Top Tips for Speaking Effectively at an Event

Nearly everyone gets nervous to some degree when it comes to public speaking, it's a natural anxiety response to doing something outside of one's comfort zone. However, with the right guidance and know-how, you can do plenty to help shake off those public speaking fears.

It's important to note that anyone can improve their public speaking skills. With enough practice, anyone can ace a speaking role, even in large events with hundreds of people. It's a skill like any other, and just like any other skill, it can be improved with enough time and effort.

Below we're going to take a look at Ribbon Works' top tips for speaking effectively at an event.

Practice Makes Progress
Most people aren't all that great at public speaking the first time they try it, most of the charismatic people you see making speeches on television actually had to practice to become as well-spoken as they are.

You can improve substantially by practicing your speaking. Try writing out what you plan on saying and read it out loud first by yourself, then in front of supportive friends and family. You'll soon find that you are more comfortable speaking in public because of this preparation and practice.

Mistakes are Completely Normal
Many charismatic and well-known people have made a mistake or felt embarrassed during public speaking, and while it's never pleasant, it's certainly not the end of the world. Strong people keep a level head when things go wrong, this applies to public speaking at events especially.

If you make a mistake during your speech, put it behind you and keep on going, it's only a setback for as long as you allow it to be.

Project Pure Confidence
Before you arrive at the event you are speaking at, do whatever makes you feel confident so that positivity carries on into your speech.

Be it wearing your very best clothes, getting your make-up just right, or listening to a powerful piece of music before arriving, anything that gets you into that positive state of mind is going to be very helpful.

Do What Makes You Comfortable
Find out what can help you feel more comfortable on stage. It could be something as small as having something like a clicker in your hand so that you feel you have something to do with your hands. It could also just be pacing little-by-little across the stage. Regardless, if it helps you feel comfortable and doesn't affect your presentation negatively, then go for it!

Don't worry about any of it being noted by your audience, they'll be too absorbed in what you are conveying during your speech to notice any quirks that may be helping you feel comfortable.

Be Slow & Steady
When it comes to your speech and breathing, try to keep a slow and audible rhythm. By doing this you will relax more easily and your audience will be able to keep up with what you're saying. This can be difficult to remember during a speech at first, but as you improve your speech and presentation skills, you will become more aware of your breathing and talking speed.

Remember that there is usually no rush to getting your message across as quickly as possible, your audience is there to take in everything you plan on presenting to them, take your time to do this well.

Improve With Every Event
By keeping our top tips for speaking effectively at events in mind, you will no doubt increase your proficiency in public speaking. Don't be disheartened by making mistakes, public speaking is a challenging skill to master, everyone makes mistakes every now and again.

Good luck speaking at your next event, from all of us at Ribbon Works, we're sure it'll be a great success.

This article originally published at here

The Power of Quality Promotional Products

There are a massive variety of different ways to advertise companies, organisations, brands, products, and services. From television and the internet, to flyers and wristbands, there is always a myriad of promotional avenues for any individual, group or business to use. However, we're going to look at one very effective method of good advertising, promotional products.

What Exactly is a 'Promotional Product'?
Promotional products have been used for years as an effective way of spreading the word about anything from company brands to important causes. They encompass a wide-range of products that all have different uses, from multi-purpose products like lanyards, to specific-use products like mobile phone accessories.

Companies will release all kinds of useful accessories with their own brand placed upon them, often handing them out to the public for free. The interest generated in the brand or company by promotional products usually ends with promotional products effectively paying for themselves.

With the correct marketing know-how, promotional products can be created and distributed in such a way that increases business substantially, making promotional products an extremely worthy investment.

If you own a business or are in charge of advertising a particular brand, it is definitely worth considering promotional products as part of your advertising campaign.

How Do They Work?
So why are promotional products so successful in the first place? How do they work? Well there are multiple reasons as to why they are such an effective advertising strategy.

Firstly, because many promotional products are freely given out to the public, members of the public will are much more inclined to take them, naturally. Once someone has received one of your promotional products, they are essentially responsible for some of your advertising at very little cost. They may carry a lanyard around their neck for days at a time for anyone to notice, people they are in contact with will notice your brand and it will become familiar to them.

