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Beginner’s Guide to Business Signage
Beginner’s Guide to Business Signage
While we all want our work to speak for itself, it’s often branding and signage that gets customers in the door and gives our business a chance to prove itself. Whether it is building signage, vehicle graphics or advertising, every business wants to present a first impression that attracts new customers and lets them know they’re working with professionals. Building a satisfied foundation of reliable customers must start somewhere, and that is likely going to be through advertising or general visibility. This makes the most important step the first one, understanding your business’ signage needs so that your signage reflects your goals.
Identifying Your Needs and Getting Started
For a new business in the digital age, branding and presentation are still paramount to success. If your business lacks a strong visual identity, it’s important to build it from the start. Well-executed vehicle graphics/lettering or building signage increase your brand visibility. Stand out at events or tradeshows with eye-catching banners, pop-up tents or tabletop displays that immediately connect to your business. Make sure everyone knows exactly what you can offer with building or monument signage on your property that is clear and easy to understand immediately. Knowing exactly what resources you have available and where you’ll be presenting yourself are vitally important to minimizing wasted time and money early on.
Starting a new business, opening a new location, or updating existing signage?
Advertising isn’t the only purpose of signage. It can also be about letting people know what it is you do and what sets you apart from your competition. Signage can’t tell the whole story, but the right choices can go a long way to making sure potential customers know what you offer. Fundamental branding and design choices like your business’ name and logo should be clear and professional. It’s important to identify the most important information you want to convey and find the most concise way to do so. Try and maintain a balance between expressing yourself in your branding and maintaining a clear message.
Beyond raising awareness or getting your name out there, your business may want to convey information that inspires and motivates; either for prospective customers or current employees. Using signage to motivate shouldn’t be your first step as a business, but it can be another pathway to success. Rather than just informing, motivational signage should inspire action, not just inform. If you want to inspire a strong workplace culture, office signage featuring your company’s slogan, inspirational quotes, or your businesses’ mission statement and values. You aren’t trying to sell anything to your employees, but it’s important that your employees feel valued and a part of something bigger than themselves.
Finally, beyond signage that helps your business grow, there is compliance signage that you may be required to post. These will most commonly be ADA-compliant or signage. The ADA, or “Americans with Disabilities Act” was designed to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. Maintaining ADA-compliance usually involves ensuring that contrasting colors, legible fonts, and raised characters are present. The location and method of mounting these signs must also follow regulations. ADA-compliant signage is based on existing regulations, so make sure that you research your needs early to avoid any fees or penalties for non-compliance.
Success with business signage and minimizing wasted money starts with identifying your needs early. We will happily help by answering questions and offering advice, but we can only help if you know what you need. Don’t think of signage as something that comes later as needed, but something to plan and design for from the beginning. If you’re not sure where to start, our experts here at Sign Palace will happily schedule a visit to sit down with you, discuss your needs, and perform a site survey to confirm your options and provide advice. When you know where you want to go, we’re happy to help you get there.
