In addition to the security benefits, a great ID is also a great marketing tool! Whether you realize it or not, your ID cards send a message to everyone who sees them so be sure your new ID design is in line with your current marketing style sheet; including consistent font, logo, text format and colors. This will reinforce your brands message to the community, vendors, customers and business partners on a daily basis.

* Data Encoding
ID cards at their best include encoded information about the user. This gives your organization a way to control access to your building or specific departments and controlled-access areas of your facility. Combined with a card reader to approve or deny admittance to these critical access-points, these encoded cards prevent you from having security personnel posted at these critical areas – ultimately saving you money on payroll.

* Signatures
When a photo isn't enough to visually identify an employee, you'll be relieved to have a copy of the authorized employees signature printed right onto the ID card. Even trained professionals have a hard time duplicating a signature on the spot. When someone's identity is in question, having this visual security reference printed right onto your ID cards is an instant way to detect a fraudulent ID card or unauthorized visitors.

* Durability
A great ID card is one you can rely on to last. Prevent the expense of re-printing cards by using ID cards made of durable materials like PVC or plastic HID smart cards. While these cards may be more expensive than their paper-stock counterparts; their long-wearing materials have been proven to last long after the paper ID cards are in the recycle bin. But if your organization isn't large enough to support a large ID printer system, consider protecting those paper-stock ID cards with a laminate coating or badge holder. The layer of protection will save you the expense of reprinting your cards multiple times, which kills the budget-friendly advantage of paper-stock ID cards in the first place!