Name Tag Wizard Blog - Ideas and Tips for Using Name Tags

May 11, 2017November 13, 2020

4 Different Name Tag Backings & Their Uses

When designing the perfect name tag, the possibilities are endless! There’s colors, font styles, shapes and sizes all to consider, but the one thing we often forget about are the backings. A backing is very important because it holds your name tag in place the way you want it displayed to customers and business partners. Many don’t realize how many different options there are when choose a name tag backing, so we’re here to explain each one and when they will be most useful for you.

1) Magnetic Backing

The first is the magnetic backing which is a great way to securely fasten your name tag onto your clothing. Name Tag Wizard’s magnetic backings are hard to beat because they really hold! But these have another advantage aside from how well they hold – magnetic name badges won’t damage your clothing. Many of us wear suits, blouses and some of our nicest clothing to work. A magnetic backing will eliminate the need to poke holes in your clothing therefore making your clothes last longer.

2) Plastic Badge Pin

A plastic badge pin has many great uses as well – it all depends on what you’re looking for. Plastic badge pins allow you or your employees to securely attach a name tag efficiently and with ease. These backings are also fairly less expensive than a magnetic backing and are a great alternative when ordering a large quantity of name tags.

3) Swivel Clip

A swivel clip is also a great, economically friendly backing for your name tags. This backing can hold a photo ID as well as a traditional name tag. Like the magnetic backings, it will not puncture holds in your clothing. It has an extra stable spring that is great for securely holding name tags in place.

4) Mylar Clip

A mylar clip is a great backing option as it can be reused. If you like to change your name tag or photo ID often, this may be the backing choice for you! Just attach your name tag using the clear vinyl mylar strip and you’re ready to engage with customers and business partners. Best of all – this clip will also leave your clothing damage free.

As you can see, there’s a number of options to choose from when deciding which name tag backing to use. Not all backings are created equally! Just like a name tag, your backing choice depends on what works best for you. If you have questions related to a name tag backing or anything else Name Tag Wizard related, we invite you to leave a comment down below!

May 11, 2017November 30, 2020

Creating The Perfect Name Tag And Knowing How To Wear It

Whether your business is at the top of its industry or you’re just getting it off the ground, your identity and making yourself known is vital to your success. High-quality name tags are a powerful tool because they welcome others and make you more approachable. This will allow you to communicate and make connections with ease. However, your name badge can do the exact opposite if it’s not designed and worn properly.

We’ve been creating high-quality badges and tags for 40 years and know the importance a name tag holds. Follow these tips to ensure your custom name tag is effective in growing your business relationships and ultimately your company.Even if you’ve made your own before, use these as an easy reminder the next time you need to update your name tags.

Make it Legible
Add Color, But Not Too Much
Be Informative, Not Distracting
Know How to Wear It
Avoid the Lanyard “Turnaround”

But, what do each of these mean? Read on each of these topics in greater detail below.

Tip #1: Make it Legible

Beginning with size, your name badge should be legible from 10 feet away. Choose a simple font and a font size large enough that potential business partners and customers won’t struggle to read it. Also, choose a contrasting color to the background. This ensures your text won’t be lost when someone want to read it. Make your name the spotlight of your name tag!

Your title should be smaller than your name, but still easy to read. And, should follow the same style and design as your name or with a slight variation such as in italics or underlined.

Keep your company’s logo at a reasonable size. Like your name, it should be visible at a short distance and recognizable.

Tip #2: Add Color – But Not Too Much

When choosing colors for full color name badges, make sure they don’t distract from your company’s logo. Select a background and font color that will compliment your logo instead of take away from it. Black or dark blue are classic, professional font colors and many prefer a white background as it allows maximum visibility.

Contrasting, complimentary colors are an easy way to ensure your name tag stays eye-catching while maintaining a professional look. The colors shouldn’t be too bright as that can become distracting rather than attention-grabbing.

Tip #3: Be Informative, Not Distracting

As you decide what information to include on your name tag, be selective. Your name, title, and company’s logo is generally all that’s necessary. Too much information will cause clutter and be distracting.

If there is additional information that you NEED to include, consider sizing up your name tag or customizing ID-style badges. Having more space gives you leniency in how much information you can have. But, you must still consider how much is necessary. A cluttered name badge looks unprofessional and distracting.

Tip #4: Know How to Wear it

If you’ve chosen a name tag template that will be pinned or magnetized to your shirt, know where it should sit. In any case, the most effective location is three inches below your collar bone. Name badges of this sort should always be positioned to one side or the other to minimize obstruction.

