Name Tag Deadly Sins – Part 1

The Seven Deadly Sins of Ineffective Name Tags

*This list is adapted from Scott Ginsberg, The Name Tag Guy.

“Your name tag is your best friend. It is a lifesaver in meetings, trade shows and events to start conversations when you meet groups of new people. It also identifies you as well as your company in the minds of others,” Scott Ginsberg is known for saying.

So, what’s the trick to making sure that your name tags makes you approachable? Follow these first four attributes as set forth by Scott from “The Seven Deadly Sins of Ineffective Name Tags.” *Follow up will come next week with the remaining three.

First, size: Have you ever been in a situation where someone is squinting and staring directly at your chest or other area desperately trying to make out tiny letters on your name tag? “This is self defeating, embarrassing and actually works to decrease your approachability,” says Scott. A name tag should be readable from at least 10 feet away, thus making the recommended font size a minimum of 24 point. Try and make the font as big as you can, also avoid cursive, script or other fancy writing styles.

Second, color: The most effective background color for a name badge is white. While having an outline in a bright color does grab attention to the wearer, make sure the background is stark white for visibility. By doing so, this allows maximum visibility for a logo, your name and, if necessary, your position within your company. All font should be either black or dark blue ink. “Fashion must be outweighed by your name tag’s approachability and visibility!” exclaims Scott.

Third, turnaround: One frustrating name tag problem that people face is “the name tag turnaround.” No name; no logo; no company; just the blank back of the name badge. This happens especially when the name tag is worn around the neck on a lanyard or worn with a clip. To avoid having “name tag turnaround” (a phrase coined by Scott), make sure to always write the exact same information on both sides.

Fourth, clutter: “Avoid name tags with overly thick borders, unnecessary clutter or too much text. All of the information contained must be readable and memorable in less than five seconds. Remember, they call them name tags because the name must be the focal point, whether it’s the name of the person or the name of the company, those are the two most important pieces of information,” says Scott.

By avoiding these first four “deadly sins” your name tag will become more efficient and, as Scott always says, you’ll improve your approachability!