Best Greeting Cards and Videos

What a good greeting card or video order includes

Check that the offer clearly states:

• Format: printed card, digital card or video.
• Size or length.
• Personalization: names, messages, photos.
• Music with licenses.
• Preview before final.
• Delivery date and method.
• Revisions and pricing.

Ask for a preview to check spelling, photos and timing. Names and dates are the most common mistakes and the most noticeable ones.

For videos, request a version sized for phones. Most people watch greetings on their phone, often through messaging apps.

Look at the maker's recent work for the same occasion. Holiday cards, wedding thank-yous and birthday videos each have different styles, and samples that match your occasion show the maker can create the right mood.

How to brief a greeting card or video maker

1. Occasion and recipient.
2. Names and exact spelling.
3. Message you want included.
4. Photos or clips.
5. Style: funny, elegant, cute, formal.
6. Format and size.
7. Date needed.

Write the message yourself, even if it is short. Personal words make the greeting meaningful, and the maker can polish the layout and design.

Order well before holidays. Makers are busiest then, and printing and shipping slow down too.

For business greetings, keep the tone warm and simple. Clients appreciate a sincere message more than a sales pitch.

Check that photos are bright and clear. Dark or blurry photos look worse in cards and videos than on a phone screen.

For business greetings, consider timing and cultural differences. Clients in different countries celebrate different holidays, and a neutral season's greeting or a message sent at the right moment for each region feels more thoughtful.

What drives the price

• printed versus digital
• custom illustration
• video length and editing
• number of personalized versions
• printing and shipping
• rush delivery

A simple digital card costs much less than a custom illustrated printed card or a long edited video with many photos.

Business orders with many personalized versions often have different pricing.

Red flags

• No preview.
• Unlicensed music or characters.
• Low-resolution printing.
• No delivery date guarantee.
• Spelling not double-checked.

Save the final files. Digital greetings are easy to resend, and printed designs can be reused for future occasions.

Tips for a smoother project

Think about how the greeting will be shared. A video sent in a group chat, a card printed for a party table or an email to clients each needs a different size and file type. Telling the maker how it will be delivered ensures it looks good when it arrives.

For several recipients, prepare a simple list with names, spellings and any personal notes. The maker can then personalize each greeting accurately, and you can check the list once instead of correcting many individual files.

For custom art, see our portrait guide and invitation design guide. For photo videos, read our slideshow video guide.

Quick pre-order checklist

• Names are spelled correctly.
• I will see a preview.
• Music and images are licensed.
• Delivery fits the date.
• The format suits how it will be viewed.