Corporate Greeting Etiquette
Once you have decided to send greeting cards before you even start designing, the next task is to compile your list of receipients. Like every mailing that will cost you some money, you will have to ask the same questions. Who will receive these cards, what impression do you want to leave, how should you address the envelope, what message should you include?
Keep in mind that business greeting cards can put you in touch with inactive customers, attract new ones, show appreciation to active clients and enhance relationships with partners and vendors.
So careful planning is needed, and following proper business greeting card etiquette must be followed so that your good gesture does not unintentionally offend.
The following 8 rules are general and common sense but are helpful to keep in mind.
1. Quality Counts: Avoid using cheaper paper to save money. Here at BargainPrinting.com our standard paper is a 12 pt. heavy card stock.
2. Update your list: Keep your list updated with new titles and new last names. Be aware of address changes too. The BargainPrinting.com mailing services offer one free list check for address verification.
3. Sign cards personally: You and your team should take the time to sign the cards and include a personal comment to the recipient.
4. Handwrite the address: Only when you have good hand writing.
5. Mail to Home Address: Greeting cards are more personal and are appreciated more if they arrive at the recipient's home address. If you do have that address, use it.
6. Use Titles: Even if the personal communication is informal, you must use titles when addressing envelopes for any corporate correspondence.
7. Be Sensitive to traditions: If you are unaware of religious and other traditions of the recipient, try to stick to general corporate wishes.
8. Avoid the Mail Rush: Order your cards early, and take the time to personalize them and mail them properly.
If you are about ready to start addressing your greeting card envelopes and you are not sure where to start, you are not alone. Addressing envelopes has become a complicated task, so here are some tips that will cover most cases you might come across:
1. Always write titles
e.g. �Mr. John Smith� , �Mr. and Mrs. John Smith�
2. Use titles instead of professional initials
e.g. �Dr. John Smith� NOT �John Smith, MD�, �Dr. and Mrs. John Smith, �Mr. John Smith and Dr. Mary Brown� , �The Doctors Smith� if both spouces are doctors.
3. If you are addressing an envelope to a couple, use the husband's name first.
4. Try to get it all on one line
e.g. Unless the husband has a very long title, that needs to be in one line on it's own, try to fit the title on one line.
5. When a couple is not married but share the same address, list them alphabetically, and do not use the word �and�
e.g. Ms. Mary Albert Mr. John Brown
6. When addressing envelopes to military personnel, list first the one with the highest title
e.g "Major Mary Smith and Lieutenant John Smith."
For professional addressing and mailing, you might consider using the BargainPrinting.com mailing services. It's fast, inexpensive and will give you professional looking, addressed envelopes.
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