What does being relatable have to do with name tags?

To answer this question, we first must be able to understand what relatability means.

As presented by Ira Glass and quoted by Rebecca Mead in The New Yorker, “Relatability has become widely and unthinkingly accepted as a criterion of value, even by people who might be expected to have more sophisticated critical tools at their disposal. The contemporary meaning of “relatable”—to describe a character or a situation in which an ordinary person might see himself reflected—first was popularized by the television industry.”

In layman’s terms, relatable means enabling a person to feel that they can relate to someone or something. Being relatable makes it possible to understand, like, or have sympathy for because of similarities to oneself or one’s own experiences.

Now that we have that understanding, what does relatability have to do with name tags?

Scott Ginsberg, the Name Tag Guy, said, “the first idea to remember is that approachability is a two-way street. It’s both you stepping onto someone’s front porch, and you inviting someone to step onto your front porch. It connects people to you. It allows them to feel more comfortable talking to you.”

Name tags make people approachable. By helping people to connect your name with your face, customers and clients will be more comfortable with your business. And, your employees, in turn, will be loyal to your business and their interactions with your customers.

Loyalty goes for all customers. Everyone enjoys a good customer service experience. When they can purchase the product they are looking for from a friendly and relatable person, they are more likely to repeat their business. And it’s free advertising! People are more apt to share their experience with others who will, in turn, enjoy the benefits your business has to offer.

The biggest hurdle you will face while finding relatability is humanizing the people in your business. Name tags are the key to this issue. By providing that visible name, you allow your brand and reputation to speak for themselves!

As Ginsberg says, “Your name tag is your best friend for several reasons. First of all, a person’s name is the single context of human memory most forgotten. And people are less likely to approach you if they don’t know (or forgot) your name. Secondly, it’s free advertising for you and your company. Third, name tags encourage people to be friendly and more approachable.”