New this week, we’ve added 10 new products to the IDville offering. As part of our mission to stay current with emerging identification and workplace security trends, we’re introducing several innovative products. Here are a few of our personal favorites you should check out:

 USB Lanyard. Professionals in all industries rely on USBs to keep their data portable and protected. The new USB Lanyard makes it convenient to carry your data with you wherever your work takes you. The lanyard detaches to reveal a 1GB USB drive. This item can be valuable to teachers who can always carry class records with them.

 RFID Secure Badge Holders. With many organizations relying on smart cards to contain employee information and access control, it’s important to protect personal information from being stolen. As part of our new product offering, we now offer RFID Secure Badge Holders. The badge holder prevents identity theft by blocking RFID signals that can access the personal information stored on the card. ID cards easily slide out of the holder for scanning.

 Badge Reels. Fun and functional badge reels encourage employees to wear their ID cards at all times. For night shift employees, consider the Carabiner LED Badge Reel that shines a bright LED light at a push of a button. For a more light-hearted crowd, our Flashing Badge Reels are sure to be a hit!

Click through our online catalog or browse the website to view all our new products that will keep your people safe and secure.

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Dan is the IDville General Manager and oversees all product management and marketing for the IDville brand.  Around IDville, Dan is known for the catchphrase, "talk to me," his not-so-secret designer past, and his passion for Michigan State sports.

Before transitioning to an ID card printer and PVC ID cards, many organizations create ID cards on paper stock. The paper ID card may be the inexpensive option for ID cards, but it’s less secure, less professional and has a shorter life span.

Security. ID cards made out of paper are primarily used for visual identification since they don’t store any data. On the other hand, PVC ID cards can be used for control access and include RFID technology, a magnetic stripe, barcode or holographic overlay. These features allow your ID cards to have multiple functions and make employee information more secure. 

Professionalism. Paper ID cards don’t convey a professional image. Today, anyone can create a paper ID card using a word document program and perforated paper. For a more professional appearance, companies should create PVC ID cards using identification software. The specialty software provides more design capabilities and features. 

Life Span. Paper ID cards are easily torn, wrinkled and stained through normal everyday use. You may need to replace paper ID cards every year, if not more often, depending on how the IDs are used by your employees. For a long lasting solution, create PVC ID cards using an ID card printer. PVC ID cards can last over 5 years and be displayed in badge holders, on lanyards, badge reels or strap clips.

If you’re making the change to PVC ID cards, you can save 15% on your order now by liking IDville on Facebook. Check the page each week for offers to save on your IDville purchases!

PVC ID cards have increased design, data and security capabilities compared to paper ID cards.

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Todd is an identification expert at IDville with over seven years experience. Around IDville, Todd is known for his excessive coffee drinking, beautiful daughters, and impressive ping pong skills.

Instances of workplace and school violence are at all time highs, and the need for workplace security has never been greater. To protect employees and facilities, organizations of all sizes and industries incorporate visitor management systems into their security strategies.

A visitor management system tracks the visitors to your building and creates an ID card for the visitor to wear while in the building. The increased security measures put employees more at ease with their working environment, leading them to be more productive.

Organizations of all sizes and industries can easily and affordably implement a visitor management system to monitor visitor traffic in their facility by selecting an appropriate system and making minor facility and policy changes. Follow our seven steps to implement visitor management easily!

1. Select a visitor management system. It’s important that the system include individual visitor ID cards and create a record of facility visitors. Most visitor management systems have refills, so your options are not limited by visitor volume.

2. Implement access control. To control visitor access to your building, limit the number of public entrances. After determining your public entrance, make sure all other doors are locked. Employees can use HID cards to enter the building from those other entrances while visitors are forced to use the main public entrance.

3. Determine a location for the visitor management system. Position the visitor log-in at an entrance near visitor parking or in the main lobby. Train your gatekeeper, the individual at the entrance, to administer the visitor management system. You may want to use a receptionist or security guard to sign-in visitors and hand out visitor ID cards.

