| |
| |
|
Marketing Information |
|
|
|
The Seven Deadly Sins of Ineffective Nametags
Your nametag can be your best friend. It can be a lifesaver in meetings, trade shows and events to start conversations when you meet groups of new people. It will also identify you as well as your company in the minds of others. As a result, you will become more approachable and transform strangers into valuable connections. Unfortunately, nametags can become useless and ineffective when they are designed and worn without careful consideration. By avoiding The Seven Deadly Sins of Ineffective Nametags, you will be certain to maximize your approachability by making your nametag will become more visible, more accessible and more efficient. You will also discover that when you invite people to "step onto your front porch," they will cross the chasm between a stranger and a friend, or a prospect and a customer. Size How many times has someone rudely squinted at your chest desperately trying to make out those tiny letters? This can be self defeating, embarrassing and actually work to decrease your approachability. Not to mention it makes the other person feel ridiculous! So, much like a retail price tag, your nametag should be readable from ten feet away-both the font and the nametag itself. According to a nametag survey done by David Alder of Biz Bash, 50% of a group of meeting planners claimed that "illegible font size of nametags was a major problem." And, considering the 75 million baby boomers that have reached, or will reach their bifocal days, this should your top priority. The recommended font size is 24 point, which is at least one inch per letter. Also be certain to avoid cursive, script or other fancy lettering. Clutter Avoid nametags with overly thick borders, unnecessary clutter or too much text. It should be easy on the eyes and all of the information contained should be readable and memorable in less than five seconds. Although including your company name, position and logo is an excellent way to position yourself from a networking standpoint, having some empty background space is vital for contrast. However, if you include anything other than your name, make sure that supplementary text is significantly smaller than the name itself. Remember, they call them nametags because the name should be the focal point. Color The most effective background color for nametags is white. This will allow maximum visibility for your logo, name and position. Dark blue, green or red backgrounds can be used occasionally, but they have a tendency to "steal the show" from the rest of your nametag. The font itself should always be black or dark blue. Never use yellow, orange or any other light color. Even if a dark color choice means an aesthetic digression, fashion must be outweighed by your nametag's approachability and visibility! Finally, unless you work in an academic capacity, avoid gold nametags. Turnaround This is one of the most frustrating problems that most people have faced: "the nametag turnaround." No name. No logo. No company. Just the blank back of the badge! While lanyard or necklace style nametags may reduce clothing damage, there is no doubt these will get accidentally turned around and tangled at some point! Therefore it is vital to always write the exact same information on both sides. And, if someone who doesn't know your name sees your reversed nametag, they might shrug their shoulders, turn away and find another person to talk to! (NOTE: Writing the information on both sides also eliminates the possibility that some of us will purposely turn our nametags around. "Lead us not into temptation?") Placement The horizontal placement of your nametag is a function of the context in which you wear it. Nametags will be easily visible in the line of sight correlating to your handshake. Most businesses handbooks will instruct you to wear nametag in this manner. And, it is a good visual aid for people who have trouble remembering names-which is everyone! On the other hand, for mobile and populated events such as trade shows, expos and conventions, it may be more effective to wear your nametag on your left side. This allows people who approach in your opposite direction to see your nametag with significant ease, since we traditionally walk on the right side of the road/aisle/hallway. Presence Although horizontal placement of your nametag is an important consideration, vertical placement is certainly the most important visibility characteristic. Wearing a nametag in the middle of your chest is likely to get covered by your arms, papers or some other obstruction. Furthermore, central placement of your nametag will make you unavailable to people outside of your conversation, thus limiting your ability to meet more valuable people. So, your nametag is pointless if it's worn below your breastbone. The most effective location is two to three inches below your collar bone on whichever side most fitting for your function. This allows maximum eye contact. Furthermore, high vertical placement of your nametag eliminates the possibility that it will be covered by something. For example, if your nametag hangs too low, it will be impossible for other people to read it when you: sit down, cross your arms, wear a jacket, write down information or use gestures while you talk. Maximization Have you ever seen a five inch nametag with tiny letters the size of sunflower seeds? What a waste! Utilize any and all blank space provided by your nametag. Make it huge! Don't worry about looking silly, because everyone looks silly! And, although font size should be consistently large anyway, don't hesitate to increase the font commensurate with the size of the nametag itself. Imagine your nametag is a personal advertisement. Maximize your space efficiently. Think about this: you will never see a billboard on the highway that only uses half the space provided! The next time you go to a meeting, convention, seminar or trade show, remember that your nametag is your best friend. In other words, think of your nametag as your "front porch." It invites people. It makes them feel comfortable. And, it initiates conversations that transform strangers into valuable connections. But, like any good front porch, it's important to create and wear nametags that are visible, accessible, and efficient so you can maximize your approachability. © 2005 All Rights Reserved. Scott Ginsberg is a professional speaker, "The World's Foremost Expert on Nametags" and the author of HELLO my name is Scott and The Power of Approachability. He helps people MAXIMIZE their approachability and become UNFORGETTABLE communicators - one conversation at a time. For more information contact Front Porch Productions at http://www.hellomynameisscott.com.
