Certificates of participation are a great way to appreciate someone's hard work. They can also be used as a reward for someone who has done something remarkable. The best way to create them?
Make it yourself, hire a professional, or use an online generator. This article will clear your doubts.
But first…
What is a Certificate of Participation?
A certificate of participation award is a document confirming that someone took part in an event. Providing this kind of appreciation is a way to demonstrate gratitude for someone's effort and dedication. It can be in both digital and paper versions.
5 easy ways to create a certificate of participation
We've got you covered if you are hesitant about those options because we’ve considered all the options' pros and cons.
#1 Design your certificate of participation yourself.
All you need is graphic software and a printer. Sometimes, a text processing program like Word works. However, it takes time and energy.
In addition, a text editor lacks a lot of functions necessary for creating practical credentials like templates or decorative elements. You can create a simple document, but you need to look around if you want something special for your recipient.
#2 Use a template: There are many online templates that you can use to create your certificate of participation.
When you type in a browser “participation certificate template,” you will find plenty of them-formal, informal, colorful, or in neutral tones, you name it.
However, the templates found on the internet have some drawbacks. For example, you can have it in PDF or JPG format when downloading a random one.
So you need to open the document in some editing software to upload a text there anyways. And also, the elements on the PDF or JPG templates cannot change their positions.
Additionally, the templates are viral, so if you are looking for a certificate template to make you stand out, you might have to look elsewhere or design it yourself.
#3 Use an online service: Several online services will allow you to create a custom certificate of participation.
There are many tools for creating certificates of participation online. For instance, you can design the document in a certificate generator, use a graphic design platform, or just simply use a tool you probably have already used - an online text editor like Google Docs.
All of those have their advantages and disadvantages. So let’s take a look at the most vital ones.
A certificate generator: What are the essential factors when creating a certificate that attracts?
Consider these features before choosing a certificate builder for creating a certificate of participation.
It is a tool designed for creating a certificate, so there are no unnecessary features like in the case of text editors or graphic platforms.
Creating a certificate of participation is quick and easy with pre-made templates.
A good generator should allow you to send the certificates to the recipients in bulk.
You can choose the quality and format the best for printing.
If you would like to take a broader look at tools for certificate generation ➡️ 8 Best Tools to Create Certificates Online for Free
A graphic design platform: What are the essential factors when creating a certificate?
There are many free tools available for making graphics with a decent set of tools for designing. However, pay attention to these points:
There could be a lot of features not necessarily helpful in creating outstanding certificates.
A graphic design platform has a rich gallery of various graphical elements that you can find relevant.
Most often, you can’t mass generate certifications, and they have no option to distribute them in bulk.
You can find a certificate of participation template there, but it depends on the platform. Unfortunately, some platforms may not provide the templates.
An online text editor: What are the important aspects when creating a certificate?
Text editors are widely used, and probably it is something we all have access to. Before choosing a text editor for certificate making, here is what to pay attention to before selecting a text editor.
Some text editors, like Google Docs, provide certificate templates, but some designs are not as appealing as certificate builders’.
There’s no option to mass send and generate documents for your future certificate holders.
Making the certificate from scratch would not be a smooth process compared to a graphic platform or certificate builder.
#4 Hire a designer: If you want something truly unique, you can hire a graphic designer to create a custom participation certificate.
It is hard to come across something unique using easily accessible templates. So one of the ways to provide a fantastic certificate of participation award is by hiring a professional. A designer would listen to your needs and design a high-quality, custom, printable participation certificate.
However, not everyone can afford to hire someone. Unfortunately, it can cost a lot of money.
#5 Get it printed professionally: You can have it printed professionally if you want your certificate of participation to look its best.
Once your certificate is ready, printing it out professionally would make the difference. A professional printing service will take care of the quality of the documents, so you don’t need to worry that something goes wrong with the final product.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when creating your certificate of participation:
If you’ve decided to create your certificate of participation, those tips will help you make it perfect.
💡 Be sure to include the name of the event or activity
It’s one of the basics but worth mentioning. You should include the name of the event or activity on your participation certificate so that people who see the certificate for the first time know what this certificate is for. Try to be as concise as possible and not clutter the document with extra words. More doesn’t always mean better.
💡Include the date of the event or activity
The date is also one of the critical pieces of information that you should remember. Include the day, month, and year of the event. It is often placed in the bottom corner and in a relatively smaller font than the recipient's name or the name of the event or activity.
💡 Make sure the certificate is easy to read and understand
And also make it scannable. So those who are looking at the certificate could find important information in seconds. To make it clear and easy to understand, include only necessary data with reasonable spacing. Try not to overuse colors and fonts because they might visually overwhelm the document.
It’s good to write more relevant info in a slightly bigger font, for example, the recipients’ and event’s names. The rest, like the organizer’s name, the date, and the certificate ID, could be smaller.