4. Train employees. Inform your employees that a visitor management system is a precaution you take to ensure their safety. Train employees how to use the system, so they can fully understand the procedure. Encourage employees to make visitors aware of the new system ahead of time for a smoother transition.

5. Explain the policy to visitors.  Make visitors aware of your new visitor management policy by posting signs on entrances. The signs should direct visitors to log-in at a reception desk. If you have a large number of regular visitors, you may want to create a more permanent visitor ID card for them with a preprinted visitor card.

6. Have visitors check out. With a visitor management system, it’s equally important to know when visitors enter and exit your building. Require visitors to stop by the reception after their visit is complete to turn in their visitor card and check out. Adding this procedure to your policy will give you a complete knowledge of who is in the building.

7. Increased security procedures. Depending on your organization, you may want to add increased security procedures to your visitor management policy. Require visitors to show identification when they sign in at your building to confirm their identity. You may also require visitors to be escorted in the building by an employee. This is a great way to make sure everyone in the building is accounted for.

Each ID card printer is different and uses slightly different printer ribbons and cleaning kits. Using the proper ID card printer supplies is an important part of keeping your printer healthy and active for a long time.

You can find all the ID card printer supplies you need at IDville by using our System Supply Wizard. We have Evolis printer supplies, Datacard printer supplies, Fargo printer supplies, Magicard printer supplies and Zebra printer supplies to outfit many different ID card printers. Using our System Supply Wizard, you select the make and model of your ID card printer, and our website displays all compatible supplies.

This makes it easier for you or anyone in your office to replace printer ribbons, order new PVC cards or select a cleaning kit for your ID card printer.

An ID card printer is an investment for your organization, and you want to maintain your investment. I recommend you clean your printer every 700-1,000 prints using the printer cleaning kit made for your printer model. Cleaning kits vary in cost and most are in the $30-$60 range. It’s well worth the investment! Cleaning your ID card printer will result in better colors, improved printing, and a longer lasting ID card printer.

Refer to your ID card printer manual or use our System Supply Wizard to order the correct supplies for your printer.

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Todd is an identification expert at IDville with over seven years experience. Around IDville, Todd is known for his excessive coffee drinking, beautiful daughters, and impressive ping pong skills.

ID cards have become an essential component of facility and workplace safety, and it’s nearly impossible to walk into a workplace without one. Organizations equip employees with ID cards to easily identify who does and does not belong in the building and to streamline personnel processes.

ID cards can play a pivotal role in an organization’s security plan, and creating the right ID card is imperative to achieving security goals. By considering the following ten ID card components, organizations can create the ID card that meets their needs.

1. Organization Logo
Add a visual security element to ID cards by incorporating your organization’s logo. Be sure your ID card design is consistent with the current marketing style sheet, including font, logo, and colors to reinforce the brand’s message and project a professional image. A corporate logo is a highly recognizable image by employees and security personnel, and it will make it more difficult for fraudulent cards to be created.

2. Design
An effective ID card design is both attractive and functional, and your card design can be just as important as the security features it incorporates. The card design itself can also provide valuable information using colors and graphics. For instance, hospital ID cards often assign a specific color to different floors or departments, making it simple to identify where employees work.

3. Single and Dual-Sided
Depending on what security or data features are included, ID cards can be single or dual-sided. Determine what ID card functions are priorities for the organization and consider how much space will be needed.

4. Orientation
ID cards can be displayed horizontally or vertically, and the orientation of your ID cards will impact how they are worn by employees. Consider the different scenarios where ID cards will be used.

5. Employee Picture
It is standard for ID cards to include a picture of the employee on the front of the card. The photo on an ID card makes it unique to the individual employee and should be easily visible. Photo identification is normally used on identification documents, such as a driver’s license, passport, or ID card, to increase the security and authenticity of the document. Likewise in the workplace, security and authority personnel should use a similar verification process with employee photo ID cards.

Read the complete list of ID card elements, “10 elements of an excellent employee ID card” in our Knowledge Center.