Another reason promotional products work is because they tend to be useful accessories that most people don't specifically go out and buy for themselves. You seldom hear of people going out to buy lanyards or sweatbands, and that's because they fully expect to receive them as promotional items from vendors. People are completely fine with accepting your advertising via products, unlike advertising via something like internet ads which many find irritating at best.

The bottom line is that many people underestimate the power of quality promotional products. They can be a fantastic and unique way to reach new customers and clients, so make sure to consider all of your options when it comes to your advertising strategy.

What Promotional Products Should I Use? And When?
Most companies and organisations can use whatever promotional products they like, anything from wristbands and phone covers, to slap bracelets and card holders. However, some items may be more appropriate during certain events.

An example would be that wristbands, card-holders, and lanyards would be perfect during a big conference or popular event as they can be used to identify guests. Knowing what promotional products match your context is key to a really good promotional product advertising campaign.

Consider Promotional Products as Your Next Advertising Solution
Using promotional products as part of your advertising campaign is a great way to reach out to new and existing clients and customers. Consider the many uses and advantages of using them to promote your business, organisation, or cause.

How to Use Your Lanyard Creatively

Lanyards are nifty little accessories that can be used for a very wide array of different everyday things. Whether you need a way to keep an important object handy, or if you're just looking for a way to keep your wallet safe, a lanyard can accomplish both of those and more.

What's fantastic about using a lanyard in the modern day is that it is extremely customisable to suit your intended use. There are multiple different ways a design, logo, or brand can be applied to a lanyard for a unique design, such as screen printing, heat-transfer, dye sublimation, and jacquard weaving. There's also variation in the type of attachments you can have on you lanyard, including; bulldog clips, mobile phone pouches, g-clips and many more.

Below we're going to take a look at some of the most creative ways you can use a high quality lanyard in your day-to-day life.

Attach Your Keys
Losing your keys can be a disaster and unfortunately it happens all too often to the average person, however a lanyard can prevent annoyances like this from happening to you.

By attaching your keys to a quality lanyard, you can not only prevent the loss of your keys but also make them easier to find again after you set them down. Objects as small as keys can get misplaced in your home or workplace pretty easily, but having a colourful lanyard attached will make sure they are easy to spot.

Try attaching your keys to your lanyard, then either attaching the lanyard to a loop on your jeans, or wear the lanyard around your neck so you always have them handy.

Keep Your Wallet Safe
Another popular use for your lanyard is to attach it your wallet and then attach the lanyard to your trousers. This can be a great form of security if you're worried about dropping your wallet or having it stolen.

Once again this gives you a similar advantage to attaching your keys to a lanyard as you'll be less likely to misplace your wallet when you set it down somewhere. A lovely colourful design on your lanyard will make sure it's easy to find, you can even have details put onto the design as to who you are and what someone should do if they find your wallet somewhere.

Keep Outdoor Gadgets Handy
If you're out hiking, hillwalking, or mountain-climbing, you may to keep something important handy at all times, like a bottle of water or a map of the area. A lanyard is a creative way to keep whatever you need right in front of you for when you need it most, this can be especially great if you happen to be in position where looking through a backpack would be inconvenient.

Another common item to have on a lanyard for outdoor activities is sunglasses. All too often we can be afraid they may fall off when we're doing something physical, however a lanyard will be able to prevent anything falling off of you.

When considering all the different ways a lanyard can help when you're doing outdoor activities, it almost seems like a must-have for anyone!

Lanyards Can Be Used in Hundreds of Ways
Above are just some of the ways in which a lanyard can assist you in your every day life. There is really no limit as to what you can do with a lanyard with some ingenuity, which makes them especially convenient as they are cost-effective and quality-made when bought from Ribbon Works.

Get in touch with Ribbon Works today to find out how we can design and create and perfect lanyard to suit your individuals needs, we always look forward to hearing from you.

