redboxoffice

It’s Christmas.  Again.  Where did 2009 go?  Almost in a blur did new year, my birthday, easter, summer fun and autumn rains rush past for us to arrive in December wondering where the year went and what one achieved.

It’s that time of year when you are expected to contact everyone you’ve ever known or done business with or shaken hands with and to send them ‘Seasons Greetings’ in one form or another.

But do you?

I’ve read some chatter about whether it’s absolutely necessary to send cards and gifts to clients and business contacts.  Do you at other times of the year?  It’s a great excuse to let old contacts know you are still around and still trading, but there’s always the thought that my card is just going to be read by some PA, stuck on a shelf and gather dust for 3 weeks and then hit the bin.  And maybe not even a recycling bin…

Do you send a ‘thanks awfully for being my client’ card & gift, but receive nothing in return.  Does that bug you?

I’ve had a change of attitude this year and instead of sending physical cards, I’m using an on-line e-card service to send my greetings.  I may just get stuck in an in-box, (although the majority of the recipients are subscribers to my newsletter, so I should be white listed and not treated as spam) and there’s no feelings of guilt as to how many trees have been chopped down in my name.

There may be an odd bottle or two going out to clients that have been with Red Box for a while, but I don’t have a fortune to spend that way.  So for less than lunch at Pret, and in less time than it takes me to walk to the post office, I can send my greetings and thank you’s to those that matter to me and my business.

How about you?

Festive greetings to you all!

About the Author:
Emma Crabtree is the owner and sole-operator of Red Box Virtual Office, a off-site business support service.  Red Box Virtual Office can enable you to free yourself from the day to day admin of your business so that you can focus on what you enjoy and what makes you money.  Find out more