 

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David is an IDville identification expert with over seven years product and sales experience.  Around IDville, David is known for his new product ideas, sports knowledge and experience as a catalog model (you may have seen him in a recent IDville catalog!).

Many schools will re-open their doors to students in the month of August, and school administrators should be prepared to welcome back students with new student ID cards. Student ID cards are an important part of school security, and they can also streamline various school processes such as school lunches, library materials, and photo directories.

These days, school security policies require students to wear their ID cards at all times, and custom printed lanyards are the most popular ID card accessory for students. Lanyards can be an effective part of your student ID security policy. Here are a few ways you can get the most bang for your buck out of custom printed lanyards for students.

1. Color Code Lanyards. Assign a certain color lanyard to each grade or classroom. The color lanyard will help staff and teachers quickly identify where a student belongs. Our Vivid Color Lanyards can be created in any color, so you’re able to outfit your entire school without running out of color options. Create a color key for staff and teachers, so everyone understands what the custom color lanyards mean before the students arrive.

2. Select the Breakaway Option. The breakaway feature is an extra safety precaution that may be especially important for young students. If caught on an object, the lanyard will split at the breakaway point to prevent choking or harm to the student. Learn more about the benefits of breakaway lanyards in this Knowledge Center article.

3. School Spirit Custom Lanyards. Create custom printed lanyards in school colors for students with the school name and mascot. Students will promote both safety and school spirit when they wear their student ID cards around the halls.

4. Offer Options. Give students a variety of lanyard choices by purchasing custom printed lanyards promoting various school clubs, activities and sports. Students can even purchase a variety of lanyards from a school spirit store and change their lanyards as they see fit. You may even want to use our selection of themed lanyards.

5. Reward Students. It can be difficult to encourage students to wear their student ID cards all the time. Create a program to incent students to wear their ID cards and custom printed lanyards. For example, you could present awards on-the-spot to students caught wearing their ID cards properly. Give out coupons for the cafeteria or spirit store, candy or tickets to the local movie theatre.

Are you preparing to order custom printed lanyards for the new school year? Like IDville on Facebook and receive 25 free lanyards with your custom lanyard order of $250 or more. As an IDville fan, you’ll receive exclusive coupons and special offers! Like IDville on Facebook today.

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David is an IDville identification expert with over seven years product and sales experience.  Around IDville, David is known for his new product ideas, sports knowledge and experience as a catalog model (you may have seen him in a recent IDville catalog!).

Security is important to you and your organization, so you’ve outfitted your employees with all the necessary identification. The only problem is they have to carry multiple ID cards everyday, and outfitting new employees with ID badges has become a cumbersome process.  While you could outfit the entire team with Mutli-Card Badge Holders and call it a day, we suggest streamlining your photo ID needs into a single multi-purpose HID card.

Using an ID card printer and HID cards, you can create an ID card with all the functions you need. If your employees use a HID card to enter a parking garage or building, you will want to print the visual identification card on an adhesive plastic card. Most HID cards cannot be printed on directly, so the adhesive plastic cards provide a simple option to streamline your ID cards. Attach the printed adhesive plastic card to an existing programmed HID card to create a functional and aesthetically pleasing photo ID card. 

Efficiency. Streamlining your ID card uses into a single proximity card has many advantages, the greatest of which is increased efficiency. Instead of printing multiple cards for each employee, you’ll print only one. Not only will you reduce time designing and printing the ID card, but you’ll also be able to give ID cards to new employees more quickly.

Cost Savings. Combining all your ID card uses into one HID card will also save your organization money. You won’t need to replace printer supplies as often since you will significantly reduce the number of cards you’re printing.

Professional Appearance. Your employees will appear more professional with a single well-designed ID card displayed on a lanyard or strap clip. Be sure to decide the orientation of your ID card before ordering your HID cards to ensure your card design will have the optimal display. 

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Todd is an identification expert at IDville with over seven years experience. Around IDville, Todd is known for his excessive coffee drinking, beautiful daughters, and impressive ping pong skills.

