4 Effective Etiquette Tips for Sending Business Greeting Cards

4 Effective Etiquette Tips for Sending Business Greeting Cards

1. Use Quality Cards

Start with a good quality card, don’t choose the least expensive option.  Your card is a reflection of you and how much you value your clients and colleagues, so make it count.  Never substitute a physical card for email, digital, or social media.  It may be convenient and inexpensive, but it comes off as disingenuous and a copy paste message template.  

2. Sign Cards Personally

It is okay if you have pre-printed text on the greeting card itself or the envelope to maintain a professional look.  But be sure to hand write your name and the address, this gives the card a personal, elegant touch.  On the other hand, don’t use computer generated labels as they impersonal and imply the cards are being mass mailed.  

3. Take Your Time

This seems simple enough of a statement to understand.  However, actually take your time, the time to do it right.  Which means to order or purchase your cards, envelopes, and stamps ahead of time with enough time allotted to do it.  Make sure your handwriting is neat, your spelling is correct, and the cards themselves look like they were handled with care.  Lastly and most importantly, write a short handwritten message along with your signature.  Offer the recipient well wishes and if possible relevant anecdote to your business relationship to thank them.

4. Be Sensitive & Aware to Recipients

Take into consideration your recipients’ humor, religion, and culture.  If you are unsure of their observed holiday, go with a generic Happy Holidays or Season Greetings if you are using a single card design.  Reserve using other cards that express your personal beliefs and humor for your personal/nonprofessional list.  

Additionally, make sure when addressing the envelopes to use personal titles.  Use titles like “Ms.”, “Mr.”, and “Dr.” and not just “John or Jane Doe.”

Take Joy in It

At this point you might be saying to yourself, “why even bother, that’s a lot of rules to go by.”  However, once you get into the swing of things, it will feel like second nature.  Plus, you don’t have to and shouldn’t be doing it all in one sitting.  If you find yourself having a hard time doing all of it, ask a friend or family member to lend a hand.  

Remember, it’s supposed to be fun; a good way to cap off the end of the year, enhance your current business relationships, and/or remind old clients you exist.  And hopefully in the future your clients and colleagues will come to you with their next business opportunity.


Lone Star Quick Print specializes in printing holiday cards, social invitations, and greeting cards in Houston.  We will help you design and print your greeting and social invitations quickly for the best price.  Lone Star Quick Print is local, so there is no need to pay for shipping or wait on a delivery.

For fast, quality holiday cards and social invites, Lone Star Quick Print is your printer. Contact us here or call 281-440-1935.