This article originally published at here

4 Great Uses for Quality Lanyards

High quality and well-made lanyards are a fantastic addition to all types of occasions, events and everyday scenarios. From identification to advertising, a lanyard is more effective than many people realise.

What's great about lanyards is that they can have a social as well as a practical use in both everyday situations and special events. They are usually created using polyester, then made into a loop with a clip or hook at the end, allowing designs to be worked onto them, as well as allowing them to hold onto an item securely, like an identification badge or a pen.

Businesses and organisations around the globe have used lanyards for years and continue to invest in them for their ongoing usefulness.

Below we're going to take a look at four great uses for quality lanyards, encompassing who uses them and for what purpose.

Effective Advertising

Because lanyards are usually worn around the neck, they become the perfect advertising device. Giving people, such as your employees or customers, a unique lanyard with your company brand emblazoned on it is a great way for others to become aware of your business, driving more customers your way.

People will commonly hold onto their lanyard after an event, often leaving them in workplaces, offices, homes and more, meaning your logo and brand makes it way through many locations, being recognised by hundreds of people sometimes.

The next time you're thinking about your advertising strategy, consider the effective nature of investing in specially designed and unique company lanyards.

Simple & Secure Identification

Organising a conference or any other type of exclusive event? A uniquely made lanyard can be exactly what you need to make identification and guest-entry clear and efficient.

Your security team will easily be able to recognise a unique lanyard holding your identification cards, providing a simple way to keep invited guests identified. A lanyard can also work very well to signify anyone who is a VIP or a speaker to everyone around them, a great way to keep guests known and organised throughout the entirety of your event.

Easy Area Clearance

Maybe you run a business where employees require keycards to enter certain areas within your work building. A company lanyard is a terrific way to not only be able to identify employees at all times, it's also a simple way to prevent employees losing their keycards.

Losing something like a keycard can cost a significant amount to replace if it happens often, investing in lanyards can be a cost-effective solution to this common problem. The fact that your new lanyards could be preventing lost property while also advertising your business makes them a worthy investment that could save you money in the long term.

Convenience for Staff

A lanyard can be extremely convenient if your staff always need to have an item on hand, like a pen, whistle, or stamp. This can make workers more productive, as well as reducing the likelihood of misplacing company property.

Nurses and teachers alike will find that a great quality lanyard will do wonders for their peace of mind, pens and all kinds of useful items will no longer go missing!

Let Us Create Your Perfect Lanyard Today

Ribbon Works has been designing, creating and delivering lanyards to a range of different clients over the years, giving a individual and personal service to each and every one. Whether you're an individual, small business, or large scale company, our creative team at Ribbon Works can bring you the perfect lanyard to suit your needs.

Get in touch with Ribbon Works today to find out how we can help you with anything you might need, we look forward to hearing from you.

This article originally published at Ribbon Works Blog here

Promote Your Business Using Wristbands, Slapbands & Sweatbands

Among some of the most unconventional ways to promote your business are wristbands, slapbands, and sweatbands. You can give them out at any trade show event or charity fundraiser. They are an ideal tool to emphasise your brand.

In the below passages, we will take a look at some of the benefits of adding these options to your marketing arsenal.

Use Them Anywhere

Wristbands, slapbands, and sweatbands can be used at any event. It’s easy to throw them into a networking event or slip them into a sports day for charity. They will fit in without seeming forced.

You can wear them to client meetings, or even when going about your daily business of interacting with customers.

They offer one of the most versatile marketing options available.

Not as Expensive as You Think

Radio advertisements, TV pitches, and extended social media campaigns can lead to you spending a lot of money. And there is never a guarantee of success. While no marketing tool will promise you a positive return on your investment, wristbands, slapbands, and sweatbands are so cost-effective that even a complete failure will not leave you out of pocket too much.

You can have a whole box of any of these options delivered for your next event for very little money. Order in bulk and you can make massive savings.

The Ultimate Personal Branding Option

There are a number of reasons overt marketing does not always work. These are the primary ones:

• People become so ad-sensitised that they stop noticing your efforts.
• Overt marketing is not appropriate for every situation.
• Too much overt marketing can come off as looking foolish.

