LinkWorth Cared Enough to Make This Christmas Special

Posted by Mihaela Lica as Public Relations

I experienced a huge Web 2.0 surprise on December 27, 2008 delivered in my mail box: an envelope that travelled all way from North Texas to Schweich, Germany containing a greeting card from the team at LinkWorth.

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I found that the Internet makes us lazier and somehow colder. I remember when I used to send 20-30 Christmas cards each season, to all my friends and family. To my disgrace, this season I sent… none. I used the StumbleUpon toolbar to send a Merry Christmas to some close friends, I commented on the blogs of others, but that’s all I’ve done. Because I didn’t bother sending any Christmas cards I was not expecting any either. You don’t expect old-fashioned greeting cards in an all electronic age, do you? Yet some people still understand traditions and their values and show due respect and consideration.

I received many cards, even gifts from friends and companies in Germany, but the one that surprised me the most was the one from LinkWorth, and here is why.

Email newsletters simply cluttered my email box this season. Most Web 2.0 companies and social networks sent email greetings, ecards and “Merry Christmas” bulk messages. Of course, these emails have their symbolic value, but LinkWorth taught me a valuable lesson: a printed card, one that you can keep and store in your box for letters and cards you’ve received during the years, one that puts a smile on your face through its simple beauty, has much more worth than an email, if nothing else.

Taking the time to buy a beautiful Christmas card, to scribble a “Thank you for a great year”, to stamp it and mail it over the ocean may appear to be just a simple thing, but aren’t the simplest things those that give the greatest glow of happiness?

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When I recall the times when I sent Christmas cards, there’s a warm feeling of joy accompanying the memory: a printed Christmas card bears the warmth of the human touch. It’s like the paper captures the essence of the sender to deliver a genuine feeling to the receiver. This is especially true coming from a company that basically sells links.

I imagine mine is not the only Christmas card sent out by LinkWorth this season, as a matter of fact I am sure it is not. But it is special because I know that someone, somewhere made a genuine effort to show all their business partners, publishers and advertisers alike, that they are worth more than an email.

Judging pragmatically: think costs. How many partners outside the US does LinkWorth have? You can imagine there are many. 1000? 2000? More? I expect there are more. The cards, as you can see, are not “cheap” either. With an average of 2,50 USD per card, I can only tell you that LinkWorth spent a lot this Christmas. Was it worth it? That’s something only LinkWorth can answer. From this receiver’s perspective… yes, it was! I admire them for doing it.

I don’t know how else to say it, but Ron&Co, you are a wonderful team. This PR consultant is impressed (and it does take a lot to impress Mig). If you ever need a PR company to represent you (although you are doing a great job representing yourselves), we at Pamil Visions would be more than honored to work with professionals like you! You are the type of customers any PR dreams about.

Amazon.com Widgets

12 Responses

TDMV

January 2nd, 2009 at 6:05 pm
1

Personally, I never send out christmascards. Not because I have any friends or because I don’t like my friends, and noteven because I don’t like christmas (i love it). But I always felt it was a bit hypocritical sending a card. And if you had forgotten one person, then they wouldn’t send you one the next year, etc. I’m more personal, and like to tell my friends what I feel, not write them kust because people expect me to do.
However, getting a card from business contacts is something else. Of course I realise it’s a great way, from a PR standpoint, to re-enforce the contact. And of course I know they don’t send me the card just because they like me. But just like you Miguel, it gives me a warm feeling.

TDMV’s last blog post..Ecologische urnen uit Spanje
Matt Keegan

January 2nd, 2009 at 6:07 pm
2

Sending hard copy Christmas cards is something my wife and I still do and we prefer to receive our cards that way. Probably sounds more old-fashioned that way, but it allows us to include photographs of our children as well as to write a personal note.

We like receiving cards as well, choosing to display them on a wall in our home. We don’t receive as many cards as we used to, but we’re always glad to exchange them.

Christmas cards allow people to keep in touch while showing a personal touch at the same time. We have two elderly relatives who love to receive them, appreciating that we remember them at this time of the year. I think the elderly feel especially isolated by modern technology, sometimes feeling overwhelmed by a world that has passed them by.

As another throw back to days past, I recently subscribed to a newspaper for the first time in many, many years. There is something special about a tangible object and I certainly don’t mind the stain of newspaper ink either!

Matt Keegan’s last blog post..Personal Tips From And For The Self Employed
Genesis

January 2nd, 2009 at 6:26 pm
3

Wow, now that`s good PR! If nothing else, they got you to blog about them. I never send out cards because I`m in Guatemala, but it probably would be a good way to go just because of that.
Rob Jongschaap

January 2nd, 2009 at 7:00 pm
4

I did both: old fashioned written cards, messages in StumbleUpon and e-cards. In many cases as an obligation and in some cases with warm feelings.I also received greetings and wishes on various media. Then for me only the content of the message counts, Not if it arrives by ordinary post, in social networks, on an e-card or .. via LinkWorth.

