This time of year, many of us are scrambling to connect with friends, family, and associates through personal and corporate holiday messages.
On the business side, we often debate how best to engage: Send an e-blast? Post a snail-mail card? Make a donation on our clients’ behalf? Craft a clever blog post?
The answer depends on your business, as most answers tend to do. But whatever the medium, don’t be afraid to get personal. Because, in a world of global interactions, we’re all craving correspondence that makes us feel closer to one another—like real, live human beings rather than customer numbers or heartless logos.
Of course, the meaning of “personal” changes a lot with the size and nature of your business. If you’re an executive consultant who speaks with your clients directly on a regular basis and knows many details of both their professional and personal lives, you might choose to send out Christmas cards that include hand-written notes and a photo of your family.
But if you’re the owner of 3 sheet music stores with a large customer base, you’ll probably share something that’s a bit less intimate—but still full of personal flare. Like a video of your staff members staging a happy holidays flash mob, each one armed with an instrument or a fist full of fake snow.
A few real-world examples:
Austin-based advertising agency Marketing Matters not only set up a fun & festive holiday card this year; they also included a link to the making-of video, giving viewers yet another window into life at the agency and the unique personalities of its staff members.
From delectable gift ideas to favorite holiday images, featured seasonal treats to personalized holiday wishes, Chocolate for Breakfast does a great job of sharing personal likes, ideas, and experiences on their Facebook page—all year long. Spend a little time here, and you’ll feel like you’ve been kicking back in their kitchen.
A lovely twist on getting personal: Austism Speaks features photos of the autism community in their video holiday card—along with clips of their staff members sharing warm wishes.