How To Customize Lanyards Online?
Lea Alber
From lanyards attached to mobile phones to ID badges worn to the Olympic Games by staff and athletes, lanyards have become an everyday item for people across all walks of life. You'll find lanyards everywhere, from trade shows and exhibitions to corporate gatherings, and many other places.
They can be customized in length, material, and an endless number of accessory combinations to fit unlimited purposes. And to be clear, some people may still find the custom lanyard options quite overwhelming. We will outline the steps you'll need to take to create the best fit for your custom lanyard in this guide.
I. What are the functions of lanyards?
The functions of the lanyard can be summarized in 6 aspects, which almost cover the main functions of the lanyards.
1. Identification: Lanyards are usually used to hold ID cards, employee badges, or visitor passes. Lanyards allow you to have your identification in plain sight and avoid taking it on and off throughout the day.
2. Security: Lanyards present ID cards or access cards in plain sight. This is in plain sight and helps with other safety and security action plans to ensure security at work or for a specific event. Lanyards also assist in dramatically reducing the likelihood that you are going to misplace important items like phones, wallets, or card holders.
3. Portability: Lanyards are a very simple and hands-free way to keep various small items, from keys and phones to USB sticks and whistles.
4. Branding and marketing: Lanyards can be printed with logos or slogans and therefore become a very useful promotional product and advertising. Businesses, Schools, and institutions are increasingly acknowledging lanyards as a marketing and promotional technique to demonstrate and promote a product or brand.
5. Event and identification: Lanyards are being more regularly used in exhibitions, conferences, and at sporting events, in part to identify who the participants, staff, or teams are and to assist with promoting organization and communication.
6. Fashion: Some lanyards serve a function, while others are also fashionable. Lanyards can be custom-designed or in certain colors and patterns, a fun way for individuals to signify their uniqueness or brand.
II. How to customize lanyards online?
1. Understand your purpose
The first consideration for customizing a lanyard is the use you want it for, the reason you are ordering it. Only after establishing a clear purpose for the lanyard can you select materials, colors, printing methods, and accessories that are more specific to that purpose.
For instance, a workplace lanyard needs to be durable and suitable for maintaining and displaying ID cards; A lanyard for exhibitions and events needs to be memorable for branding and awareness; And lanyards for daily use need to be light for convenience and have some personalization. Without a clear purpose, customisation solutions cannot guarantee a practical solution whilst still being attractive and practical.
2. Choose the right lanyard types
There are as many as 16 types of lanyards, each with different characteristics. The following are some of the more common types of lanyards.
● Dye sublimation lanyards
Advantage: Bright colors - can achieve full color gradient effects; Can create more complex or photo-realistic designs.
Best for: Trade shows, brand promotions, event gifts.
● Printed nylon lanyards
Advantage: High gloss and stiff with good print clarity.
Best for: Corporate ID cards and conference badges.
● Printed polyester lanyards
Advantage: Cheap, soft, and comfortable, and good print.
Best for: Mass and corporate events, daily office use.
● Woven lanyard
Advantage: Text or logo woven in, durable, and doesn't fade.
Best for: Long-term programs, display for corporate image or identity.
● 3D Silicone printing lanyards
Advantage: Creates a raised logo, a three-dimensional feel, ultra-durable, and waterproof.
Best for: Sports, outdoor, and fashion customization.
● Printed tubular polyester lanyards
Advantage: Lightweight and economical, and it has a surface that is acceptable for simple printing.
Best for: Large-scale events and giveaways.
● Two-Tone lanyards
Advantage: Two-toned, double-sided - unique visual effect.
Best for: Personalization, branding.
● Reflective lanyards
Advantage: High nighttime visibility - safety, security.
Best for: Nighttime events, security personnel.
Many different styles and types of lanyards exist. There are over eight distinct types of lanyards, such as Cord Lanyards (lightweight), Light Up Lanyards (glow in the dark), or Glitter Lanyards (shiny and fashionable).
