Advertising plays a critical role in any business, whether you own a manufacturing company, retail outlet, restaurant, financial business, or any type of Internet venue. One way to get the word out about your company without saying a word is by wearing a scrolling LED badge. Many people wear badges, name tags, or pins to relay a question or statement about their company or cause, such as "Ask me about ______!" (You fill in the blank.)

Name badges can open up a conversation about your business anywhere you go, and may possibly help you gain new clients. With a scrolling LED badge, you can say even more with one little badge because your words are no longer limited to a 2-inch by 3-inch printing space!

What are Scrolling LED Badges?

A scrolling LED badge is an electronic device (battery-operated) that is as small as or smaller than a business card. It features a self-contained LED personal text message system that can be customized to portray any message you want. Your message will scroll across the badge in bright, very noticeable words - just like a scrolling LED business sign. Some LED badges have up to five speed settings so you can find the scrolling speed that's most comfortable for you. Also, a high quality scrolling LED badge will usually last up to 20 hours on one battery. The badge can be turned off when not in use; this gives plenty of time to get your message across before buying another battery!

Your Benefits

The benefits and potential of a scrolling LED badge are tremendous. It's an affordable way to advertise - less than $16 for a good quality badge. This is far less than most advertising techniques. You can barely place one classified ad for that amount! Also, scrolling LED badges can be customized, programmable with various text messages. You'll be able to store different messages and change them quickly as needed.

This also works well if you need to promote two different ideas or businesses, or if you want to test numerous product promotions. You'll be able to switch gears whenever you want without buying multiple printed badges or tags. You can re-program the badge at any time to change your messages, which gives you unlimited ability to test your headlines and see which brings the most response.

Another benefit is the scrolling LED badge is quite noticeable with its bright, fluorescent letters. These really grab attention, unlike any printed badge. People will notice it, and will likely read it out of curiosity. As for wearing the badge, it's easy to attach with a magnetic clip so it will not damage your garments.

You can wear a scrolling LED badge to any restaurant, grocery or department store. Wear your badge at a convention, trade show, or business meeting. Wear it during parties or anywhere there's a lot of people. Use the badge to promote a special cause, fundraiser, political campaign, or for any other reason.

Buying a Scrolling LED Badge

It's easy to buy scrolling LED badges online, whether you need one badge for yourself or many badges for your employees. Look for a company that offers wholesale deals on multiple badges if you need to buy for employees. You can likely save lots of money per badge when buying by the case. Even if you don't own a company or have a cause to promote, scrolling LED badges make wonderful gifts for birthdays or the holidays. If you have a friend or loved one that owns a business or sells a product, they're sure to appreciate your thoughtful gesture!

Start getting noticed today with your own LED badge, and watch your number of prospects increase like never before.

With the economic hardships not yet over, companies are still looking for ways to save money. One of the ways they can do this is by using the company printer to create ID badges for employees and visitors. They're easy to make and won't cost a fortune.

Step One: Make a Mockup.

A mockup is a quickly drawn design of how the ID badge is to look. Before coming up with a few designs, think about the items that can go on an ID badge:

Employee picture

Employee number

Employee title

Employee department

Bar code for time system (if such a system is used)

Business logo

Business address

Unique badge number

A simple employee ID badge will have the employee's name and the company's log on it. More complicated badges will contain all of the information in the aforementioned list. Usually, if the company's address is put on the badge, it is put on the back asking for it to be returned should it be found.

For ID badges that have more information on them than the employee's name and the company logo, it is a good idea to assign each badge with a unique badge number. These numbers should be put into a database to help track the badges and who they are assigned to. This is a security measure that helps keep track of who is responsible with their badges and who is not.

Once the information that is set for inclusion is chosen, it's time to do a rough design on paper. Most ID badges are approximately 2 1/2 inches by 4 inches. A rough mockup only has to have the space for each piece of information laid out. Once a layout is chosen, it's time to begin designing with computer software.

Step Two: Turn the Mockup into a Printable Design

Many offices use some sort of office productivity software. Usually, this is Microsoft Office, which comes with Microsoft Publisher. Other offices use other software brands, but the majority of those office suites come with a program like Publisher. They are used to create flyers, brochures and, in this case, ID badges. However, many find that simply using Word or an equivalent word processing program with draw features is just as suitable and easy to use.

