Yes, it is possible to send eCards through Facebook in a few different ways. Facebook offers integrations with popular eCard services that allow you to send eCards directly from your Facebook account. You can also create your own custom eCards using images and text and send them in Facebook messages. Or you can post eCards on your Facebook timeline for your friends to see. Here are the main options for sending eCards on Facebook:
Send eCards through Facebook Integrations
Facebook has partnered with several eCard companies to offer integrations that allow you to browse their eCard catalogs and send cards directly through Facebook. Here are some of the services that have Facebook integrations:
- Blue Mountain – One of the most popular eCard sites, Blue Mountain has over 40,000 eCards you can browse and send through Facebook.
- Hallmark – Hallmark eCards has over 1,000 eCards in its Facebook catalog across various occasions and holidays.
- Postagram – This service allows you to create photo postcards by uploading one of your Facebook photos and having it printed on a physical postcard that gets mailed to the recipient.
To send an eCard from one of these services on Facebook:
- Go to the eCard site’s Facebook page.
- Browse their eCard catalog and select a card you want to send.
- Customize the card with a message, recipient name, etc.
- Click the Send button which will open a Facebook share window.
- In the share window, select the Facebook friend you want to send the eCard to or post it on your timeline.
The major advantage of using these integrated eCard services is convenience – it allows you to quickly browse and send eCards without leaving Facebook. The downside is you are limited to the eCard selection on that particular site.
Create Custom eCards
If you want more creative flexibility, you can create custom eCards yourself using Facebook images, stickers, and text formatting. Here are two options for making your own eCards on Facebook:
Facebook Messages
Facebook Messenger allows you to spice up your messages with stickers, images, and text art. You can mix and match these elements to create your own unique eCards and send them to friends in message threads.
To make a custom eCard in a Facebook message:
- Open a message thread with the friend you want to send the card to.
- Click on the Stickers icon and browse Facebook’s sticker collection, selecting fun stickers to use.
- Click the Photo icon and choose an image saved on your device or Facebook photos to include.
- Use text formatting like bold, italics, and emoji to style your message.
- Arrange the stickers, images, and text how you want them.
- Send the message eCard to your friend.
Facebook Posts
You can also create eCards by designing images or photo collages and posting them on your Facebook timeline. Some options include:
- Use an image editing tool to create a customized image with text on top of backgrounds or templates.
- Make a photo collage using one of Facebook’s collage-making tools.
- Upload images and use Facebook stickers and text drawing tools to decorate them.
- Find an eCard maker app that integrates with Facebook, like Instagreeting.
Once your image or photo collage eCard is ready, post it on your timeline so your Facebook friends can see and react to it. The advantage of making eCards this way is you can reuse and share them more easily.
Best Practices for Sending eCards on Facebook
Here are some tips to get the most out of sending eCards through Facebook:
- Add a personalized message – Don’t just rely on the template message, write a custom note for a more meaningful touch.
- Use photos of you and the recipient – Incorporate photos they will recognize for a fun, personal eCard.
- Time it right – Send season’s greetings close to the holiday and birthday cards on or around their birthday.
- Post publicly or privately – Post an eCard publicly on your timeline for anyone to see, or privately in a message for a more intimate gesture.
- Follow up – Send a private message after posting a public eCard to ensure they saw it.
- Set reminders – Use Facebook’s reminders tool to prompt you to send timely eCards.
Taking a few minutes to send an eCard to a Facebook friend can be a thoughtful way to brighten their day and strengthen your connection. With Facebook’s tools and integrations, you have lots of creative options for sending greetings, birthday wishes, or just a cute note to show you care.
The Pros and Cons of Sending eCards through Facebook
Here is an overview of some of the key benefits and potential drawbacks of using Facebook for eCards:
Pros:
- Convenience – Easy to access and send right within Facebook.
- Integration with Facebook friends – Pulls names/photos from your connections.
- Creative freedom – Design completely custom cards.
- Versatility – Send privately or post publicly.
- Cost effective – Facebook eCard tools are free to use.
Cons:
- Lack of surprise/timing – Recipients may see timeline posts before you intend them to.
- Missing notifications – Facebook messages can sometimes get buried.
- Less personalization – Not as tailored and thoughtful as print cards.
- Overload – Too many posts can clutter up timelines.
The simplicity and seamless integration of Facebook eCards make them easy to create and send with just a click. However, they may lose some of the thoughtfulness and impact of physical or more intimate digital cards. Ultimately it depends on your preferences and purpose for sending.
Interesting Statistics and Data on eCards
Here are some interesting statistics and data points on the use and effectiveness of eCards:
- Around 1 billion eCards are sent each year according to the Greeting Card Association.
- 66% of millennials have sent an eCard in the past year compared to just 31% of baby boomers according to a MyPostcard.com survey.
- The most popular eCard sending occasions are birthdays (66%), holidays (60%), and thank you’s (44%) per an American Greetings survey.
- eCards are estimated to generate approximately $400 million in revenues annually as of 2017.
- The average open rate for email marketing campaigns is 20%, while the open rate for eCards/e-greetings is close to 98%.
- Around 65% of consumers say they are just as likely, if not more so, to share eCards on social media as paper cards.
This data indicates that eCards are widely used for major greeting occasions and engagement is typically high, especially with digital native millennials. While eCards may not completely replace physical cards, they provide a convenient digital alternative for those looking to instantly connect and share greetings across distance and mediums.
5 Best eCard Sites and Apps
Beyond Facebook, here are 5 of the top eCard sites and apps for finding great options to send to family and friends:
| Site/App | Highlight |
|---|---|
| JibJab | Known for its hilarious animated eCards with customizable faces. |
| Smilebox | Offers creative eCard templates and collage designs. |
| Canva | DIY design tool to make customized cards with graphics, images, and text. |
| Paperless Post | Trendy designs and options to add songs, photos, and events. |
| Punchbowl | Specializes in eCards and digital invitations for parties and events. |
These services give you access to expansive eCard templates and designs along with easy personalization tools. They also offer features like animation, music, and digital envelopes to make for engaging eCard experiences.
Conclusion
Facebook provides a seamless way for users to browse eCard templates and send greetings right from their News Feed. You can also get creative and make custom eCards through Facebook images, stickers, and messages. While digital cards may lack some of the charm of paper cards, the ease and integrations make Facebook a great option for instantly sending eCards to friends and family. Just be sure to add a personal touch and watch your timing/frequency so your eCards have the desired impact. With billions of eCards sent each year, services like Facebook help ensure we can maintain connections and celebrate occasions even from afar.