💡 Use high-quality paper for your certificate of participation
The high-quality paper helps the document last longer, so your participants can feel the satisfaction of a completed task for years. Also, the poor-quality paper would make the certification looks unprofessional.
Also, details always matter - Your participants will undoubtedly appreciate the quality.
💡 Consider adding a photo or image
To create a more customized certification, add a photo or an image. If you use a certificate generator, it should have an image gallery or at least the function of uploading images from your device. Look through the pictures gallery to find pictures that refer to the topic of an event.
Let's customize the certification by adding a picture to match the event's theme. But, of course, images or photos are decorative, so it’s better to keep them at a reasonable size.
💡 Add a personal message
If you feel like it, add a personal message. A certificate of participation will have a more sentimental value with an included personally written note. It is a nice accent for your recipients. It could be a quote that refers to the event or maybe the most important message from the activity or meeting you want your participants to keep in mind.
💡 Use high-quality images
No matter how good the rest of the certificate is, a poor picture can spoil the perception of the whole document. So if you upload a photo or an image, pay attention to its quality to deliver as professional credentials as possible.
💡 Proofread for any errors
Even if you check yourself if there aren’t any errors, it is always good to ask someone to proofread your certificate to catch any typos or logical errors. Two heads are better than one, right? If it’s not possible to ask someone for help, there are some handy tools for correcting grammar mistakes on the web.
Design your certificate of participation with Certifier
A robust tool will also make your certificate well-designed, high-quality, and super easy to make. It sounds like a mission impossible, but it is not! Let us introduce Certifier.
Certifier is an online certificate maker. Thanks to a solid set of features, it is excellent for building a certificate for any occasion: football award certificate, certificate application, certificate issuance, or any other event certificate.
Here are the most important for your certificate of participation:
With Certifier you can add your own content. Add your branding, logo, signatures, personal message, or images to customize it. Certifier provides a rich images gallery. It is integrated with Unsplash and Google, so you have a wide range of images close at your fingertips.
Of course, uploading your graphics is also possible. Move the default elements and add new ones wherever you want to create a unique certificate for your participants. In the Designs tab, you will find various fonts and colors.
Certifier will provide you with many ready-made certificate templates. They are great if you do not have much time to design your certificate. In addition, most of the templates are universal, so they can be adjustable for any occasion by changing the default text.
Certifier also offers a beautiful certificate layout. There are many choices so everyone can find something they like. When nothing takes your fancy, you find a certificate border layout in the Designs tab and design it as you want.
Also, you can save unlimited designs for usage and store them in the dashboard. So you can use it later when needed.
With Certifier you can make your certificates in 5 steps. It is a tool designed for making certificates with a user-friendly interface. That is why the process of creating is straightforward and satisfying.
Certifier allows sending certifications in bulk. That is a fantastic feature for those who want to send credentials via email. Thanks to dynamic attributes, you can send a certificate in minutes. All you need to prepare is a CVS file with participants' names and email addresses. If you want to know more about how dynamic attributes, this article might be helpful.
You can manage issued certificates. Once you send the certifications using an online certificate maker, there is often no way to get back to editing them. But with Certifier, it is a piece of cake. The Certificates tab allows you to manage the documents and correct any mistakes if necessary.
Choose orientation and paper size and provide the best quality possible. Most certificates are the standard A4 size (8.3x11.7), but you can also choose the US letter size (8x11). Both orientations are available: landscape and portrait. It’s all up to your preference. You can ensure the best printing quality thanks to Certifier’s printable certificate.
Add QR code to your Certifier documents. QR codes and Unique Indicating Codes provide better security and verification possibilities.
See the analysis of your digital credentials. Once you send the credentials, you get insights into their performance - how many people opened and shared them on social media. For example, on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.
Mail builder and certificate sender are at your disposal. After receiving the documents, your certificate recipients might also get a congratulatory email. It is quick and simple to design one. In the Emails tab, you can use an available email template and adjust it by changing the colors, fonts, and text or adding an image and changing the button to match your theme colors.
You can make a certificate for any occasion you want. Certifier allows you to generate diplomas and other award certificates. For example:
Certificate of Attendance
Certificate of Achievement
Certificate of Completion
Certificate of Participation
Certificate of Excellence
Certificate for Webinars
Certificate for Online Course
And more!
Once you're satisfied with your certificate of participation, print it out and present it to the recipient. They'll be sure to appreciate your thoughtfulness.
The choice is yours
We’ve presented to you five easy ways to create a certificate of participation.
First, choose what works best for you. But, in case when you still hesitate, we recommend using a certificate software service. You can get unique templates professionally and send them in bulk to your recipients when choosing a good one.
So there is no need to spend a fortune on a project from a designer.
Certifier is ideal for building participation credentials. It provides beautiful certificate design and tones of solid features every certificate provider needs: analytics of sent documents, automated congratulatory email, dynamic elements for mass certificate creation, and many more!
So sign up to Certifier for a professional award certificate and fantastic features.