If the software's document wizard doesn't include a paper size of 2 1/2 inches by 4 inches or whichever size was chosen during the mockup stage, then simply go with a full-size document. The image that is created can be tiled for printing later on. If special paper is chosen to print on, make sure the printer and the software have the proper drivers and printing options to accommodate the paper. It is often best to simply use regular or glossy 8 1/2 inch by 11 inch paper. Once the ID badges are printed, they can be cut down to the proper size for further processing.

If including employee photos, it is usually easier to take the photos prior to starting the design process. They can be cropped and saved with each employee's name or employee number in the file name for easy importation to the ID badge design. Once the main design is created, copy and paste it as many times as it will fit in a grid-like structure within the printable area of the document.

Once done, save this as a template. It is possible to place only one blank ID badge in each saved file, but this could drive costs up and defeat the purpose of making the ID badges in-house.

Step Three: Input Employee Information

As soon as the template is created, it is time to input the photos and all the information that is to be included on the badge. To make the saved ID badges easier to update in future, make the badges in alphabetical order by employee name, ordered by their unique badge numbers or ordered by employee numbers. In the case of Publisher or other similar software, it may be necessary to save multiple files.

If so, give them names that correspond to what information is in them or create another database that matches employees' names with the file that contains their badge. If using Word or other word processing software, one long document with all of the badges can be saved. Be aware that using this method may result in the document taking a while to load.

Step Four: Print, Cut and Assemble

Once all of the information is inputted, have one or more extra people proof the badges for mistakes. It wouldn't do to opt for creating ID badges to save money only to print out a bunch and find that mistakes that need correcting before the IDs can be used. After the badges are proofed, it is time to print.

There may not be enough employees about to lend a hand, but creating some sort of assembly line, even if manned by one person, is essential for organized badge creation. It is possible to use scissors to cut each badge away from the others, but a paper cutter is easier to use, and if an office doesn't already have one, they are not very expensive. The cost of a paper cutter can easily fit into a badge production budget.

A laminating machine is also required. These are a little more expensive buy, but they can be rented from many office supply stores too. Simply run the cut badges through the laminating machine. Once the laminating process is finished, use a hole-punch to put holes in them, and affix them to lanyards. Simple cord lanyards are very inexpensive and can be bought in company colors.

Depending on the number of employees, the entire project may take anywhere from an afternoon to a week to complete. However, when a printing service creates the same badges, the cost is generally four to 10 times as high as doing them in-office. The cost-savings far outweighs the time taken to make the badges.


While companies can save money by printing and producing their own employee id badges, it isn't always the best option. Visit Budget Badge for complete ID badge printing systems and supplies.

Regimental badges, also known as cap badges, head badges, or hat badge, is a badge typically sewn or attached to the headgear of a military man in order to distinguish him from the different troops, nationalities, and other organizations of the Military. A lot of organizations wear a badge, especially members of the police, military, as well as members of small groups such as Boy Scouts. Even paramedical units and fire service departments as well as customs departments are wearing a badge.

In the British Army the Regiments and members of the corps have made their individual badges to distinguish their groups from the others. The wearing of these cap badges have been known to be originally done by the British Army in decades long ago. They are known to have a distinct regimental badge being worn by their members. These cap badges were named as "cipher" for those in the Royal Horse Artillery, "Caps tar" by those belonging to the Cold stream Guards and "motto" by the regiment.

Regimental Variations Metals were not that often used during the Second World War. Instead, plastic regimental badges were used. Today, materials have shifted to stay-bright plastic materials because they are not as high-maintenance as the traditional brass badges. They are generally cheap and easy to clean.

Some variations have been made for these badges and they were mostly seen in the case of officer's badges and senior officers who are non-commissioned. For the officers, the badges are made up of more expensive material and may include silver, gilt, or sometimes enamel. Some have metal badges that can be attached, others have embroidered ones that are easier to attach by sewing.

Non-commissioned officers have designs that are elaborate enough to scream out the ranks but not as elaborate as those of the officers. These badges are also made up of high quality material. In the battlefield, members of the military often use a darkened version of their badges so as not to attract enemies and become their target.

How They Are Worn Depending on the rank, the division, or the organization you belong to, cap badges can be worn in a variety of ways. Let us take a look at some of the well-known methods of wearing a cap badge or a head badge.

A service dress cap is worn by some members of the military and is usually worn at the center of the forehead on the cap. A beret is worn a few centimeters above the left eye or two fingers above that eye. If you have a side cap, it is to be worn in the middle of the left ear and eye. The same instruction goes for those wearing the Scottish tam o'shanter and Scottish Glengarry. Most of these badges are worn towards the left ear, such as the Feather Bonnet, the Jungle hat, and the Fusilier cap.


