# How do you write company Christmas cards for customers the right way? Sending Christmas wishes to customers is a thoughtful gesture and an ideal year-end thank-you for your collaboration. Well-crafted company Christmas cards also provide an opportunity to present your company in a positive light, as long as the message and format are appropriate. However, overly enthusiastic greetings can have the opposite effect and may discourage clients. ## Why send Christmas wishes to customers? Every year, the same questions arise. Should Christmas wishes be sent to customers, and if so, to whom? Is a digital message enough or is a traditional card more appropriate? And how can Christmas greetings be worded so they leave a lasting impression? Christmas wishes are more than a simple gesture of appreciation; they are also an **important part of customer retention**. They signal that a company values its customers and is interested in building long-term relationships. For smaller companies and freelancers in particular, sending company Christmas cards can be challenging, especially without a complete or well-structured customer database. Maintaining an up-to-date email list and staying in regular contact can make a significant difference. In this context, a company Christmas card also reflects the standard of a company’s professional business correspondence.It quickly shows which businesses have successfully built and maintained email lists and are able to keep track of all relevant contacts. At the same time, sending Christmas wishes is not only a friendly gesture but also **an opportunity to present your business in a positive light**. The key is to keep the message authentic, relevant, and thoughtfully crafted. Tip A useful tool for strengthening customer retention is [Google Workspace](https://www.ionos.com/en-ie/office-solutions/google-workspace "Google Workspace from IONOS"). It helps you build and manage mailing lists while also enabling real-time collaboration on projects appointments and documents. ## Christmas favour, Christmas email or a traditional Christmas letter? Even today, many companies continue to rely on **classic Christmas greetings sent by post**, as it is often perceived as a more personal gesture of appreciation. Receiving something tangible can leave a lasting impression. At the same time, **digital Christmas greetings** are gaining popularity, offering a modern and efficient way to communicate. They also open up more creative possibilities, for example through: - video greetings - festive songs or curated playlists - digital Advent calendars - personalised e-cards or animated messages The right format depends on your company and your target audience. For customers who are less active online, a traditional letter sent by post may have a stronger impact. For a digitally savvy audience, a creative email can leave a more lasting impression. ## How to create successful business Christmas cards In order to come up with effective Christmas greetings, it is helpful to define your objectives in advance: **Objectives and benefits:** - show appreciation for the collaboration over the past year - strengthen trust and existing relationships - signal openness to future cooperation - reconnect with inactive contacts **How to make your greetings effective:** - show genuine appreciation for the trust and collaboration - mention your shared work without sounding promotional - keep the message brief, clear, and positive ### Use the right greeting The appropriate greeting depends on your relationship with the customer. - **Formal**: For new or prospective customers: ‘Dear Mr./Ms. + last name’ - **Friendly**: For long-standing contacts: ‘Dear + first name’ - **Team or entire company**: ‘Dear customers’ or ‘Dear team’ ### Write memorable Christmas greetings A creative Christmas greeting is more likely to leave a lasting impression. Instead of using standard templates, consider incorporating **quotes** or your own wording to strengthen the **personal connection**. If your relationship is more informal, you could even adapt a Christmas carol. For more formal contacts, a classic and thoughtful message is usually the better choice. **Examples of creative Christmas greetings:** ‘Amid projects and to-do lists, here’s a moment to pause. We wish you a Merry Christmas, a relaxing festive season, and a great start to the new year’. ‘Christmas is a time for giving. Thank you sincerely for your trust and the excellent collaboration. Wishing you a successful and enjoyable new year’. ‘Season’s greetings from our company to yours. We appreciate your trust and partnership and wish you a festive season filled with peace, happiness and success’. ### End the Christmas greeting appropriately The final closing greeting should reflect your relationship with the customer: **Option 1 – Formal:** - ‘Best wishes’ - ‘Best regards’ - ‘Wishing you all the best’ **Option 2 – Festive:** - ‘With warm Christmas wishes’ - ‘With best wishes for the Advent season’ - ‘Wishing you a joyful festive season’ Finally, if your Christmas greeting is created digitally or generated automatically, it should ideally be **signed by hand** to add a personal touch. ## What can go wrong when sending company Christmas cards? Sending Christmas greetings to customers can also have unintended negative effects if key details are overlooked. Misjudging the relationship, misspelling names, or writing overly long messages can quickly reduce their impact. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid: - **Selecting an unsuitable format**: Christmas greetings are most appropriate via post or email. Messages sent through WhatsApp, text, or social media may seem unprofessional. For emails, keep attachments small to avoid delivery problems or spam filters. - **Including the wrong content**: Christmas greetings should not contain business updates such as price changes or project information. Generic, impersonal templates can appear careless and come across as insincere. - **Poor timing**: Timing plays an important role. For national recipients, week 50 of the calendar year is generally appropriate, while international greetings are better sent in week 49. Messages sent too late can seem disorganised. Tip Writing effective emails is just as important throughout the rest of the year to maintain clear and trustworthy communication. ## Ten ideas for Christmas greetings to customers Successful Christmas greetings to customers are always tailored to the individual situation, but you do not have to start from scratch. The following ten examples can serve as inspiration: 1. **Formal Christmas greetings:** ‘We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a successful start to the new year. Thank you sincerely for the collaboration and the achievements we have shared’. 2. **Formal thanks:** ‘Thank you for the successful collaboration over the past year. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year’. 3. **Short and concise:** ‘Merry Christmas and thank you for a great year. We look forward to continuing our collaboration’. 4. **International:** ‘Season’s Greetings and best wishes for the coming year’. 5. **Personal Christmas greetings:** ‘As emails, calls, and deadlines slow down, the focus shifts to cookies and time with loved ones. Thank you for your trust and collaboration. Wishing you a Merry Christmas wherever you are.’ 6. **Creative photo idea:** Instead of relying on a stock image, consider creating your own visual. A team photo with a festive element, such as Santa hats or a Christmas tree arrangement, adds a more personal touch. 7. **Gingerbread in the post:** For a smaller or selected group of clients, a handmade gift can make a strong impression. Individually decorated gingerbread figures, packaged in a festive box, add a personal and memorable touch. 8. **DIY card:** Handmade details are still highly appreciated. For example, include a simple folding template for a paper Christmas tree that customers can place on their desk. 9. **Christmas carol video:** If writing personal messages feels difficult, take a more creative route. Record a short video featuring a festive song and share it digitally with your customers. 10. **Seed ball:** Instead of a card that may be thrown away, send a small seed ball. Once planted, it will grow into flowers in spring and serve as a lasting reminder. This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.com/en-ie/digitalguide/e-mail/e-mail-marketing/business-christmas-cards/](https://www.ionos.com/en-ie/digitalguide/e-mail/e-mail-marketing/business-christmas-cards/) for AI/LLM consumption.