For populated events like trade shows and conventions, it’s suggested to wear your name tag on the left side so those approaching you can read it with ease. If you’re in a more intimate business setting, you should wear your name tag on the opposite side you use to shake hands. For example, if you generally shake hands with your left hand, wear your name tag on the right. This will position your name tag in the direct line of sight for those you’re greeting.

Tip #5: Avoid the Lanyard “Turnaround”

If you’ve chosen lanyard or necklace style name tag, it is likely to be turned around and defeat the purpose of a name tag. A simple solution to this problem is printing the same information on both sides with a double-sided badge.

Why is This Important?

You may be wondering, “Why go through all the trouble? How important is it to wear a name tag properly?”

In the modern business world, it’s important to make a great impression the first time you meet someone. It’s often the only impression you get. Wearing your name tag, and wearing it in the correct manner, adds another layer to you professional appearance. It also helps in avoiding awkward ice breakers if your title or position is included.

And, you wouldn’t put much trust in someone wearing an upside down badge, would you?

Remember these tips each time you add your name tag to your business attire! Welcome new relationships and partnerships by presenting yourself in an approachable and professional way at your next event. When you work hard and give yourself the keys to succeed, nothing will stand in your way!

Name Tag Wizard is your go-to, online name tag maker. Whether you need to update your business’s tags or stock up on event badges for conference attendees, we have you covered. Shop our wide selection of DIY designs and templates or make your own from scratch.

May 11, 2017November 7, 2023

Design Wizard Tutorial

Standard name tags are a thing of the past! Our name-tag-creating “Design Wizard” helps our customers completely customize their name tags. Whether you choose full color, oval, text only or engraved name tags, our design wizard tool gives users ultimate design power! Add logos, change color components or select curved edges to ensure your name tags perfectly represent your brand.

We’re thrilled to be able to provide our customers with a tool that allows them to create the name tags of their dreams. With so many different options and capabilities, there are often questions. Follow these step-by-step instructions to help simplify your name tag designing process.

Decide which name tag best meets your needs (custom name tags, engraved name tags, pre-designed name tags, metal name tags) Choose the size and background (color, silver or gold) for your name tags
If you picked a custom name tag with a colored background, you’ll now select your color
Under the “options” tab, upload your logo or image you would like on your name tag (if any) and choose its positioning
To add the employee’s name, select the “text” tab and “add new text box
Type in the name and choose your desired font, color and size
To add the employee’s title, click “add new text box” again
Enter the title and choose your desired font, color and size
Select the “options” tab and choose the material, backing and how you’d like the name tags’ corners to appear
For larger orders, click on “upload name list” to add a list of your employees’ names, then change the quantity directly below to match the number of names on the list
Click the “notes” button to add any additional instructions
When you’re finished, click “add to cart”
If you need to order another name tag of the same design once you’re in your cart, just click “order a new design based off this design”
Change the text on the name tag as desired and select “add to cart”
You’ll now see you have two name tags in your cart
To fix any errors, click “update your design” to make any necessary changes and select “update design”

We hope this tutorial will make designing your name tags a seamless and enjoyable experience! If you have further questions, feel free to leave a comment below. For immediate assistance you can call our Customer Focus Team at (888) 721-2957 or send an email to sales@nametagwizard.com.

May 11, 2017June 25, 2020

What’s New In Name Tags? Personality Identifiers

Like anything should in modern times, Name Tags have evolved. Gone are the days when you had a boring backer and simple Arial font placed on top. These days, businesses are finding ways to get even more creative with their name tags. And we’re not just talking about various shapes, printing methods, or designs.

There are new trends popping up on what customers are actually placing on their name tags. Could name tags help ignite and foster better internal employee relationships? Stronger team work even? The short answer is yes. That’s exactly what’s new in the name tag industry!

Recently, we know of several companies identifying employee’s personalities on their name tag. There are many personality tests that people use today. Some of them are:

The Sixteen Personality Factor (16PF)
Predictive Index (PI)
Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness (DISC)
Caliper Profile
California Psychological Inventory
Myers Briggs (MBTI)
Gallup StrengthsFinder

While all are a bit different, all shed light on employee’s social patterns, group dynamics and motivating factors. If you have ever taken one, you may find that the results can be eerily true. Even from answering as little as two short questions.

Imagine taking those personality test results and being able to understand immediately if your co-worker was an introvert, or a detail oriented processes person. Imagine being able to see immediately if a person was a big-picture, ideas person. What would that mean for internal employee interaction?