Wearing a wristband at a trade show, for example, is a type of covert marketing. Any person you interact with will automatically direct their gaze to your wristband. It is subtle, but it may encourage them to find out more about your company. Or it might just give them the right professional impression.

Easy to Wear and Comfortable

Remember when someone had to stamp your hand when you went to a concert? Messy.

What about that time where you had to wear an overly long identification card around your next? Bulky.

A company wristband, for example, is an ideal way to admit someone to any of your events. If you have invited someone over to your offices, you want them to feel at home. Wristbands are comfortable and discreet. They do not get in the way, and it is easy to forget you are wearing one at all.

Make them How You Want

There are no restrictions on the colour of slapband or sweatband. You can print them in any colour with any graphic. And you can do this without raising the costs significantly, as is the case with promotional items such as t-shirts.

Any good printing company will entertain any option you can come up with.

One way you can use them is by changing the design slightly for every event. This will give your customers a sense of uniqueness. They have a memory of an event that will never happen again, and that is going to leave an impression on them.

Showing How Much You Care

You can also demonstrate how much you care about your customers by giving out wristbands. Again, it doesn’t require much of an investment on your part. Hand them out and leave the right impression. It may well lead to a lucrative lead after your next trade event.

The Best in Branding

If you want to increase your influence at your next networking event, wristbands, sweatbands, and slapbands are the way to go. They are the best in branding because they’re cost-effective, you can use them anywhere, and you have full control over what they look like.

These benefits alone should make any company realise that they are missing out on a golden promotion opportunity!

Get in touch with Ribbonworks.co.uk today to find out how we can provide you with high-quality Printed lanyards and other Personalised, Custom Lanyards products to boost your advertising campaign.

This article originally published at here

How to Network at Trade Shows

Exhibit Surveys Inc. says that 49% of attendants come to trade shows with the intention of making real purchases, whether this be immediately or through networking. Networking at trade shows is your primary goal of attending, and there is a real art to it.

It does take some getting right. Experience is the best teacher, so make sure you review your performance every time. If you want to network better at a trade show, follow these smart tips.

Send Your Soldiers Out Alone

The chances are you will be bringing staff members along to help you manage your booth at the trade show. This is all well and good, but you also need to take the initiative in some things. Some staff members should be asked to network alone.

This can be intimidating, but it actually increases your chances of successful networking. It can be intimidating for people to approach a group. It’s much easier to approach someone who is alone because you are in the same situation.

By being alone, your staff become instantly more approachable.

Give Out Free Trinkets

Some would call it a bribe, and perhaps it can be construed as such. But it is also a fantastic way of sparking a conversation.

The toughest part of networking at a trade show is starting that first conversation. Give out pens, lanyards, and other little trinkets. Brand them so they subtly communicate the company message at the same time.

Brand Your Staff Members

When your staff members walk around a trade show, what makes them stand out?

If the answer is nothing, you need to change that. Make your company stand out from the competition by adding some adornments to the people representing you. This could come in the form of a lanyard with their names on it, or a tablet with a company logo on the back.

Not only does your company become noticeable, but it will also attract the individuals who are trying to seek out your company.

Figure Out Who You Want to Meet in Advance

Figure out who you want to meet and who you want to talk to prior to attending the trade show. Have some clear goals in mind and be persistent in meeting everyone on your list.

By having a plan, you can make sure you are always hard at work. Yes, you will come across individuals who are not on your list, but through scheduling some meetings in advance you can guarantee a visit to a trade show will always be worthwhile.

Pick the Right Conversations

Think about what a trade show really is. It is a lot of human beings in a room trying to talk to each other. These people are all different. Some are nervous, some are enthusiastic, and most fall between these two points.

It’s only natural to start with small talk, but make a conscious effort to limit small talk. Engage in relevant conversations quickly. Here are some smart tips for engaging in meaningful conversation:

1. This is not a sales pitch. It is a simple introduction where you exchange contact information.

2. Make it quick without feeling rushed. Spend too much time with one company and you will not have time to speak to the other targets on your list.

