How To: Networking in 3 Easy Steps

First things first, what is networking?

Networking is a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest.

And, whether you are wearing a name tag for an event or work every day, chances are you don’t realize the impact which you are making. In social settings, name tags can level the playing field. They are also free advertising for your company. And, they inspire people to be more approachable.

Step One: Always wear your name tag! It’s the key to great networking!

A name tag reminds you to be open and honest. You can’t hide behind it. And, it gets you to network, to put yourself out there, and to make new friends. It gives you the opportunity to brand yourself, your image, and your company, with honesty and trustworthiness.

Your name tag is your best friend for several reasons. A person’s name is the first thing that most people forget upon the first meeting. Without the aid of a name tag, people are less likely to approach if they don’t know or have forgotten your name.

Consider all of the commitment you have access to when wearing a name tag. Networking isn’t easy, but when you are willing to put yourself out there, others around you are apt to feel more at ease and will connect better and more frequently.

Step Two: The most important thing is to get your brand noticed.

Your name tag reflects who you are and humanizes you to others. Most people have a tendency to judge on first impressions, especially when everyone in the room is a stranger. But, if you have a way to make yourself stand out, your brand will become recognizable. And, it helps to make others more at ease around you.

If name tags are provided at an event, use them. Don’t be a name tag snob. They are there to make greeting others easier. They reduce possible awkward moments and help you remember names gracefully.

Step Three: Talk to others and, as always, wear your name tag!

It will help you be fearless. Wearing a name tag in a room full of strangers is an invite for people to talk to you, and for you to talk to people. You don’t need someone to introduce you, so be fearless and take networking into your hands.

Top 10 Uses and Places for Name Plates

Create desk and wall name plates for yourself, your boss or your entire company.

Add a personal touch to any workspace by displaying a name and a title. At home, use a name plate to decorate with loving expressions or quotes.

OFFICES

Display someone’s name and title on a desk, door or wall mounted nameplate. It’s just that simple!

DIRECTIONS or instructions

Providing instructions or directions to visitors in any store of office is a must! Customize nameplates with most any instructions to meet most any need. Whether it is just to point out a meeting room or a restroom, these directions are required in most settings.

CORPORATE GIFTING

Corporate gifting is one of the best ways to grow and maintain your business. Most companies agree that the fundamental reason for gifting is to acknowledge relationships and improve personal connections. Customize each nameplate with a person’s name, title or favorite saying.

PRODUCT LABELS

Whether it’s a restaurant or retail store, these nameplates are perfect to let your customers know what exactly they are getting. Just provide a clear label for your next buffet or end-cap, consumers are guaranteed to come back for more!

DECORATIONS

Create a unique decorating style by displaying acrylic block with your favorite quotes and sayings. These blocks command attention, and due to how thick they are, they stand by themselves with no holder needed. Front engraving gives these blocks a solid look while engraving the back brings out the engraving by providing reflections and depth.

AWARDS

Executive name plates are perfect for showing just how much you appreciate someone. They also make an excellent award for any achievement. With a class of excellence above any other, these beautiful nameplates are sure to show how much you care.

BRANDING

Adding a logo to a nameplate is an inexpensive way to maximize branding for both employee and company benefits. And they are such a great way to create consistent branding throughout any office or building.

SCHOOLS or LIBRARIES

What an easy way to display a room number or title for all to see. With custom plates designed for your specific needs, these tools are very useful in a school setting. Other public spaces such as libraries, gyms or other recreational outlets often benefit from this remarkable tool.

SHELF LABELS

Coller Industries even uses these plates to help us stay organized! Customize with colors and names or numbers to help your book shelves or storage shelves keep and stay organized.

BANKS

Banks often use name plates as well! With messages such as Next Teller Please, Lane Closed, and other instructions, these engraved tools are perfect for a bank setting.

But no matter how you use them, name plates are a great tool for everyone!

10 Logo Tips for Name Tags

What makes a good logo? And how do you use it in your company branding? Many customers struggle with their company’s branding when making their name tags. A logo designed for use on the internet or printed media doesn’t typically look as well when you try to fit it onto a name tag.

Consider these few things assuming you already decided to use your company logo on your name tags.

What process will you be using to create them? A full color printed name tag can hold more colors and detail than a hot stamped one. Laser Engraving will limit possibilities even further.

Keep the size of the tag in mind. In most cases, logos will be much smaller than what you usually see, and little details won’t be as visible.

Remember that you may have to be flexible in the colors associated with logos. If you choose a yellow tag and your logo is yellow, consider changing it to black, so it shows up. If you select a hot stamped logo, colors are very limited. You may have to compromise with a basic shade of your colors.

When placing a logo to fill the allowable area on a name tag, the smaller the logo, the larger it can be. Consider using one or the other for logos that incorporate an image and text.

Remember that a name tag’s primary purpose is to convey a person’s name. So don’t make the names harder to read in favor of a bigger, fancier logo.

