Would you be surprised to learn that, according to the United States Small Business Administration, signs are the most cost-effective form of advertising out there? That’s pretty impressive, especially when you consider how much commerce has been moving away from the physical world and into the digital world.
A well designed sign for your business, whether it’s an outdoor LED sign or something a little lower tech, can help your company stick in the minds of potential customers. A sign with catchy features and great placement can provide your business with exposure around the clock. Every person who ever walks or drives by your business will have a chance to see your sign, and every one of those chances could be an opportunity for your company to make money.
All of this, of course, is predicated on you having a sign that will make people stop and take notice. If you have any hopes of designing a sign for your business that can help increase the foot traffic going in and out of your shop, here are three simple design principles to which you need to adhere.
Three Things to Keep in Mind in Your Business Sign Design
- Take the Local Culture into Account
- Make the Text Big Enough to Catch Eyes from Afar
- A Great Logo is Worth a Million Words/strong>
As About.com’s Home so astutely points out, one of the first things you need to consider when designing a new sign for your business, regardless of whether it’s a wooden sign or an outdoor LED sign, is the local culture. In China, for example, it’s not unusual to apply the principles of feng shui to sign design. Following local advertising customs can help your company fit in, and it can ensure that if your business does stand out, it’s not for being overly obnoxious in your advertising efforts.
For Entrepreneur, text is one of the three big tenants of sign design. Consider, is it better to use big, attractive letters on your outdoor LED sign that people can read from a block or two away, or should you instead rely on a small sign with small lettering that only those paying real attention when they walk by will notice? The best choice here should be obvious. Be bold in your choice of font and text size.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that a great logo can make a great company — just ask McDonald’s or Coca-Cola. That’s why Business 2 Community places so much emphasis on working with a professional logo designer who can bring an extra bit of pull to any sign. It’s said that a picture paints a thousand words; for those in the know, a logo paints a million.
Have you used exterior business signs for your company to great effect? What do you think some of the most important design features are? Let us know in the comment section below. Research more like this.
