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Signs 101: Everything You Need to Know About Signs

Starting a business is not an easy venture to pursue. It's more than just opening a storefront and welcoming customers inside. It requires coming up with different strategies to drive sales, attracting potential customers, and boosting brand recognition. One simple way to do this is by incorporating custom signs to communicate specific messages to specific audiences.

According to a survey conducted by Custom Neon in October 2021, more than 76% of their respondents have visited a store or business because its sign caught their attention. Almost 79% of consumers in the poll also believed that a sign reflects the quality of the business and the products and services it offers.

This survey proves that signs really can be an effective and influential tool in a marketing campaign. In this guide, we will show you how signs can impact your campaign and provide tips on how to make your promotions a success.


Signs 101: The Benefits of Signs

Signs are not just about improving the visual appeal of a business. They are known to be one of the most cost-effective forms marketing, and has helped generate sales for countless of businesses.

This infographic below perfectly explains what studies show about the benefits of signs:



Whether it’s for indoor or outdoor use, promotions, advertising, or events, signs can aide the establishment of your brand in your community.

Interested to know more about the pros of sign printing? Our blog post elaborates further on what signs can do for your business.


Tips for Proper Sign Placement

Let’s say you have a design concept and strategy for your campaign. What comes next? Deciding where to display your sign is a good place to start. After all, a sign is no good if it can’t be seen or read. It should be installed in the right place and at an angle than can be noticed even from a distance. Here are some tips that will help make potential customers stop, look, and read your sign:

Consider the height.
When installing a sign, keep the reader’s line of sight in mind. To capture the attention of potential customers and drive more foot traffic to your store, place your sign at eye level.

Protect it from the elements.
Constant exposure to heat, wind, rain and other harsh weather conditions can cause significant damage. Be proactive by making sure your sign is made of durable materials and avoid placing it in direct sunlight.

Stay away from obstructions.
Check your sign from every angle and ensure that there are no trees, posts, other signs, branches, or anything that can possibly block people from reading it. Be aware of traffic so that parked cars and trucks don’t get in the way.

Find the light.
From glares caused by the sun to shadows due to not enough light, lighting is key. If you want better lighting conditions for your sign, consider investing in a spotlight or a backlit sign.

Be mindful of state/local regulations.
Before installing your signage, make sure that it follows state laws. You might need to secure a permit and comply with various requirements before setting up your sign.

Adjust the text height to an inch so that it’s visible within 10 feet.
A big sign should have more visibility. Ensure that your sign’s size is appropriate to the location, has a text height of an inch, and is legible from a 10-feet distance. You can read more about the minimum required legibility distances in varying situations in this article on the Design and Placement of Signs.

Choose a color scheme that complements the surroundings.
For your design, use a color palette that isn’t too distracting or too bright for readers to look at. Also make sure that the colors you choose doesn’t blend too much in the background. Otherwise, your sign will not stand out.

Seek permission from the building owner.
Before making any changes to a building or mounting your sign, consult the building owner first. There might be limitations to the building and it’s possible that a written approval is required before proceeding with any changes.

Remember to also ask advice from your sign printer to know where is the best position to maximize the marketability of your sign. Feel free to reach out to the Signs.com team for help.


Types of Signs

With so many signs available, choosing the right one for your business can be overwhelming. We’re here to help.

Signs.com offers a wide variety of signs that are great for outdoor use:

  • Custom Flags – Show your support for your favorite team or create your own custom flag to fly proudly at your next event.
  • Aluminum Signs – Display your ads on durable material that can withstand heat, rain, hail, and other harsh weather conditions.
  • Yard Signs – Promote your business through lawn signs that are mounted on the ground using wire stakes, metal frames and more.
  • Metal Signs – Different types of aluminum signs that can be displayed in lobbies, offices and reception areas. Mostly used for directional purposes due to its reflective feature.
  • Plastic Signs – Affordable and durable signs that are fabricated from 3mm or 6mm PVC plastic material.
  • Real Estate Signs – Advertise real estate properties that are for sale or lease, or spread the word about open houses using frames, yard signs, or riders.
  • Parking Signs – Designate parking spaces, lots, locations for business establishments or specific people through signs.
  • Vinyl Banners - (both for indoor and outdoor use) – custom vinyl banners that come with free grommets and a welded hem for easy setup.
  • Mesh Banners – Signs printed with holes, which allow wind to pass through. Mostly displayed on chain-link fences and used to advertise for businesses, events, and sporting venues.
  • Pole Banners – Often used for parades, events, and city celebrations. You can usually see these banners displayed between two poles on lamp posts and light posts.