There are additional ways you can help logos look their best on name tags:

Try to limit the amount of detail in logos. Smaller sizes will not be visible. And many processes will have a hard time duplicating it. But, on the other hand, you only need enough detail to make logos recognizable.

Even if you generally use logos on the internet or printed materials, single color logos are best for name tags. Laser engraving and one color hot stamping need an image that is black and white. You can convert most logos into a single color image. But some will require extra effort to maintain the visibility of all logo elements.

Short and wide logos, such as a company name spelled out in fancy lettering, generally look best at the top or bottom center of the tag. Logos that are square or taller than they are wide will occasionally look good on the left or right side.

Another option you can consider to make your logo look its best on your name tag is to try a custom shape. Design your name tag with a shape that follows your logo, with an extra area to hold names and titles. Custom shapes are only available for laser engraved or hot stamped logos, but they can make any name tag stand out!

Hopefully, these tips can help you design your company name tags. In addition, they should give you a big forward step on the road to brand recognition!

These tips and graphics are provided by guest author Melanie Bunch, Graphic Artist at Coller Industries.

Improving Business In 4 Easy Steps

Here are a few quick and easy ways to help you improve your business with ONE tool!

Being able to recognize someone instantly is a huge benefit to a business these days. It will also contribute to improving your business contacts and employee relationships. Following is a quick list of four ways to improve your overall business by introducing name tags into your daily life.

First, it gives your employee a name!

Sometimes you might run into an old friend or acquaintance while you are out shopping or at a business function. But, most of the time, you won’t know too many people. All companies can benefit from their employees using name badges. Provide employees, volunteers or event-goers with a name tag or name badge for easy identification.

With each person displaying their name on a name tag, customers and attendees will quickly identify the people they need to ask for help. And when that happens, the employee’s confidence and comfort level increases. All in all, wearing a name tag encourages people to be more mindful of their surroundings.

Second, they provide security!

By giving employees name tags, you are providing security for your office or store. And, who doesn’t want a secure business? With a simple branding logo, employees are easily identified by customers and other employees. No one will ever have to guess at who their coworkers are again.

Another great tool for security is our photo ID badges. By adding a picture, a name and a logo, the wearer is sure to get noticed; and for all the right reasons!

Third, name tags help to hold employees accountable.

This simple tool, similar to a uniform, is the perfect way to remind an employee of where they are. It gives them a sense of direction and purpose. And, it makes it easy for you to follow or spot them in a crowd of customers or event attendees. It is another way to ensure your employees are representing you and your business in the exact way you need to be represented.

Fourth, help yourself in rewarding/disciplining your employees.

When issues arise at your office, store or restaurant and you find a customer needs to speak with management, it becomes easier to identify the employee that needs to be pulled aside. Whether that is for a job well done or a little bit of coaching, a name tag helps the customer know who to report if or when it becomes necessary.

Names are what it’s all about these days in business. Do your customers know your’s and your employee’s names? Help them out with a name tag today at www.nametag.com!

3 Practical Reasons for Corporate Gifting

Corporate gifting is one of the best ways to grow and maintain your business.

There are many reasons for corporate gifting that range from thanking consumers for their business to recognizing employees for outstanding work. But, the primary reason seems always to be the same. It is to sustain relationships and deepen the personal connection between the giver and the recipient.

Most companies agree that this fundamental reason is an opportunity to share your holiday cheer, connect with your clients and strengthen employee ties. Recruiting, retention and development are three other great reasons to give a corporate gift.

But here are the best three reasons to give a corporate gift!

Giving

The holidays are built on the premise of giving and volunteering in your community. No matter the reason for giving anything, you should only expect one thing back: a friendly smile, a “please” or “thank you,” or maybe even a hug. But no matter what you give, it is the thought that counts.

Wrapping

Some people just possess the talent to wrap gifts perfectly. Some don’t. But, no matter if you’re one of these wonderful people or not, everyone loves to get a wrapped present! Don’t sell your gifts short with bland packaging or by not even wrapping them. Choose bright, happy and seasonal gift wrap for your corporate gifting.

Name Tags

Last is the most important, right? Well, we sure think so! Name tags and other personal identification products are great ideas for corporate gifts. Whether it’s a new name badge for your employees or an executive desk wedge for your best customer, we’re sure to have the right gift for your needs!

Name tags can always use an upgrade each year and for each employee!

using name tags for your corporate gifting this year is just as important as picking out the right wrapping and ribbons

Give top quality name plates to your office team this year.

Why not be unique and give everyone in the office a fun, new lanyard!

Spend the time and money on the wrapping to reflect the value of your client and employee relationships. But remember, choosing the right gift for your associates is just as important as the packaging. Add your personal flair with custom ribbons today! Need a great idea for a gift to give? See “Personalized Ribbons Blog” for all our best ideas!