If you are putting together orientation packets for an event or conference your checklist probably includes a schedule, some background information, a pen and notebook, and a name badge. Before you put it all together and seal the packets, you should take a few minutes to think of the amazing ways you can use name badges to increase the interaction at your event. Name badges don't have to simply identify someone by name. Keep reading to find out how to make your event name tags really useful. 

Use Your Badges as an Icebreaker 

Badges and name tags can be used to make participants feel more comfortable during the first few moments of your event if they are used properly. For example, a simple way to get introverts engaged in your event while everyone registers is to set up a table with markers and stickers for decorating badges. As participants check-in, instruct them to answer a simple question that has been printed on their badge.  This gives participants something to do if they do not feel comfortable mingling immediately, and gives them something to discuss once they do start mingling. 

If you are going to have an official ice breaker to start your event, you can also incorporate badges. For example, you can break people into teams quickly by placing colored dots on the back of their badge. Or you can put a word on the back of every badge and then have people find two or three words that associate well with their own word. These activities are great because they give your participants a bit of information to share while encouraging them to interact. 

Color Code Your Lanyards 

Your lanyards can be more than advertisements holding your participants' badges. For starters, you can consider color coding your lanyards from places like The Emerald Gypsy to make groups of participants easily identifiable. You may want to identify people by their area of expertise, such as green for programmers and blue for designers, or you may want to identify participants by their familiarity with your program, such as red for returning and white for newcomers. These colors make identification quicker and easier than writing similar information on the badge itself. 

You can also let your participants pick from a selection of colors. Their choice can be as simple as choosing their favorite color, which will make them more likely to want to keep their lanyard, to selecting from a color code. You can adapt the stoplight party theme to your event, allowing participants to indicate their level of readiness to invest in new projects, donate to a cause, or go out for drinks, depending on the purpose of your event. 

Add Badges to Your Badges 

If you want to continue making your badges fun and useful throughout your entire event, you should consider handing out badges in the form of stickers. This can work especially well to keep event staff engaged and amused throughout their shifts. To do this, simply print or purchase various stickers that say or represent different qualities that your participants will display throughout the event. For example, when a participant answers a question, you or the person who asked the question can add a question mark sticker to their badge. Or, if an event volunteer serves the most customers in an hour, you can add a roadrunner sticker to their badge. 

These badges are not only fun and make your participants feel good, they also help participants find particularly helpful people more easily. Also, if your participants are giving out the awards, it can be a silly way to bond. 

While most people no longer resist wearing name badges at various events, they are often put on and then forgotten, or slowly get lost during a multi-day event. To make sure you get the most out of your name badges, make them entertaining and interactive.