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Business Ecard FAQs

Got a question? It may be listed in our FAQs below.
If not, give us a call at 1-647-931-9559 or visit our contact page!

In business since 2003.

  1. I'm new! What’s the difference between the Ecard's Email and Video?

    Sometimes there is confusion about the difference between the email you send and the ecard itself. The email is what appears in the recipient's inbox and it has animated graphics with links to view the ecard. The ecard though, is actually a video file and cannot be played directly in most email clients, so it gets embedded into a simple webpage and hosted online (on a business website or content delivery network). When the recipient clicks the URL link in the ecard's EMAIL, it opens a browser to an online location where the ecard's VIDEO is viewed.

    Read more on the difference between the email and the video.

  2. I'm new! How do your ecard products work?

    The first thing you need to do to get started, is select a Design from within a Collection of our 5 Ecard Product types.

    Watch this video to see how our ecard products work.

    Send me a sample!

    Watch this video to see how our holiday ecard pricing works for each ecard product.

  3. I'm new! How does the process work?

    There are 3 aspects to sending an e-card. We can handle all of them for you.

    First, we need the e-card itself (see our E-Card Products). Here is entire ecard production process from ordering our service to providing you with your ecard files.

    Second, the e-card needs to be hosted online. The e-card is like a web page, you host it on your website just as easily as any other page. Here's an easy way to find out if you can host your own ecard. Have us take care of it for you (learn about our amazing global content delivery network through our E-Card Hosting Service).

    Lastly, the e-card needs to be delivered. There are a few ways to send your ecard. If you use an email marketing service or a service that lets you send an email to a list of customers, you'll be able to use that! We include an animated and non-animated email graphics you can include in your email. With our great sender reputation among ISPs and high deliverability rates, we can manage delivery for you (learn about our E-Card Delivery Service).

    Send me a sample!

  4. Can you send me a sample?

    Yes. See what they look like by sending yourself a sample. Also, on each E-Card Collection page, you’ll find a large yellow "Send me a sample!" button below the samples or in the top navigation under the 'E-Cards' link.

  5. How many recipients can I send my e-card to?

    As many as you like! We have no limits on the number or recipients you can send to. You simply pay for the amount you need to send to. Check out the pricing table.

    If you ordered our Ecard Delivery service or Temporary Ecard Hosting, be sure to order for the same number of recipients you ordered for your ecard.

  6. How long does the process take?

    Generally, 70% of the project time is allocated to customer requirements - providing materials, feedback and reviews because there is often a chain of command that needs to be involved and that takes up project time.  We can't control that on our end obviously. :) The quicker a customer can carry out those tasks, the quicker the project gets completed. Depending on how busy we are, we have turned around projects within 24-hours for highly attentive customers.

    Here is a visual infographic of the timeline.

    Here is our typical process cycle.

    After we receive your project materials and payment, expect to receive a draft version of your e-card (the "initial prototype") in about 2 business days or less. If you require revisions, additional time may be added (1-2 business days). Get your project done quicker when you purchase a Fast-Lane Pass. If you have more urgent requirements, contact us. During times of high-volume, production timelines may change.

    If you ordered any Essential E-Card Add-ons and/or Optional E-Card Add-ons, additional time will be added and is dependent on which add-ons are ordered.

  7. When is the deadline for holiday orders?

    There is no set deadline.  As the holidays approach, we get busier and busier. We will stop taking projects at some point to ensure we can deliver those orders we already have. In the past, this has happened as early as the last week in November. Typically, it's within the first 2 weeks of December.

  8. Do you do other occasions besides holidays?

    Yes. While most of our templates are holiday themed, we change the text, images, colors and branding for each client. With that, you may notice that many of our templates with just changed images and text actually become quite generic and suitable for a number of occasions.

    Additionally, snowflakes in most of our templates can be changed to stars or other objects. Sometimes, clients ask us to replace them with their logo icon.

    We also offer automated Birthday greetings and Work Anniversary greetings.

    Ask us about your requirements.

  9. Do you have a client list I can see?

    Yes. Find our samples of our clients here and read what they've said here.

  10. Can the e-card be embedded within an email?

    Included with your e-card, you’ll get a lovely animated and non-animated graphical versions (email graphics) of your e-card you can embed into your e-mails. Depending on the type of e-card you choose, you get 6 to 8 styles. See what they look like by sending yourself a sample. From the top navigation menu, click "Help" > "Send me a sample!".

    Be sure to review the FAQ for "What’s the difference between the ecard's email and ecard?".

  11. What is Hosting?

    Just like your company’s website, every website on the internet is hosted online in order to be accessed through a web browser. If you have a website, you can host your ecard. Just ask whoever is in charge of your website for assistance ahead of time.

    A website can be many pages or a single page. Our ecards are single-page websites. Just like any other website, the ecard has a URL. When someone types it into a web browser or clicks it in an email, the web browser locates the ecard website and displays it.

  12. How do you send an e-card?

    After your e-card is hosted online, you send your recipients the URL (the link) to the full version of your e-card via email. When a recipient clicks the link, their default web browser opens and the full version of your e-card is displayed.

    With all our e-cards, you’ll also get a lovely animated and non-animated graphical versions (email graphics) of your e-card you can insert right into your e-mails. See what they look like by sending yourself a sample. From the top navigation menu, click "Help" > "Send me a sample!".

