Warm Welcomes: Sending Greetings That Shine Far And Wide
Sending greetings is an age-old tradition that transcends cultural and geographical barriers.
According to historians, the earliest evidence of humans sharing greeting cards dates back to the ancient Chinese, who customarily exchanged goodwill messages during New Year celebrations. Archaeological findings also suggest that early Egyptians conveyed their greetings through papyrus rolls, long before the advent of handmade paper.
Like most primitive traditions, the custom of sending greeting cards has been blown by the winds of technological change over the years. The recent past has witnessed a dramatic shift from physical goodwill cards to digital cards, more commonly known as e-card.
One notable form of digital greeting card is a personalized video message. Video messages are widely regarded as the most effective way to convey good wishes due to their appeal and ability to convey profound emotions.
Here’s a guide to video-based greeting cards and their potential impact on the recipients
Introducing Video Messages
Video messages (or video greetings) are a digital, video-based alternative to physical greeting cards sent out to recognize or appreciate special people.
Video greetings are often sent to celebrate birthdays, graduation ceremonies, or festive holidays like Christmas. You can also share these impactful e-cards to express goodwill messages like quick recovery to an ailing relative or Godspeed to a friend embarking on an arduous undertaking.
One exciting fact about video messages is their universality. You can use these e-cards to send greetings from Africa as a way to showcase the continent’s richness in talent and cultural diversity.
Exploring the Impact of Video Messages
Video messages are fun and engaging. They let you express your heartfelt wishes to the recipient far more effectively than traditional greeting cards.
Numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the effectiveness of video-based messages. One such experiment found that infographic videos can have a positive impact on various aspects of cognitive performance, including learning, attention span, and memory consolidation.
Note that infographic videos typically involve graphic characters rather than real humans. That only goes to show how much impact video greetings featuring actual people can have on the celebrant.
Below are other compelling reasons to shun traditional greeting cards for video messages;
1. Personal Touch
Imagine checking into your social media account in the morning and the first message that pops up is of a Happy Birthday melody. Indeed, no tangible birthday gifts can compare to these thoughtful wishes.
But video greeting cards are a step up from regular Happy Birthday wishes.
Instead of bombarding your feed with generic goodwill messages, video greeting cards feature actual people wishing you a Happy Birthday. The e-cards provide a personal touch, reminding the celebrant that a great deal of work went into crafting the message.
2. Emotional Appeal
The impact of goodwill messages is rooted in their emotional appeal. As the saying goes, it’s less of what you say and more of how you say it.
Video messages let you convey emotions more profoundly than other greeting cards.
For instance, flashing a smile while singing Happy Birthday is the standard way to celebrate birthdays. You could even incorporate a subtle dance move to get the point home. In contrast, somber occasions like an ailment or bereavement would require wearing a more solemn facial expression.
Such dynamics can only be achieved through video greeting cards.
3. Long-term Impact
Emotions will only have far-reaching implications if sincerely expressed. That’s another area where video messages outperform other greeting cards.
Rather than utilize random characters with zero emotional attachment to the recipient, the participants in most video greeting cards are people with a deep connection to the celebrant.
This allows them to express their goodwill messages more genuinely, delivering a profound effect on the recipient.
4. Highly Versatile
Video greeting cards are remarkably versatile and can fit into any occasion. You could use the footage to celebrate a loved one for completing a successful trip around the sun or share it with your significant other to commemorate your wedding anniversary.
The e-cards may also be used to celebrate graduation ceremonies, engagements, holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, and even housewarming parties. The limit is only your imagination.
In fact, you don’t need to know the recipient personally to dedicate a video greeting card to them. You can share these e-cards on your social media platforms to spread happiness across the online community.
Video greeting cards provide a seamless way to connect with online friends and foster a community spirit.
5. Easy To Create and Share
Video greeting cards are surprisingly easy to create despite their intricate nature.
There are numerous software applications that let you generate compelling video messages. Most of these tools are available in or downloadable to your smartphone, making them remarkably accessible.
Better yet, you can bypass the hard work by selecting pre-made video messages. Simply find a video that speaks to the occasion and personalize it further by adding details unique to the celebrant.
To enhance engagement, you could also incorporate quirky elements like overlays and hotspots.
When done crafting your video greeting card, choose a proper hosting platform. Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram are excellent video hosting websites for their wider audience reach. However, you could also share the video directly to the recipient’s inbox.
How to Create a Video Message That Leaves a Lasting Impression
1. Know the occasion
Is it a birthday celebration, wedding anniversary, or graduation? The occasion will determine the choice of message.
2. Understand the recipient
People have varied tastes and preferences. Know what makes the other person tick before sending them a video greeting.
3. Create the video
You can record yourself using your smartphone or, better yet, choose a pre-recorded video.
4. Personalize the video
Incorporate a heartfelt goodwill message into your video and upload the celebrant’s photo for a more personal appeal. Then, add soundtracks and other visual effects.
5. Review and share
Play the video several times and edit out any errors before sharing with the recipient.
Summary
While traditional greeting cards are far from being relics of the past, the emergence of e-cards has revolutionized how people share positive vibes with their loved ones across the globe.
Personalized video messages especially stand out for their ability to imbue emotional depth into the celebration. These animated messages can bring a smile to the recipient’s face, reminding them that you went out of your way to recognize their worth.
However, as with most greeting cards, certain factors must be considered when creating video messages that spread happiness beyond geographical barriers. Consider the recipient’s personality and the occasion being celebrated, then craft a high-quality message tailored to the celebrant.
