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Category Archives: Printable Birthday Cards

Are You Using QR Codes To Sell Your Products?

 QR codes are the latest strategy being used by savy marketers to promote their products.

What are QR codes?

QR stands for Quick Response and they come in the form of a matrix barcode which yoo
transpose onto your marketing material allowing the viewer to scan the barcode with a smart
phone to access the information instantly.

Small business operators especially real estate agents, mortgage brokers etc are amongst the
fastest expanding group to use this technology.

Let’s saying Mr & Mrs Prospect have been driving the streets all day searching for their perfect
new home. After attending many open homes without any luck, they make their way
home when they come across what appears to be the perfect property.

Your listing with a For Sale sign with a QR code on it. Mr & Mrs Prospect, using their
smartphone, simply scan the sign and the url details appear on their phone. Using this is in the
form of a video posted by you on your Youtube video channel.

Your sign with QR codes now becomes a 24/7 ‘self selling machine’.
 
So where else can you use QR codes?

What about on printed material.

Let’s say you have a special announcement. You’re a mortgage broker and you have a new loan
 package you want to tell your customers about or perhaps you are a restauranter
with a special Mother’s Day lunch deal or a beautician with a new skincare
range. The options are endless.

Merely post a postcard or greeting card to your database with the QR code attached
and watch the orders flood in.

But be aware not all greeting card manufacturers can create QR codes.

You’ll need a specialised company to do this for you.

I know of only one company that can offer you the choice of 15,000 cards
which can be personalised in your own handwriting including pictures that
can include a QR code – all for under $1.

Check it out today

To more business for you.

Greg Reed

Birthday Cards – Are You Sending Them?

It was first considered that the early Chinese were the first to send greeting cards. There was evidence the Egyptians also included them into their scrolls.

By the 1400s the Germans started to send cards but the big movement happened in the 1850′s when stamps first allowed cards to be sent quickly and efficiently.

Since then the growth of cards has been staggering to now top over 7.5 billion in the US alone. Sending of birthday cards has been a major segment of this growth. Why?

A birthday is considered by most people as their most important day of the year. It’s the day to celebrate their being born. We also celebrate religious birthdays as well. The birth of Christ, Budda’s birthday and so on.

It’s good practice to send birthday cards to family, colleagues and business associates. Provided it’s done in a heart felt way, recognising a person’s birthday shows you care about them and want to celebrate their special day. It’s therefore essential you get into the habit of collecting birth dates from people and storing them into a database so you can easily be reminded of an impending birthday. Everytime you meet a new business associate make sure you get their birthday as well. If you are wanting to develop a long term business relationship with this contact, sending a birthday card will place your name in front of them one more time.

There are many types of birthday cards you can send including online birthday cards, free email birthday cards, printable birthday cards, Hallmark cards or American birthday cards. Whatever you choose, make sure it reflects who you are. Email type birthday cards are quick and can be very animated and flashy but they may also send a message that you are in a rush and didn’t spend a lot of time choosing a personal card.

Printable cards from specialised card sites allow you to choose from lots of templates but you need to check the quality before you post to your best friend or new client. A poor quality card can sour your relationship quickly. Hallmark Cards and American Greeting Cards are the world’s largest and provide a good selection. But there again perhaps you are wanting to make an impact with a personalised card?

Depending on who you are sending your birthday card to you need to personalise your message. Naturally you’ll need to mention the occassion ie “Happy Birthday” and perhaps add a memorable moment you shared with the recipient. Knowing what you and the recipient have in common will make writing a card easier. You can refer to interests or even business dealings if you think it’s appropriate. But remember to make it heart felt. If the card smells of a business promotion, you’ll soon have your recipient running for cover.

One of the best ways to send cards is to have a birthday list; whether you do this in a special book or online. Today there’s plenty of services that can highlight forthcoming birthdays so you won’t forget to send a card.

There are even online programmes that will allow you to set up a birthday list, create a campaign and have personalised cards automatically sent to friends and customers. You’ll never forget a birthday again!

Whatever you do, make sure you send somebody a birthday card soon. It’s their most important day and they’ll be tickled pink you remembered them.

