So what can the mighty badge do for you? Beyond being your business card, handshake, ad or even a closed deal, a name badge is your chance to make a name for yourself which is the key to success.
Stretch out
By way of self-disclosure and forgoing anonymity, wearing a nametag LITERALLY causes you to “stick yourself out there. It might be uncomfortable but that’s the best way to learn…and who are we kidding comfort zones are overrated, you have no business there anyway!
Branding
Name badges are a key aspect of the branding exercise because they are worn on the very front line of the customer/client game. They’ve become part of the total branding opportunity when promoting your brand. A recent survey of 1,000 men and women across the U.S. revealed that 96% felt it was it important to recognize a person by name when doing business.
75% of those surveyed agreed that wearing a name badge would help one to stand out in job searches and career advancement.
77% believed that wearing a name badge helps to personally brand oneself at meetings, conferences or networking events. (Survey conducted by Social Science Research Solutions.)
Professionalism
Wearing a name badge effectively communicates you are serious and take pride in your position. Your customers and business connections will notice your attention to detail and the confident first impression a name badge provides. With your name and logo at the forefront of your professional interactions, it gives an important visual that makes your brand memorable and more personal.
Approachability
Regardless of the design, name badges say “I’m here to help” and they say it loud and clear just by being worn! Think about it from a customer point of view. If your employees or members are proudly wearing name badges, they are instantly identified as being open, willing and available to help.
An equalizer
When nametags are worn correctly (no last names, acronyms, degrees, positions or designations, just the first name your mama gave you) you successfully leveled the playing field. This allows you to lead with your person, NOT your profession. This allows people to know you first as a human, not a statistic.
Engagement tool
The hardest part about conversations is getting the ball rolling. That’s why names are so great. They are THE basic building block of conversation the sooner someone knows your name, the sooner they are more comfortable and willing to engage. Simply stated, names reduce the distance between people. So disarm and expedite conversations with a name tag!
Interactive Advertising
Traditional advertising can be expensive. Name badges enable you to increase your promotional space by placing it at the forefront of your interactions and maybe even allow you to upsell your latest product/service, promote your seasonal deals or simply increase awareness about your business…ahh the versatility of the mighty badge!
– Article submitted by Kendra Lee,
WNRC Board Secretary