Some companies are embracing this and finding success. By placing the personality color code on the name tag, employees are able to interact with each other more easily and are able to communicate better.

Are you ready to try it out?

Consider adding identifiers of people’s personalities on their name tag. You’ll be surprised at how employees are able to adjust their working style to match their co-worker’s personalities, increasing productivity and harmony in the work force. This is particularly great if you run a small business where you frequently have a lot of new employees. It’s also ideal if you run a rapidly growing business with several recent hires.

So while it’s hard to imagine you could think “out of the box” on something as basic as a name tag, consider this proof positive that innovation is present everywhere.

May 11, 2017June 25, 2020

4 Reasons Wearing Name Tags Will Improve Your Business

What’s in a name? Well, just about everything in business, say the experts. Being able to attach a person’s name with their face is vital for many reasons and today we’re here to shed light on four reasons wearing name tags will help improve your customer service and sales.

1. Develop a Personal Relationship

Studies show that customers are more likely to start a conversation with an employee if they can call them by name. With employees proudly displaying their name tag, customers can immediately identify and connect with the employee. And guess what happens when customers have connected with an employee of a business? Their confidence and comfort level skyrocket! This is when purchasing power comes into play.

2. Secure a Level of Professionalism

Having your employees wear name tags with your company’s logo shows a level of professionalism beyond the “hello, my name is” sticky that you purchased at the local drug store. It shows the employees longevity with the company and your commitment to that employee’s position. It’s a strong signal to your customers that you mean business.

3. Hold employees accountable

Name tags and badges are a great way to remind your employees that they are under your radar. Similar to a uniform, when your employee takes on that name badge with your logo, they are taking on the persona of the business. That means all core values, company policies, and procedures should be strictly adhered to. Think of it as another check and balance to ensure your employees are representing you and your business the way you want it to be represented.

4. Help Troubleshoot Issues

When troubles arise at your restaurant, at the cash register or on the sales floor and a customer needs to report the issue, it’s much easier to identify a person by name than by describing a person not wearing a name tag. With your employees wearing a name tag, your customers will be able to easily “call them out” when necessary.

On a positive note, nametags allow customers, management and business owners to reward excellent customer service. If your business has a survey that it sends, ask your customers how they feel about employees with nametags opposed to those that do not. The results speak for themselves!

So what are you waiting for? Get started by creating your own name tag from scratch with our wizard that lets you completely customize it to suit your brand. Upload your own logo and design it right in front of your eyes. Or, shop from thousands of templates of name tags in every industry type. Head on over to shop now at www.NameTagWizard.com.

May 11, 2017December 24, 2020

Seasonal Employees Need Name Tags, Too!

The holidays mean a lot of different things for businesses but one thing’s for sure, you need to be prepared. Affordable seasonal employee name tags that you can quickly and easily customize to suit any business are what we specialize in at Name Tag Wizard. We’ve got you covered!

The holidays are the start of large gatherings with family and friends, gift-giving and sending out the perfect holiday cards. They mean hot cocoa and wood crackling in the fireplace (if you live anywhere other than Florida like us!) They mean a contagious joy spreading through the air like no other!

But with all that, if you’ve ever worked in the customer service industry, you know the holidays also mean your busiest season of the year. Whether it’s retail, hospitality or food and beverage, it’s when a business needs “all hands on deck”. You may even hire seasonal employees to help with the influx of business.

Fortunately for the industry’s business owners and employees, a drastic increase in business is accompanied by a drastic increase in revenue. However, most businesses can’t take care of the seasonal rise in demand with the staff they employ all year long. To capitalize on the opportunity, make sure your business is fully prepared to keep your customer service standards beyond your customer’s expectations. Seasonal employees are a great way to do so!

Employing additional help throughout the season will not only benefit your business, but also your seasonal employees. Many people working within these industries look forward to this opportunity for additional income. Whether they’re saving for the not-so-busy months to come or paying for their family’s gifts, they know their help is needed and they’re ready to seize the opportunity.

Don’t let your seasonal employees get lost in a sea of faces just because they won’t be around after the New Year. It’s important your customers and other employees are still able to connect with them in the same way they would with a year-round employee. Customizable name tags are a great way to do that. Your name is the first thing you share with someone you’ve just met. It enforces a level of trust and comfortability. It’s important that stability is still a priority in the midst of the seasonal rush.

Whichever way you choose to prepare, the holiday season is quickly approaching. Make sure your business is ready to handle the demand so you can celebrate your successes later!

Here are some of our favorite seasonal name tags:

December 30, 2015April 2, 2019

New Year, New You, New Name Tags!

