31 Days of Freelancing: Holiday Greetings

What I’m listening to: Photograph by Ed Sheeran

I don’t usually comment on the videos I link to (and maybe you never realized I’ve been linking to videos all these years), but the one above is worth a look. It was somewhere around 14 seconds in when I realized who the baby in the video is. Give it a view — it will put a smile on your face.

Here it is: the weekend. I know what you’re thinking — “I don’t want to work on a weekend!”

That’s actually good, because what we’re about to do today is more fun than work. It’s something you can do sitting in front of the television, at the kitchen table, or in your favorite chair. And you know me — I’m not one to advocate working every day of the week/weekend. I’m just trying to help you make the most of the downtime that comes during the holiday season. This shouldn’t take you an hour, unless you want it to take an hour.

But hey, if you feel like keeping this activity until Monday, go for it.

December 3: Send Holiday Greetings

Wow, that’s easy, isn’t it? It is if you just send cards or emailed greetings (the latter I don’t recommend).

But we’re opting for impact, not easy. Anyone can do easy. You’re not someone who wants your clients to think you’re looking for the easy way out. So here’s the plan:

Make a list.

Who goes on your list?

• Current clients
• Former clients
• People you’d like to have as clients
• Anyone you’ve talked to this year who expressed interest in hiring you
• Contacts you’d like to nurture a relationship with

Why all those people? The first two are obvious — you want them to realize you appreciate their business. Particularly with former clients, you can show that your interest in them goes beyond the paycheck.

The people you’d like to have as clients  — that’s a bit more interesting a list in that you can put just about anyone you want on it. I’d stick with people you’ve connected with on social media or in email, but that’s your choice if you want to reach beyond those people.

Those who considered hiring you — use your discretion. If you felt the match was awful, skip that person. If you felt they weren’t able to make a decision or their budgets went wonky or they hired internally, that warrants a card. Why? Because decisions eventually occur, budgets come back in the next fiscal cycle, and hired help can’t always keep up with an increasing workload.

The last category — those contacts you’d like to nurture — can include key influencers in your specialty area, people who’ve worked for company A and are now with company B, marketing people who can connect you with experts, anyone you’d like to build a stronger connection to.

Check it twice.

Who did you forget? How about that expert you interviewed, or that association contact who helped you out with statistics? Find those people who enhanced your work and thank them.

So what are we sending them?

The Card

To keep it simple, stick with a card. As I mentioned recently, it’s best to keep religion/religious preferences out of your greeting — I tend to send cards that say “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings” but you can even opt for “Have a Prosperous New Year” sentiments. Just don’t assume Christianity/Judaism is going to fit each person.

How to personalize the card:

• Always write them by hand with good ink (save your Sharpie for something else)
• Add salutations at the inside top of the card (“Dear John,”)
• Add a short personal note (“Thanks for entrusting your projects with me this year!” or “Thanks for connecting — looking forward to watching your company grow in 2017!” or a message of your choice)
• Your sign-off (Sincerely or Warm regards works because of the more personal nature of a handwritten greeting)

Now address them. It’s up to you whether you address by hand or by printed label.

How many to send to? As many as you like. That’s why it should take you less than an hour, but might not.

Writers, how often do you send holiday greetings to your clients/prospects?

What other methods do you use to reach out to contacts at holiday time?