It is getting SO EXPENSIVE and TIME-CONSUMING for marketing and event professionals to design, produce and mail formal invitations for small to mid-sized corporate events. The costs are seriously staggering, as you have to pay for stationary, envelopes, printing and postage.

Companies like Evite let you send out FREE email invitations, which have excellent RSVP tracking capabilities. However, this tool is clearly not meant for business professionals, as it is loaded with advertisements and leaves very little flexibility for branding and design manipulation.  Another company called Pingg offered a similar FREE service, but is MUCH more business friendly, offering total creative flexibility and a minimal $10 fee to eliminate all advertising.

Two of the biggest benefits I saw in utilizing electronic invitations were…

1.)  The electronic invitation allowed for reminder emails to be sent out two weeks before an event, and again the day before the event, to help drive attendance.

2.)  I experienced a 97% cost savings by utilizing electronic invitations versus formal printed invitations, sent via snail mail.

But the real question is, can an electronic invitation carry the same class and sophistication as a formal print invitation? Or is there a right time and place for each?

Share your opinion in a comment!