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Metalpromo

We specialize in designing & producing custom metal promotional products

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7 Common Lapel Pin Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

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7 Common Lapel Pin Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Having the right design for your custom pins requires knowing what not to do. Here are common lapel pin design mistakes and how to avoid them.

Lapel pins have been in existence since the 13th century when they were first seen in use by the Byzantine Empire. For centuries, we associated lapel pins with military organizations.

Now, all sorts of organizations are creating custom lapel pins. Lapel pins can be as bright or subtle as you want them to be. They can be used for everything from fundraising to marketing to boosting organization pride!

The question is, can you go wrong with your lapel pin design? There are some lapel pin design mistakes that you’re going to want to avoid–and we’re here to help.

Read on for seven lapel pin mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. Not Going Custom

If you’re looking for lapel pins to use as a fundraising item or to promote your branding, it may seem tempting to go with a pre-designed lapel pin that you’ve found online. However, this isn’t the best choice if you want your organization to stand out.

Coming up with your own design (or collaborating with one of our artists) gives you the opportunity to truly represent your organization. By creating something unique, you create something memorable. Plus, a pre-designed lapel pin won’t capture the essence of your branding nearly as well as one that incorporates your branding into the design.

2. Overcomplicating Your Design

Once you’ve made the choice to custom design your lapel pin, it’s time to start thinking about aesthetics. What should it look like? One thing you want to avoid is overcomplicating your design.

Overcomplicated designs tend to have too many small images or too much text. Remember, lapel pins are usually about one to three inches wide or tall. You want the design to translate well to this small size and maintain legibility and clarity.

If you have to reduce the amount of imagery or text on your design, don’t worry. We recommend sticking to your organization name, the relevant year, and possibly a slogan if it’s only a few words long. Your design may not be as detailed as you originally wanted, but we guarantee that it will still represent your organization well.

3. Not Thinking About the Message Your Color Scheme Sends

Did you know that there’s a psychology to color? When you’re putting together a simple design, it can be helpful to think about color psychology and how your color scheme can send a message.

Color psychology can get a little complicated. A quick, good rule of thumb is to remember that warm colors (like red and yellow) tend to evoke feelings of excitement and happiness while cool colors (like blue and purple) tend to evoke feelings of calmness and professionalism.

4. Using Too Many Colors

Just like you don’t want to crowd your design with too many images or too much text, you don’t want to overwhelm your design with too many colors. Whether you’re going with a printed or enamel-filled lapel pin, you may want to limit your design to four colors or less.

When you’re creating a design out of metal, it’s best to use single tones. In other words, shading may look great when you design your pin on the computer or on paper, but it won’t translate well to the pin, itself. Instead, you’ll want to choose single tones and pick colors with high contrast so that your lapel pin pops.

5. Not Thinking About Sizing

Lapel pins come in a variety of sizes, and sizing truly does matter. Choosing the wrong size for your lapel pin can mean that fewer people will actually wear them–or be able to see your design.

Typically, the more complicated your design is, the bigger you’re going to want your lapel pin to be. That being said, size is a big part of pricing. If you’re making your lapel pins on a budget, it may be best to opt for a smaller size with a simple, pared-back design.

6. Not Thinking About Purpose

As we mentioned earlier, lapel pins can be used for a number of reasons and on a number of occasions. Just like any other swag or marketing material, you should think about the purpose of your lapel pin as you put together the design.

For example, if you’re marketing with lapel pins, you’ll want the design to reflect your overall company. Create brand recognition by including your logo and company name on your marketing lapel pins.

However, you may be using your lapel pins to commemorate a specific occasion. If that’s the case, you may want to include the year and the name of the occasion or event in question.

At the end of the day, purpose does dictate design. It’s often best to start out by brainstorming the purpose of your lapel pins before you start designing them.

7. Choosing the Wrong Lapel Pin Company

A good design can easily be ruined by the wrong lapel pin company. Custom metal products are growing in popularity, which means that more and more lapel pin companies are cropping up–and not all of them will suit your needs.

We offer a variety of sizes, materials, and attachments to ensure that you get exactly what you’re looking for. We also work with you to create the perfect design and offer free revisions to make the process more affordable. At MetalPromo, our goal is to make your vision come to life.

Avoid These Lapel Pin Design Mistakes and Create a Timeless Momento

Lapel pins are a great way to celebrate or commemorate your organization. By avoiding these lapel pin design mistakes, you can create a timeless memento that everyone will proudly wear!

If you’re interested in our custom lapel pins here at Metal Promo, get started with us by requesting a free quote. We’re transparent about our pricing so that you can make an informed decision.

