Last year, I was astonished that many of the cards I received were marketing promotions, not the greetings they were intended to be. I may have felt differently about these cards if they were from someone I hear from on a regular basis. But I doubt it.

It’s a really good thing to keep in touch with customers and prospects, but when your only message is a once a year holiday greeting card overpowered by a marketing flyer you’re defeating the purpose. The message you are sending is cheap and cheesy, and does not reflect the savvy business person you are trying to be.