Our monthly newsletter, Identify, was released today. This is a great issue, and I urge you to read it! You can read the complete IDentify newsletter here. In this month's edition, we share a workplace security checklist you can use in your organization to evaluate your security strategy and policies.

In our expert’s corner, I share some tips for adding enhanced security features to your ID card using ID Maker software.

Finally, the case study this month profiles a transportation company that made its building more secure by creating ID cards on site for new employees and vendors.

We send out Identify every month, and we packed it with information and tips about doing identification in your organization. Don’t miss a single issue by signing up for the Identify newsletter. Sign up today!

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David is an IDville identification expert with over seven years product and sales experience.  Around IDville, David is known for his new product ideas, sports knowledge and experience as a catalog model (you may have seen him in a recent IDville catalog!).

Once you implement a photo ID card system, you need to consider your ID card design and how ID cards will be displayed. ID cards are an important part of a facility security strategy, but they must be displayed properly to have their full impact.

First, determine whether your ID card will be displayed horizontally or vertically. This will depend on your ID card design and what features you include. For more information on an excellent employee ID card, visit our Knowledge Center.

Once you have decided the ID card’s orientation, you can review your ID card display options.

I always recommend customers use badge holders to protect and preserve their ID cards. After all, an ID card is an investment in your organization’s security, and you want to protect that investment. A badge holder protects an ID card from the elements and natural wear and tear. It will reduce the number of replacement cards you need to print throughout the year.

Now that your cards are protected by a badge holder, you can shop ID card attachments. Lanyards, ID strap clips and retractable badge reels are the most popular.

- Lanyards are the ID card accessory of choice for schools. Lanyards are easily customized for different buildings, grades and classrooms, and they keep ID cards in sight.

- ID Strap clips keep ID cards close to the body and are ideal for manufacturing settings where safety is a concern. Right now, you can save 10% on your order when you purchase ID strap clips. Just like IDville on Facebook to get the special offer.

- Retractable Badge Reels are great for organizations that use proximity cards and require employees to use their card to enter the building. Some badge reels extend up to 3 feet, so the ID card is easily accessible for scanning.

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David is an IDville identification expert with over seven years product and sales experience.  Around IDville, David is known for his new product ideas, sports knowledge and experience as a catalog model (you may have seen him in a recent IDville catalog!).

Once you design and print your photo ID cards, you need to provide a method for your employees, students or staff to display them. Lanyards are one of the most popular ID card display accessories, and many customers prefer to create a custom lanyard for their organization.

Around IDville, our employees use lanyards to express their individual style. Employees get to pick the lanyard of their choice from our sample wall, and many change their lanyard on a regular basis depending on their mood or outfit. Most employees prefer our premium theme lanyards because of their fun and colorful designs. 

I recommend giving your employees the same choice and flexibility when it comes to their everyday lanyard. Get a bundle of different lanyard styles, and let individuals pick the one they prefer. When employees like their lanyards, they’re more likely to wear their photo ID card.

If you want to have a more uniform look to your employee lanyards, create a custom lanyard for your organization. IDville’s Lanyard Wizard walks you through the process to choose the lanyard style that best fits your organization’s needs and budget. You’ll need to know if you want a full color lanyard, like our themed lanyards, or a one color imprint on a colored lanyard.

The next step in creating a custom lanyard is selecting an attachment. The attachment connects to your ID card and impacts how it is displayed. Take your card’s orientation, whether it is one sided or two and its most frequent uses into consideration when you select your attachment.

After that, have fun designing your lanyard! I recommend incorporating your organization’s logo, mascot or corporate values into your custom lanyard design. Since employees will wear their lanyards around the office, in front of customers, visitors and when they go out to lunch., you should utilize the custom lanyards to promote your organization’s image.

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David is an IDville identification expert with over seven years product and sales experience.  Around IDville, David is known for his new product ideas, sports knowledge and experience as a catalog model.