How To Create a Sign That Will Wow Potential Customers

Nov 29, 2020

Did you recently move your brick and mortar shop to a new location? Or perhaps you want to give your old office a redo? In both cases, you need to create a sign that will attract potential customers in an instant.

As a business owner, you cannot downplay the importance of having business signage. It offers many functions including a fixed marketing tool. It also serves as a silent salesperson to a certain extent.

And whether it’s a huge sign on top of your building or a shelf front signage, one thing remains: it is an extension of your business. You need to design a sign that will wow both your existing clients and prospective ones.

But how exactly do you do that? What are the key elements to consider when making beautiful signs?

Continue reading below for the keys to making an appealing sign.

Colors Matter

If you want to create a sign that is compelling to everyone, you need to get your colors right. The colors that you pick, especially the dominant one, can help convey your brand’s identity.

In marketing, there is what we call color psychology. This pertains to the study of how colors affect human behavior. In this case, it’s understanding how different colors appeal to the emotions of consumers and in turn, affecting the latter’s buying behavior.

Furthermore, the colors that you pick also play a major role in brand recognition. Take for example the logos of McDonald’s. People tend to associate the bright yellow color with the brand.

The same thing goes for the color red in the Coke logo. Thus, pick the right colors that match your brand’s identity. And if possible, stick to trendy colors 

Make Some Contrast

Aside from using the right colors, you need to create some contrast in your signage. And when it comes to contrasting, your goal in doing so is to increase the readability of your sign. 

The most common way of creating contrast is using texts or graphics in the foreground. You will match this with a continuous background color. This will complement the graphics or texts, creating contrast for appealing signage.

Like the colors, contrast also contributes to the customers’ content retention. If you pair similar colors, it will only reduce the readability of your signage.

On the flip side, creating the right contrast will help the texts or graphics stand out. Additionally, consider using a border around the texts or graphics to make them stand out even more.

Make It Clear as Daylight

Another valuable tip in designing compelling signage is to make it as clear as possible. This means making the words readable and legible.

You want your sign to be pleasing to the eyes. A big part of achieving this is to ensure your sign’s readability. You don’t want customers to be struggling and squinting as they try to decipher the texts in your signage.

Thus, use clear type styles for your texts. You also want to use the right amount of spacing for your words and letters.

Furthermore, your words must also be fun and engaging to read. If you’re going to add a tagline to your logo, make sure to use one that evokes positive emotions from the audience. You may even add an exciting element to your signage design.

This will help the audience remember your brand faster.

Location Counts…

If your business is purely digital, then you don’t need to worry about this aspect. But if you have a physical store, then you need to consider the location of your signage.

No matter how eye-catching your sign is, if you don’t install it at the perfect spot, you will not be able to maximize its benefits. You need to identify a strategic spot to get the most efficient exposure for your signage.

During the conceptualizing phase, you need to consider the symmetry between the signage and your shop’s interior. Ideally, you want your sign to match the design and aesthetics of your store. 

You want the signage to be an extension of your shop’s interior and vice-versa.

Consider the environment surrounding your store. Does your office have trees and other tall items that may hinder your signage’s visibility? Identify these spots and avoid them.

What you want is to place the signage in a place where there are no obstructions from all angles.

…So Does the Size

Even if you found the perfect location for your signage, if it’s not big enough, then everything may be all for naught. The simple rule of thumb is the larger your sign is, the more visible it becomes. 

This is crucial especially if your building is along a side street. Ideally, you want to maintain at least 10 feet per inch of letter height. Doing so yields maximum impact at a distance of 100 feet.

Also, think twice about the lettering. Though a flowery script and unique lettering designs may look refreshing, they do not guarantee legibility. 

Hence, your best bet is to still keep things simple by sticking to traditional typefaces.

Things to Avoid

Last but not least, there are certain mistakes that you need to avoid at all costs. The first one is failing to proofread your text. Yes, this happens even for bigger signs.

Before you give the green light to manufacture the sign, check the final layout for any typos and misspellings. Also, check if all the information in the signage is accurate.

Another mistake to avoid is using the wrong materials for the signage. Keep in mind that the most expensive may not always be the best. If you’re running a start-up business, you should consider a cost-effective design.

Banners are excellent alternatives to plywood. However, don’t rely on it to be your permanent signage. Upgrade to a sturdier one as soon as you have extra money to spare.

Lastly, never design your signage like a giant business card. Always remember that people will likely look at your signage for a maximum of three seconds. Hence, placing too much information like phone numbers, names, and addresses may confuse and turn off people.

