Have you ever forgotten about someone just because you haven’t seen them in awhile? It is quite easy to do and if you’re in business, you certainly wouldn’t want to be forgotten! You don’t have to be a nuisance, but you do want your name to be the first one a customer remembers when they need the goods or services you have to offer. Without being obnoxious, flaunt your abilities and proudly express your company’s greatness, especially during tough economic times.

To make sure you are not forgotten, keep your name and your company name visible. Network like you never have before. Be seen. Go lunch where your customers do. Attend the meetings your customers attend. Join the trade organizations or groups they are into. Write articles for trade publications. The more your name is out there, the more successful you will become.

Stay connected and “seen” by sending personalized greeting cards when appropriate. An unexpected Thinking of You Card or surprise Anniversary Card or thoughtful Get Well Card will do wonders to enhance your visibility and is sure to add a personal touch they’ll remember when an opportunity becomes available for you to step in and save the day. And when that happens, you’ll be as proud as a peacock!

So the holiday decorations are all put away for another year and the long months of winter are ahead. Want something fun and interesting to do that will help you reconnect with clients, friends and family? Why not send thoughtful Thinking of You greeting cards!

No one said you could only send cards in December! Go ahead and share winter greetings with warm wishes for all! You may even want to include a fun photo and send personalized Photo Cards. These unexpected delights are sure to receive special attention!

Maybe you have a nice photo from a holiday office party or family get-together or a fun snow scene that would make great photo cards. At CardsDirect.com you pick exactly what you want to say to customize greeting cards that can be sent at any time of the year!

Take this opportunity to reach out to others and chances are they will reach right back atcha!

Although you may not agree based on the weather where you live, summer is nearing its end, based solely on the fact that children are returning to schools around the nation. How you ask is the start date for schools determined? Here are some interesting facts on that very subject.

Students headed back to school on Wednesday, July 29 in one county in Georgia while Philadelphia begins its school year on Tuesday, September 8. Why the differences? Money is the key consideration. From the cost of air conditioning school buildings to tourism dollars and parent’s childcare costs, each school system determines the academic school calendar that best fits their needs and budgets.

Studies have found that most adults prefer that school start just after Labor Day but there is really no consensus. Migrant worker families experience a loss in income with an early school start date. A shorter summer calendar means lost income for the travel industry, summer camps and amusement parks, and less opportunity for students to make money at summer jobs. Tulsa Public Schools saved approximately a half million dollars in utility costs by moving their start date from August 19 to the day after Labor Day.

Each state has their own questions and concerns and hotly debates this issue through state legislatures regularly. Regardless of when students in your area head back to school, why not tuck a nice Thinking of You Card in their backpack for an unexpected surprise!

What do you think? Should a nationwide school start date be imposed? When do students in your area return to class?

Obviously, I’m big into greeting cards. I send them through the mail, secretly leave them for friends, hand them off in person and attach them to presents. I send them for almost every holiday, personal milestone and often for no reason at all. I just personally feel a humorous or sometimes sentimental greeting with a hand written message is appreciated. Call me old fashioned, I don’t mind!

In this day and age of email and texting, greeting cards sent through the United States Postal Service are rarities. It is such fun though when one is unexpectedly received. I don’t think such a simple gesture will ever go out of style and know the effort used to send one is well worth the time invested.

What better way to let someone know they matter. Far better than a quickly dashed off email.

Do you send greeting cards? If not, why not?

Don’t forget your mom! Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 10th. Your mom was there for you with a listening ear, helpful pointers and of course all those things taken for granted like keeping your clothes cleaned and pressed and healthy meals on the table, so don’t forget her on this annual day of recognition.

You may even want to remember other moms as well like your mother in law, the mom down the street that also helped raised you, your grandmothers, moms-to-be and fellow moms just for being who they are! Moms support everyone and now they are supporting each other more and more. A mom is a special thing to be even when the kids are grown.

If for some truly unavoidable reason you have forgotten to remember your mom this Sunday, make up for it by sending Thinking of You cards. In fact, it is a great idea to keep plenty of these on hand. You can send Thinking of You Cards all year long, and not just to moms!