We also offer multiple indoor sign options. These are:

  • Retractable Banners – These banners expand and retract from a metal base, making it easy for users to set up, pack up, or move to another location. Its portability makes it ideal for trade shows, exhibits, events, and conferences.
  • Step and Repeat Banners – Photo backdrops that have logos printed in a repeating pattern. They are primarily used indoors at trade shows, conferences, events, and weddings for photo ops.
  • X-Banner Stands – A sturdy alternative to retractable banners. X-banner stands are lightweight and portable vinyl banners that come with X stands made of durable aluminum fiberglass.
  • Fabric Banners – Signs printed on a washable, wrinkle-resistant fabric. Fabric banners are mostly displayed in event centers, retail stores, offices, and more.
  • Acrylic Signs – A great alternative to traditional glass, and usually used for directional and architectural purposes.
  • Posters – Signs printed on quality photo paper. Depending on your preference, you can opt of a glossy or matte finish. Posters are used for promoting events, products, services, and more.
  • Directional Signs (both for outdoor and indoor use) – Help navigate people to designated areas or their destination through directional signs. These can be in the form of aluminum signs, yard signs, rigid plastic, or floor decals.


Design Tips for Your Signs

If you want signs that stand out and leave a great impression to passersby, motorists, or potential customers, here are some simple design tips that you might want to consider:

Use Short Messages
When it comes to design, less is more. Most people who will pass by your sign would simply glance at it for awhile and continue on with their day. To effectively communicate your message, keep it short, simple, and as straightforward as possible. If your message is concise, remembering it is easy and there’s also a better chance of readers spreading it via word-of-mouth.

Include a Call to Action
Keep your customers engaged by adding a CTA or a call-to-action statement in your message. This will encourage them to take action and reach out to your business as soon as they read your sign. Some examples of call-to-action statements are:

  • Call Now!
  • Call Us Today!
  • Contact Us for Details
  • Ask Our Staff Inside

Keep Your Text Legible
Select fonts that aren’t too decorative so that readers can easily decipher your message even from a distance. Remember that the purpose of signs is to get your message across to your target audience.

Use Arrows to Lead the Way
If the purpose of your sign is to show directions or drive more foot traffic to your establishment, use arrows in your design to help navigate readers. Ensure that arrows are placed correctly and that they point to wherever the location is and not back to the text.

Use a Design Template
If you want to a faster way to create your design, consider using a design template. At Signs.com, we offer a selection of free yard sign templates that you can customize according to your preferences – no need for graphic design experience or a subscription! Simply type the sign you need in the search bar, choose a design you like, and it will automatically direct you to our online design tool. Add text, logo, change the fonts, or the colors. You can also check out our in-depth tutorial for our online design tool.

If you need assistance with your design, our professional team is here to provide free design services. They can help with image retouching, design sketches, and logo conversion.


Conclusion

Whether your goal is to promote your products and services, advertise events, or get more people to come to your store, signs can help create more opportunities that improve your business operations.

Signs.com has got the perfect sign printing solutions for you, as well as free design services from our team of professional graphic designers and a wide selection of customizable design templates.


Related Articles

Learn more about signage in these pages:

Coronavirus Signage
Standard Signage Sizes
Best Fonts for Signs
Acquiring Images for Your Signs: Signage 101
The Benefits of Signage [Infographic]
How To Drive Engagement With Outdoor Signs
Comparing Outdoor Signs
5 Functions of a Sign


References

Canva – https://www.canva.com/create/yard-signs/

Adobe Express – https://www.adobe.com/express/create/sign/yard-sale

Freepik – https://www.freepik.com/vectors/yard-sign-template

Template.Net – https://www.template.net/editable/yard-sign

How-To: The Signs.com Online Design Tool – https://www.signs.com/blog/how-to-the-signs-com-online-design-tool/

FedEx Office Survey: Standout Signs Contribute to Sales – https://newsroom.fedex.com/newsroom/global-english/fedex-office-survey-standout-signs-contribute-to-sales#:~:text=The%20survey%20found%20that%20almost,a%20sign%20caught%20their%20eye.

23 U.S. Code § 131 - Control of Outdoor Advertising – https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/23/131

Design and Placement of Signs – https://www.signs.org/business-resources/buying-a-sign/factors-of-sign-effectiveness/design-and-placement-of-signs

Color Psychology in Marketing and Branding Is All About Context – https://www.helpscout.com/blog/psychology-of-color/