? Have any holiday cards from colleagues stuck out to you over the years? Share in the comments section below!

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