Let’s Create a Sign for Your Business, Today!

Knowing how to create a sign is important for any business. It is one of the key elements that will help your brand create traction especially if you’re new in the industry. And if you’re looking for a company that can help manufacture the signage that you want, then you came to the right place.

We offer custom design manufacturing of signage and other fabricated fixtures. Get in touch with us and request a free quote. Tell us what you need and let’s get your business the signage it deserves.

The Secret to Effective Store Signage Placement

Nov 6, 2020

One of the most important parts of setting up your retail space is determining where to put signage. When placed well, signs can entice your customers to spend time in your store and make purchases. But without good signage, your shop can become chaotic and disorganized.

Fortunately, there have been a lot of studies done on signage placement as it relates to advertising. In this article, we will go through different types of store signage and where to place it for maximum effect.

Digital Signage

With the advent of social media, some of your store’s “signage” is getting moved online. The success of your business partially depends on your fluency in digital marketing. If you can master the art of social media advertising, you can pull more and more customers into your shop.

Place your advertisements on multiple platforms to boost effectiveness. Instagram and Facebook are great places to start. Fortunately, these two platforms are linked, which allows you to post on both at the same time.

All signage has the goal of giving the customer a “call to action.” This means inspiring the customer to take the next step. That can be making a purchase or entering the store.

This is one thing that social media advertising does very well. With a click or two, they can enter your web store, sign up for a mailing list, or buy your product.

Outdoor Signage

Outdoor signage has one job and one job only: to get customers to enter the store. That means that this signage must be visible, understandable, and enticing.

The visibility of your signage depends on where you place it. Sandwich boards are great because they give you flexibility and the ability to move your sign. For example, putting your sign across the street with an arrow pointing at your storefront can drive traffic your way.

If you put your sign right outside your shop on the sidewalk, don’t block the pathway. Place the sign so that it’s readable before they pass the entry for your store. That way, by the time people comprehend your message, they are right in front of your entrance. 

That being said, place your sandwich board sign in a place that is visible from both sides. Don’t place it next to a trash can or another sign. To maximize your visibility to potential customers, you want both sides to be attracting your clientele.

Some sandwich boards can be printed with your business information. But other shops like to adopt a chalkboard style sandwich board.

The advantage of this option is that you can change your message daily. You can entice customers with your creative designs or sense of humor.

People typically bring their sandwich boards inside at night. But your doormat can also act as a de facto sign in front of your store.

Make sure your business name is clearly printed on the doormat. This is signage you can leave in front of your store all night long.

Directional Store Signage

We have all walked into a shop and been confused about where we pay or order. Many business designers say that one of the most important things to consider when organizing your shop is “flow.” Flow means that from the minute the customer enters your shop, they know exactly where they are supposed to go.

This is one of the most important things to consider when designing your store’s layout. Customers are turned off by confusion, and they are easily frustrated. If a potential client enters your shop and isn’t sure where to go, it is likely that they will leave.

This is where directional signage comes in. Directional signage should use a big, easy to read font. And it should be placed at eye level. 

Remember, eye level is a range, not an exact measurement. But it should be visible to people standing up or people in wheelchairs. 

Place the signage directly in context so there is no confusion about what it means. “Pay Here” above a cash register is much more clear than “Pay Here” with an arrow pointing somewhere else.

These days, more and more shops are using floor decals to guide customers. These are especially helpful to establish customer flow through a business during Covid-19. 

Place the decals six feet apart if they are to mark where customers should stand. If they are in place to show directional flow, use arrows and space them intermittently. 

Signs for Deals and Savings

Also known as promotional signage, this is a call to action for purchasing. The idea behind this type of signage is to make buying your product enticing to your customers. These signs advertise sales, special deals, and featured offerings.

But where you place those signs impacts how effective they are. There are a couple of great places to put promotional signage.

First, you can put promotional signage in your window. These signs help bring the customer into the store. Once they are through the doors, it is much more likely they will inquire about the deal or make a purchase.

Second, you can put these signs on individual displays. Use countertop sign holders to create the impression that the customer has stumbled upon a hidden deal. They will thumb through clothing racks or table displays if you mark them with a special promotion.

Third, put promotional signage by the check-out counter. Last-minute deals will encourage people to buy things that they hadn’t planned to purchase. 

Place Your Signage Carefully

Store signage is one of the most overlooked aspects of setting up a storefront. But the truth is, where you place your signs can help bring people into your store. More importantly, it can help you make sales.

If you learned something from these store signage ideas, check out our blog for answers to more of your merchandising questions.