This post is brought to you by SweetGreets app. All words and opinions are my own.
I spent the first eighteen years of my life living in the same house in Maine. Since then I’ve lived in two different parts of Florida in two different decades, and now here in Kentucky. Suffice to say at this point I have friends and family spread over the majority of the country.
So how do you keep close ties when there are so many miles between you? Here are my top five suggestions to make sure you never lose touch with the ones you care about.
5 Ways to Stay in Touch Long-Distance
Write a Letter – Writing is quickly becoming a dying art. I used to love writing cards and letters and now I write very few of them (and the deterioration of my handwriting is a testament to that). So send one of those funny cat cards and give your Aunt a reason to smile when she opens her mailbox. Wouldn’t you like to get something other than bills and junk mail?
Email – If you can’t find a pen and stamp, email is the next logical step. You can convey about the same amount of information and it gets there faster! While that hand-written letter really shows you put in some thought, there’s something to be said for being able to let someone know instantly that you’re thinking about them.
Remember the Details – When I was in high school my friends Emily, Amy and I would often watch the movie “Grease” together. Now any time that Em watches “Grease” on TV, she tags me on Facebook or sends me a message. It’s nice to know that memory brings me to her mind and we can reminisce a little bit.
Connect on Social Media – Speaking of Facebook, social media has made it really convenient (maybe too convenient?) to keep tabs on folks you don’t often see. Friend them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram. Never miss another one of their dog’s adorable outfits, their kids’ accomplishments, or videos of them at karaoke.
Video and text messages – Video messages and texts combine the benefit of a visual like on social media with the instant yet personal contact that an email provides. You can send them any where, any time – there’s nothing more convenient. Especially if you’re not sure your friend has time or availability for a phone conversation.
SweetGreets App
One of the apps I’m loving right now that makes it fun and easy to send video messages SweetGreets. The SweetGreets App is a free video greeting card generator that helps you create cute cards to send right from your phone.
You can customize the front of the card with your own message, background and borders in a variety of fonts and colors. You can also select from solid-color backgrounds or their preset background images like a cupcake or beach scene. The part I like best, though, is that you can upload your own image to truly customize the card.
Once you’ve set the text, images and color you just swipe to “flip” to the next section of the card. Here’s where you’ll record your video (you can film “out” for what you see in front of you, as well as “in” to record your face). Hit next and choose your recipients and your card will be on it’s way.
The SweetGreets app is free and available on iPhone and Android. In addition to staying in touch with friends and family, I think it would be perfect for those with their own business or direct sales. You could customize a birthday or thank you card to let your customers know you’re thinking of them.
I’ve been in a long-distance relationship with my husband for quite some time. We were living on different continents. We did write snail mails and especially e-mails a lot. We didn’t any special apps for our communication, but social media and skype helped to be in constant contact too.
My husband and I did some long-distance stuff while we were dating, but I can’t imagine having to do long-distance with my husband – especially on different continents! Skype would definitely be a great way to stay in touch for things like that.
I go through phases of being really good about keeping in touch, and then phases where people probably wonder if I fell off the earth! I love the idea of the SweetGreets App! I definitely have friends out of town that I would love to send those cute little card too.
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one that goes through phases like that, Leah! Sometimes I do really great, other times…not so much.
You could always just pick up your phone and call. That’s simple enough.
Calling is a great way to keep in touch, too, definitely! It can be a little harder to schedule times when everyone is available, though, so it’s good to have some other options, too.