3. Every company has a goal. Talk about these objectives. Always keep your conversations relevant.

4. It’s not quantity; it’s quality. If someone is clearly not interested, end the conversation and move on.

Following Up after the Show

The reality is these leads often come to nothing because they are not followed up. Create a lead capture system that you follow up upon rigorously. Call your leads a few days after the show and try to advance discussions.

Take note that your leads may come to nothing. Some companies are simply dipping a toe in the water. But if you gather a long list of contact details, the chances are one or two will come to something.

Conclusion

A successful trade show is ultimately about gathering lots of contact details. After the trade show is where the magic tends to happen. Do not focus too much on pushing sales immediately. Use every minute to engage in quick and meaningful conversation.

If you follow these tips, you will get so much more from your future trade shows.

Get in touch with Ribbonworks.co.uk today to find out how we can provide you with high-quality Printed lanyards and other Personalised, Custom Lanyards products to boost your advertising campaign.

Printed or Embroidered Lanyards - What's the Difference?

A lanyard is a fantastic type of personal branding. Whether you use your lanyard as a form of identification or exclusively as a marketing choice, you are going to extract a major return on your investment.

But lanyards come in all shapes and sizes. One of the significant decisions you will have to make is whether you want to invest in a printed lanyard or an embroidered lanyard. The differences are substantial, so read on to find out more about both types.

Printed Lanyards

A printed lanyard involves taking some kind of graphic submitted by you and printing it onto the lanyard itself. It works through using a sublimation process. Essentially, the design is fused into the material. There are no colour limitations involved, so you can choose from over a million shades.

Printed lanyards will not run, and they are easy to clean if this is required. Since modern printers are so advanced, it is easy to print small text.

This is the best option for those who want lanyards in the fastest possible time or for those that want photographic realism.

Embroidered Lanyards

Embroidered lanyards work slightly differently. Using a base of twill, the design is sewn into the fabric with thread. You will find this gives the embroidered lanyard a slight ‘raised’ effect. The texture will feel different when you run your finger across it.

Extremely small text and minute details are harder to insert with embroidered lanyards, so elaborate designs may not be ideal for this option.

The Difference in Cost

Embroidered lanyards will always cost more than printed lanyards because of the workmanship involved. The machinery used to produce them is more advanced and the materials more costly. A printed lanyard can be done through using a modern colour printer and little else.

Generally, the difference in cost is not significant. If you order in bulk, you can drive the cost of embroidered lanyards down.

Ordering small numbers will make embroidered lanyards significantly more expensive than their printed counterparts.

The Quality Issue

It is no secret that embroidered lanyards do come with a more ‘prestige’ look. This is simply because of the texture and the ‘raising’ effect. In a business environment, customers and other companies may well prefer an embroidered lanyard because it shows you invested more in your marketing tools.

Will it be a deal breaker? Probably not, but it does not hurt to have this little advantage on your side.

Design and Details

If you want a simple design, you can use either option without any problems. On the other hand, if you want fading effects and other uncommon shades you may well be out of luck. Embroidered lanyards do not support this.

Printed lanyards, on the other hand, can print out anything you can see. As long as you can look at the design on a computer screen, you can place it on a lanyard.

This gives you far more versatility and the chance to really experiment with your designs.

Time Taken

Turnaround time is important. If you are moments away from a networking event and you have left lanyards to the last minute, a printed option is by far the superior choice. It can take less than 24 hours for you to receive an order of printed lanyards. On the other hand, embroidered ones could well take an extra day or two to produce.

It may not sound like much, but if you are rushing to get everything ready, then this can prove crucial.

So What’s the Best Option?

The best option depends on your situation. If you want to create something that resembles a graphical firework, the printed option is best for you. Alternatively, if adding an extra dimension through texture sounds attractive, embroidered is the superior option.

The cost difference is negligible, so you should not let that be the decision maker. The printed option does have a time advantage, so if you need a fast turnaround, the choice is clear.

Test out both options to see what goes down best with staff members and customers. Every company will have different preferences.