What to Write in a Birthday Card
Person contemplating what to write in a birthday card
When Abby and I first added cards to our website, we thought they’d be a hit. We found amazing birthday cards from small makers that we loved. Most of them were just as affordable as Hallmark cards from CVS. Best of all, we write your message in them for free. Seemed like a win, win, win!
But it wasn’t the smashing success we imagined it would be. As time would tell, people may not like writing in cards very much. USPS will back that up: Americans are sending 4.3 billion fewer letters and cards than they did back in 2001. Did email and text messaging kill the birthday card?
Here’s the catch: people still love to receive cards in the mail! A 2015 Gallup poll stated that 93% of people felt positive to very positive about receiving a birthday card in the mail. Well aren’t we just a narcissistic bunch?
For our business, most people seem to be fine with the one or two sentences we add to the sticker on top of a gift. And we get it! No need to overthink and there can be power in brevity. “Happy Birthday. I love you.”
But there are occasions where a longer and more personal birthday card can go a long way. Think of the birthday for a significant other, or a parent, or someone who had a big impact in your life.
So what is it that holds people back from a handwritten birthday card? Our guess: it’s hard to write a card.
It can be daunting to sit down in front of a blank slate and try to write a paragraph or two that will properly convey the way you feel. While it may not be easy, with these tips you can be on your way to writing a wonderful greeting card in no time.
Man reflecting after reading this blog post
Said man filled with inspiration
Here are our top tips to get you started writing your next birthday card
Think of a list of 3-6 things that you love about that person, and include them in the card. If you know the person really well, you could even come up with 1 thing for every year the person has been alive. These can be personality traits, or some of their accomplishments. You could comment on their sense of humor, their loyalty, their fun wild side, their fashion sense, their helpfulness, or their knowledge of the best restaurants in town.
Think of one memorable story that involves the two of you and retell it in the card. Ideally the story would relate to the gift you’re giving or to one of the things you love about that person. This can be anything, and it will be fun to relive that moment when the person reads their card.
Thank them for something positive they have done for you in your life. If you’re taking the time to write a card to this person, most likely they have done something special for you at some point in time. Now is a great time to thank them (or thank them again!)
Funny stories or jokes go a long way, and if you can include one all the better, but there should always be something sincere in the card as well.
Think of something fun you want to do in the future with this person and tell them about it. This gives them something to look forward to and shows that you care about the relationship.
These tips should give you a place to get started when writing your next birthday card! You don’t have to write Moby Dick, just a few sweet things to show the person you really care about them. Got any other tips for writing a great card? Leave them in the comments below! Need to pick up a birthday card (or a few)? 👇
