It can be challenging to capture customers’ attention, especially in the fast-paced world of marketing. However, the right marketing assets can make a huge difference, and a table tent is one you should not ignore.
Yes, you might have seen table tents in restaurants, hotels, and other settings. These tents can help your marketing strategies run more effectively. So, what is a table tent, and is it really worth it for your business? Let’s explore everything about it!
What Is a Table Tent?
A table tent is a small, self-standing display used for marketing and communication placed on tables or countertops.
Also known as a table tent card, it’s actually a promoter, seller, and brander—everything your business needs.
- Table tents come with excellent features, including:
- Promotional messaging for special offers
- New products or event announcements
- Informational content such as menus, contact details, or table numbers
- Interactive elements like QR codes or feedback forms
These tents are usually made from a sturdy 14 pt uncoated cardstock. Think of thick index cards but with a higher-quality finish.
The material’s durability allows a table tent to stand on tabletops, counters, or flat surfaces. Plus, its compact size makes a table tent perfect for showcasing essential details without overwhelming customers.
What Is the Purpose of a Table Tent?
Now the big question is: What is the main purpose of a table tent?
As the name suggests, a table tent card promotes your products, menu items, services, or event details right from the tabletop. The best part? It can creatively enhance marketing efforts, with limited space.
Benefits of Using a Table Tent
As an effective multi-purpose solution, custom table tent cards benefit your business in many ways.
Here’s the list of benefits you can expect.
Showcase the Essentials
A table tent is an excellent way to highlight your products, services, or other essentials that customers should know. For example, you can use it to promote upcoming events, introduce new menu items, or offer exclusive discounts.
Targeted Messaging
Table tents come in a small size. Therefore, your messaging needs to be direct. This feature may seem limiting, but actually, these tents make it easier to target your messaging to your audience. With these tents, you don’t have to announce your products, promotions, or services through any platform. Instead, you can get your message sent directly to the right targeted audience.
Budget-Friendly Advertising
Compared to other marketing approaches, custom table tents are very budget-friendly. They are easy to produce and print—all while offering an excellent return on investment.
Boost Brand Awareness
A table tent with your business’s name and logo can quickly boost brand awareness. With a strategic design and consistent logo placement, it acts as a mini billboard, reminding customers about your brand.
Different Industries That Use Table Tents
The flexibility of table tent printing is what makes the marketing magic happen. Printed table tents help businesses across industries to achieve high-level marketing performance at a low cost.
Below are different industries that commonly use table tents.
- Restaurants
You’re likely to see table tents for restaurants. Instead of displaying an overwhelming list of menus, restaurants can elegantly showcase special deals, signature dishes, or seasonal menu offerings with simple table tents.
- Pubs & Cafes
Table tent cards make it easier for pub and cafe owners to promote their upcoming events, such as live music or happy-hour discounts. Even better, they can include a QR code that lets customers add the event to their calendars.
- Retail Stores
Retail stores can leverage table tents to announce new product arrivals or draw customers’ attention to clearance items.
- Hotels
Hotels commonly use customized table tents to promote special discounts, offerings, and exciting upcoming events.
No matter what type of business you have, a table tent is the perfect marketing asset that meets your customers where they are. Ultimately, it can boost your sales, brand recognition, and engagement simultaneously.
How to Design Effective Table Tents?
No one would want to check out attractive table tents. Thus, to capture maximum attention from a specific audience, your table tents need to be visually appealing and effective.
It can be pretty challenging if you’re new to this. To help you out, here are some tips for designing effective table tents for your business.
Choose the Right Material
The right table tent starts with the right material. Depending on your needs, you can choose from the materials below:
- Cardstock: A cost-effective, eco-friendly material to produce table tents in restaurants for menus or promotions.
- SBS (Solid Bleached Sulfate) paperboard: A type of paper available in different thicknesses (12pt and 14pt).
When choosing the material, remember that you want your table tents to withstand frequent handling and cleaning while maintaining their appearance.
Ensure the Size is Accurate
Yes, size matters, but clarity matters more.
For personalized table tents, you can get any size. However, the standard and most popular sizes are:
- 5″ x 7″ portrait
- 6″ x 4″ landscape
Both sizes help you clearly highlight information. However, ensure the size accommodates all essential elements within a manageable space.
Print Your Table Tents
Printing your table tents can really make them look more impressive. You can choose digital printing for its speed and ability to print on sturdy, coated cardstock. On the other hand, offset printing is ideal for larger runs.
For the final touch, you can apply specialty coatings, such as gloss, matte, or spot UV.
Combine a Simple Design with Visual Appeal
Remember, a table tent card has limited space. So, make sure your design is tidy and straightforward. Focus on the most essential details and communicate them clearly and concisely.
To increase the impact, you can add eye-catching design, your logo, and high-quality images to your table tent. Use images that align with your brand’s colors to help your target audience understand and relate to the message.
Leverage the Power of QR Codes
Include QR codes in your design to allow customers to access more content online, such as digital menus, review your website, and special deals. By leveraging QR codes, you can increase downloads and engagement.
Don’t Forget CTA (Call-to-Action)
Customers should be aware of what you want them to do next. Make sure you put a call to action (CTA) on the table tent. A clear CTA encourages action, whether it’s “Try our new product, or “Visit our website.”
Overall, you can design and even customize your table tents the way you want.
For a quick understanding, have a look at the table below.
| Feature/Category | Description | Examples |
| Promotional | Highlight sales, new items, or special offers to drive sales | Special deals, limited-time offers, new product promotions, or event announcements |
| Informational | Provide menus, event schedules, or contact information | Digital or physical menus, event programs, hours of operation, or Wi-Fi passwords |
| Interactive | Encourage engagement through digital or physical actions | QR codes linking to a website, social media, a digital menu, or feedback forms |
| Visual Design | Focus on a simple, visually appealing yet effective design | High-quality images, strong branding (logo, colors), and a clear CTA |
| Material | Withstand frequent handling and cleaning while maintaining their appearance. |
|
| Finishing | Specialty coatings | Gloss, matte, or spot UV |
Where to Find the Perfect Table Tents?
Well then, if you’re wondering where to get the perfect table tents for your business, look no further than Custom Box Makers. Designing and printing your table tents with us is very easy and quick, delivering professional results.
FAQs
What is a table tent?
A table tent is a small, self-standing display used for marketing and communication, placed on tables or countertops.
Which industries use table tents?
Industries that commonly use table tents include restaurants, pubs & cafes, retail stores, and hotels.
What’s the size of table tent cards?
The standard and most popular sizes are 5″ x 7″ portrait and 6″ x 4″ landscape. However, you can also get a custom size.
What are the benefits of using a custom table tent?
Custom table tent cards offer tremendous benefits, including showcasing the essentials, targeted messaging, budget-friendly advertising, and boosting brand awareness.
