We have also used colored ties to mark cable direction. It's what we were always taught.

Blue -- towards CO (or feeder)
Orange -- North
Green -- East
Brown -- South
Slate -- West
Red -- Subscriber/Drop wire

As Jim said, we place them on the cable as they enter the pedestal or enclosure. On a fiber splice case, I will place them on the cable just before they enter the case. We have used tags in the past as well, but not as extensively.

On pair binders, I have used both scrap wire of the appropriate color, or colored ties.