2016 New Years Countdown — Photo courtesy of youtube.com

In typical wizard fashion, the Holidays proved to be more exciting that any of us, or Santa’s reindeer or elves could handle! But now that the party is over (as well as the cleanup) – the Wizard is ready to take on the new year in style!

The start of a new year means new trends and the name tag world is no exception! All over the country countless businesses use the start of January just like the millions who use the clean slate of a new year as a starting off point to accomplish whatever goals and dreams have been nagging them since at least September of the previous year.

With the final numbers for the year in, now may be a good time for your business to re-evaluate your image, not to mention perhaps your payroll. Once you’ve finished making any personnel changes that you may find necessary to make, the next logical step is to take a step back and see what your customers or clients see. For any business that is constantly interacting with the public, making sure your employees look polished and professional is an absolute must.

Think of yourself as a consumer as opposed to a business owner, and how you would feel about visiting somewhere that resembled the inside of a rest stop on the side of the road rather than anything else. One would not walk into a doctor’s office to be greeted by receptionists wearing stained t-shirts and ripped jeans. Would it inspire confidence? Would you really trust the thoughts, opinions, and actions of the employees? Just as if you were going for a job interview, your business needs to look the part. You want your customers to hire you; you are the service that they are purchasing.

When it comes to making sure that your business looks as professional as possible, utilizing customized name tags can be the fastest and easiest (not to mention the most inexpensive) method to achieving this. Over the decades we’ve made it our mission to provide our customers with a variety of options when it comes to meeting their name tag needs. From standard plastic tags, to trendy wooden name badges, photo ID’s, and more – Name Tag Wizard has worked hard to become your one stop shop for name tags!

All of our name tags are handmade in the USA and shipped out to you from our production facilities just as quickly as we can. For your convenience, we offer a variety of backing and color options for you to choose from as well as styles (including options for logo name tags), and sizes.

So what does the Name Tag Wizard have up his abnormally large sleeves for 2016? It’s safe to say that we can expect some big changes coming our way in the coming year! We’ve got great plans for 2016 and we know you do to, which is why we want to make it your best year yet! Place your order for your new office name tags today!

December 11, 2015September 10, 2020

The Holiday Season Is Upon Us!

holiday shoppers 2012 macy's — Photo courtesy of Bloomberg

The holidays are just around the corner, and like most retailers or manufacturing plants around the world, it’s an extremely busy time of the year! According to data collected throughout the 2013 holiday season, it is estimated that businesses hired roughly 800,000 seasonal employees to help get the job done. And even though we have a handy dandy Wizard to help us make it through the holidays, we also have a number of new faces here as well to help out – after all, there is only so much the wizard can do!

Now are we about to tell you that name tags make great gifts for the holidays? Absolutely not! In fact, we really don’t recommend it unless you’re looking to find a belated lump of coal in your not-yet-put-away stocking the next morning. No, name tags are not the ideal holiday gift for that special someone on your list but they are just the thing to help get your business through the holiday rush!

For weeks, the Name Tag Wizard has been locked away in his office furiously working away at creating as many new designs as our storehouses can handle! We’ll be ready for the holiday rush, will you?

With all the new customers your employer’s will no doubt be dealing with, they’ll undoubtedly need some help – maybe not 800,000 new employees but an extra couple hands couldn’t hurt which means fresh new name tags are going to be en vogue at your store! If the previously mentioned 2013 holiday shopping statistics are correct then, including the fact holiday sales grew 3.7% from the year prior, it is relatively safe to assume that as the economy has continued in large part to improve, people are only spending more and more during the winter season. And as any businesses owner or manager could tell you, more people shopping equals a much higher need for outstanding customer service and name tags are the first step to success!

Here at Name Tag Wizard, we offer a wide variety of high quality custom name tags in a variety of styles fit for any business! Designed to get you through the holidays and then some, you can be sure that while you’re working to provide your customers with the absolute best possible customer service, we’re looking to do the same thing through our superior name tags and dedication to providing our customers with a myriad of options to help promote their brand.

No matter the size of your business, the ease of conversing with your customers as well your employee’s accessibility is a major selling point when it comes to the success of any business. So when the time comes this year to expand your employee base by adding on a couple extra hands, be sure that your new hires are well equipped and able to stand out from the crowds as a person who can facilitate your shoppers needs this season!

