In this hectic, fast-paced world, business owners will do everything they can to stay on top of their game through good advertising. When it comes to grabbing people’s attention, outdoor signs will do the job for you 24/7. According to a survey conducted by FedEx Office, more than half of small-business owners find signage and graphics effective in attracting potential customers. However, for you to experience what signage can do for your business, you have to consider what makes an outdoor sign effective.
Here are 5 tips on making your signs effective:
Purpose
Before anything else – before putting up a sign outside your store, you must decide what that sign is for. What do you want potential customers to know? Is it a promotion of discount sale or the launching of a new product of yours? It is important to answer these questions so you would know what information or message to convey before focusing on the design, colors and layout.
Brief
Signs are more effective when they have a word limit. When deciding what message you want to display on your outdoor sign, the saying “less is more” should be applied. Too many words can be distracting and unattractive. Always remember that almost half of your views are people in vehicles who only have seconds to read the signage. Therefore, you must display the essential information only such as your company name, phone number, website URL, slogan, call to action, or a simple “Summer Clearance Sale!” to emphasize what your customers need to know. The more text you put, the less chances your sign will be read, and that will defeat the purpose of your sign. Keep it simple, brief and informative!
Big
Outdoor signs should be visible especially if you’re creating roadside signs that will be displayed at a reasonable distance. They should be large enough for people near and far to see. This also includes the style of the fonts. They should be clear and big so they can easily be read especially by those who are stuck in traffic or just passersby. Too many font styles in one design can be confusing and can spoil a perfectly good sign.
Branded
Purportedly, 85% of potential customers pass by your business every month so that means having a sign outside your store is the perfect place to promote your brand! If you want your brand to be recognized, increase its exposure because the more they see it, the more recognizable it becomes! Don’t forget to include your logo and company colors on the sign. Stick with your signature fonts and overall style so people would know it’s you. The key is just consistency!
Bold
Graphics add visual interest to people. As a matter of fact, full-color graphics create the highest awareness. The use of a photo creates 300% greater recall than signs without photos. So take advantage of these, and do not be afraid to add high quality images on your signs! Studies show that being exposed to extra color will improve a reader’s retention by 78%, which is why you should use big and bold colors too! Know how to properly contrast them by using a dark background with a light-colored lettering or vice versa. By doing so, this will increase the readability of your sign from a great distance. Never settle for a boring a board with boring text. Show your store off with big graphics and bold color!
Here at Hackworth, we can help you design and print signs that will truly help your business. From clarifying the purpose to printing the final product, we can help make your outdoor signs a true asset for your business. Questions or comments? Submit your message below or you can contact us today!