    If you have an e-card delivery solution (e.g. a newsletter manager, email marketing software, or system where you can send mass emails from) you can use that to send out the link to view the e-card online. Or, you can purchase our E-Card Delivery Services and let us handle sending.

  13. Can the speed or duration of the e-card be changed?

    Yes and no. For e-card types we offer, the template’s duration can usually be altered by making additional customizations. If this is something you require, we’ll first review your requirements before confirming. Customization to the duration is often subject to an additional fee.

  14. Can the music be changed?

    Yes. As an add-on service, we can change the music in one template to the music in another template or you can provide your own music appropriately licensed for use with our e-cards. Since track lengths vary from template-to-template, music used in one template may not be available to another. If you are wondering about certain templates, ask us.

    Often, templates in our e-card styles are designed to sync animations and effects to specific points in the music, making the overall look and feel more unison or in-sync. While changing the music often works well, it can also yield the opposite as the new music’s tempo may be different from the original music and not ‘fit’ the visuals.

    When changing the music, if the new music’s length is longer than required by the template, we fade out the music at the end.

  15. Can more than one language be used within the same E-Card?

    Sometimes. Due to the limited amount of text lines and spacing available in our e-card templates, it makes it difficult to effectively combine multiple languages in the same e-card and still get your message across. Beyond the included customizable aspects of each e-card style we offer, we cannot further customize them to accommodate multiple languages in one e-card.

    Some e-card styles work better than others for this. Our Illustrated E-Cards tend to be the most flexible for including multiple languages in a single e-card.

    Multiple languages are best accommodated by purchasing an Additional Language Version. Translations for each language required would be provided by you. Unfortunately, we cannot provide translation services.

  16. Do you provide e-mail graphics?

    Yes. For each e-card you order, you will receive a lovely animated and non-animated graphical versions (email graphics) of your e-card you can embed into your e-mails. Depending on the type of e-card you choose, you get 6 to 8 styles.

    See what they look like by sending yourself a sample. From the top navigation menu, click "Help" > "Send me a sample!".

  17. Do you provide an email template to use?

    Yes. With each ecard order, you will receive access to our Email Message Creator which allows you to create a lovely email message template with animated email graphics. You'll be able to use it with leading email marketing providers and email client providers (e.g. Outlook, Gmail).

    See how our Email Message Creator works.

  18. Will the e-cards be viewable on iPhones and iPads?

    Yes. Tests we've carried out playing our e-cards on iPhones and iPads running the latest version of iOS and older versions still popular were successful.

Colors & Branding

  1. Can the colors in the e-card be changed?

    Yes. Our e-cards are rebranded with your corporate colors to match your logo and website. If you have your own color scheme in mind, that's fine too! Aspects available to be rebranded with your colors may vary by e-card style and their templates.

    The exception to this is when you purchase the 'Lite' version of an e-card style - colors cannot be changed.

  2. Can the background color of the HTML page the E-Card sits on be changed?

    The color of this background is automatically determined by the color scheme used when designing your e-card. Often, the HTML background color found on the client's website is used for their e-card's. You may request a custom color if you wish.

    The exception to this is when you purchase the 'Lite' version of an e-card style - colors cannot be changed.

Photos

  1. Can the photos in the e-card be changed?

    In most cases, yes! Some e-card styles we offer contain photos and others do not. For those e-card styles with photos, we may offer 'Lite versions' in addition to the regular full version. 'Lite versions' generally do not allow for photo changes. Please refer to the e-card style below, under 'Products', for more detailed information about changing the photos.

  2. Which stock photography sites do you support?

    We support Shutterstock.com. The client may select any photo on the site for use in their e-card. The cost of licensing photos from Shutterstock.com is included in the price of the e-card when licensed through our own account. We cannot reimburse clients for any costs associated with licensing images via their own accounts.

  3. How do I provide you with my stock photography selections?

    The easiest method is to find the photos you would like on Shutterstock.com. Then, simply email your project manager the "Image ID" numbers of your selections.

    Alternatively, you can sign up for an account on Shutterstock.com. Sign up is quick and easy. Once registered, you create a ‘Lightbox' (like a favorites or bookmarks folder) and add all of your desired photos to it. You then e-mail the ‘Lightbox' to us.

  4. Can I use a stock photography site you don't support?

    Yes. You can use any stock photography site you wish as long as you acquire the proper license for usage in an e-card.

    Only photos from stock photography sites we support that are licensed by us are included in the price of the e-card.

  5. Can I use photos I found on the web?

    Generally, No. Photos collected from the Internet cannot be used unless they have been properly licensed or the client has permission from the website or photographer they were taken from. Simply using images found on the web, without having permission, is illegal and therefore, we cannot permit their usage with our e-cards.

  6. What is the minimum resolution and size my photos need to be?

    Photos should be provided to us in their original, high resolution format. The minimum resolution required is 72 DPI. The minimum dimensions are 2400 pixels on the photos shortest side. Any photo under these minimum requirements may look pixelated, blurry or low-quality when used in the e-card. While we’re very good at making photos look great and given the technical nature of digital photos, we cannot make low-quality photos look high-quality.

  7. Can I provide color photos when black & white are required?

    Yes. In this case, we would convert the color photos to black & white as required by the template. Alternatively, if you would like to keep your photos in color for a template that requires black & white, no problem! Just let us know.

