The world of promotional pins and buttons is endless. There are different sizes, materials and uses for your personalized buttons and promo pins that all are important to the quality of your customized business pins. Using promotional pins and buttons to get your company name out there can be a cost-effective, simple way to do just that if you choose wisely.

Become familiar with the following before selecting your promotional pins and buttons:

1. Promotional pins come in a variety of materials that offer different advantages depending on what purpose you want your customized pins to serve.

2. Promotional buttons are offered in different styles and materials.

3. Know the difference between ordering custom pins and buttons versus ordering stock pins and buttons.

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Decide what variety of logo pins you want to have made

There are several options when it comes to personalized pins, and most of it has to do with the material from which they are made. You have the option of cloisonné (hard enamel), which is best for separated, bold designs rather than designs with a lot of detail. Soft enamel is the most popular type of promotional pin due to its embrace of bold colors and raised metal detailing. Die-cut pins are stamped and cut out of iron and offer an antique style. And silk-screened pins allow for more detailed logos or designs and are then protected by an epoxy dome.

I recommend: Pin Promotions offers all of the pin varieties for you to choose from. Lapel Pins Productions also carries the different styles of customizable pins for all of your logo pin needs.

Choose the type of promo buttons you want to represent your company

Promo buttons, too, are offered in a variety of different styles and materials. Buttons can come as simple as laminated card stock to the more common celluloid metal shell button. Other buttons offer lights, spinners and other eye-catching attachments. Promo buttons can be found in round, square or other geometrical shapes.

I recommend: Absorbent, Ink. offers many styles of customized buttons, including blinkie buttons and the less expensive chipboard buttons. FA Manufacturing carries the traditional celluloid buttons, plastic buttons, blinkie buttons and more.

Order custom pins and buttons to advertise your company and stock pins to complement them

Custom pins and buttons are buttons that are specifically made for your company, campaign or cause. Stock pins and buttons are often common household names, companies and items that are not as specific as custom pins and buttons. You may be able to have custom pins and buttons made and then use other stock pins -- which are often less expensive -- to complement your custom made pins and buttons.

I recommend: Ashlyn Promotions has stock pins ranging from animals to angels for you to order. ImprintItems.com also has both stock and custom pins and buttons.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep in mind that with the different styles and materials of the promotional pins and buttons, there comes a price differential. As you begin your search for your logo pins and buttons, you will need to decide whether you are looking for quality or quantity.

Promotional pins and buttons are excellent sales and marketing tools. Logo pins identify company employees and show pride in being recognized for a job well done, while larger promotional buttons call attention to a company's products, services and personnel at trade shows and expositions.

While producing promotional buttons in-house is still an option for small businesses on a tight budget, the Web offers many button designs not available with do-it-yourself button makers. Producing the smaller personalized pins, however, is a job best suited to an outside vendor,

Differences to note between pins and buttons:

1. While both promotional pins and promotional buttons are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, buttons are usually available in a wider variety of sizes and colors, while pins are usually available in a wider variety of shapes.
2. Logo pins tend to identify companies, causes, or levels of accomplishment and make quieter personal statements. Promotional buttons are geared to grab attention for specific company or cause campaigns.
3. Pins can be worn as the wearer wishes and can be noticed or ignored as desired, while buttons are worn to grab attention at specific times for specific reasons.

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For promotional pins, deal with an expert

Because promotional pins must be made by an outside vendor, look for vendors who offer a variety of designs and the ability to turn your design into a customized business pin.

I recommend: PinMart offers a wide selection of both stock and customized business pins. It manufactures pins for several major clients and can work with any customized design, whether submitted on computer or drawn by hand. The company can also reproduce an existing pin.

Deal with button manufacturers who offer a variety of styles

Advances in technology make possible a large variety of button styles, shapes and printings suited for any promotional campaign.

I recommend: Absorbent, Ink., offers offset or digitally printed buttons in a variety of shapes (round, diamond, triangular, square, octagonal and elliptical) and styles (blinking, magnetic, spinners). Choose the type best suited for your promotional campaign.

Create your own custom buttons through an online service

The Internet's ability to transfer text and images electronically makes it possible to design promotional and personalized buttons in-house, while an outside vendor does the actual printing exactly the way you specify.

I recommend: Zazzle features a drag-and-drop design tool that lets you upload your own images and text to create round or square buttons in a variety of sizes. You also can choose from a number of previously created designs, and you can even sell your own designs on its Web site!

For limited runs or budgets, create buttons in-house

Not every business or business campaign is best suited to working with an outside promotional button vendor. Businesses with fewer than 20 employees or running small promotional campaigns can often be handled efficiently in-house; other companies simply may prefer 'doing it themselves.'

I recommend: Good quality button makers are available through such e-tailers as Button Biz.com, which offers a variety of both round and rectangular button makers, as well as online tutorials. You can create logos online through Logoworks.com or LogoYes. If you like, you can use logo design software such as Logo Design Studio.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Look for a vendor with an outstanding customer service reputation, a choice of printing methods and fast turnaround time--and ask for samples. Also, look at the minimum order required and shipping and handling charges.
• •  Choose an appropriate look for your promotional pins and buttons that matches your marketing strategy. Blinking and spinner buttons catch the eye, but they may not suit the tone of your marketing campaign or the setting of the trade show at which you are displaying.
• •  Keep your designs as simple as possible, particularly for tiny logo pins and personalized pins, to keep them easy to read.

