Articles: Easter cards

Easter is often skipped in business calendars, which is exactly why a card sent in spring is remembered more easily than one of many in December. These articles look at both the design and the point of the gesture.

Printed or electronic

An electronic greeting is quick and convenient, but it disappears into an inbox with everything else. A printed card needs posting and planning, yet it lands on a desk and usually stands there for weeks. The choice depends on how many recipients you have and how closely you work with them.

• Regular clients - a printed card, ideally signed by hand.
• A large contact list - an electronic version, but prepared with care.
• Partners and suppliers - paper, because here the gesture matters more than the wording.
• New contacts - a card as a natural reason to get back in touch.

Designing a card that does not look accidental

Spring colours turn into clutter quickly when a little of everything goes in. Two or three shades and one motif work better. The logo can sit quietly, at the foot of the page for instance, because the card is a greeting rather than an advertisement. Leave the inside blank or with a short line, so there is room for a signature.

Timing matters too: Easter cards have to be prepared well ahead, since the date moves every year. Planning them alongside the address list makes the whole mailing far simpler.