MORE RESOURCES:
Marketing - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Happy Hunting! Before you ever get on the telephone, send a marketing piece or set up an appointment with a potential customer, you must first identify whom that customer might be. To do that, you will need to create an "ideal customer profile"-a profile of who would be the best possible prospect for you and whatever you are selling. Free Sample Sales Letter: Example of How to Write a Persuasive Business Marketing Letter Here is an example of a business-to-business sales letter mailed to auto dealers by a firm that markets gift cards that replace paper gift certificates. Anything in brackets [like this] did not appear in the letter but simply appears to describe the mechanics of the letterAuthor: Alan Sharpe Target audience: General managers of auto dealerships Mailer: Sharpe AutoCards [a fictional company for the purposes of this sample letter] Purpose: Generate appointments for salespeople[MAILING ENVELOPE] [Is 5 x 9 inches in dimension and has a window, through which appears a portion of a gift card, personalized with the prospect's name. Five Steps to Partnering with Companies to Build Your Client Base Wouldn't you love a simple formula for easily growing your small business? Here is something that could be just what you are looking for:1. Create an information product based on your expertise. Developing the Unique Selling Proposition The "Unique Selling Proposition" advertising campaign was developed by Reeves in 1961. Reeves proposed that marketers offer products different from their competitor' offerings by developing products that have a special formula, design, or feature. GoogSpy: Business Counter Intelligence for Everyone So, you want to know what your competitors are up to these days, or maybe you want to research a keyword campaign that will rank you at the top of the heap for whatever product or service you're selling? Meet GoogSpy, a special search engine that not only shows you what Google AdWords your competitors are buying, but it will display all of the search terms that rank them in the top 10, PLUS it even displays their top 25 competitors.What search engine does it base all of its intelligence on? Well, with a name like GOOGspy, there can only be one. How to Avoid the Line Extension Trap If you follow the prevailing logic of most modern companies, you will inevitably fall into this trap. Line extension is using an existing brand name or image and extending it to new products. The Great Direct Marketing Conundrum Many a home business owner has spent sleepless nights thinking of ways to turn his venture into a higher profit-making unit and build it to be his primary source of income. This is never easy for a home business because most start-ups face initial lack of money and cash flows. Market Research - How Good is the Data? "Make money for taking surveys"," Cash for your opinion", "Make easy money at home".Everywhere you look there is a company willing to pay people to participate in their surveys. Marketing to Success on a ZERO Budget TOP 10 TIPS TO GET YOU MARKETING TO SUCCESS ON ZERO DOLLARS!I come across so many people that absolutely freak out when they think about having to market their business. Heaps of questions come up like, 'Where do I start?', 'I hate selling', 'How do I market my business when I don't have any money?'?. Trade Show Promotions That Are Memorable If you have been to expos and trade shows as an attendee like me you would be familiar with the exciting prospect of carrying home a heavy plastic bag of trade show promotions, the end result though is usually the trade show promotions end up down the back of the couch, on the floor or in the bottom dusty drawer of your desk, hopefully reading this article on tradeshow promotions, your gift to clients and prospects will not share the same fate.Your tradeshow promotions will need to be carefully chosen to both compete with your competitors and retain the attention of the reciever after the event. What Can Star Wars Teach You About Creating a Buzz for Your Business? Many people think marketing is some type of mystery that only a few select people know the secret too. In fact if you look at the entertainment industry you will find some of the best models to follow. Sales and Marketing: Can One Exist Without the Other? Simply put the marketing people and the sales people depend on each other 100%. One cannot say that a marketing department is any more or less important then the guys who are closing the deals in the sales department. Unique Marketing Ideas That Generate Cash! First of all - keep in touch with your customers! One of the best ways to do this is with a newsletter. Today it's easier than ever to have a newsletter - use email. 5 Steps for Developing a Marketing Tag Line for Your Product, Business, or Website A marketing tag line is the one or two line descriptor that often comes after a product logo or company name. It is one of those things that looks simple but isn't. Promote your Business and Products through Submitting Articles to Top Web Sites Articles submitted to online publishers bring your site new visitors and increase your ezine subscribers. You can also get these benefits by submitting your articles to top Web sites that not only promote your products, but also your services. How To Get Celebrities To Endorse YOUR Product How would you like celebrities to endorse your product?Perhaps that sounds crazy. Well, here's the info. Stretching The String: Five Tips To Maximize Your Marketing When You Are On A Shoe String Budget "I know I need to market my business in order to grow my business, but right now I can't afford it."I have heard this statement numerous times from business owners that are struggling to stay in business. 3 Quick Robotic Online and Offline Marketing Strategies to Help You Work Less and Make More Money What is Marketing? There are many text book answers to this but I like these two definitions the most.To be successful, you have to understand what marketing is, and how to advertise. Great Marketing is Like Making a Great Movie KNOW YOUR AUDIENCEThe Oscars will be handed out soon, and it's a perfect time to keep this in mind: If you're a business owner or manager, it's wise to think of yourself as a great film director who's telling a story. Having directed films, stage, television, and stage productions we noticed that the principles of great directing or filmmaking apply exactly to great marketing. Marketing Lessons From TV's The Apprentice Can we actually learn a marketing lesson from reality TV? In the case of Donald Trump's "The Apprentice" I'd say we can.Advertising and marketing are creative disciplines.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
