Home / Message templates / Holiday Card Message for Clients
What to Write in a Holiday Card for Clients
In a holiday card for a client, write two to four handwritten sentences. Thank them for one specific thing from the year. Wish them a restful season and sign with your first name. The printed greeting covers the formal part, so your own lines should be personal. One real detail, like a project or a shared moment, makes the card worth keeping.
A holiday card is one of the few pieces of business mail people actually open and keep. It sits on a desk or shelf for weeks, and your name sits there too. A real handwritten line says the bond matters enough for you to pick up a pen.
The card does not need a long message. Most of the impact comes from the handwriting and one specific detail. Pick a card with a neutral printed greeting and add a personal line or two. Sign it yourself and address the envelope by hand. If you send a gift, the note with it follows the same rule.
On this page
Write yours in 20 seconds
Free, no signup. The example is filled in: press the button, then replace it with your own situation. In Capstone, a message like it is written for each person you know when their check-in is due.
12 examples to copy
One message is easy. Hundreds of people, all year, is the hard part. Capstone Outreach puts everyone you know on a rhythm you pick, from weekly to every three months. When someone is due, a message like these is already written in your voice from your history with them. You approve it, and it goes from your own email or phone. See how it works.
Start 14 days free, then $25/mo
Everyone on a rhythm. Who is due, and when. Recorded in the app on a demo account.
1. Card: thank you for a specific project
Why it works: One concrete project reference turns a printed card into a personal thank you that the client will remember.
2. Card: long-time client
Why it works: Counting the years makes the client feel the length of the relationship, which is something to celebrate.
3. Card: client who lost someone this year
Why it works: It acknowledges the loss gently and shares a real memory, which means far more to a grieving client than a cheerful greeting.
4. Christmas card: client who celebrates Christmas
Why it works: Using the holiday the client actually celebrates, plus a family detail, makes the card feel personal rather than corporate.
5. Card: past client, no current work
Why it works: A shared memory with no pitch keeps the relationship alive and keeps you top of mind for referrals.
6. Card: past home buyer or seller
Why it works: Referencing their home makes the card about their life, not your business, which is how agents stay remembered.
7. Card signed by the whole team
Why it works: Multiple handwritten signatures show the client that the whole team values them, not just their main contact.
8. Gift note: holiday gift basket or box
Why it works: Gift notes should be short and handwritten, and this one frames the gift as thanks rather than a marketing item.
9. Card: donation made in the client's name
Why it works: It explains the gift in one sentence and ties the season's generosity to the client relationship.
10. New Year card if you missed the holiday window
Why it works: A New Year card arrives when mailboxes are quiet and gives you a natural reason to look ahead together.
11. Email: digital holiday card for remote clients
Subject: A holiday card for you, [Name]
Why it works: It explains why the card is digital and still includes a personal line in the email for clients who never click.
12. Text: after a client's gift was delivered
Why it works: A brief text confirms the gift landed and adds a personal touch without making the client write a thank you note back.
Sending these to more than a few people? See how people keep track of who to follow up with, and when: what a personal CRM does and the best personal CRMs, compared.
When to send it
- Mail holiday cards in the first two weeks of December. Then they arrive before offices thin out for the holidays.
- Send cards to a client's office if that is where they work most days. Send to their home only if you already trade personal mail.
- For a gift, time delivery for the second week of December. Include a handwritten note, not a printed slip.
- Write a few cards each day starting in late November. Don't sign a stack in one sitting. That way every message gets real attention.
- If cards will arrive after the holidays, switch to a New Year card. Mail it in late December so it lands in early January.
Subject lines
- A holiday card for you, [Name]
- Happy holidays from [Your Company]
- Season's greetings, [Name]
- A small thank you for a big year
- Warm wishes from all of us
- Happy holidays and thank you
- Your holiday card from [Your Name]
- Wishing you a restful season
- Happy New Year, [Name]
- Thank you for this year, [Name]
What to avoid
- Do not send a card with only a printed name and no handwritten line. It signals the card was mass produced.
- Do not tuck a business card, brochure or promotion into a holiday card.
- Do not use a Christmas card for every client unless you know each one celebrates Christmas.
- Do not print address labels when you can handwrite the envelope for your most important clients.
- Do not write a long paragraph about your own company's year inside the card.
- Do not misspell the client's name or the name of their spouse or business. Check your list before you write.
After you send it
Keep a list of who got a card and any reply or thank you you get back. If a client sends a note or card in return, reply with a short thank you within a few days. Do not follow up on a card that gets no response. In the second or third week of January, reach out with a useful note or a short plan for the year. After that, stay in touch every six to eight weeks. Then next year's card continues a conversation.
Building the habit: how to keep in touch with contacts and what a personal CRM does.
Writing cards for clients you met this year? Scan the business cards you picked up along the way. Capstone saves each person with where you met, so next year's card list is already built.
Start 14 days free, then $25/mo
A study of 20 million LinkedIn members found that acquaintances, more than close friends, led to new jobs (Science, 2022). Capstone keeps those people warm. You approve every message, and it goes from your own email or phone.
Frequently asked questions
What to write in a Christmas card for a client?
Write a short thank you for the year and one specific detail about your work together. Add a warm Christmas wish, then sign your first name. For example: "Merry Christmas, Ana! Thank you for a great year and for trusting us with the store launch. Wishing you a joyful season," signed with your name. Use a Christmas card only for clients you know celebrate it.
Should business holiday cards be handwritten?
Yes, at least the personal message and the signature should be handwritten. The printed greeting can be formal. A line or two in your own handwriting is what makes the card feel personal. For large lists, split the cards across your team and write a few each day.
How do you sign a holiday card to a client?
Sign with your first name if you know the client well. Use your full name if they mostly know your company. "Warmly," "All the best" and "Happy holidays" all work as closings. When the team signs together, each person should sign their own name. Don't have one person sign for everyone.
What should I write on a holiday gift note for a client?
Write one or two sentences that frame the gift as a thank you. For example: "A small thank you for a big year. Enjoy, and happy holidays!" with your name below. Handwrite it if you can and sign your name. Keep business details, logos and offers out of the note.
When should you mail holiday cards to clients?
Mail holiday cards in the first two weeks of December. That gives them time to arrive before clients leave for the holidays. It also keeps them from getting lost in late December mail. If you are running late, send a New Year card in the last week of December instead.