Any ideas for an innovative year-end message?
Question: “I am looking for some new, different ideas for a year-end letter. My boss usually sends out personalized year-end letters highlighting the accomplishments of our department. He wants to do something different this year. Does anyone have any ideas?” —Kim E. Rodriquez
December 8, 2008 at 12:10 pm
December 5, 2008 at 2:06 pm
We have calendars made with our logo and name, address, etc on it. Then we have a group picture taken and mail the picture and calendar to our customers. You should never send a letter talking about yourself. When someone reads a letter they want to see their name or their company’s name, not yours. Focus on them and what they have done.
December 5, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Does he send them to employees or customers?
November 25, 2008 at 8:37 am
I like this response. That old saying, “People don’t care how much you know, they want to know how much you care.” I think in today’s economy and society, people want to know someone cares and this would be a great way to show it — and who knows — you may even get some referral business from it!
November 24, 2008 at 8:26 am
Who is the recipient of this letter? Does it go to external customers or does it remain internal? Is it sent electronically? It may be too late for this year but if it’s an internal electronic distribution, consider a short PowerPoint show instead of a letter. It’s brief and with photos and graphics is more interesting than reading a letter.
November 21, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Instead of telling your customers what great things your department has done, tell your boss to thank the customer for their great order (specify). More personal you can’t get it and it tells the customer that you know them personally and appreciate their business.
November 21, 2008 at 1:56 pm
We have not sent out cards at the end of the year. We have taken pictures of each employee or as a group and sent that to our agency force and we have received a lot of positive comments on receiving the Christmas greeting from the company and having a picture of each employee. Last year I did a Christmas tree and put 15 pictures on the tree like Christmas balls and the reply was great.
November 21, 2008 at 1:21 pm
This is not the answer you are looking for, because it’s a question – does he know if the recipients value this letter? Often things like this are done year-after-year because they are a habit, and those on the receiving end don’t always have a desire or interest in receiving the letter. Obviously I am not saying that applies in your department’s case. But in my 22 years of office experience, I’ve never worked anywhere in which one of these types of letters was sent out, so I am only wondering if there is a need for it.
A simple THANK YOU! It’s about appreciation and service!