  8. Can text be placed on photos?

    Yes, but on some styles we recommend against it for the following:

    • Additional text placed on photos is often hard to read - especially on mobile devices.
    • Text on photos will get cut off at times and rarely aligns to other design aspects of the template.
    • Text on photos can distract from the photo itself and requires more time to read, often making the e-card appear like it’s animating too fast.

    If you decide to add text to your photos, please note the above. Additionally, we cannot add text to photos for you. You must provide them with the text already in place.

    Unfortunately, we cannot alter the template in any way to accommodate the use of text on photos.

    It's always best to let us know what you are looking to do first as we often come up with great solutions.

Text

  1. Can the text in the e-card be changed?

    Yes. You can absolutely change the text within the limits of the template. You simply need to ensure each line of your text is around the same number of characters for corresponding lines of text appearing in the template. Of all our e-card styles, our Illustrated E-Cards have aspects that provide more flexibility with length of text. Once you order, we provide you with more detailed instructions to help craft the perfect message!

  2. Can the text's font style be changed?

    Yes. You would need to provide us with the name of the font you would like to use. If we do not have it, you would provide it to us. If you don’t have it yourself, we may be able to purchase it. The costs to purchase fonts are not included in the price of the e-card. While problems with changing the font rarely arise, please note that not every font may work with our e-cards and font changes to certain aspects of some e-cards may not be possible.

  3. Can more than one language be used within the same E-Card?

    Sometimes. Due to the limited amount of text lines and spacing available in our e-card templates, it makes it difficult to effectively combine multiple languages in the same e-card and still get your message across. Beyond the included customizable aspects of each e-card style we offer, we cannot further customize them to accommodate multiple languages in one e-card.

    Some e-card styles work better than others for this. Our Illustrated E-Cards tend to be the most flexible for including multiple languages in a single e-card.

    Multiple languages are best accommodated by purchasing an Additional Language Version. Translations for each language required would be provided by you. Unfortunately, we cannot provide translation services.

Music

  1. Can the music be changed?

    Yes. As an add-on service, we can change the music in one template to the music in another template or you can provide your own music appropriately licensed for use with our e-cards. Since track lengths vary from template-to-template, music used in one template may not be available to another. If you are wondering about certain templates, ask us.

    Often, templates in our e-card styles are designed to sync animations and effects to specific points in the music, making the overall look and feel more unison or in-sync. While changing the music often works well, it can also yield the opposite as the new music’s tempo may be different from the original music and not ‘fit’ the visuals.

    When changing the music, if the new music’s length is longer than required by the template, we fade out the music at the end.

  2. Can the music be turned off?

    Yes. The music in any template can be muted at no extra cost. We don’t recommend this because we feel music is an integral part of the experience the e-card works to create.

Other

  1. Do you do other occasions besides holidays?

    Yes. While most of our templates are holiday themed, we change the text, images, colors and branding for each client. With that, you may notice that many of our templates with just changed images and text actually become quite generic and suitable for a number of occasions.

    Additionally, snowflakes in most of our templates can be changed to stars or other objects. Sometimes, clients ask us to replace them with their logo icon.

    We also offer automated Birthday greetings and Work Anniversary greetings.

    Ask us about your requirements.

  2. Can staff signatures be added to the e-card?

    Yes. Staff signatures can be accommodated using a Signatures E-Card Insert and appears at the end of your e-card.

  3. Can the speed or duration of the e-card be changed?

    Yes and no. For the e-card types we offer, the template’s duration can usually be altered by making additional customizations. If this is something you require, we’ll first review your requirements before confirming. Customization to the duration is subject to an additional fee.

  4. Can falling snowflakes, stars or leaves be turned off?

    Generally, yes. The falling snow, stars and leaves effect used in a number of our e-card templates can be turned off. For a small number of our templates, this effect may be used more as a foundation for the design rather than an additive effect. In these cases, we may not be able to turn them off. If you are wondering about certain templates, ask us.

  5. Can simple objects, such as snowflakes, stars or leaves, be changed to something else?

    Usually, yes. If a template has snowflakes, they can be replaced with stars or leaves. Additionally, if you have some other object in mind (e.g. your logo), we may be able to accommodate that customization for an additional fee. It doesn’t hurt to ask us!

  6. Can revisions be made to the E-Card?

    Yes. Two (2) rounds of revisions are included with the price of the e-card. Revisions beyond two rounds are rare. Here is the cost for revisions.

    Revisions to initial prototype (a.k.a. first draft):
    No additional cost.

    Revisions to final prototype (a.k.a. second/final draft):
    No additional cost.

    Revisions to final version:
    Any revisions may (or may not) be subject to an additional revision round fee equal to 25% of the ecard product price you paid.

    Re-licensed Ecards:
    No revisions are permitted to re-licensed ecards. The only exceptions to this are any text or images displaying the incorrect year or if paying an additional revision round fee equal to 25% of the current ecard product price.

  7. What types of revisions can be made?

    Only revisions to the customizable aspect of the e-card style you ordered can be made. Examples could be: swapping of images; changing the size of the logo; editing of text; and/or changing of colors.

Photo & Text Ecards

  1. Can the photos in the e-card be changed?

    Yes. You can either: supply your own photos; choose photos from a stock photography site we support; use the photos that appear in the template; or a combination of the previous. If you would like to use the beautiful placeholder photos currently in the template, you can do that too!

