Do you send Holiday cards/gifts to your clients?

[Morgan J Segal]

I don't celebrate the holidays, so I am not much for sending cards out to people, but I just received a card today from C/D (now I know I've made it! LOL) which got me thinking that it might be a good practice for the future.

Thoughts?

[Paul Hansen]

I waver between the appreciation of being remembered and the annoyance of getting yet another near-spam email in my box, so it is hard to say.

But the cold, hard, evil marketer in me says that every free opportunity to remind paying customers or potential clients that you are alive is a good one, as long as it isn't obnoxious.

Cheers

[Morgan J Segal]

Your probably right, I guess because I don't celebrate the holidaze, I find the whole practice rather annoying

[Mike Ditz]

I used to send a lot of stuff to clients, gift baskets, $100 bottles of Champagne, gift certs to good restaurants. I stopped doing that after leaving Detroit. Now they are lucky to get a real card sent thru the mail and not a e-card.
Part of my long range plan to go slowly out of business.:rolleyes:

[Morgan J Segal]

LOL, I nearly spit my tea all over my machine

[Erik Anderson]

I had intended on sending cards this year for the sole reminder of letting people know that I'm still alive and well, but I too wavered on the spam issue. In the end, I was travelling so much it just didn't happen, but I REALLY thought about it. Since it's the thought that counts, I'm good, right?

[John Thawley]

I used to send a lot of stuff to clients, gift baskets, $100 bottles of Champagne, gift certs to good restaurants. I stopped doing that after leaving Detroit. Now they are lucky to get a real card sent thru the mail and not a e-card.
Part of my long range plan to go slowly out of business.:rolleyes:

Well, first of all, do you even celebrate the Holidays in LA?

I'm still in Detroit. Say what you like, your communication with your customer base is NOT spam. You have a relationship and you should maximize it. Remember, it cost much more to find a new customer than it does to keep an existing one.

I sent out signed copies of my new book and included a note of thanks.

Writing real notes and saying thank you will NEVER go out of style.

JT

[Morgan J Segal]

Well, first of all, do you even celebrate the Holidays in LA?




Well some people do. For me, it does not feel like Christmas here, which is great! usually got to Japan to escape Xmas (not as big a deal there as it is here)


I was not referring to email cards, I was thinking traditional cards.

email cards are for birthdays ;)

[Tiny Malone]

Holidays or not, amen to the JT!

And for all of you evil non-holiday dirt worshippers, I will light a candle for you!:p

Now pass the scotch and leave me to my football!:rolleyes:

[Mike Ditz]

Well, first of all, do you even celebrate the Holidays in LA?

I'm still in Detroit. Say what you like, your communication with your customer base is NOT spam. You have a relationship and you should maximize it. Remember, it cost much more to find a new customer than it does to keep an existing one.

I sent out signed copies of my new book and included a note of thanks.

Writing real notes and saying thank you will NEVER go out of style.

JT

I'm still waiting for the first good snow fall to get me into the Christmas spirit. The reason I stopped sending clients holiday gifts/cards is because I had no clients when I moved to LA. And to heck with the few I had left in Detroit.

[John Swenson]

...usually got to Japan to escape Xmas (not as big a deal there as it is here)
LOL The Japanese think that American Christmas revolves around Col.Sanders in a Santa suite at KFC!

I sent this to my MINI friends....
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/133/330436291_d036794de4.jpg?v=0

[Dennis Murray]

I would agree with JT. If you have a real client base it would pay to make sure they know you think of them.

[Morgan J Segal]

Well, I just spent last week with the Art Director, so no worries about them forgetting about me this year ;)

[John Jovic]

My lawyer always sends me a card which is always a bit of an elaborate comical/whimsical setup with all the members of the firm. It's light, funny and not just another 'so close to SPAM I can alsmost smell it' xmas card.

It's different so it's memorable.

JJ