Promotional Fundraising Products: 5 Reasons to Use Lapel Pins

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Promotional fundraising products are the best way to launch your program or offer commemorative souvenirs and what better way than with custom lapel pins!

Spreading awareness for your charity or fundraiser can be hard work.

It’s necessary work, however. If you can’t find the proper support for your cause, then it’ll be incredibly difficult to maintain your funds, let alone increase them.

That’s why you need fundraising products. Something that someone can take home, wear, and use to tell other people about your cause. Lapel pins are a great example of how fundraising products can start conversations and spread awareness.

Lapel pins have been used to spread awareness dating all the way back to the mid 19th century. At that time, they were used mostly to campaign for political candidates, but as the years have gone on, the uses for pins like these have multiplied.

In this post, we’re going to give you 5 great reasons to use lapel pins for your fundraiser. The best way to appeal and spread a positive message to people is by using…you guessed it, other people. Let’s talk lapel pins.

Why Fundraising Products Work

The hardest thing for fundraisers to do is actually generate interest in the cause that they’re raising funds for. Unless a person is specifically affected by a certain cause, it can be hard to get someone to really care enough to donate.

Fundraising products allow non-profit and charity organizations to create incentive around giving donations. Instead of quietly donating their money to your cause, the person gets a token of their donation and your appreciation. It’s a nice way to commemorate a truly good deed.

There’s a lot more to it though. Most people are far more likely to donate to a charity or fundraiser when they’ve received a gift. You can also take it one step farther and sell your fundraising products to ensure that you get a return on them.

The advertising benefits are also obvious. If you give away or sell a wearable fundraising product, then you’re creating a walking advertising campaign, allowing more people to become aware of your fundraiser and increasing the likelihood of donations.

This is why lapel pins are so effective. Next, we’re going look at why lapel pins make the perfect wearable fundraising product for your charity fundraiser.

5 Reasons to Use Lapel Pins

Lapel pins first popped up in the form of campaign pins in the mid 19th century. One of the oldest examples of the campaign pin was with Abe Lincoln’s campaign in the 1860s. Even since then, these pins have been widely used to display devotion and spread support for presidential candidates.

Needless to say, this form of support has spread to other areas, including charitable fundraising and the non-profit sector. So, what makes a good lapel pin?

It has to look good, for one. But, it also needs to convey the underlying message of the fundraising campaign in a concise way. The best lapel pins will build awareness around the branding of the fundraiser. This is how you get people of all demographics to pay attention.

1. Cheap Way to Spread Awareness

Politicians used to call their campaign pins “walking billboards” and while that kind of bluntness may dehumanize your donors, it’s not untrue. Giving away lapel pins for people to put on their jackets or shirts allows your message to spread in a silent but effective way.

A well-designed lapel pin will start conversations and lead to more awareness around your fundraiser. Whether it’s a school fundraiser or you’re raising funds for a charitable donation to a cause, building awareness is always the name of the game.

2. They Can Lead to Donations

Giving away your fundraiser’s lapel pins builds awareness, but it can also lead directly to donations. Young people are the most likely to make charitable donations and they’re even more likely to do so after they’ve been given a gift. In short, your investment in lapel pins will pay off quickly.

You don’t have to give them away, though. You can sell your lapel pins and turn an immediate profit so that you don’t have to rely on “donation.” With a good company at the helm, they’ll be cheap to make, so you can earn good money by selling your lapel pins for even $5.

3. Build Your Brand to Achieve Long Term Goals

Brand building is the best way to create long-term waves in the fundraising world. Campaigns like Livestrong, Breast Cancer Awareness, and Project Life Jacket show us how branding can take off and bring fundraising to a completely new level.

Even on a local level, you can make branding with your lapel pins a priority. Accompany your pins with a great social media campaign and you’ll be off to the races. Campaigns with great branding go viral quickly these days.

4. They’re Collectable

Pins are collectible items. Surely you’ve seen jean-jacket wearing kids walking down the street with their denim covered in pins. There are other people that keep their pin collections at home, on a corkboard, or in safekeeping.

Give these people an attractive new pin to add to their collection. It’ll be a wonderful reminder of the donation that they once made to your fundraiser.

5. You Can Always Keep It Fresh

Since lapel pins are cheap to make and act as a small token of a donation, you can keep designing new ones and giving them away. You can keep the fundraiser alive with new branding and a fresh marketing campaign.

If you’re doing a yearly fundraiser, you can make a new pin design each year and give them to your donors so they can start a collection. You could even create a marketing campaign centered around your pins to drum up awareness around the fundraiser when you notice donations decline.

Get Your Lapel Pins Made Today

The value of fundraising products cannot be understated. If you want your fundraiser to be legit, then make sure you’re offering these products to your donors.