November 25, 2015April 2, 2019

The Name Tag Wizard Is Whipping Up Something Tasty!

st augustine restaurant name tags wizard — Photo courtesy of OldCity.com

As winter arrives, the Name Tag Wizard is getting inspired to try his hand at something new. He’s been watching a few too many cooking shows, so now his magic is being worked in the kitchen instead of in his wizards tower. He’s been combining ingredients and mumbling over his cookbooks for weeks now. While he hasn’t quite created his masterpiece and achieved the rank of chef just yet, there are a few sweet treats coming out of the kitchen. And now thanks to his efforts, we now have new Restaurant themed name tags with a variety of charming designs available!

Something For Every Taste

There’s no need to stick with the same old basic designs when outfitting your restaurant staff. The Wizard has whipped up custom looks for different industries and food types. For example, we’ve got a range of bakery themed choices for the wedding cake company or the cupcake bakers. Show off your Parisian style with a croissant right on the name tag. The Name Tag Wizard is still practicing his pastry dough making, but our tags look professional and communicate a clear message to customers.

The heritage of your cuisine can also shine through. Choose between tags for Mexican eateries, small diners or cafes, and Japanese inspired sushi establishments. Even bars and coffee shops are represented in this collection. The Name Tag Wizard enjoys a pint or two himself after a big accomplishment, so it’s only natural he designed some new options for the employees working in pubs and steakhouses.

Customizing Your Order

This isn’t the kind of kitchen where you simply pick from a menu. The Wizard is particular about quality, but he’s happy to create tags with the colors and materials you choose. Pick the colors of your company’s logo or go with contrasting black and white for maximum legibility. There’s no need to settle for a product that clashes with your team’s work uniform when we offer such a wide range of customization options. There are even shape and size options to help managers stand out from the rest of the front or kitchen crew.

It’s easy to input your text for each individual badge too. Since custom name tags have to be ordered for each new employee, it makes sense to shop around for the best prices. Our magical team offers the best blend of customization options, fast production and shipping turnaround, and affordable pricing to keep your restaurant team properly tagged.

Let the Name Tag Wizard cook something up for your restaurant today. Order a whole new set of matching name tags to revitalize your brand image without spending a fortune. The professional style and durability of the tags will make both your employees and customers happy with the change. If you’re not sure what type of name tags would work best for your business, contact us for help making a choice and placing your order.

September 30, 2015April 2, 2019

The Name Tag Wizard Breaks Into The Bar Biz!

busy baltimore bar rules — Photo courtesy of www.baltimoremagazine.net

Everyone who has had the pleasure of working with our beloved Wizard knows that he likes to kick back and relax occasionally (especially when his friends are in town). You wouldn’t believe the mess that we had to clean up after his 600th birthday party – we played host to Santa, Gandalf, Merlin, and a very rambunctious leprechaun.

The wizard may produce some of the best high quality custom name tags on the web today – but the man can throw a party and keep up with the best of them. As for the after effects – well how would you feel being over six hundred years old with a hangover. Magic or not, it’s not fun.

Regardless of the after effects, it’s incredibly safe to say that the Wizard has visited his fair share of bars over the centuries. Taverns, pubs, bars, clubs, and alcohol in general have become much more regulated over the past century alone (prohibition was a dark and difficult time for the Wizard and a time we prefer not to speak of). But with all the age limits, and cut off times, the Wizard wants to help businesses display their venue’s policies without their staff having to communicate their rules every five seconds.

As business owners ourselves, we know how crazy and hectic things can get – especially our customer service team. Day in and day out they deal with some of the exact same questions – we can only imagine how bartenders, owners, and bouncers feel. This is why our team of designers have created a series of new buttons inspired by some of these things we’re sure people who work in and operate bars and clubs around the country want their patrons to know without even having to ask.

Each of our buttons are made up of high quality parts, and designed with bold colors in order to get the attention that they were intended to receive. Made for a variety of club and bar related jobs, these buttons will let your visitors and potential customers know the rules. We know there’s no shortage of underage kids out there who would like nothing more than to grab a couple drinks before they are legally allowed – but if they manage to do this in your establishment, that could spell big trouble for you and your employee’s, as well as liquor license.

Having your employee’s wear these flashy new buttons will not only keep your guests in the know as to your stance on the laws, but it will also make sure that your employee’s stay mindful of the rules as well as when it comes to the distribution and sale of alcohol. The last thing the Wizard wants is for any bar or night club to find itself in hot water over underage drinking allegations. Each of our bar buttons are 2 ¼” in diameter and come with a secure traditional pin backing so your employees can be sure that it stays in place all night.

Want to retrace the Wizard’s ancient steps? Check out a few of his favorite bars around the world!