Hi everyone,

I'm wondering if anyone has a greeting card programme for any of your clients (eg. send birthday cards to their clients on monthly basis) and do you charge by the hour or by piece per card. The Client is paying for cards, labels, and stamps. I just need to add their clients name to card and adhere proper label, stamp and drop in mailbox monthly. I quoted hourly rate, but I'm wondering if I should've done per piece. Would that be more effective? There might be about a 100-150 per month.

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Bette Creek
http://bettecreek.blogspot.com/
www.ashbusinessservices.com

Hi, Bette

Since you already gave the client a quote, I would go with the hourly. After doing it once, you will probably get a feel for the hourly vs. piece benefits. And, actually, I think it would come out better to charge hourly for you. For instance, if you charged $.25 per card for 100-150 cards per month, you would make $25 - $37.50. If you quoted your normal hourly rate for the same service (let's say $30 per hour) and it took you one minute per card (about 2 hrs for 100 cards if you did them all at the same time), you would make $60 - $75 (remember that your time has value as well)

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Stephanie
New VA in the research phase

You could get an account with Send Out Cards. I think you can set it up so that cards are sent out when you schedule them. You could spend a few hours setting it up and then it's an ongoing thing and just happens automatically. The SOC charges (card, postage) can be directly applied to your client's credit card

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Julia

I've already talk to them about Send Out cards. They are not interested. They want to be able to personally sign them, and then I mail them.

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Bette Creek
http://bettecreek.blogspot.com/
www.ashbusinessservices.com

Does your client know that SendOutCards will create a font to match your client's handwriting, or is that not personal enough?

Originally Posted by Bette C

I've already talk to them about Send Out cards. They are not interested. They want to be able to personally sign them, and then I mail them.

A card personally signed in ink sent by a supplier doesn't impress me anymore than one from Send Out Cards - I know that their database lets them know that my birthday is coming up and they send out the card. I know that it's just part of their marketing plan. It's not like it is from a friend or family member where the card means something. I used to buy clothes at this really great clothing store a million years ago and every year on my birthday I get a card from them with a free gift if I come to the store. It's a half hour drive away, I've gotten married since then, advised them that my name has changed and yet every year I still get two cards - one addressed to me in my maiden name and one in my married name. Am I impressed, not in the slightest.

If they really want to send something to impress their client, Send Out Cards will include a gift card for Starbuck's with the card. Now that combined with their personalized font will make an impression.

I received a card from a Send Out Cards rep I met at a networking event and she included a $5.00 Starbuck's card. That was impressive.

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Julia

If your interested in online services...I don't know how much Send Out Cards charges, but USPS just started a flyer/card/mailer service where the rates are REALLY low. Or atleast I thought. It appeared that you would get the Bulk mailer rates no matter how many you send out and the paper charge was very minimal. I was looking into this for a FSBO booklet I was looking to distribute. Seemed reasonable but I am going to check out Send Out Cards too.

~Brandy