To get your lapel pins made, visit us at Metalpromo today. We offer custom soft and hard lapel pins that work great for fundraisers, educational purposes, and military service. While you’re there, check out our blog for more information on the value of a great pin.

Create a Culture of Caring: The Importance of Employee Recognition

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Create a Culture of Caring: The Importance of Employee Recognition

Did you realize that employee engagement rose to nearly 35 percent last year? While this is much better than in previous years, this statistic shows that American business owners still have a long way to go when it comes to connecting with their employees.

Failing to find ways to engage your employees can lead to problems with productivity and higher than normal turnover rates. Some business owners get so wrapped up in the day to day managing of their company that they fail to give employees a pat on the back. Learning about the importance of employee recognition of essential when trying to grow your business.

If your team is unmotivated and feel like they are being taken for granted, then they will do bare minimum while on the clock. Instead of dealing with the negative consequences this will create, you need to hand out rewards and recognition whenever possible.

Read below to find out more about why employee recognition is so important.

Employee Recognition Can Increase Productivity Levels

The cornerstone of any successful business is high levels of productivity. If everyone on your team is pulling their weight, doing things like meeting project deadlines and taking on large scale projects will be a breeze.

Employees who feel like the work they do doesn’t really matter have a habit of phoning it in while on the clock. This “bare minimum” attitude can affect your business in a negative way. Rather than letting your team feel neglected and unappreciated, you need to take the time to recognize the hard work they do.

If you give your team an incentive to work hard, they will give you their all on a consistent basis. Whether you recognize employees with a plaque or coveted parking place, showing them that you care is paramount.

Recognized Employees Are Much Happier

As most adults know, getting up and going to work on a daily basis can become draining over time. People who are not being recognized or engaged in the workplace may start to dread working. The last thing you want is a workplace full of unhappy and disgruntled employees.

The main goal you should have as a business owner is making your employees happy. The best way to do this is by showing them you see and appreciate what they are doing.

Often times, happier employees will call in less and get more done while they are on the clock. As you develop an employee recognition program, you should view this process as an investment in your company. The time and money you put into this recognition will definitely pay off in the long run.

Make Attracting Quality Talent Easier

Taking a business from a startup to success story can be very challenging, to say the least. As your business begins to grow, you will need to hire more employees to lighten the workload. Attracting the best and brightest in your industry will require a lot of hard work and a good reputation.

If word gets around about how well you treat your employees, getting top talent will become much easier. Most people who are looking for a job will thoroughly inspect things like company culture before making any decisions.

When applicants look at your company culture, you want them to find an atmosphere that values hard work and productivity. Hiring new employees with experience and drive will allow you to take your business to the next level.

Make Your Employees Feel Like Part of the Team

One of the biggest problems most business owners have is relaying the goals they have to their team. If your employees don’t know where you want to take the business, they will have a hard time feeling like part of the team. This is why you need to keep them in the loop regarding changes coming down the line.

If you truly appreciate your employees, you need to make an effort to show them they are equals. Once employees start to feel like part of the team, your goals will become their goals.

Trying to take your company to the top without help from your employees will be nearly impossible. This is why you need to focus on having regular meetings to relay information and to recognize their hard work. Getting your team out of the office is a great way to get to know them and have these meetings in a comfortable environment.

The Prospect of Recognition Help With Collaboration

Taking on larger projects can be a nightmare if your team doesn’t play well with each other. Attempting to run a business with a workforce that has a “me first” attitude can lead to lots of problems. This is why you need to focus on recognizing the hard work of employees in groups.

Putting together groups to handle certain aspects of a project can be extremely helpful. The more hands you have on deck when working on a project, the easier you will find it to get results. If your team is aware of your practice of offering recognition to groups of workers, they are more likely to embrace the power of collaboration.

If you are looking for a way to improve teamwork and inter-office relationships, offering team-building exercises is a great idea. Once you show your team how much more they can do with the help of others, increasing collaboration will be a breeze.

Now That You Know the Importance of Employee Recognition…

Building a winning team can be much easier when learning more about the importance of employee recognition. Being consistent with your employee recognition efforts can go a long way when attempting to grow and strengthen your business.

Are you looking for unique ways to show your employees you care? If so, find out more about us and the customized metal goods we have to offer.

How to Use Custom Lapel Pins to Brand Your Business

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Four Benefits of Custom Lapel Pins

Looking for a way to catch the eye of your customers, both existing and potential? Are you curious if there’s a way you can encourage teamwork and a sense of company pride among employees?

Combining the two of these might sound next to impossible. Thanks to lapel pins, you can accomplish both goals at once. Yes, those little pins folks like to wear and even collect!

