Season’s Greetings: How to Address Your Holiday Cards
‘Tis the season to start thinking about your holiday card list — and checking it twice. From Christmas and Hanukkah cards to Chinese New Year and family newsletters, there are plenty of opportunities to reconnect with the ones you love.
Deciding who to send a card to is only half the task; the other half is making sure you address your cards correctly so they successfully reach their destination.
Just because you’ve lost track of a few addresses, it doesn’t mean you have to leave anyone out. Keep reading to find out how to update your contacts with a little help from Spokeo.
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Who Gets A Card?
It’s easier than ever to get caught up in the whirlwind of our day-to-day lives. Sending a card is a small but thoughtful gesture to let someone know you’re thinking of them. But you don’t have to limit your list to just close friends and family. Here are some additional people to think about adding to your list this year.
Long-Distance Friends
Missing someone a few hundred (or thousands) of miles away? Sometimes a call or text just doesn’t feel like enough, especially during the holidays. Let them know how much you care with a thoughtful card. That way, it’s like a piece of you is with them no matter how far apart you are.
Work Associates
Don’t write off your coworkers or networking connections. By sending a card, you’re letting your professional network know you see them as more than someone you invoice or sit with in meetings. It can even make your relationship stronger and open up new opportunities in the long run!
Other Ideas
Outside of long-distance friends and work associates, here are a few other groups of people you may want to send a holiday card to:
Neighbors
Children’s teachers, daycare, or nannies
Service people you see regularly, such as landscapers, housekeepers, pet sitters, etc.
Members of any communities or organizations you’re a part of, such as church groups, clubs, volunteer organizations, etc.
The offices of your family doctor, dentist, etc.
Anyone who may have sent you a holiday card in the past year
How to Address a Holiday Card
Before you send off your card, it needs to be properly addressed. You can write your recipient’s address right in the center of the envelope. Here are some things to keep in mind as you go down your list.
For a more formal tone, use their title: Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., etc.
For couples with the same last name, you can follow the structure of First Name A and First Name B, followed by their shared last name: Jane and John Smith
For couples with different last names, or friends who live together, write out each full name separately. Jane Swan and John Smith
If you’re using the family name, here are two easy ways to make it plural. Option 1: The Smith Family. Option 2: To the Smiths. Or, if the last name ends in S: To the Joneses.
Want to include the kids? Just add their first names on the second line. Jane and John Smith / Colin and Isabel
After listing the names of your recipients, follow with their house number, street name, and unit number (if applicable) on the next line, then city, state, and zip code on a final line. If you’re sending a card out of the country, be sure to include that on its own line as well. You should end up with something that looks like this:
The Smith Family
123 Sesame Street, #14
New York, NY 10001
Don’t worry, we didn’t forget about helping you make sure you have the right addresses. The days of flipping through bulky phone books might be behind us, but Spokeo is here to fill in the blanks. You just need a name, city, email address, phone number, or social media handle to find a mailing address with our powerful People Search tool.
Add a Return Address
You’re not done just yet. Make sure to add your own name and address in the upper left-hand corner of your holiday card envelopes. That way, your card will get sent back to you in case it can’t be delivered. Here’s how it should look:
Line 1: Your First and Last Name
Line 2: Street Address and Apartment Number
Line 3: City, State, and Zip Code
For example:
Jane Smith
123 Fairfax St., Apt 4
Boston, MA 02108
If you don’t have an apartment number, go ahead and skip straight to the city after adding your street address.
Holiday Cards Made Simple
The holidays are already stressful enough without worrying about your Christmas cards, too. Now you have all the information you need to get your holiday greetings to the right place. And for any address details you’re missing, Spokeo is here to help.
