There was interesting news article on the BBC website recently about ten common dilemmas about sending Christmas cards at this time of year. According to the Greeting Card Association, £15 million per year is made by charities just by Christmas card sales. Therefore, this is a large and prosperous market where many will be attracted onto the bandwagon at this time of year to send out either privately or within a business context.

The article raises ten interesting dilemmas about this custom, including the risk of buying in bulk, and sending identical cards to other people that they spot, plus sending a round robin general letter and update on how life is generally going. It talks about how cost of sending a Christmas cards on an average basis is increased from £1.52 in 2011 to £1.62 in 2012, and how the art of sending a Christmas card and even Christmas card writing is potentially perceived as being dated. Also how the Christmas scene which referrers to the Christian faith therefore is accommodated by other faiths and non-believers.

It also risks the practical problem of actually having people's postal addresses in this world of virtual living, and whether an email alternative will do.   It's also card-and-present etiquette where a Christmas present without a card just doesn't appear right, and whether you go for a hand written message in the card or just leave the standard greeting. Finally, there is the issue of recycling with 952 million single non-multipack greeting cards sold in 2012, yet the Greeting Card Association claim that 90% of cards come from sustainably farmed trees.  

It got me thinking as to few pointers for contacting friends or business-contacts at Christmas and infact any other general or specific times, including:  

1. The point about collecting people's addresses is simple and shouldn't be missed. Any opportunity to take down good old fashion postal addresses with the correct post code as well a direct land line phone numbers and mobile phone number is essential and can easily be added to any mailing list database for sending out letters or cards.  

2. It’s worth looking at an email and postal combination to some degree and having the best of both worlds. So, maybe just a very short card or even a postcard which then has a website link on to go to a specific online message whether written or maybe even photos or a YouTube video with a message. You can also get special emails that send out audio or visual video messages.  

3. Give it a personal touch somewhere .So whether it's a quick handwritten note in it or whether using a handwritten envelope or even just a little gift will make it appear that much more special than just an automated response.  

4. The round robin letter is actually a good principle. So some kind of newsletter which helps update people with what's happening in your personal and/or business life. To make this effective in this day in age though it will need to be short and sweet and include other formats such as video links. It will also need to be adopted so that it is of benefit and help to the reader and not just a rant from the person who's writing it.

PS – after being ill over Christmas I can only post this after Christmas this year! Never mind – there’s now a year to plan for next year’s Christmas ‘cards’…