    The exception to this is when you purchase the 'Lite' version of a Photo & Text E-Card - photos cannot be changed.

  2. Can I use staff photos?

    Yes, but we err on the side of caution for the following:

    • This style of e-card is designed for simple scenic images (e.g. city scenes, winter scenes, etc).
    • The amount of time allocated to view each photo is short and fixed. This may not work well for photos with recognizable faces on them as viewers naturally anticipate more time to view people photos than the time allocated for a simple scenic photo.
    • Photos dimensions used within this style of e-card do not follow the typical aspect ratios you would expect with standard portrait or landscape photos. Also, photos used in the template may only have a portion of themselves visible in the e-card. If people are positioned close to the edge of the photo, they may get partially or completely cropped out.

    While we have seen good results, if you decide to use staff photos, please note the above. Additionally, try to use photos with no more than 3 people in each. For e-cards that show more than one image at once, try for no more than a total of 4 to 5 people on-screen at one time.

    We don't typically alter the template in any way to make it more "staff photo" friendly. If you wish to use photos of staff, we recommend you first have a look at our Staff Photo E-Cards.

Illustrated Ecards

  1. Can the e-card be shortened in length?

    Yes. Have a look at the Short Version option for our Illustrated E-Cards.

Staff Photo Ecards

  1. What are the requirements for staff photos I provide?

    We recommend staff photos be taken by a professional photographer and with the use of a green (or blue) screen. Professional use of a green screen allows us to replace the background of your photos with the photo background graphics used by your e-card. You may also provide your staff photos without the use of a green screen, however we will use the photos as is and not include the template’s native photo background.

    When you purchase the 'Lite' version of a Staff Photo E-Card, we do not include the template's native photo background graphics in your staff photos. Your staff photos do not require the use of a green screen. In fact, it's better to not use a green screen when purchasing a 'Lite' version.

Pop-Up Ecards

  1. Can the pop-up card animation at the start be changed?

    Yes. For an additional fee, we can change the pop-up card animation. The fee is determined by the complexity fo the changes required. Otherwise, the pop-up card animation remains the same from template-to-template.

  1. Will the e-cards be viewable on iPhones and iPads?

    Yes. Tests we've carried out playing our e-cards on iPhones and iPads running the latest version of iOS and older versions still popular were successful.

  2. Will the e-cards be viewable on mobile devices?

    Yes. Our e-cards are deployed in HTML5 which allows them to work on both desktop and mobile devices using modern web browsers and many older ones too.

  3. Do you have a more detailed compatibility list?

    Our e-cards work on mobile devices and desktop computers. Here are the browsers we've successfully tested our e-cards on:

    • Mobile Browsers
      • Safari (on iPhone/iPad running iOS 10.0, 11.0, 12.0, 13.0, 14.0, 15.0, 16.0, 17.0)
      • Chrome (on iPhone/iPad running iOS 10.0, 11.0, 12.0, 13.0, 14.0, 15.0, 16.0, 17.0)
      • Firefox (on devices running Android 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 11.0, 12.0, 13.0)
      • Chrome (on devices running Android 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 11.0, 12.0, 13.0)
    • Desktop Browsers
      • Edge 15+
      • Chrome 35+
      • Firefox 35+
      • Safari 9.1, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
      • Opera 50+

    Based on differences between browsers, platforms, hardware, networks providers and local device settings, quality, performance and compatibility may vary by recipient. Last updated 2022-09-09.

    Our e-cards work with many older browsers and older operating systems not listed above. However, moving forward, we may discontinue supporting them due to their increasing scarcity in the market.

  4. Do your e-cards require Flash Player?

    No. Our e-cards use HTML5 Video. Modern web browsers (and older ones too) support HTML5 video. Check our detailed compatibility list for specific browser support.

  5. What files types do you provide with your e-cards?

    Our e-cards are video based and we deliver the HTML5 video format – mp4. In addition to this files, we deliver typical webpage files - html, js, css and other common formats you find in a website structure.

  1. What is Hosting?

    Just like your company’s website, every website on the internet is hosted online in order to be accessed through a web browser. If you have a website, you can host your ecard. Just ask whoever is in charge of your website for assistance ahead of time.

    A website can be many pages or a single page. Our ecards are single-page websites. Just like any other website, the ecard has a URL. When someone types it into a web browser or clicks it in an email, the web browser locates the ecard website and displays it.

  2. Is E-Card Hosting included in the price of the e-card?

    No. If you require it, check out the details of our add-on Temporary E-Card Hosting service.

  3. Can I host the e-card on our website?

    Yes. Unless you order our Temporary E-Card Hosting service, we assume this. At the end of your project, we’ll provide the files you need. Please note that we do not provide high-level technical support hosting our e-cards being hosted outside our own servers, but will happily speak with your IT person and attempt to debug any technical issues you may be experiencing.

    We cannot upload files or login to your website server on your behalf due to legal, liability and privacy concerns.

    If you are having trouble hosting your e-card, have a look at the list of tips for troubleshooting on our website.

  4. Do you provide hosting services for the e-card?

    Yes. You can learn more about it here.

