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Printing Badges
Printing Badges

Learn how to print your own badges, or use a third-party badge printer to create badges for your event.

Updated over 3 months ago

ClearEvent does not offer built-in badge printing. To help, we've outlined some options for you that will make it easy to print your badges ahead of your event either using your own printer, or a 3rd-party solution.

Step 1: Gather your attendee data from ClearEvent

First, export registrant or ticket holder data from ClearEvent. You'll need this data in a later step to generate your badges.

  • Click here to learn how to export Registrant data.

  • Click here to learn how to export Ticket Holder data.

Note: Depending on the badge printing solution you choose, you may need to further edit or adjust the export data to meet any special import requirements. For example, you may need to reduce the number of columns in the export file or rename certain columns.

Step 2: Choose a printing option

Option 1: Print custom badges yourself using an Avery template

  • You can use the free Avery online design tool which makes it easy to create badges.

  • Choose the Name Tags & Badges template for your badges.

  • Choose your desired badge layout and start designing your badge.

  • Click the Import Data button and upload the data you exported from Step 1 above.

    • Note: Avery limits the number of columns in the import file to 30 columns. Prior to importing your data, remove any columns from the ClearEvent data file you do not intend to display on your badge until the number of columns is 30 or less.

  • Map the fields from the data you uploaded to your badge design.

  • You can even add QR codes that include specific registrant details. For example, you can embed data in the QR code like:

    • The registrant's Confirmation Code.

    • A URL to a website.

    • For lead retrieval purposes, you can include vCard contact details in the QR code (see below for more details).

  • You can then choose to have Avery print and ship the badges to you, or you can buy the Avery badge sheets and print them yourself on your own printer. For example:

  • Be sure to save your badge design so you can use it again later if you need to print more badges.

  • If you need to print badges for any last-minute registrations received by ClearEvent, you can re-import a recent data file from ClearEvent into the Avery design tool. Avery will allow you to print a single badge on the desired badge card stock.

Option 2: Print badges using a 3rd-party online service

  • Upload the data you exported from Step 1 above to the badge printers' design & mail merge tool, and then place an order for the badges.

  • We recommend https://www.conferencebadge.com but there are other options.

  • The badge printer will then ship the printed badges ahead of your event.

  • Once you receive your badges you can distribute them on-site at your event.

  • More details can be found on their website.

Option 3: Print badges yourself by using a 3rd-party printing solution

  • Import the registrant details from ClearEvent into a 3rd-party solution like PlasticPrinters.

  • Either work with PlasticPrinters' Designer or your own Designer to design and pre-print your badges ahead of your event. For any last-minute registrations, use the software provided to print badges on-site using your own equipment purchased from them.

  • More details can be found on the PlasticPrinters website.

Adding a QR Code to your badge

To enable attendees, exhibitors, vendors, and other types of event participants to easily exchange or capture contact details from other participants, you can include a vCard QR code on your event badges.

A vCard QR Code is the digital version of a business card that can easily be saved on a smart device. Whenever a vCard QR Code is scanned on a mobile device, the device displays any contact details embedded in the vCard (the contact number, email address, name, display picture, interactive address on GMaps, social handles, and other supporting links).

Using your mobile phone's built-in camera to scan a vCard QR Code

Modern mobile phones (iPhone and Android) will allow a vendor or exhibitor to simply scan a vCard QR code using the phone's built-in camera. Doing so, will save the contact to the mobile phone's contact list.

Using a Lead Capture app to scan a vCard QR Code

Some vendors/exhibitors may wish to bring their own lead capture mobile apps to scan a vCard QR Code (e.g. iCapture). This is because dedicated lead capture apps can often simplify the aggregation of captured leads across their company into a central CRM and may be preferred by some vendors/exhibitors. If so, the same vCard QR Code can be scanned by these applications.

If you have any questions, please chat with ClearEvent support for more help.

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