Halloween to Valentine’s Day, and all the holidays in between create opportunities for you to connect with people and build stronger relationships. If you use cards, postcards, or send gifts, now is the time to get into action. Even if you’re sending email greetings, planning makes the process work more smoothly.

1. Choose the occasion, or choose a timeframe, so you’re working with a deadline.
2. Choose cards, postcards, gifts, etc., and estimate how many you need for budget purposes.
3. With this project, I start with what I want to do, price it- then scale it back if needed. Take a look at options and come up with a realistic budget, including any shipping or postage.
4. ORDER as soon as you know what you want! Discounts may still be available for ordering early and you also want to have plenty of lead time. Note- if you don’t have a sample to review, pay attention to detailed descriptions. I once approved an online proof of a card I love, but it’s too small to write much of a note. I have a bunch of them left over and I didn’t send many cards that year!
5. Review your records, do you have complete names and addresses? Will you be scrambling for land addresses for people that you’ve met online? (if you use a service like AWeber or Constant Contact, you can likely use an automatic email to go out and ask for addresses, etc.)
6. Start working on missing addresses. When do you want to mail? Set a daily goal of cleaning up x number of addresses so you aren’t crunching at the last minute. (note- I’m hiring my 10 year old to hunt down addresses, think delegation!)  When you think you’re good to go, print the mailing list and review it visually.
7. Choose whether you’ll hand-address material as needed, print envelopes or use labels. If you’re emailing, will you do them one at a time or as a merged list? Make sure you’ve got the right technology or access to data.
8. Decide how much you’re going to write. Some might be signatures, some might be notes, some might be invitations to get together. You could enclose an announcement or other material. How do you want to use this connection opportunity?
9. Block time to write and mail. I know someone who runs away to a bed and breakfast for a weekend and does a LOT of cards in one chunk of time. She used to dread the task, but now it’s something she looks forward to. You might not go that far, but do consider a reward for completion!

I love to get cards. I love to design cards. I have a hard time getting them out on time. I choose to send New Year’s cards, because my business is about possibility, change and goals. Lucky me, that also works well because they don’t have a hard deadline.

Email, snail mail, card, gift, formal, casual, custom or off the shelf- figure out what works for you. Don’t miss an opportunity to show a little of your personality at the same time you’re sharing thanks and good wishes.

(& send me a note just to be sure I have your mailing address, OK?)