  5. How does your Temporary E-Card Hosting service work?

    We add your e-card to our high-speed, cloud-based, robust, global content delivery network. Once added, we provide you with a web address (i.e. the “E-Card URL”). The E-Card URL is what you and your recipients would use to view your e-card.

  6. Why is e-card hosting temporary?

    Once the occasion the e-card was intended for has passed, e-card hosting is no longer needed. At that point, e-cards are removed from our servers to free-up resources. E-Card hosting typically remains active for 4-weeks after the occasion the e-card was intended for.

  7. How long does Temporary E-Card Hosting last?

    Temporary E-Card Hosting typically remains active for 4-weeks after the occasion the e-card was intended for. For non-holiday e-cards (e.g. birthdays, appreciations, employee recognition, anniversaries, retirement, etc), hosting remains active for 1-year.

  8. If I host the e-card myself, how long can I keep it online?

    The e-card can only remain online for one (1) year, starting from the date we completed your project and your e-card files were provided to you.

  9. Can I use my own domain if you host the ecard?

    Yes. To do this, you'll simply need to add a CNAME record to your domain's DNS that resolves to the URL where we are hosting your ecard.

  1. How do you send an e-card?

    After your e-card is hosted online, you send your recipients the URL (the link) to the full version of your e-card via email. When a recipient clicks the link, their default web browser opens and the full version of your e-card is displayed.

    With all our e-cards, you’ll also get a lovely animated and non-animated graphical versions (email graphics) of your e-card you can insert right into your e-mails. See what they look like by sending yourself a sample. From the top navigation menu, click "Help" > "Send me a sample!".

    If you have an e-card delivery solution (e.g. a newsletter manager, email marketing software, or system where you can send mass emails from) you can use that to send out the link to view the e-card online. Or, you can purchase our E-Card Delivery Services and let us handle sending.

  2. Is E-Card Delivery included in the price of the e-card?

    No. If you require it, check out the details of our add-on E-Card Delivery Services service.

  3. Who do the e-mails appear to be "from"?

    By default, emails sent to your recipients via our E-Card Delivery Service will all come from your own email address (i.e. the sender email address). The sender name that appears along with the sender email address can be changed on a recipient-by-recipient basis for unique personalization per email.

    We can send from more than one sender email address you provide. This is great if you havce specific people who should be sending to specific recipients.

  4. How many recipients can I send my e-card to?

    As many as you like! We have no limits on the number or recipients you can send to. You simply pay for the amount you need to send to. Check out the pricing table.

    If you ordered our Temporary E-Card Hosting, be sure the package you ordered is large enough for the number of recipients you plan to send to.

  5. Can the e-mail sent be different for each recipient?

    Yes. While the body message of the e-mail, for the most part, would remain the same for each recipient, it can be personalized using the values in your distribution list. For example, instead of saying "Dear Friend,", we can replace "Friend" with the recipient’s actual name as it appears in the column for "Recipient First Name". Same goes for "Sender Name". These make each e-mail more personalized per recipient.

    If you have some additional personalization requirements, please let us know. We may be able to accommodate it.

    Here's a sample distribution list you can use to get started.

  6. Do you provide e-mail graphics?

    Yes. For each e-card you order, you will receive a lovely animated and non-animated graphical versions (email graphics) of your e-card you can embed into your e-mails. Depending on the type of e-card you choose, you get 6 to 8 styles.

    See what they look like by sending yourself a sample. From the top navigation menu, click "Help" > "Send me a sample!".

  7. Do you provide an email template to use?

    Yes. With each ecard order, you will receive access to our Email Message Creator which allows you to create a lovely email message template with animated email graphics. You'll be able to use it with leading email marketing providers and email client providers (e.g. Outlook, Gmail).

    See how our Email Message Creator works.

  8. How can I make an image clickable in an e-mail?

    When you order an ecard from us, you’ll get access to our Email Message Creator. The responsive design HTML emails created from this tool automatically make email graphics clickable that link to your e-card!

    If you are using a traditional email client (e.g. Outlook, Apple Mail, Hotmail, AOL, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Thunderbird, etc.) to send your e-card, the process for inserting an image and linking it to your e-card is to simply insert it into your email body; select it; then add a link to it. While this sounds easy, we can appreciate that the location of the tools to do this varies with each email client. When we seek information for this, we usually have great success searching the web for the latest how-to videos on this topic.

    Here’s the collection of links we use to locate resources of how to insert images and make them clickable for specific email clients: Outlook.com, Outlook, AOL Mail, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Apple Mail, Windows Live Desktop, Thunderbird, Lotus Notes.

  9. I'm new! What’s the difference between the Ecard's Email and Video?

    Sometimes there is confusion about the difference between the email you send and the ecard itself. The email is what appears in the recipient's inbox and it has animated graphics with links to view the ecard. The ecard though, is actually a video file and cannot be played directly in most email clients, so it gets embedded into a simple webpage and hosted online (on a business website or content delivery network). When the recipient clicks the URL link in the ecard's EMAIL, it opens a browser to an online location where the ecard's VIDEO is viewed.

    Read more on the difference between the email and the video.

  10. Can the e-card be embedded within an email?

    Included with your e-card, you’ll get a lovely animated and non-animated graphical versions (email graphics) of your e-card you can embed into your e-mails. Depending on the type of e-card you choose, you get 6 to 8 styles. See what they look like by sending yourself a sample. From the top navigation menu, click "Help" > "Send me a sample!".

