In today’s post, the Signworld world describes 4 sign design mistakes that business owners must avoid to get the most out of their displays.
- Don’t structure your signage like an oversized business card! For business owners who are unfamiliar with the finer details of sign design, modeling their signage after business cards seems like a smart move. After all, your business card lays out your contact details, company logo,, and other pertinent information in an easily digestible format, so why not use it as signage inspiration?The main problem with this approach is that 9 times out of 10, it results in an overcrowded sign design. As we’ve discussed in previous posts, the best signs are always simple and concise, outlining straightforward action for the customer to take. Remember: most of your prospects will not study your sign; on average, we give business signage about 3 seconds of attention, and this duration only continues to decrease as our world gets cluttered up with more advertising every day.Rather than bogging down your message with details, try picking three key elements from your business card that you will incorporate into your sign design. More often than not, these three elements will be your business name, tagline, and either a website URL or phone number, depending on your preferred contact method. This method makes the most of the old adage that “less is more,” and generally will convert more prospects than the cluttered business card alternative.
- Don’t penny-pinch with refurbished plywood signage. We get it; owning a small business is unforgiving in the modern market climate, and success is often proportionate to your ability to reduce unnecessary spending. However, when it comes to converting customers with business sign design, you need to put your best foot forward, which usually means knowing when it’s time to say goodbye to old plywood signage. If your plywood is past its expiration date, even the more artful repainting and lettering touch-ups won’t do; old plywood always looks like old plywood, and that’s a big red flag for your prospects.If you’re trying to save money with budget-friendly signage, consider some of the banner options that we offer as temporary stand-ins. This brings us to our third mistake…
- Don’t rely on banner material as permanent signage for your business. Banners are cost-effective signage solutions that business owners love, but they’re meant to be temporary. If you rely on banners as permanent signage, your business will forever come across as a “fly-by-night” operation, which translates to a significant drop-off in customers. Saving money is important for small businesses, but making money is even more critical. Our consultants will be happy to work with your budget to find a more suitable long-term sign solution.
- Don’t use light lettering on light backgrounds. Yellow lettering and fancy pastel covers are great, but they should never be paired with white or lightly colored backdrops. The lack of contrast translates to a lack of readability, which means fewer people taking the action your sign is trying to promote. If your mind’s made up about light-on-light, make sure to outline your lettering with a contrasting color; black, brown, or darker shades of green work well.
Find more sign design best practices for business owners and industry insiders at http://www.signworld.org.
About Signworld
Signworld is a national organization with more than 300 independently owned sign companies, which provide commercial custom signage and graphics. It’s personable, creative, rewarding and ideal for people-oriented individuals who have the desire to learn how to manage a sales and production business. Signworld has been a part of the industry’s profit and fun since 1988. With over 28 years in the business, Signworld has established itself as the leader in the no-royalties and no-rules sign business concept. The ongoing support and training along with state-of-the-art equipment helps leave the competition behind. For more details visit – https://signworld.org
