Tis The Season To Get Lost In The Noise

It's that time of year! Company leaders all over the world are arguing over which appropriate holiday card they should send to their important clients. Should they choose this gold embossment of the company name or that sparkly holiday tree with the beautiful printed cursive that makes it look as if each card was hand written? Oh decisions, decisions, decisions. They plan, they scheme, and they fret as if their firm's entire existence depends on this very decision.

How many cards do you think your clients might get during the holidays? Whatever you think that top number is, multiply it by 2 and you might be close. Cards come at them from every direction which just adds to the ancillary noise that most companies and most people experience at this time of year.

The reason for bringing this up is not to put down anyone who chooses to send holiday cards. I myself used to be guilty of doing it. The purpose is to ask does your message or "intent" actually get through? With so many people sending out so many cards, I suspect it does not.

If your intent is to do what everyone else does, then your time and effort may be very well spent. However, I suspect that most people/companies that send out a holiday card of any type wants the recipient to know:

• They are being thought of
• They are appreciated
• They are valued

Now consider who actually receives the card. In most cases, someone at reception likely receives the card and tapes it to the front desk or to the wall. If your intended card was mailed to the CEO, chances are he/she never even sees it before it gets taped up with the other fifty cards they have already received. I suspect the CEO rarely walks through the lobby looking at the cards and mumbling "Ummm ABC Company didn't bother to send us a card this year."

My point is to be different. Don't go with the rest of the herd. Take the time to send cards when people least expect them and will most appreciate them. I had a vendor that would send cards to celebrate the New Year, Valentine's Day, Arbor Day, Veteran's Day, etc. They never sent a card at Christmas time.

No matter which way you slice it, their card and their intended message wasn't lost amongst the dozens or hundreds of cards that others were sending. Think about it....when was the last time someone sent you a card celebrating Cinco de Mayo?

Trust me...send your Arbor Day card and look at the fantastic reaction you will get from your intended recipient. I guarantee no matter what, they will remember you!!!

Ripple On!!!