    Be sure to review the FAQ for "What’s the difference between the ecard's email and video?".

  11. Can you send me a sample?

    Yes. See what they look like by sending yourself a sample. From the top navigation menu, click "Help" > "Send me a sample!".

  12. Do you provide sending services for the e-card?

    Yes. You can learn more about it here.

  13. How do you prevent e-mails from going to spam?

    Given the landscape of email in today’s world, there is no way possible to ever ensure 100% deliverability rate. If you find a company that guarantees 100% deliverability rates, don't believe it. However, there are things that can be done to increase and maintain high deliverability rates. Without giving away all our trade secrets, here are some of the things we do.

    • For 20+ years we have maintained a good sender reputation with ISPs and third-party relay services. Based on our good reputation, e-mails sent by us are less likely to be labelled as 'low quality' and marked as spam.
    • We review and provide technical recommendations to our clients for configuring the company domains their emails are sent from to increase deliverability rates.
    • The e-mail delivery system we use for our E-Card Delivery Service is the same solution we use for our own e-mail marketing. There are special settings and configurations in place to monitor email delivery rates; bounces, complaints and other triggers that can affect sender reputation.
    • Our e-mail delivery system does not send one bulk email to many email addresses by stuffing the 'to:', 'cc:', or 'bcc:' fields. This is sure to get your marked as spam and your IP and domain would likely get blacklisted shortly thereafter. Instead, our system creates one e-mail per recipient, and sends them each one-by-one at an optimally controlled rate. Sending too fast will get more of your e-mail sent to spam.
    • We keep the emails simple. No heavy and unnecessary HTML code. Reduction or elimination in keywords that may trigger spam filters.
  14. How do I provide my e-mail list to you?

    You can provide your list to us in Microsoft Excel format or as a Comma Separated Value (CSV) with columns for the following:

    • Recipient Name
    • Recipient E-Mail Address
    • Sender Name
    • Sender E-Mail Address
    • Reply-to E-Mail Address

    Here's a sample distribution list you can use to get started.

  15. What does the e-mail sent look like?

    Here are some samples we send clients.

  16. Do you send me a test before sending to my list?

    Yes. We conduct a test delivery for you to review and sign-off on before scheduling delivery to your recipients.

  17. Where do bounces go?

    Each e-mail sent from our system has a special e-mail address inserted into the ‘return-path’ of the e-mail’s headers. This address is hidden from the recipient. The return-path tells mail servers that any bounces should be sent to us. When we receive bounces, they are processed by our system and statistics associated with them are viewable from the tracking link you'll receive once your E-Card Delivery Services are complete.

    Although it’s safe to assume that all mail servers will send bounces to a return-path when specified, in rare instances, some may not. In this event, the bounced e-mail will be sent to the sender e-mail address and will not be recorded by our system.

  18. Do you resend to bounces?

    No. We do not re-send to bounced e-mail addresses for a number of reasons. The main reason is that when you continually send e-mail to e-mail addresses that keep bouncing, it affects your sending reputation with ISPs. A clean list will have a bounce rate less than 5%. A well maintained list will have a bounce rate less than 0.5%.

  19. Where do "Out-of-the-office" notices go?

    Out-of-the-office notices (or, "OOTOs") will go to the Sender Email Address - even if there is a Reply-to Email Address specified. Unfortunately, this behavior is controlled by ISPs, not us.

  20. What type of statistics can I view with your delivery service?

    You'll be able to view: the total successful e-mails sent; the number of opens/reads; the links clicked; how many times a link was clicked; who clicked a link and what link; bounces; and more. Most of the data can be exported.

    The statistics are only available after your E-Card Delivery Services have been completed. At which point, we send you a Tracking URL to view the live statistics.

    The statistics feature is dependent on the recipient allowing images to be visible in the e-mail. Most recipients will allow this, but there may be some that don’t. For those who don’t, we cannot fully track their e-mails.

  21. Can you recommend any third-party e-mail delivery solutions?

    Yes. If you'd like to handle this aspect yourself, here are some other providers.

    • ActiveCampaign (Ask us about FREE set-up)
    • AWeber
    • MailChimp
    • iContact
    • Constant Contact
    • Campaigner

    All of these third-party providers have extensive help documentation and support for customers using their services. Sometimes, the free trial accounts may be enough for you to send your e-card to your entire list! Please note that we cannot provide support for using these third-party services.

The following FAQs are specific to our automated greetings service.

Design or other related questions are most often answered using the other FAQs categories on this page. Or, just ask us!


  1. What occasions do you automate greetings for?

    Currently we automate greetings for birthdays and employee anniversaries. Ask about your other needs.

  2. What designs can we choose from?

    We have a selection of designs you can choose from on our automated birthday greetings and automated employee anniversaries pages.

  3. Can a design be customized for us?

    Yes. We customize a design for each customer by changing the logo, colors, text and imagery where applicable. Take a look at the Design section in our FAQs for more details on exactly what customizations we offer.

  4. Can we use our own design?

    Yes. You can bring-you-own-design for use with our automated greetings service. Designs must adhere to our easy-to-follow ecard framework specifications. The bring-you-own-design fee is $500 USD / $575 CAD in addition to the subscription's price. Ask us for further details.

