Sometimes reconnecting with someone you haven’t talked to in awhile can be awkward. And if you only reach out to your network when you need something, your intentions may be questioned.It is important to stay connected to your network throughout the year, but if you have let some of your relationships slide, the holidays provide a natural touchpoint for reconnecting and the holidays are a great time to network. Sending holiday cards is an easy way to reenergize your networking efforts in an authentic and giving way. The card serves as a natural “check-in” and opportunity to say “It’s been a long time…would love to get together after the holidays.” The card lets people know you are thinking of them and sets the stage for a reunion in the weeks to come. Once you have re-opened the doors to the relationship and again solidified the trust, the next step may be to enlist your contact’s help in your job search. Once the relationship is back on track, you can comfortably ask for information or leads on contacts that might be helpful to you in your search. Here are a few great resources for reaching out and touching someone with a holiday greeting.
- Send Out Cards allows you to choose a paper card, write out your message, and mail right from your computer. The team at Send Out Cards takes care of the transcribing, envelope stuffing, and postage for less than the cost of purchasing a greeting card in a store. It’s a no-hassle way to create a personal and memorable card.
- Plaxo e-Cards lets you send unlimited e-cards for a nominal annual fee. This service makes it easy to quickly pull up emails from your Plaxo address book and send unique cards to members of your network.
- Free e-Cards as well as paid cards are available through American Greetings, Blue Mountain, e-Greetings, and Free e-cards.
- Shutterfuly is a great service if you want to create a more personalized card by adding a picture.
High-tech, low-tech, or no-tech…the delivery method is up to you. The important thing is to reconnect with your network now, during this natural time to reach out to friends and family. The investments in time and money are small and the payoff may far exceed your expectations.
