In 1982, very few people would have predicted that mail, of all services, would grow almost completely unnecessary within 30 years. The entire world was built on direct mail contact - letters, bills, and even legal documents were all sent through the post. While the modern judicial system still operates through the post - a lone remnant of the ‘old days’ - almost every other part of modern life is available digitally.Businesses send out bills, invoices, and advertising materials electronically. Charities have lowered their door-to-door collector numbers and are using email to target potential donors. Even schools are capitalizing on the low costs and simple effort of electronic communications, moving newsletters and reports to online and digital platforms.There’s another domain that’s rapidly moving online too: greeting cards. ECards have been around for a while, but they’re only just starting to achieve the massive level of popularity that’s required for success. With millions of people sending an eCard every year - and that’s just within the UK! - eCards are becoming a revolution in how people keep in touch.
These eight occasions were once celebrated with paper cards and an annoying postage process. If you want to keep celebrating them with your friends and family, all without the cost or annoyance of regular mail, why not send an eCard?
1. Birthdays
The biggest problem with birthday cards is the selection, namely the lack of it. Most card stores are relatively limited, stocking cards for only a small amount of specific birthdays - generally for young children - and serving everyone else with the same old generic, all-purpose cards. We’ve all received plain and uninteresting “Happy Birthday!” cards before, and we’ve all wished for something original and unique.
What separates eCards from standard cards is the huge selection. While a post shop could have 100 cards, users can select from thousands of different card designs whenever they choose to send an eCard. If you need deep choice for a birthday card, put away the envelopes and look online instead.
2. Christmas
Christmas is the quintessential Western holiday, but it’s often more of a frantic send-off than it is an enjoyable break from work. At the essence of Christmas is family, and for many people it’s the only time to reconnect and get in touch with otherwise unheard from family members.
If you’re far away from family this Christmas, make sure to keep in touch. An eCard takes mere minutes to send, and the gesture is sure to be appreciated by those far away from you.
3. Anniversaries
Guys, here’s a sure-fire tip for impressing your long-term girlfriend, fiance, or wife on your anniversary. Wake up as normal, go about your breakfast with no mention of the occasion, and sneak off to work without ever acting as if the day is any different. Then, fire off an eCard once you arrive at work, leaving her with a nice surprise when she makes it to the office.
Anniversaries are often a forgotten occasion, but when celebrated they can be a lot of fun. Send an eCard to your significant other in the morning, and back it up with a romantic dinner in the night.
4. Valentine’s Day
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Is there any more well-known card-giving occasion than Valentine’s day? One of the few non-religious or government-related holidays to have an entire industry built around it, Valentine’s Day is the biggest day of the year for many florists, card stores, and retail outlets. Couples are our en-masse, searching for gifts, cards, and cool reminders of their affection.
If you want to avoid the hustle and bustle to enjoy a unique and romantic day, just send an eCard. There’s no need to fight through crowds at the post store or sprint to the till for the last card. Instead, log in, fill in the details, and have your Valentine’s Day card sorted out without even getting out of your pajamas.
5. Engagements
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Engagements always call for celebration, especially if it’s a close family member that’s proposed or been proposed to. The only problem with engagement cards is choice and class. Most card stores don’t stock a wide range of engagement cards, and the few that are available typically aren’t all that impressive.
With an engagement-themed eCard, you can customize the design, message, and content to your heart’s content. Make it an ultra-personal card for a close friend or relative, or offer more generic compliments to a distant family member or acquaintance.
6. Mother’s or Father’s Day
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After university finishes and careers kick in, going home to see the family can become a once-a-year occurrence. While Christmas is generally considered the universal family reunion holiday, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are still important events for families.
If you’re stuck in a different city, country, or continent for Mother’s or Fathers Day, don’t stress yourself with sending an ultra-long distance card. Pick an eCard out, customize it, and fill it with a unique, interesting, and loving message. Keeping in touch with family doesn’t have to be difficult, and sometimes a lone eCard in the inbox can be a touching reminder on a special day.
7. New Year’s Day
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Sure, New Year’s Day isn’t the most traditional holiday for a card, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good idea to send one. Plus, with eCards, you can schedule your entire New Year’s card list to send automatically, saving you the trouble of getting out of bed and hitting the send button on a hungover New Years morning.
Whether Gregorian or Chinese, a huge range of eCards are available for New Year’s Day celebrations. Pick out something generic or specific, and send it off to friends, family, and fellow partygoers.
8. Before an Event
There are two ways to organize your event electronically. The first is to send out bland, boring, and completely uninspiring Facebook invitations. While they’ll get to a lot of people, they’re not a lot of fun.
The second is to deliver an experience that’s truly personal. Rather than sending out mass Facebook invitations, send out individual eCards. Spend a small amount of time on them and you’ll have a range of personalized messages - not just a stack of bland Facebook invitations.
Although the recession is apparently over, we are still looking for ways to save our money after the tough times over the past couple of years, and extra expenses such as birthdays or special occasions don’t always help when trying to save money.
