I encourage my readers to take this post seriously. Signage = FREE ADVERTISING! So many businesses are not taking advantage of such an inexpensive way of greatly increasing visibility.
The owner of a really large newstand in Dallas (huge – more like a book store) told me he was doing a booming business after buying it from the former owner who went under.
Why? SIGNS. The store was tucked way back in a strip center on a VERY busy major thoroughfare. No one knew it was there. So he added a big vinyl sign the length of the frontage plus a strobe light to get attention and a sign out by the street.
He turned a failing business into probably the largest place to buy newspapers from across the country and magazines in Dallas. So don’t ignore this simple tip: get signs and USE THEM. Find out in this post how to take care of them so they last.
CUSTOM VINYL SIGNS
Investing in durable high quality banners and signs is a natural choice for business owners, events planners, political candidates, social boosters, and anyone else with a message to promote. These signs are affordable to produce and will stand up to virtually all weather conditions without fading or cracking. A single vinyl sign can be used over and over again; this one time investment really pays off.
Because the signs you buy for your business or organization represent an important investment, it is important to get as much use out of them as you can.
A banner’s usefulness can be increased by making certain design
choices before the sign is even made. Proper storage and care
will also greatly prolong the useful life of your new vinyl sign.
Design with Long Term Use in Mind
Dated information is the single element that is most likely to ruin a sign’s long term usefulness. If an event takes place on a recurring basis there is no need to include specific dates. At most, include the month that the event takes place in but leave off the day and year since these will only be relevant one time.
Many large signs include contact information such as mailing addresses and phone numbers. If possible, use contact information that is not likely to change. Even though an individual may opt to handle inquiries generated by the sign, listing personal numbers is not a good idea. Personal numbers are likely to change; in just a couple years your sign may be outdated simply because the wrong phone number is listed.
Consider using contact information that is specific
to the group instead of to just one person.
This will provide a more stable means of contact and will prevent information from becoming outdated as soon as someone moves away or changes email accounts.
Leave Room for Flexibility
You can avoid “painting yourself into a corner” and still impart all the information you need to share simply by leaving a little extra room on the sign. On the line where information like dates and times would be, simply leave a blank space. You can adhere a temporary sticker to the sign with the relevant information before the event takes place and then remove the sticker after it has passed.
Ask the business who initially customized your banner for you
to create a sticker that reflects the up to date information.
It is much cheaper to purchase a banner-friendly sticker or flexible sign to add to the banner than it is to keep buying new banners every time the information changes.
Taking Care of Your Investment
Under normal conditions your vinyl banners will require very little care. To clean the sign, simply wipe the surface with a damp cloth. A little dish soap can be added to wash water to scrub away grease spots or caked on dirt. You can also spray the sign with water using a standard garden hose.
When you are ready to store your sign, first remove any ties that were used to fix it to a frame. Second, wipe the sign clean. When it is dry, roll it up around a rigid tube (such as a PVC pipe or cardboard tube). Use rubber bands or string to secure the sign to the tube. Store upright or on its side, taking care not to place anything heavy on top of it. With a little care you can preserve your vinyl signs and banners for many years.
Article courtesy of Sign.com. Make sure to follow Sign.com on Twitter for advice on custom signs for any event.
Gail Gardner
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i was thinking to invest in sign to grow my business, but was little confused what type to get and now im fully convinced to get vinyl banner for my business. thanks for sharing this
Pricing for vinyl banners have dropped considerably the last few years and ordering has never been easier. Most online sign retailers offer online designers that make it possible for a business owner to design and purchase a banner without leaving their desk.
The best advice here is to make sure you design thinking about the future and different times in mind avoiding dates and what not. Thank you so much for sharing. You are right, such a cheap way to advertise!
You make a nice point about longevity. You do want to invest in sign that can be used for some time.
Signage is so important to make sure your business is known and gets seen! The story of the man who turned a business around is a great example of that. Vinyl signs are so easy and cheap to get that it should be a no brainer for any business owner. Thanks for sharing!
Great advice on here! I think it is important to do the most advertising possible when it comes to promoting, especially taking advantage of the rare and few free opportunities that there are. I love the idea of having Vinyl stickers as promotions to businesses as they are fun and quirky, and who doesn’t love stickers? Thanks for sharing this!
Vinyl banners are especially suitable for trade show presentations because they are lightweight and can be effortlessly shipped or transported. The printing on digitally printed vinyl banners are cool and colorful, and very strong, because they are made for outdoor use. These banners are commonly printed on a more tear-resistant material, and should contain seams and grommets where demanded. If you want your banner to last for more than one event it is best to print it with strong outdoor inks to make it scratch, water, and UV resistant. Be sure your vinyl banners are printed with full color outdoor resilient printing using solvent inks. Because the printing procedure is a digital one, banner projects can contain photographs, logos, and special artwork.
I like your tip to leave room for flexibility on your sign or banner. Like you said, it’s a lot cheaper to buy a sticker than it is to buy a whole new banner. Leaving some empty space, or simply putting stickers over out-of-date numbers or information, can help your banner stay up to date without the need to be replaced. Thanks for the article.
I think it is a great idea to design any custom sign with the end in mind. If you leave room for flexibility, then you can change your mind later. I’ll have to keep this in mind if our business decides to get a custom sign of our own someday!
I agree that signs should be able to withstand any weather condition. Of course there are exceptions to this, such as in a hurricane. Overall, though, I think signs should be able to hold up and not deteriorate.
Thanks for sharing this post. My mom is actually thinking about using a vinyl sign temporarily, before she comes up with an actual business sign. It’s not the most conventional, but I think it will work until we get a permanent sign.
My little brother is coming home from a 2 year church mission and we couldn’t be more excited. With that being the case, my mom wants to get a nice vinyl sign made for him. I’ll have to show her this so that she can get all that she can out of this sign.
I have to agree that the customizablity and mobility of banner signs are huge benefits in having them for your business. if you are having a special event at your business, a giant banner can grab the attention of customers, and you can easily transport it to trade shows and the like to promote your business.
Investing in a sign for your business really is beneficial. Signs are a great way to be able to advertize and make your business known. Big signs also make it a lot easier for your clients and customers to be able to find your business. One fun thing about signs is that you can have them custom made to look however you want.
I totally agree with you, Vinyl Banner is the most popular and commonly used sign and that is great for promoting your store or next event.
Great post! In this modern age people are concerned with getting the word out online and on social media. Don’t get me wrong those are great ways to draw attention to your business, but the public is forgetting the basic marketing tools! Posters catch the eye and interest the reader. They’re a great way to bring attention to your business.
Oh. Good for that discerning businessman. It’s really encouraging to know that there are persons out there who can turnaround a losing business. I’m sure the signs and banners helped a lot. So I’m thinking of asking http://www.displaytoday.com/ to help me design an effective banner.
Having free advertisements or signage on the web or on TV is really a great way to make our businesses known to many people. Other than that, having these vinyl banners can catch the attention of the people passing by the area most especially if you customize your design that will match your theme. Moreover, these banners are very cost effective and long lasting.
I really like this idea, although I’m currently not able to apply it to my business. However, it is still fun to imagine it.
I’ve heard first time about custom vinyl signs. looks quite effective to promote business on broader level.
He turned a failing business into probably the largest place to buy newspapers from across the country and magazines in Dallas. i think so
Custom vinyl signs are the best for customers. These signs help in increasing the business.