Posted by Julie and Chris Ramirez on Wed, Aug 11, 2010 @ 02:23 AM
Guide to Using Outdoor Signs
There are a variety of outdoor signs you can use to promote your business. Depending on your budget, some options are more feasible than others. The type of business you're in will also impact your choice. You'll need to familiarize yourself with the different problems that may arise when it comes to advertising your specific business.
You may own a service business that is hard to advertise because you don't have a storefront. Perhaps your business gets lots of drive-by traffic at night and you'd like to tap into that. Or maybe your target market is hard to reach because you sell luxury goods or an unsought product or service. There are business signs that can help with all of these situations:
1. Use yard signs to advertise your service business. This type of outdoor signage is placed in the yards of customers around town.
2. Consider using outdoor signs to help potential customers notice your building. By putting up a lighted sign, people will notice you at night and in bad weather.
3. Reach specific target markets en masse by using large commercial outdoor signs. Billboards and similar types of signs yield high visibility.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done. Contact The Sign Studio for a Quote or give The Sign Studio (818) 843-9200 a call and we will send our Consultant out to meet with you or come to our Studio Showroom for samples located at 831 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505.
Use customized outdoor signs to spread your name around town
Yard signs work best for folks with service businesses. Roofers, landscapers, lawn services, real estate agents and construction contractors can all benefit from the use of yard signs. Whenever you've done a job you're proud of, ask the customer if you can stick a small sign in his yard for a short period of time. This will draw the attention of neighbors and visitors, thus, increasing the possibility that you'll get some new clients. If you buy these signs in bulk, you may qualify for a quantity discount. Note that the outdoor sign holders usually come separately from the signs themselves.
Brighten your business with an outdoor lighted sign
While your business may not be open at night, late-night passersby will take notice of signs that are lit during these hours. Also, inclement weather may make your sign less visible at times, especially during heavy rain or fog. Use these signs to draw attention to your business and set it apart from the others. Lighted signs can be in the form of expensive LED signage or a more basic backlit sign mounted to the facade of your building.
Appeal to the masses with large-format outdoor advertising signs
Billboards are likely strategically placed around your city and its nearby highways. You can actually reach your target audience en masse this way. Find some billboards in areas of your town that are highly trafficked by members of your target market. For example, if you specialize in high-end dermatology services, putting your ad on a billboard near a country club might be effective. On the other hand, if you're a bail bondsman, taking out a billboard located in a high-crime area or near the county jail may get you some new customers.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
• If you plan on staying in one business location for years, consider installing an architectural outdoor sign. These are usually made from stone, brick or concrete and have a more professional look to them as opposed to neon lights or brightly colored channel letters. You can mount these signs to your building, but they also come in freestanding styles.
Posted by Julie and Chris Ramirez on Wed, Aug 11, 2010 @ 02:14 AM
Estimate your expenditures for commercial outdoor signs.
Signage is one of the best ways to promote your business. Outdoor signs not only let people know who you are and where you're located, but they also help enhance your brand. These signs should include your logo and business name and possibly your store's hours and phone number. You can also advertise specials and display information for potential customers.
The pricing and costs of outdoor signs can vary wildly. There are so many different types of signs, so it's best to figure out what your needs are before you start shopping. Ask yourself the following questions:
1. Where do I need to put outdoor signage? You can put signs directly on your building, on your sidewalk, on a pole or in a grassy area.
2. How much can I afford? Establishing a budget is an important step to take before looking for the right business signage.
3. Do I need for customers to be able to find my business at night? If so, an outdoor lighted sign is your best bet.
If you need a quote, please fill out our request form or call The Sign Studio (818) 843-9200.
Posted by Julie and Chris Ramirez on Wed, Aug 11, 2010 @ 02:01 AM
Put yourself in the position of the customers you are trying to attract to your business. Think about walking through the mall and the stores that you’re likely to stop and shop in. There are the regular stops, those places where you normally purchase an item or two, and there are stores you’ve been to before, had a horrible experience in, and will never go back to. Somewhere in between, there are a few dozen places that you’ve never frequented and you only have time to visit one or two of them. Sound familiar?
How do you decide which of the unexplored establishments will be blessed with your presence? You probably don’t know much about them, so you’re making your decision based on the outside appearance. In other words, you’re going to pick the sign and store front that you like the best and walk through that door. That’s how powerful colorful signage is. It will bring in new customers who know absolutely nothing about you.
If you are the type of business that survives on foot traffic, your sign is perhaps the most important advertising you do. You can advertise with print media, television, radio, internet, coupon books, and direct mail, but nothing is more powerful than a colorful custom sign with great graphics. If you’re a service or retail business that needs people to come in and shop to be successful, there is no better investment than a new sign. Look at the outside of your shop and put yourself back in the position of the consumer again. Would you walk through your door?
Competition is fierce today and pool of paying customers is a lot smaller in many industries. Disposable income has been scarce for the past two years. Even as spending begins to pick up again, the average consumer is much more intelligent and careful about where they invest their hard-earned dollars. Your edge over your competitors could be something as simple as your sign graphics. Think back to that trip to the mall. You need those first-time browsers to choose your door when they only have time for one or two more stops. Do you think they will?
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done. Contact The Sign Studio for a Quote or give The Sign Studio (818) 843-9200 a call and we will send our Consultant out to meet with you or come to our Studio Showroom for samples located at 831 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505.
Posted by Julie and Chris Ramirez on Sun, Aug 08, 2010 @ 04:54 PM
Your sign is usually your first chance to make an impression and attract customers, so you want to do everything possible to make it effective. Below are general design tips for creating great looking, appealing signs. Our expert designers consider these and many other factors in building a truly appealing visual presentation for you.
Speed and Legibility
Potential customers passing by in moving vehicles have very little time to read signs. Make yours a quick read by following these proven guidelines:
1. Do not crowd the sign. Avoid the temptation to list every product and service you offer. Keep it simple. One message is all a viewer can absorb in a few passing seconds.
2. Use "white space" to frame your company name or message. A busy sign makes it difficult for a reader to find a focal point and begin reading. Adding a border to the sign also increases legibility.
3. Make sure the fonts used are legible and letters distinguishable from their surroundings. Make sure they do not run together or get crowded by other graphics. Choose easy to read, san-serif typefaces.
Impact
Don't think of your sign as just a way for customers to identify or find your business. Create an appealing, powerful look that entices them to enter, shop and buy. Incorporate fundamental design principles such as:
1. Alignment and Proximity: Make sure elements that are relevant are grouped together and properly aligned.
2. Balance: Don't make one area of the sign so full that it outweighs the rest.
3. Information Hierarchy: Present the most important information first. Readers will view your sign from top to bottom and left to right.
4. Focal Point: Create a strong "point of entry" for your sign. Let the reader know where to begin reading.
Posted by Julie and Chris Ramirez on Tue, Jul 06, 2010 @ 01:42 AM
The first step is to prepare elevations of your sign plans along with a method of attachment and site plan. Obtain an application from the City of Burbank and fill it out. Take everything down to the City and start with the Planning Department. Once you have sign-off from all the Departments, you pay for your permit(s) and you are ready for production. Once all the signage has been installed, you must call the number on the Permit and have the City come out and inspect the sign/installation and give you a final sign-off. If you need a sign company to do this for you, please call The Sign Studio (818) 843-9200.