3. Choose lanyard size and color
Once the application and material are established, you need to make decisions regarding the color and size of the lanyard you wish to purchase. Both color and size make a difference not only in how the lanyard looks, but how it is used, as well as brand identification.
① How to choose a lanyard color？
● Branding: Organizations typically choose a primary color that is the same as their logo so that their overall image looks consistent.
● Functional Purpose: At large events, you can have different colors of lanyards to differentiate between staff, guests, and audience members.
● Customization: If you are using a lanyard as an everyday draw or as a gift, you may have access to brighter colors, gradients, print, and other custom options
② How to choose a lanyard size？
● Width: You can expect to see widths ranging from 1/2 inch, 5/8 inch, 3/4 inch and 1 inch. The wider widths are most appropriate for larger logos or text, while the narrower widths are lighter and more compact.
● Length: the majority of lanyards come with a standard length of 36 inches for most adults; This length will allow for a lanyard to comfortably rest on your chest and will be easily reachable for showing any ID or credentials. Your standard children's lanyard is 30 inches, while a custom large lanyard is 42 inches. Regarding the size of the mobile phone lanyard, you can choose a shorter 8-inch.
4. Select lanyard attachments
The accessories of the lanyard are mainly the lanyard buckles, which are of 12 types. The materials include metal, plastic, and rope. Among them are hook types, clip types, and buckle types. Choose according to the items you need to hang.
How to choose a stitch style for a lanyard?
The stitch style of a lanyard buckle refers to the way in which the buckle connects to the lanyard, specifically the stitch and seam configuration used to sew the buckle on; It affects the strength and security of the buckle and lanyard durability. There are mainly 5 types. After you choose the accessories of the lanyard, choose a suitable and firm stitch style for the corresponding accessories.
5. Design your lanyard online
After selecting your length, material, and anything else, the next stage is to construct your lanyard. This includes designing patterns, text, logos, and other aspects. If you have promotional needs, you can also print a theme or slogan. Artists can even print their own artwork on the lanyard.
Regarding custom lanyard design, the manufacturer provides free design services and can customize the design according to your ideas. If you like DIY, you can directly upload your work and the manufacturer will make it directly for you.
6. Confirm order details
Before production begins, be sure to confirm the design details to avoid delays caused by production errors. If you have any custom lanyard design questions, ask the designer for prompt revisions.
Confirm the product quantity and production lead time. Quantity and lead time can affect product discounts, so don't miss out on manufacturer discounts. If you have ample time to prepare, be sure to check the details carefully.
7. Place your order and receive your custom lanyard
The last step is to wait for production to be completed and receive your product. Although the manufacturer will conduct strict quality inspection before shipment, you also need to check whether there are any problems with the product after receiving the package. If there are any problems, you can contact the manufacturer for after-sales service.
III. What are the tips for customizing lanyards？
1. Make our custom lanyard design simple
A simpler design reads better and will have a stronger visual presence, especially when viewed at a distance. There is always a temptation to add more elements to a lanyard, but resist.
2. Give your brand an identity
Always use brand colors and your logo. This will induce brand recognition and professionalism while being clear on the lanyard as an extension of your brand.
3. Order more than you think you need for events
It is always wise to order more than you want or need. You never know if last-minute new staff are hired, if you might use some as giveaways, or for any future events coming up.
4. Plan ahead for your delivery time of the lanyard
A custom lanyard can take time not only to make but to ship. Be wise and allocate enough time to plan so that lanyards will be available before the event or when new hires start.
IV. FAQ
1. What is the best material for custom lanyards?
Although the materials of lanyards are varied, polyester is generally considered the best option.
2. How long does it take to produce a custom lanyard?
Production will generally be 7-15 working days.
3. Can lanyards be customized?
Yes, you can customize any design to the custom lanyard, including logos, text, and patterns.
4. What is the minimum order quantity for custom lanyards?
The minimum order quantity is usually 50-100; however, there are also a lot of manufacturers that have a No Minimum Qty service, so this means you can buy as little as one piece.