Rob Jongschaap’s last blog post..Neuromarketing and Buyology
Christine Cadena

January 2nd, 2009 at 8:28 pm
5

We are glad it brought a smile to your face! Thanks for the great relationship and we hope you have a wonderful 2009!
Pearl

January 2nd, 2009 at 10:56 pm
6

that was a real nice gesture on their part and enough to convince me to sign up with them.. I remember last year when you told me when you signed up with them, I wish I had then coz the company I’m with sent me no card, not even an electronic one … so kudos to them for making themselves look good
Deborah

January 3rd, 2009 at 2:03 pm
7

Receiving hard copy Christmas cards always brings a warm feeling that someone took the time to purchase, hand write a greeting and post them. I remember as a child running strings across the ceiling and hanging them as they arrived, and they were plentiful back then.

But I’m not so certain that the custom declined strictly due to the electronic age. I can even remember my parents cutting back their lists over the years due to rising costs, and the obligatory status that they had, similar to gift giving at Xmas.

We always send hard copy cards to our customers, but very few people that we know do not have computer access, and we always send e-cards to them at Xmas. We exchange hard copy cards with family and close friends other than virtual which are given to each other when we see them over Xmas.

Does it lessen the message that it was sent online and costs were nothing more than our time? After reading this post, I actually feel a little shamed by it. I can say that I spent as much time and possibly more by sending e-cards this year, and time is also a valuable thing for most people these days. As the saying goes, isn’t it the thought that counts?

I find myself feeling a little ashamed in having to validate why I send them virtually instead of the old fashioned way But I do agree that it’s always nice to receive hard copies to display and hold on to after the season is over.

Deborah’s last blog post..The Secrets of Santa Claus Revealed
Mihaela Lica

January 3rd, 2009 at 6:42 pm
8

Thank you very much for all your comments – apparently we all agree that this was a great PR move from their side. I hope they’ll have funds to repeat it next Christmas.

Generally I agree with Rob that it’s the message the counts more than the form is delivered. However, I insist that there’s something magic about a printed, palpable card.

Unlike Theo, I do not find sending Christmas card hypocritical. On the contrary. I find that Christmas brings to light the best in us.

The messages I sent online… were coming from the heart, yes, but I also feel ashamed I sent no printed cards this season, Deborah. I cannot hide – but I don’t judge people who didn’t send either. I only promise myself that Christmas 2009 will find me hand-writing season greetings on self-designed cards for all my friends, colleagues, family and business partners.
Sueblimely

January 6th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
9

I sent off Christmas cards to my family and friends overseas on time this year and totally forgot to send them to friends in Australia!. My family in UK always send me cards and although most of them have now got internet not all use it (the computers are used by the kids) and they expect a real card from me.

Christmas became a time to keep in touch with friends of my pre Australia days. When phone costs were prohibitive to UK, mail was the only way we kept in touch. Despite good intentions and initial more regular contact, Christmas became the time for an annual letter and card. Keeping up with this has meant that I have more recently been able to connect with many old friends, mostly via Facebook, even though it is over 20 years since I last saw most of them.

Will I keep sending them cards even though I now have online contact with them – yes. I can’t say I enjoy doing this, life is busy enough at this time of year and it can be a tedious task. but for my part I feel that taking that extra time and effort is an indication that you care about someone. There have been years when I have not been organized enough to send them off in time. Then I have either created cards to send via email or via a webpage on my personal site or sent letters or newsy emails soon after as a way of compensating.

For blogging friends for whom I have no address, an online greeting had to suffice although I did do some Christmas link love posts and have been doing some extra stumbling of their posts etc.

As for companies sending out cards, the cynic in me comes out and I just think of them as a direct marketing technique.
Mihaela Lica

January 7th, 2009 at 8:36 am
10

Oh yes, it is a marketing technique – but it comes at the right time – it is not obtrusive and we can assume that a company headquartered overseas that still does that extra spending step to tell a customer/partner “Thank you for a great year” means it. If you ever receive such a card from Pamil Visions, be sure we meant it LinkWorth just set an example. And I enjoyed it. I was spending less time online this season – they managed to make themselves present in the real world… How many Web companies do that?
Bobbi

September 15th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
11

Mihaela,

Great Post! Sending holiday cards seems to be a bit of a lost art these days. I really appreciate it when I receive a greeting card in the mail. It brightens my day. I commit to sending holiday cards every year. It is not always easy but I know it is appreciated.

Bobbi
Pete

October 2nd, 2009 at 2:43 pm
12

I use to throw away loads of christmas cards, especially during the early days. Nowadays I seem to be appreciate it more and save every christmas card I receive since 2001 and use it on my christmas tree during the season. Talk abt recycling