No matter where your business is located – nestled on a quiet street or on a busy pedestrian sidewalk, having the right type of commercial signage is crucial. A sign made by a commercial signage company will allow you to draw in customers and assist them with finding their way around your store.
Perhaps you want to quickly get people's attention with a quirky and unique message. Or maybe you'd like to advertise a new offer or discount. And finally, perhaps you just need to put some more signs around your establishment to help people find a specific product.
According to a FedEx survey, 91% of small business owner respondents agreed that readable graphics are important drivers of success for their business.
Let's examine different kinds of signs you may want to use. These signs can be used either outside or inside to create a better experience for the customers visiting your store.
Make First Impressions Count
Signs, banners, and posters that you place in your business are usually the first points of contact with customers. And this is common advice but bears repeating: first impressions are lasting impressions. It's your one shot to show off the image of your business that you want people to see and remember. And usually, people will judge or assume the quality of your store based on how it looks on the outside. Judging a book by its cover and all that. Therefore, the messaging and style of your signage are crucial for getting people to take a look inside your store and not just walking past it.
Know the Purpose of Each Sign
Before you order a sign from a commercial signage company, it's a good idea to create a plan for each individual sign you want. For example, if you want an outdoor banner, it’s probably because you want to advertise a new sale. A window decal, on the other hand, could be used to inform passersby when you'll be open for business. Crafting effective messaging for every sign that you have will be a lot simpler when you know the purpose that each sign will serve.
Choosing the Right Sign For the Occasion
People walking by your store are not just pedestrians. No, they're potential customers. Your storefront plays a vital role in attracting these folk to come inside and check it out. A-frame signs work exceedingly well for this purpose since they have two sides and can be read from either direction.
Meanwhile, a chalkboard sign is better if you'll be updating the information regularly, and it also allows you to inject your own personality into it. For example, bars frequently add witty handwritten messages on these signs to encourage people to come inside.
Ensure That Your sign Is Readable
When creating a storefront design, an important aspect to consider is how visible it will be from a distance. Think about people who are across the street or in a vehicle that's in motion. Therefore, you should make sure that the words written on your signs are still readable from these different positions.
Improve Readability by Using Contrast
Readability is affected by more than the size of the letters.
Font, color, and contrast also have a major impact on readability.
For instance, a high-quality outdoor banner made by a professional commercial signage company can have a positive impact on your business. However, it must be placed in the proper location, as sun glare could potentially make it harder to read the sign. So if you're planning on hanging a banner sign in an area that gets a lot of direct sunlight, ensure that there will be sufficient contrast between the text and the background color.
Also, keep in mind that pairing colors that are too similar can make the sign blend together too much, lowering its readability.
If readability is especially important to you, then you should strongly consider using one of these color combinations. These are reported by the Outdoor Advertising Association of America to be the most legible color combinations:
Green on White
Yellow on black
Black on Yellow
White on Blue
Black on White
Consistent Branding and Marketing
Customers may end up passing your store up to 30 times per month if it's on their way home or to their workplace. Business signage works for at all hours and is visible even during non-business hours. This gives you an excellent opportunity to build your brand 24/7.
As we touched on earlier, window decals can help in displaying useful information, such as your store's business hours, what payment methods are accepted, and new sale announcements. Think about the subtle details of your signage and graphics and create a consistent and cohesive look all throughout your business, both online and offline.
Less Is More
When it comes to designing a store sign, keep in mind that less is more. With products that can be read more closely, like brochures or flyers, you can take more liberty in using various design options. A patterned background might look lovely on a flier but would be less effective as store signage. With signs, you have to keep in mind the reading distance that's required to reach as many potential customers as possible. In short, it pays well to keep your message simpler and easier to read on a nice clean background.
Recap
We hope that these design tips will assist you in designing the perfect sign for your business. These tips will allow you to better define your sign's purpose and how it will be used to promote your business. The most important tips are to keep your tone and style consistent throughout your business and product offerings. And make sure that it is easy to read for everyone who is within viewing distance of your sign.
Midtown Signs is a commercial signage company in Kansas City. To create the best sign, it's usually a better idea to work with a local company. Get in touch with us for more information. You can also follow our blog for even more useful updates.