Greeting Cards Obsolete Not!! There are Definitely "IN"

Long term relationships are very important to the business person........or at least it should be.

Relationship marketing is designed to develop strong connections with customers by providing them with information directly suited to their needs and interests and by promoting open communication. This approach often results in increased word-of-mouth activity, repeat business and a willingness on the customer’s part to provide information to the organization.

That is why greeting cards can play a very important role in anyone's business. Let's take a look at A survey below with Hallmark greeting company.

Hallmark Business Expressions Survey Shows Business Greeting Cards -- Especially Business Birthday Cards -- Matter to Customers!

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- According to a national consumer survey recently completed by Hallmark Business Expressions, the business-to-business subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Inc., birthdays are the number one everyday occasion when companies send business greeting cards to customers.(*)

In fact, 69 percent of respondents indicated they received business birthday cards from a company with which they do business. Of those 69 percent, 47 percent indicated that receiving a birthday card makes them more likely to do business with the sender. Combining personalized birthday cards with an offer is even more effective. A total of 75 percent of respondents agreed a special occasion card, such as business birthday cards, with a discount during their birthday month would make them more likely to do business with the company.

"Birthdays are a natural opportunity for businesses to reach out to their customers with business greeting cards," said Marc Wagenheim, product marketing director for Hallmark Business Expressions. "Customers notice and appreciate when a company sends them business greeting cards and good wishes around their birthday. Our study confirms what our business customers experience--business birthday cards make a lasting impression and encourage repeat business."

Implementing a program using personalized birthday cards to build business is simple. The B... B.. retail store in Springfield, Mo., has experienced significant return on investment after beginning their birthday card program two years ago.

"This was a new undertaking for us, but we needed a program that would help strengthen the bond employees built with customers," said Mark R..., president of the B... B... retail store. "We decided to send birthday cards to our top customers. We signed the birthday cards and included a personalized insert for $10 off the customer's next purchase of $10 or more."

"We weren't sure what to expect, but hoped customers would appreciate the card and redeem the offer. The results were staggering," said Mark.

Within the program's first month, B... B.. saw a 42 percent response rate from the Hallmark Business Expressions birthday cards. The program's success continued, averaging a 36 percent response rate for 2006 with overall sales increasing by 6.5 percent. In 2007, B... B... saw approximately 35-45 percent of customers who received birthday cards returning to redeem the $10 offer. And, though it wasn't the original intent of the program, B... B... registers a profit from the birthday cards it sends.

So you see how important can be to use simply greeting cards to stay connected to the clients/customer.  I can show you a easy cost effective way to send out your cards and even campaigns all from your computer.