  5. Can we change our design or make changes during our subscription?

    If you would like to change your design from the one design included in your active subscription to another one or make changes to your current design, there is a change fee equal to the lesser of 50% of your current subscription's price OR $500 USD / $575 CAD.

    In the event your required changes are the result of a company rebrand (e.g. you have a new company logo and color scheme), we will update only the logo and colors of your design at no charge.

    There are other cases where we may waive a change fee. Ask us about your changes required and we'll let you know.

  6. How do I add/remove contacts?

    Our automated greetings service provides customers with the following ways to manage their lists.

    Customers get access to our self-serve list management portal where they can add, edit or remove contacts from their list 24/7/365.

    We provide a Concierge List Management service where you can just send us your changes and we'll handle it for you2.

    Lastly, we can integrate with many third-party applications so everytime you add, remove or update a contact in your system, our system get automatically updated. No manual list management required! A one-time inetgration set-up fee may be required.

  7. How do I know if a contact got my greeting?

    With each greeting our system sends, we send you notifications for: when it was sent; when it was opened; and if it was not opened.

    You'll also receive a tracking URL to your live analytics dashboard where you can drill down even further.

  8. Do you resend to unopened?

    We can, but only when customers request this. By default, our system sends one greeting per contact. We also send a “Reminder” 1-day after the initial greeting should your contact have not opened it. Keep in mind, while a greeting may not have been opened, it does not mean they didn’t get it.

  9. Can you send via SMS?

    Yes. We can send your greetings via SMS. For pricing, be sure to select "Email & SMS" under Delivery Options on the pricing page for our automated greetings.

  10. Do you provide analytics?

    Yes, in addition to receiving notifications for: when it was sent; when is was opened; and if it was not opened, You'll also receive a tracking URL to your live analytics dashboard where you can drill down even further.

    Through the live analytics dashboard you'll be able to see who opened the greeting; who didn't; how many times it was opened; whose bounced; who unsubscribed fromy our list; and more.

  11. Do I need my full contact list to get started?

    No. To get started, many customers provide a list of contacts covering just the first few weeks of the service. Once up and running, customers send us monthly updates to their list or they update their list using our self-serve list management tool.

  12. What format can I provide my list in?

    You can provide your list of contacts in Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) or Comma Separated Value (.csv). You can share a Google Sheet with us too.

  13. Do you have a sample contact list I can use?

    Yes. You can download a properly formatted starter list here.

  14. Do you integrate with CRMs like Salesforce, Hubspot, Sugar CRM, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Monday.com and others?

    Yes. We integrate with those and many other third-party applications. Too many to even list. Ask us about yours. Additional fees apply.

  15. What email address are greetings sent from? Can we use our own?

    Yes, greetings will be sent using your own company email address(es) so your contacts see they are coming from you and not a third-party vendor.

  16. How long does it take to start sending?

    After you have provided us with your list and other items (e.g. logo, message for the greeting, etc.), we produce your ecard and send you a test for review. Once you sign off on a test, you’ll mostly likely be up and running same-day or the next business day.

  17. How do I get started?

    Easy. Select a design and pick a subscription plan (monthly or annually). We’ll then provide the next steps for you to follow.

  18. How do I renew my subscription?

    About 4-weeks before your subscription end date, we’ll contact you with renewal instructions.

  19. How do I cancel my subscription?

    You can cancel at any time simply by contacting us by email. When you cancel, your subscription will continue until the end of your term and will not renew. If you would like the service stopped ahead of the term end date, we can do that too.

  1. How do I order?

    Simply, choose a template from any of our available e-card collections, then either click the "Order" button below it; let us know the name of it by email; or give us a call. E-Card template names are displayed above each sample and in grey.

  2. What's included with each e-card order?

    For each e-card style we offer, they generally include the same items, but differ slightly due to the variances in their own unique design characteristics and customizable aspects. To review what’s included for each, view the “What’s Included?” section of each e-card product page.

  3. How long does the process take?

    Generally, 70% of the project time is allocated to customer requirements - providing materials, feedback and reviews because there is often a chain of command that needs to be involved and that takes up project time.  We can't control that on our end obviously. :) The quicker a customer can carry out those tasks, the quicker the project gets completed. Depending on how busy we are, we have turned around projects within 24-hours for highly attentive customers.

    Here is a visual inforgraphic of the timeline.

    Here is our typical process cycle.

    After we receive your project materials and payment, expect to receive a draft version of your e-card (the "initial prototype") in about 3 business days. If you require revisions, additional time may be added (1-3 days). Get your project done quicker when you purchase a Fast-Lane Pass. If you have more urgent requirements, contact us. During times of high-volume, production timelines may change.

    If you ordered any Essential E-Card Add-ons and/or Optional E-Card Add-ons, additional time will be added and is dependent on which add-ons are ordered.

  4. When is the deadline?

    There is no set deadline.  As the holidays approach, we get busier and busier. We will stop taking projects at some point to ensure we can deliver those orders we already have. In the past, this has happened as early as the last week in November. Typically, it's within the first 2 weeks of December.

  5. What happens after I place my order?

    We make the process easy for our Clients. After you place your order, one of our friendly and dedicated project managers will be assigned to your project. We'll send along an informational e-mail that outlines the process in detail. We include a checklist containing a list of Client materials we require to start your e-card. We outline specific details like: logos and file types we accept; options for images; the number of images we require; the orientation of images (landscape and/or portrait); a template for the e-card's 'warm wishes' text, and more. Each year, our Clients continue to comment on how surprisingly easy they find the process.