What To Write In A Birthday Card – 10 Steps To Success

Not sure what to write in a Birthday card? You are not alone. A lot of people struggle with eloquence when personalizing a card for a family member, best friend, acquaintance or even a near stranger.
Others, however, never seem to have any problem. What is the difference? The latter has confidence, and most likely the latter has a formula. This article will give you a quick and easy formula to write great Birthday Card messages. It will also direct you to resources to find pre-written Birthday messages.

1. WRITE THE GREETING: A perfect greeting is simply, “Happy Birthday BOB!”

Variations include:”HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY BOB!” “Happy Birthday” or “It’s your Birthday”

2.DECIDE THE TONE OF THE MESSAGE: You are not sure exactly what to write in the birthday card, but you should decide the tone of it.

Most card companies divide cards into categories of funny, sentimental, cute, faith. You can further divide the tone into formal/informal. Making this decision will guide the rest of your writing and choosing process.

3. DECIDE YOUR ORIGINALITY – Are you going to write the message yourself (by following the below formula) or would you prefer to use a pre-written message?

If you prefer to use a pre-written message go to the links in the resource section below. There are some great resources!

If you want to try this yourself, continue reading. :) I want to assure you, “You can do it!!”

**Although this format does not work as well with humorous cards. For cards with humor, I suggest you go to the links or use your own witty humor. Just be careful that it matches the recipient’s humor and the humor of those around you in appropriateness.

4. GIVE AN I HOPE STATEMENT – After your Happy Birthday introduction, it is time for your “I hope statement”.

This statement will express your hopes for this person in the following year. Various formats include:

“I hope your year is filled with ____________” (joy, blessings, so many good things you can’t even count them, laughter, inspiration, etc.)

“May your year be _________”

“I wish for you ___________”

**Fill in the blanks with answers which match your feelings for the person and the tone of your card. Do NOT worry about being eloquent, just be honest. What do you hope this new year brings for them. Try to stay away from objects (such as a new job), instead you can say prosperity. So, skip the object, go to the principle.

If you do not know the person very well, you can say, “I hope you have a wonderful day”

5. ADD THE OPTIONAL “YOU DESERVE IT” – If you wish your recipient joy and feel that they deserve it and are comfortable with writing this, put in the sentence. It makes the message more personal and makes the recipient feel very good.

6. NEXT, SHARE A MEMORY & CHARACTER STATEMENT – Whether you know the person well or very little, attempt to share a memory and back it up with positive statement about his/her character.

Memories can range from: “I still remember when we were little and used to climb up onto the tree house. You have always been a good friend!”

or

“I remember when you first became my supervisor. I was so impressed with your sharp dress and kind nature.”

7. NOW TIE YOUR MEMORY IN WITH THE NEW YEAR – Now you will want to give a statement that ties your memory in with the new year.

“I still remember when we were little and used to climb up onto the tree house. You have always been a good friend! I look forward to the memories we will make in this next year!”

or

“I remember when you first became my supervisor. I was so impressed with your sharp dress and kind nature. I am looking forward to getting to know you better this year.”

8. REITERATE YOUR BIRTHDAY WISH WITH A LITTLE DIFFERENT WORDING:

“Have a wonderful Birthday, Bob.”
“Have an amazing day.”
“Enjoy your Birthday to the best of your ability”
“You only turn 40 once”

9. SIGN OFF YOUR LETTER APPROPRIATELY -

This may mean simply writing your name, or using the following: Love, Yours Truly, Sincerely, etc.

10. PUT IT ALL TOGETHER – Now you have been given the tools to know what to write in a Birthday card. Here are some samples of formal and informal birthday messages following this format to make the whole idea more fluid.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB!!

I hope you have the best year you have ever had. You deserve it! Remember when we used to go running together around the pond? You are the fastest person I have ever run with.

Maybe this year I will be able to catch up with you. You are a year older! Have a great Birthday!

David

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

I hope for you that each day of this 56th year will be filled with happiness, love and joy. You deserve it! I will always remember the years that you stayed home with me and the sacrifices you made. You are an amazing woman.

I look forward to another year of getting to understand you better as a person. Have an amazing Birthday.

Love your devoted daughter.