Other members wear it using another way, sometimes at the front, and sometimes at the back. Examples of these are the Gloucestershire regiment and the Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment. However it is worn, regimental badges will always give you that well-earned respect you deserve. Regimental badges

The retractable badge holder is becoming more and more popular in the corporate world. Many employed individuals prefer to wear a retractable badge holder as their form of identification. The holder facilitates an easier way to enter specific office locations, clock in and out of work places and note attendance of an employee, or even release documents to personnel. Additionally, the retractable badge holder permits employees to swipe their IDs at door devices to open them even though they are standing at a fair distance. Companies often enforce a simple policy with their employees that is often overlooked or plainly ignored by their personnel. This rule is about wearing ID badges at all times when the employees are inside the companies' premises. This particular regulation is disregarded by some working individuals due to a lot of reasons that may include having to wear badges that are too heavy, too ugly or too bulky. These quandaries can be avoided when an employee uses a retractable badge holder.

Many employees carry their name badge in one of the pockets of their slacks or just insert it in into their breast pockets. These people only show their identification badges when needed. It's essential to understand that these habits can result to serious problems to the badge's condition. Firstly, there is an increased possibility that the badge will be misplaced. Secondly, the badges are prone to being damaged or dented because they are placed in the pocket. As a result, they are more likely to be sat upon or even washed together with the rest of dirty clothes in the laundry if forgotten.

A retractable badge holder solves many of these problems when worn by employees in a company. The design of the retractable badge holder allows employees to have his or her ID badge on the part of the body that is most convenient for them and the badge can simply be pulled away from the body when needed without having to detach it from the body. Employees will no longer have to worry about misplacing their badges or leaving them in their pockets.

The advantages and convenience of a retractable holder for badges are highly recognized by the employees and even by the enterprising minds that utilize them as part of their marketing strategies. Rather than spending huge amount of money for expensive promotional items or mementos, companies can order custom made retractable badge holders to promote their products or services as gifts or give aways to potential clients.


Having been in the corporate world for several years, I know just how convenient it is to have a retractable badge holder id to hold magnetic name badges in a convenient way, that stops the need to have to remove the name badge each time I wanted to use it. Hence I'm writing about it to let other people know of it's existence.

Regimental badges, also known as cap badges, head badges, or hat badge, is a badge typically sewn or attached to the headgear of a military man in order to distinguish him from the different troops, nationalities, and other organizations of the Military. A lot of organizations wear a badge, especially members of the police, military, as well as members of small groups such as Boy Scouts. Even paramedical units and fire service departments as well as customs departments are wearing a badge.

In the British Army the Regiments and members of the corps have made their individual badges to distinguish their groups from the others. The wearing of these cap badges have been known to be originally done by the British Army in decades long ago. They are known to have a distinct regimental badge being worn by their members. These cap badges were named as "cipher" for those in the Royal Horse Artillery, "Caps tar" by those belonging to the Cold stream Guards and "motto" by the regiment.

Regimental Variations Metals were not that often used during the Second World War. Instead, plastic regimental badges were used. Today, materials have shifted to stay-bright plastic materials because they are not as high-maintenance as the traditional brass badges. They are generally cheap and easy to clean.

Some variations have been made for these badges and they were mostly seen in the case of officer's badges and senior officers who are non-commissioned. For the officers, the badges are made up of more expensive material and may include silver, gilt, or sometimes enamel. Some have metal badges that can be attached, others have embroidered ones that are easier to attach by sewing.

Non-commissioned officers have designs that are elaborate enough to scream out the ranks but not as elaborate as those of the officers. These badges are also made up of high quality material. In the battlefield, members of the military often use a darkened version of their badges so as not to attract enemies and become their target.

How They Are Worn Depending on the rank, the division, or the organization you belong to, cap badges can be worn in a variety of ways. Let us take a look at some of the well-known methods of wearing a cap badge or a head badge.

A service dress cap is worn by some members of the military and is usually worn at the center of the forehead on the cap. A beret is worn a few centimeters above the left eye or two fingers above that eye. If you have a side cap, it is to be worn in the middle of the left ear and eye. The same instruction goes for those wearing the Scottish tam o'shanter and Scottish Glengarry. Most of these badges are worn towards the left ear, such as the Feather Bonnet, the Jungle hat, and the Fusilier cap.


Other members wear it using another way, sometimes at the front, and sometimes at the back. Examples of these are the Gloucestershire regiment and the Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment. However it is worn, regimental badges will always give you that well-earned respect you deserve. Regimental badges