Already have an account?
Get back to the
Money

4 Tips to Get Paid to Write Greeting Cards

Make people smile and make money? You can do just that as a greeting card writer! Simply submit ideas to card companies and get paid up to $300 — and with traditional and e-greeting card companies looking for fresh ideas, there are more ways to cash in.

  1. See who’s accepting: Greeting card companies like Blue Mountain Arts, Snafu Designs, Oatmeal Studios, Papyrus, Freedom Greetings, Warner Press, and Viabella are all open to your ideas! Just click on there names listed here and you’ll be able to access their submission guidelines. These are key since they’ll let you know exactly what they’re looking for and how to send in your copy.
  2. Find your voice: There are various types of greeting cards: traditional (think poems à la Hallmark), contemporary (prose that’s conversational à la Blue Mountain), and humorous (puns à la Snafu). Pick the style that matches your sensibility to help ensure your lines flow naturally. Tip: “Humor sells the best,” says Jim Byrne of Raspberries Greeting Cards, ” with sassy cards selling the best of all.”
  3. Think like a card buyer: “When writing copy, put yourself in the buyer’s shoes,” says Byrne. “Think of who might be giving the card to whom. Is it a greeting the potential buyer will feel comfortable giving?” Adds Byrne, “While it’s okay to tease, the message should be positive.” Also smart: Think about demographics — will the idea be popular among many different groups? Companies want concepts that resonate with lots of people.
  4. Read it out loud: Does the card sound like something someone would say? If so, you’re on to something: “It’s best to use vocabulary that people would use in a conversation,” says Byrne. “So use language that’s casual, and resist the temptation to use words that are awkward to pronounce.” If you’re unsure, ask someone else to read it out loud and give an honest opinion.

Now you just need to get brainstorming and cash in!

This article originally appeared in our print magazine.

More From Woman’s World

Are You Great at Comforting Little Ones? Here’s How to Earn Money as a Night Nanny

3 Tips for Earning Money While Helping Others from Your Own Home

Double-Check Kansas Quarters in Your Change — They Could Be Worth Way More Than 25 Cents

Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items. Use right arrow key to move into submenus. Use escape to exit the menu. Use up and down arrow keys to explore. Use left arrow key to move back to the parent list.