  6. When do you stop taking orders for the winter holiday season?

    We'll stop taking projects once we reach production capacity to ensure we can fill current orders in time for the holidays. Unfortunately, this will happen at any time and without notice. If you are considering ordering one of our e-cards and it's getting close to the holidays, we encourage you to select a template, and then place your order today!

  7. What payment methods are available?

    We accept company checks and credit card payments via Stripe.

    If you require an alternate payment method, please contact us.

  8. Does the e-card expire? Can I use it again in the future?

    Our e-cards do not expire. However, you are only permitted to use the e-card for 1-year. The 1-year term starts on the day we deliver your e-card to you (or on the date we send it for you). If you want to extend the term, you can re-license your e-card for another 1-year term. The re-licensing fee is equal to 50% of the current price for your e-card.

  9. Why are your exchange rates not the same as Google or online conversion calculators?

    There are 2 reasons for this.

    1. It can take up to two weeks for a check to arrive in Canada from the United States. During that time there can be exchange rate fluctuations. Typically you build in a buffer in order to account for these fluctuations.

    2. Most banks including ours don't offer exchange rates equal to what Google or other conversion tools say at that moment. They have different rates for different items. For us, if we deposit a check in United States dollars into a Canadian bank account, it's a different exchange rate than what's posted in Google or online. If we deposit United States cash into our Canadian account the exchange rate is different again. If we get a wire transfer in United States dollars into our account there's a different exchange rate yet again. In these instances, none of the exchange rates favor us in any way.

    To get the best exchange rate, we recommend clients pay online in Canadian dollars by selecting Canada as their country and using the Canadian dollar amount on the invoice. When you do that, your credit card company will give you the best exchange rate for that day. In the end, we will get the exact CAD amount we require and the client will get the best USD to CAD exchange rate for the day.

  1. What are Additional Language Versions?

    An Additional Language Version is a copy of your completed e-card where the text is changed into another language. Clients often order them if they have, for example, they operate in different countries and/or their client base has large portions where their native tongue is not English. The result is multiple copies of the same e-card where only the language of the text is changed.

    Generally, all templates from our e-card styles can accommodate Additional Language Versions. However, with some symbol languages (e.g. Mandarin, Japanese, etc) may not work well with a small number of templates due to the way the text animations are designed and/or space available for text. If you are wondering about certain templates, ask us.

    Translations for each language required would be provided by you. Unfortunately, we cannot provide translation services.

  2. What are Additional Versions?

    An Additional Version is a copy of your completed e-card where only the logo, colors, and/or text can be changed. Clients often order them if they have, for example, two or more divisions in their company that they would like to send an e-card from, but don’t want to order a new e-card for each. Instead, they use their completed e-card and make an additional version of it where only the logo, colors and/or text is changed.

  3. What are Additional Image Versions?

    An Additional Image Version is a copy of your completed e-card where only the images are changed. Clients often order them if they have, for example, two or more divisions in their company where their customers are located in geographic locations with different climates – some in warm southern regions, others in cool northern regions. Winter type imagery gets changed to imagery more reflective of warmer climates, resulting two of the same e-card, but each using different images.

  4. What is an E-Card Insert?

    An E-Card Insert is a slide or graphic that appears at the end of the e-card. This insert is like a blank canvas that allows the client to add additional content that may not fit in the e-card itself. We have a series of E-Card Inserts on our add-ons page, designed for the uses we most commonly get requests for.

  5. Can I get a custom E-Card Insert?

    Yes. The pricing for a custom E-Card Insert is usually the same price as E-Card Inserts listed on our add-ons page. However, availability and/or pricing may vary depending on your requirements. Tell us what you're thinking and we'll let you know.

  1. When I play my e-card on my Desktop, it doesn't work. Why?

    The e-card files must be hosted online (i.e. on the Internet) and played through a web browser to work. If the e-card is opened locally (offline) from your computer, there will be features that may not work properly.

  2. My e-card stutters, slows-up or stops and starts periodically. Why?

    These rare occurrences are not issues related to the e-card itself. These are usually the result of an issue being experienced somewhere between the device viewing and the server hosting your e-card. Possible causes include, but are not limited to:

    • The device is running other programs at the time of viewing.
    • The device's internet connection may be slow or weak at the time of viewing.
    • The device's battery might be low.
    • The device is downloading other e-mail or other data at the time of viewing.
    • The device has other browser windows open.
    • The device's Wi-Fi network provider may be busy.
    • The device's network provider may be busy.
    • The device's network administrator may be blocking video content.
    • The server hosting the e-card may not be able to properly host the video file formats for HTML5 video.
    • The device may be older and have inferior processing power.
    • There may be a connectivity problem somewhere between the device and the server hosting the e-card.
    • There may be latency issues because the device is very far from the server hosting the e-card. E.g. device is in North America, but the server is in Australia. Our Temporary E-Card Hosting can solve this.
  3. When I host the e-card myself, it doesn't work. What can I do?

    If you are having trouble hosting your e-card, have a look at the list of tips for troubleshooting we have on our website.

  1. Do you have a client list I can see?

    Yes. Find our samples of our clients here and read what they've said here.


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