SIGNAGE & BANNERS

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO CUSTOM SIGNAGE SERVICES

INTRODUCTION

Signs are everywhere you look nowadays. They tell you where to look, what to do, and where to go. Signs can be beneficial for your business because they catch people’s eyes and bring them in closer. If you want to create the best signage for your business, then here’s what you need to know about creating a custom sign.

WHAT MAKES AN EFFECTIVE SIGN?

First, your sign needs to look good and be interesting to read. Many signs have terrible designs on them, or they just don’t stand out enough in their environment. When designing a sign, look for colors and symbols that pop out and stand out from the surroundings.

Additionally, a good sign should be easy to read because most people are looking at signs on the go. Their brains need to connect what the sign tells them to do without taking too much effort. For this reason, signs should only share essential information.

For example, if you are having a sale, here’s what should be on that sign: the sale date, the discount amount, the terms, and any information that someone would need to take advantage of the sale. If the information doesn’t help the reader, it doesn’t need to be on there.

THE BRANDING OF THE SIGN

You need to take the branding into account when designing a sign. Choose your colors and fonts carefully. Typically brighter colors like red, orange, and yellow demand attention.

Bigger fonts and patterns can also draw people’s eyes to your signs because they don’t look normal, and people stare at the things they don’t understand. Make your sign look unique and eye-catching; just don’t overdo it and lose the sign’s message.

MAINTENANCE

Finally, a big sign with lights and colorful patterns might seem fun but remember you need to maintain it. Sometimes a simple and easy to maintain sign is the best option!

TYPES OF BUSINESS SIGNAGE

Here are some of the common materials we use to make your business sign.

VINYL SIGNS

Vinyl signs are great for outdoor banners that showcase events, promotions, and grand openings. These also make for great political signs.

FABRIC SIGNS

Fabric signs are great for indoor signs or anywhere that requires a softer touch. You can use these signs as wall hangings and tabletop displays, and they are very customizable.

AWNING SIGNS

Awning signs turn the entire front of your building into one big advertising space, allowing customers to see your business from a block away! They are perfect for bar signs and hospitality signs.

ACRYLIC SIGNS

Acrylic signs are made from a plastic sheet with a glossy finish. This type of signage gives a nice hi-tech look for hospital signs, city signs, and office signs.

DIBOND SIGNS

These signs look thick and durable but are relatively light. They’re perfect for bar signs, gas station signs, and convenience store signs.

FOAMCORE SIGNS

Foamcore signs are made from poster board foam and are often positioned on a tripod to give them even more prominence. Great for small business signs and yard signs.

METAL SIGNS

Metal signs are the most durable. They are suitable for outdoor advertising because they can withstand rough outdoor conditions. You can find metal signs being used as bank signs and dealerships signs.

MURALS & WRAPS

Mural signs are more like elaborate art pieces than signs, and they typically convey information through design and color. Wraps are very flexible. We usually use them on windows or other architectural elements where a standard sign wouldn’t fit. We can also place wraps on cars and trucks.

STOREFRONT SIGNAGE

Some of the best signs for your business’s exterior are window graphics signs. These turn the large window panes into free advertising space.

A-frame signs are also good signage for the exterior of your business. You can use it to communicate directions or promote sales or other special events.

PURPOSE

Every single sign has a specific purpose, and here are some common goals:

Safety signs keep us safe. They tell us not to walk whenever cars are on the road, to keep out or not touch dangerous areas, and share rules that will keep us from harm. Without them, there would be a lot more chaos in the world!

Signs are also there to persuade, and these are the most common uses for business signs. They want us to go in somewhere, notice and take advantage of a sale, or buy a specific product.

Finally, signs can be informational as well. They show us when things open, close, end, and start. Imagine going to an airport and not seeing any signs about when your flight is leaving!

REAL ESTATE SIGNS

Real estate signs are a type of informational sign that show when houses are going up for sale, sold, or act as an advertising panel for agents.

BUSINESS SIGN REGULATIONS, CODES, AND LAWS

Like everything else, all informational signs have local and federal regulations about how they work. These will vary due to state, but they often restrict your sign’s size, brightness, or shape. You’ll need to check your local zoning laws before you commission your sign to be made or check with your local chamber of commerce.

For example, some of your office signs might need to be ADA compliant. If you have a sign that warns people against potential danger, you might need to follow a restrictive template to make a warning sign.

BANNERS

Banners are seen as the ultimate sign, and here are some of the best things about them.

BANNER MATERIALS

You can make banners out of PVC or polyvinyl, fabric, or mesh. The fabric they are made out of will determine their durability and where you can hang them. A PVC banner will fare better outdoors than a fabric banner.

STYLES OF BANNERS

RETRACTABLE & PULL-UP BANNERS

These banners expand from a durable base and then slip back down once you are finished with them. Great for portability and as temporary signs!

STEP AND REPEAT BANNERS

Step and repeat banners are the best for printing a repeating pattern of several brands at once. They can provide an effective if minimalist feel.

HANGING BANNERS

Hanging banners hang on hooks from the ceiling, and they are great banners to have right at the front of your store as storefront signs.

POP-UP BOOTH DISPLAY BANNERS

A pop-up booth banner is a 3-D banner that is used at trade shows. They can act as both makeshift dividers for trade show displays and tradeshow booths and as a way to advertise for a company in a tradeshow exhibit.

CONCLUSION

Every single sign and banner tells someone to do something, and the most important thing to remember about your sign is that it needs to do the same. Once you get the message across, then everything else falls into place.