When you are considering promotional items, you want to find something that people will like, remember, and use. A promotional item that makes a good impression on users will make plenty of impressions of its own. One promotional item that will never lose appeal is the custom lanyard.
What Is A Lanyard Used For?
A lanyard is a strap or cord that is sewn together in a loop designed to be worn around the neck and has a clip or hook attached. There are a variety of clip and hook attachments to choose from depending on the use of your lanyard.
There are lots of reasons that companies and private individuals use lanyards, and as such, they are a great piece of promotional material. Custom lanyards are low cost but have high visibility, and unlike many types of promotional materials, they actually get used. These lanyards frequently see use past the initial meeting or event at which they are distributed. They are practical and are actually required in many situations. Because they can easily hold keys and badges, they make it easy to grant building access or even admission. Take advantage of this required use and add a custom message and logo to promote your company or event. You will see thousands – sometimes even millions – of impressions at a very low cost.
Why Lanyards?
Corporate rules drive lanyard visibility in many cases. More and more companies are requiring their employees to have photo identification with them at all times. As a result, we are seeing increased demand for the use of lanyards.
Lanyards hold badges, IDs, or even keys without attaching anything to clothing. We see professionals across so many different industries, from healthcare to academics, purchasing lanyards for work. They are a must-have item for holding access badges at trade shows or conferences, too.
Types of Lanyards
There are several types of promotional lanyards.
- Tubular lanyards are an economical choice and are thinner than other types of lanyards. They can have simple text or small images printed on tube-stitched material made similar to a shoelace.
- Webbing lanyards are tough and durable, perfect for daily use in heavy industries like building, manufacturing, security, and more.
- Nylon lanyards are at the other end of the spectrum, offering the highest shine and softest feel of any lanyard type available. These are often called satin lanyards and can have full-color printing at great resolution.
- Flat polyester lanyards are a very popular style. They offer a near-perfect combination of value and performance. They’re great for many uses and take well to printing. These lanyards have clear, crisp imprinted text and logos.
- Woven lanyards are perfect for text. These feature an elegant, classic look, achieved by weaving the text into the lanyard material in a process similar to embroidery. These lanyards can be made from polyester or cotton; if you want to show that your company is sustainable, choose cotton to send an eco-friendly message. Woven lanyards do not take well to printing, so unless your logo is very simple and can be sewn in, stick to text for these lanyards.
How Is A Lanyard Used?
All lanyards share two functions: they are meant to be worn around the neck, and they are meant to hold something. But lanyards can have functions beyond these basics. You need to make sure that you are choosing the right type of custom lanyard for the right purpose. Here are some scenarios for different types of lanyards.
- Promotional Use: If you’re giving away lanyards, choose full-color lanyards (usually called satin lanyards) for personalizing with more detailed graphics and full-color photography. This way, your company will be front and center, with details that are easy to see even from a distance.
- Short-Term Use: For conferences and trade shows, choose lightweight lanyards with a split key ring attachment for the badge pouch. Attendees at these events need easy access to their badges.
- Long-Term Use: Sturdy lanyards with a safety breakaway and detachable clip are best for long-term daily use like holding keys and ID tags. For some long-term use, like for manufacturing and maintenance teams, you may want sturdy webbing instead of basic nylon fabric for the body of the lanyard.
- Security Use: For staff members in after-dark and low-light areas like night security teams, consider reflective lanyards for safety.
When your lanyard is for ID badges, event access pass, or similar type of use, don’t forget to order badge holders as well!
If you are a company that plans to give your employees lanyards, you can either do badge holders, or custom cut your badges to have a hole that a clip can go in. Some badge makers automatically do that, so before you order lanyards, check with your access office to see what style your employee badges are.
Who Uses Lanyards?
One of the best things about lanyards as a promotional item is that they are often used long past the original event at which they were distributed. Here is a short list of just a few of the many uses of lanyards.
- Colleges – Students and Staff
Student IDs are one of the first items a student receives across college and university campuses nationwide. That’s millions of impressions for your brand year after year. Students may also bring their own lanyards with them if those lanyards are souvenirs of something they really enjoyed, like a convention or concert. - Corporate Offices
In law firms, financial institutions, insurance companies, and any large corporate offices keep a supply of lanyards with visitor ID badges at the front reception area. Identifying visitors is the first step to ensuring company and employee security, and lanyards are more visible than sticker badges. - Event and Concert Staff
From football games to concerts, staff at these events have special badges to go backstage or go on the field. With a quick flash of their ID badge, they can go to these secure areas, and a lanyard around the neck makes it easy and convenient! Reflective lanyards or breakaway lanyards will ensure the safety of event staff in crowded areas, as well as make them easier to find and see. - Government Workers
Because state and government employees work in a highly secure environment and use a secure ID to get to and from different parts of the building, lanyards are an essential item for them. The lanyard and badge holder combination conveniently holds their secure ID badge around their neck. Lanyards with reflective strips are helpful for nighttime and low-light settings. - Gyms and Health Clubs
Hand out membership cards attached to a branded lanyard. Help members keep track of their ID cards and get advertising at the same time. Choose a brightly colored lanyard that is easier for members to find after they’ve tossed it in their gym bag. - Healthcare Workers
Nurses, doctors, custodians, supply managers, and staff in charge of medical supplies and medicine use lanyards for keys and IDs. In healthcare settings, more and more keys are being switched to secure electronic card access systems for safety and sanitation reasons, so having those electronic passes close at hand on a lanyard will make it easier for hospital staff to move quickly between areas. - Hospitality Industry
Hotel and resort staff, including front desk staff, concierge, housekeeping, and maintenance teams, have quick admittance to controlled access areas with access cards and keys attached to a lanyard. - Media
Reporters know that they can’t get the scoop without their press pass. Keeping that visible and around their neck on a lanyard makes this a great option for them. If you are a media agency, you can send your reporters and staff out with branded lanyards so that there’s never any question about who they work for. - Teachers
The average teacher or administrator has 2 keys on them at all times, along with their ID badge. With a lanyard, they can show their school spirit and keep their keys with them at all times around their neck. - Drivers
What’s more frustrating than a missing car key? Lanyards make it easy to grab your keys and find them in your bag. Wearing your keys on lanyards is a great way to remember them and to have them at hand. No more fumbling for your keys when it’s raining or snowing!