Custom Lanyard 101: The How's and What's of Lanyards

The lanyard sure has come a long way from being some piece of rigging used by sailors to hold stuff in place. Nowadays, you can see it practically anywhere – from schools to trade shows to service centers. You are bound to see them hung on the necks of employees or on the wrists of some gadget-savvy kid. Heck, there is even a medical lanyard for the health profession.

The thing is, this proliferation of lanyards is justified. For one, they aren't very expensive. And they make getting around the company building easier – you don't have to fumble with your purse or your wallet every time you need to show proof of identification. Not to mention its great value as a promotional tool. In today's setting where every company wants to cut promotional costs, without of course, cutting corners, a custom lanyard is the preferred, if not indispensable, choice.

You can easily order custom lanyards online. You can get a free quote in a snap in most vendor websites. You don't have to take a trip to the nearest custom lanyard makers in your place. Not only is online shopping for lanyards a convenient choice – you'd also get to see hundreds of options from multiple vendors, thanks to comparison shopping websites.

Ordering custom lanyards online is usually a four-step process. First, you have to specify how many you want. It is always good to order a little more than what you need because a spare might come in handy. Second, you have to choose the width, the length and the material for the cord. Third, you need to take care of the extras – whether you want a break-away clasp as a safety measure, or not, and choose the attachment type (sewn, plastic or crimp). Lastly, you might need to use an application to help you with the design. For a sizable order (usually $75 or more), shipping would be free.

If you know your way around desk publishing tools or if someone in your company knows how to, you can opt for buying blank lanyards instead. This is great if you need lots of lanyards with different designs. For example, you plan to have a different one for the current employee of the month, and an altogether different design for the next one. You might also want different designs for various teams; say the IT or the Human Resources team. If these teams have a small number of people in it, it is advisable that you just go get a blank lanyard from the stockroom and have it custom printed

The process is basically the same as ordering for custom lanyards online, except that the last step is excluded and that you won't need a quote since they won't have to work with it. A blank lanyard can be as cheap as $0.79; only, you'd have to buy them in bulk; usually at a minimum order of 50 pieces.

Custom lanyards make a good promotional tool because it is very visible, without being too 'loud'. It is a subtle way to advertise, not only your brand but also your company's message. In its small way, it promotes company spirit – especially if a lot of people on the floor are wearing it. That is why a lot of companies are looking to have a custom lanyard designed for them.