The Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Designing a Name Badge
While you may not give your name badges too much thought, they are a vital element of your business. In this article Staff Badges Direct looks at some of the important points to need to consider before purchasing your new name badges.
Here at Staff Badges, we know the importance of name badges. We’ve designed a wide range of name badges for lots of different businesses and purposes. While you may not give your name badges too much thought, they are a vital element of your business.
Failing to Proof Errors
Name badges should be designed and printed well in advance of any event, and the last thing you want is the badges arriving with mistakes. If you leave it too late to rectify mistakes, you have lost a key element of your company’s branding.
Spelling errors are unprofessional, awkward and can be embarrassing. Whether it’s a job title, an employee’s name or the company name, spelling and grammar mistakes always give the wrong impression. The only way to avoid this is to ensure plenty of people have checked over the order, and that those with names that are particularly difficult to spell have ensured they are spot-on. It’s also important to ensure the design files are suitable for the printer you are using – many printing firms offer a proofing service, and it is wise to make use of this.
Not Understanding the Purpose
Name badges don’t exist for vanity – they have many important purposes, and it’s up to you to ensure yours is suitable for you. It could be that you need name badges for security identification (which may require security elements in the design), or perhaps you need quality name badges for a special event. If you’re using yours for a corporate event, it should reflect your brand and style while informing the people you meet of your name, details, business and contact details.
Finding the balance between too much content and not enough content is tricky, and this is dependent on your business. You want to be memorable and professional, as well as having your contact details to-hand should anyone ask for them.
Difficult-to-Read Fonts
One of the main mistakes made when it comes to getting names badges printed is font. Consider the size of your name badges – they will be quite small, so your details need to be big enough to be legible. Not only this, but small fonts will force the people you meet to have to look closely and squint to read – which, quite frankly, is a bit weird.
Put simply, you must get your font choice right. Many professional businesses will have existing style guidelines in place, but even they may need to be adapted for a name badge. Font elements include font type, size, colour and formatting such as bold, italic and so on. Font that is illegible – be it too small, a light colour on a light background or a font type that’s too fancy – gives a bad impression and means that the badges are no longer fit-for-purpose. Your name badges should be clear and readable from a few metres away.
A Lack of Brand Marketing
Name badges do more than introduce the person wearing them – they represent an entire brand. If you’d be cautious of what you put on your website and social media, you should approach your name badges with the same caution.
They should be in-keeping with your company’s style – does the badge reflect the business? If not, you have a problem. Don’t be afraid to push boundaries and think outside the box when it comes to your name badges – after all, you only get one chance to make a first impression! Think about how your name badges can stand out and spread awareness of your brand.
Prioritising Budget over Quality
Of course, budget is always a factor, but don’t choose to keep costs low over quality name badges. They are one of the first things people will see at events, and if you’re looking to network, impressions are everything. Potential customers and partners will be judging you on everything from how you appear to what you say, and if they want to work with you, you should look the part.
Don’t settle for cheap quality that is unprofessional, but at the same time, consider whether premium printing material is necessary for your purpose. However, remember that if you attend events on a regular basis, good quality badges will save you money in the long run, and you can genuinely benefit from discounts when buying in bulk. Remember, it’s all about what works for you.
If you’re looking for high-quality, bespoke name badges in the UK that will help you to represent your business in style and market what you do to its fullest potential, check out Staff Badges Direct.