Promotional pins and buttons can serve a variety of purposes at relatively low prices. Promotional pins run a few dollars more than promotional buttons. Promo pins can be found for under $5 each, while promo buttons run around $2 each. Price depends on design and the number of customized pins and advertising buttons you order.

There are many choices when choosing your customized business pins and buttons. Consider the following when evaluating the pricing and costs of promotional pins and buttons:

1. The price of personalized buttons and pins increases with the size of the item.

2. The price of logo pins and buttons can be partially determined by the intricacy and number of colors in your design.

3. It is important to take into consideration the number of personalized pins or buttons you want to have made.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consider the size of your promo pins and buttons

Promotional pins and buttons come in a variety of sizes. Simple, one color, 1-inch buttons cost around $1 each for an order of 100 buttons. Buttons that are 1.5 inches will run you about $1.50 and up per button. If you are on a tight budget, size might be one area to consider cutting back on. The same is true for promotional pins. Pins starting at 3/4 inch begin around $2.50 each for an order of 100 pins, while pins that are 1.5 inches start around $3 each.

I recommend: Absorbent, Ink. offers many sizes and styles of promotional buttons. Keep in mind that the buttons that offer lights and other extras will increase the price of each button. Pin Promotions carries many styles of pins that can be customized to your cause or company.

Determine if the number of colors is a factor in the price of your promotional pins and buttons

Some companies include up to a certain number of colors in the price of each pin or button. However, others charge an extra fee of a few cents per color for additional colors beyond one or two standard colors. This is an important fee to consider when selecting the company that will make your pins and buttons and when you are selecting the design you want to have made.

I recommend: The price of each promo pin at Lapel Pins R Us includes up to 7 colors. Everyday Occasions only charges an extra fee when a dark background color is required for your buttons.

Think about how many promotional pins and buttons you need to have made

Although there are companies that have low minimum orders, most require a purchase of at least 100 pieces, with the price going down the more you order. Many of these companies will produce thousands of buttons or pins at a time, so orders smaller then 100 are not always worth it for them to produce. Because each piece is less the more you order, it is best if you can order all of the pins and buttons you will need in one big order.

I recommend: Dr. Don's Buttons, Badges & More offers low order minimums, but each button is around $3 at the low minimum, while in bulk each button costs only about 30 cents. At Everything Pins there is more than a $1 difference for each pin when ordering 100 pins versus 5,000.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be careful when estimating the number of promotional pins and buttons you will need. If your pin or button is representing your company, chances are you can afford to overestimate the number you will need at any given time because you are likely to use the extras at another time. However, if your pin or button represents a specific campaign or cause that has a time limit on it, be more selective about how many you order.

Promotional pins and buttons come in many forms. Design inexpensive pinback buttons to hand out en masse at trade shows or other events. Identify your employees and visitors with name tags, which employees can wear on a lanyard. Lapel pins are slightly more expensive types of pins. These are generally made of metal and have a look and feel more suited to business attire or dress apparel. Lapel pins come in many varieties, including those made with etched soft enamel and those that are die struck. With promotional pin and button key terms, you'll be able to distinguish each type.

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Pinback buttons

Pinback buttons are simple and cost effective. They are made of metal, or metal and plastic, and you can design them with any design or image you want. You can order them inexpensively, or you can even buy a kit that allows you to make them yourself.

I recommend: See samples of pinback buttons at Everyone Loves Buttons.

Name tags, name badges

Name tags lend a professional air to employees in service industries. Companies can make them in all styles and print your company logo on them as well as the name of the person wearing the nametag.

I recommend: Find out all about name tags, including tips for their use and design, at Name Tag.

Lanyards

Some people don't like to wear buttons or name tags on their clothes, and lanyards provide the alternative. Lanyards are cords that employees can wear around their necks that can hold a name badge. Plain lanyards in a variety of colors are available, but you can also order lanyards printed with your company logo or slogan for a personalized touch.

I recommend: See examples of different styles of lanyards and their benefits at MyBadges.com, a division of BrightMinds Systems.

Awareness ribbons

People wear awareness ribbons to show support of a cause, such as pink ribbons supporting research to find a cure for breast cancer. Most people associate specific colors with causes, but companies will make custom ribbons with an organization's logo or motif transposed on top of the ribbon.

I recommend: Learn more about awareness ribbons, and find a link to a chart that lists the various colors for different causes at The Pin People.

Etched soft enamel pins

Manufacturers make these pins from metal and employ bright-colored areas; most have a smooth surface.

I recommend: See examples of lapel pins made of etched soft enamel and learn the features and uses of this type of lapel pin at Pinmart.

Die struck pins

Die struck pins are metal lapel pins that companies stamp with a custom-made die. They come in a variety of metal colors, but each pin will be all one color, with raised or textured areas that produce the image.

I recommend: View photos of die struck pins, read an explanation of the process used to make them and discover their benefits at All About Pins.