Ready to learn more? Get ready to discover four benefits of custom lapel pins and how they can help your business.

Custom Lapel Pins

1. People Gravitate Toward Collecting Lapel Pins

Lapel pins have longstanding popularity among people of all different backgrounds. From folks who collect pins created for charities to Disney pins, there’s a market for just about any type of lapel.

One upside to branding with your company logo is the fact that you can create demand without trying too hard. Folks who are interested in lapel pins can go home and look up your company.

With a little bit of viral marketing in the form of fashion, you’ll develop a name and brand that people remember.

2. You Can Create Special Pins For an Event

Are you planning a grand opening, special sale weekend or another type of event? This is a great time to have pins created.

Pass them out to folks and they’re sure to take them. Many people enjoy free swag, especially when attending events where purchases aren’t mandatory.

Once your company becomes popular, your pins can become a rare or sought-after collector’s item.

3. Having More Than One Type of Pin Makes Them Special

Consider making lapel pins for different events, people, and even times of the year. For example, create lapel pins that are only for staff members. These can mention their position or how many years of service they’ve provided to the company.

Employees appreciate it when they’re recognized for hard work. Giving them a unique pin offers a simple way to accomplish that.

Make a pin for a special event or one that you pass out only on one day a year, such as a customer appreciation pin. There’s no limit to what you can accomplish with lapel pins and company promotion.

The more that you have that are limited edition, the greater chances for collecting and demand among customers. And it goes without saying that as they travel further, more people can learn about your business and what it has to offer.

4. Lapel Pins Go With Anything

One reason these pins are so popular is that they go with anything. They can get pinned on any type of shirt, a purse, or even a dress suit.

If you want a promotional item for your company that anyone can enjoy, even if they’re not a consumer of your product or service (yet!), choose lapel pins. Their versatility is popular and they’ll carry on the message for many years to come.

Our Lapel Pin Gallery

Discover More

Using lapel pins in your promotional marketing efforts is a useful way of building your brand and getting the word out. You’ll find many folks interested in what you have to offer.

Are you interested in getting started? Check out our order guide, and see how to begin the process. Looking for pinspiration? Check out our lapel pin pinterest page! Are you ready for a free no obligation quote? Complete our online quote or call us at (877)-312-9794

Top 5 Reasons to Advertise with Promotional Keychains

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Are you trying to think of an effective giveaway that people will see all the time? Here are 5 reasons to advertise with promotional keychains!

No matter how great your product or service is, it really won’t matter if you don’t have a great advertising strategy to get the word out about your business.

One effective way to gain traction with new customers is to give away promotional items from your company.

A promotional item is seen by customers as a gift, but for you they are a means for advertising and promoting your company.

There are tons of small items you can choose to give away. We’re here to tell you why using promotional keychains is a great way to build a foundation with your customer base, while getting some advertising out about your business.

Reasons to Advertise With Promotional Keychains

Promotional items are generally small, inexpensive items that you gift potential customers as a way to make them excited about your business and to get your company name out in the public.

You don’t want to spend a bunch of money on useless promotional products, so make sure you are investing in something that will be effective in advertising for your company.

Here are three reasons why you should choose to advertise with promotional keychains over other promotional items.

1. People Won’t Lose Keychains

A big problem with promotional items is that they are small and easily misplaced or disposable.

For example, a common promotional item companies use is a pen with the business name on it. Pens aren’t great promotional items because they are easily misplaced or will be disposed of once they run out of ink.

However, keychains will never be misplaced because they will be attached to your customer’s house and car keys, which are extremely important to them.

Also, keychains can last forever so using them as a promotional item can give you extra advertising for many years, which isn’t the case with other promotional items.

2. Customers Will See Your Logo Every Day

People love using keychains because it holds their car keys, home keys, and work keys together.

These are things people use every single day. So having your company name attached to your customer’s keys means they’ll be looking at your logo every day.

Also, other people will see your logo whenever they see the customer’s keychain. They may be intrigued by your company and ask about it or do further research.

3. Inexpensive and Practical

When considering promotional items, you want to get low-cost things that are still practical for the customer.

You don’t want to just gift them a cheap, useless item that will almost certainly end up in the garbage. But you also don’t want to spend a ton of money on items that seem nice but have no practicality.

Keychains are practical and cheap to make. Everyone needs keychains, so you know these promotional items won’t end up in the garbage, even though they are cheap to buy.

They are practical because not only do they hold your keys together, but they are portable and easy to transport and give out to your customers.

For Additional Information

If you are deciding on which promotional item to use for advertising, a wonderful choice would be keychains.

They are practical, portable, have great value, and will last way longer than any other promotional item.

If you have any more questions about why you should choose promotional keychains for advertising, please contact us today.

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