Traditional Greeting Cards: Paper Vs. Electronic

Sending a paper greeting card can be an easy, effective way to extend goodwill towards a personal or professional contact. Wishing an employee a Happy Birthday with a personalized birthday card is a simple way to show your appreciation for their work. Some companies may not allow their staff to give or receive gifts, but you'll be hard-pressed to find an instance where a traditional greeting card would not be appropriate. Sending thank you cards to customers is considered good business etiquette as well, especially during the holiday season.

Though we feel it is better greeting card etiquette to send a traditional paper greeting card, there are other options for those who find a forgotten holiday or other occasion upon them. Electronic greeting cards are available in a wide array of colors and themes. Some are simply stated; others are animated and even musical. There are those who consider e-cards a viable alternative to paper greeting cards, as they can be sent individually or to many.

When considering how you want to convey a message to your recipient, consider these greeting card etiquette tips: paper greeting cards are tangible. They show that you took the time to choose a card, personalize it, address it and send it to a person you value for a reason. E-cards are immediate, but tend to be more casual and their place in the professional world can be questionable. You may find a box of old paper greeting cards in your mother's attic, but the chances that you'll find a pile of e-card printouts is slim. This may show a lack of sentimentality or may be an indication of our fast paced world; who really has the time, desire, or materials to print out an e-card?

While electronic greeting cards can be a good choice for last-minute wishes of goodwill, not everyone has access to email or the World Wide Web. Your great Aunt Betty, for instance, may not know how to log on and link up (she may not even own a computer!), but she and others like her will always be able to appreciate a traditional paper greeting card, whatever the occasion.