Name badges are an integral part of event hosting. Whether you’re planning a conference, convention, trade show, or corporate event, your guests will need name badges.
There are a host of ways to use name badges to your advantage-and there are several ways you can mess them up, too. Here are the seven most common name badge mishaps and how to avoid them.
1. Not Identifying the Purpose Behind Your Event’s Badges
One of the most common mistakes event organizers make when crafting their badges is failing to identify the purpose behind them. Name badges can have several different reasons for being used at an event, but neglecting to focus on those purposes will defeat the whole point of the badge.
Your primary motive in using name badges is to enhance security, foster networking, collect data, or build brand awareness. Whatever the purpose(s), it will influence the design of your badges.
If you do a poor job designing your badges for their intended purpose, your guests and the overall event will suffer. Because of that, before you do anything else with badges, make sure you’ve identified your main goals for name badges.
2. Including Too Much or Not Enough Relevant Information
Once you’ve figured out your primary purpose for name badges, you can begin designing them. You’ll first want to consider the information to include on your guests’ badges. Examples of information can include:
- Guest name
- Guest job title and company
- Guest LinkedIn handle
- Promotional branding materials
- Customer service contact information
- Vendors or sponsors
The information you include will entirely depend on your badges’ purpose. The most important thing to remember is that you want to include everything that’s necessary and nothing that’s not. You don’t want your badges to look too crowded or empty-instead, try to strike a balance.
3. Not Incorporating Your Brand’s Logo
Even if your main goals don’t include spreading brand awareness, you should always include your logo on badges. This will help your guests associate your brand with a positive experience.
It’s a given that you want your guests to have an incredible time at your event. Your attendees will spend significant time looking at their badges throughout the event. Every time they see your logo, they’ll become more aware of your brand and associate their unforgettable memories with it. This can lead to strong guest loyalty and increased registration rates for future events.
4. Using Small or Illegible Fonts
In your quest to include enough information on your event badges, small fonts where you can cram in a lot of information might tempt you. Alternatively, you may go a little too far with the creative process and use a font that’s difficult to read.
When it comes to badges, clean and simple is key. Make sure all elements are clearly legible from several feet away to facilitate networking and accommodate all guests.
5. Pre-Printing Badges
No guest wants to deal with the hassle and embarrassment of receiving a badge with their name misspelled or information printed incorrectly. The only thing that will do is create long lines to fix the issue, leading to frustration for everyone involved.
A simple way to avoid this is to use on-demand badge printing for events. That way, registrants have the opportunity to correct any mistakes during the check-in process and ensure their badges are correct.
6. Not Taking Advantage of the Latest Technology
Many event organizers think the best way to use 21st-century technology is to have guests download an app to navigate the event. However, this is a misguided attempt to adopt modern innovation.
Guests don’t want to take the time to download an app they’ll only use once. Instead, including a QR code on everyone’s badges is much simpler and more convenient.
QR codes allow for lightning-fast scanning so guests can quickly access everything from updates and notifications to maps and schedules in one central location. You can also choose to include a separate, individualized QR code on each guest’s badge linked to their LinkedIn profile to better facilitate professional networking.
7. Not Tracking Guest Behavior
Whatever the primary goals behind the design of your badges, every event manager should emphasize the importance of tracking guest behavior. There are several reasons why it’s vital for event management, including the ability to accurately gauge guest satisfaction and adjust future events for maximum engagement. One simple yet incredibly powerful way to do this is by introducing RFID badges for events.
RFID scanning allows you to easily monitor attendance and drop-off rates at every session. It can also enhance security, allowing you to see who’s in the room at all times. Another notable advantage of RFID badges is that they don’t take up any extra room in your badge design, allowing you to seamlessly integrate them without compromising any space.
Designing the Perfect Event Badge
Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to crafting the perfect event badge. What works for a trade show might not work for a corporate event. However, managers of every type of event can follow several guidelines-such as including relevant information, QR codes, and RFID scanning-to provide the best possible badges for their guests.