Signage is not only a decorative element for your company but a significant instrument to draw customers, increase brand exposure, and direct visitors. The right choice of signs for your business location will create a lasting impression and make your message unique and interesting to your target audience. Besides design and placement, you also need to consider visibility and regulations.
This guide will provide you with handy business signage tips, explain the importance of location-based signage, and the sign placement strategies that you can employ to create the best signs that attract and communicate your message effectively.
Understand Your Business Needs
Before you get to design or placement, you need to know what your signage is for. Are you looking to attract new customers, promote a sale, or give directions within your location? Each goal requires a different way of choosing signs.
Consider your target audience. For instance:
- A café may need welcoming, visually appealing signs to draw in foot traffic.
- A warehouse might prioritize clear and functional directional signage.
Aligning your signage with your business’s unique needs ensures that it effectively supports your goals.
Assess the Location for Maximum Impact
The effectiveness of your signage heavily depends on where it’s placed. Location-based signage ensures that your message reaches the right audience at the right time.
Start by analyzing your business surroundings. For outdoor signage, consider factors like:
- Foot and vehicle traffic patterns
- Visibility from a distance
- Nearby competing signs
For indoor signage, think about high-traffic areas, such as entrances, checkout counters, or hallways.
Environmental conditions also play a role. Outdoor signs should withstand weather changes, while indoor signs may need to accommodate varying lighting conditions.
Prioritize Visibility and Readability
A sign that isn’t easily seen or understood fails its purpose. Ensuring the visibility of signs is crucial for capturing attention and communicating your message effectively.
- Size and placement: Bigger is better, especially in high-traffic areas. Place signs in clear, unobstructed areas where pedestrians or passing cars can see them.
- Design matters: Choose high-contrast colors, like white text on a dark background, to make your message stand out. Use simple fonts that can be read quickly. Avoid fancy designs that may confuse or distract your audience.
- Lighting: Whether it’s day or night, make sure your signage is visible. Backlit or LED signs can help in low-light areas.
Explore Sign Placement Strategies
Where you place your signage is as important as its design. Strategic sign placement strategies can significantly impact how well your signs perform in guiding, informing, or attracting customers.
- Outdoor signage: Position signs where they’re visible from multiple angles, such as roadside locations for drive-by visibility or at building entrances to welcome visitors. High-mounted signs can work well in crowded areas to rise above distractions.
- Indoor signage: Focus on high-traffic zones. Place directional signs at key decision points like hallways, aisles, or near staircases. Promotional signs should be near checkout counters or product displays to influence purchase decisions.
- Eye-level placement: Signs placed at or slightly above eye level are more likely to catch attention and be read quickly.
Choose the Right Materials and Design
Your signage says a lot about your business. Durable, professional-looking signs not only look good but also look trustworthy.
- Materials: For outdoor signs, choose weatherproof materials like metal, acrylic, or vinyl to last longer. Indoor signs have more flexibility, so you can use lightweight materials like foam board or fabric.
- Design: Match your brand by using colors, fonts, and logos consistent with your overall identity. Minimalist designs work best as they are clean, uncluttered, and easy to read.
Comply with Local Signage Regulations
Before finalizing your signage, it’s crucial to ensure compliance with local laws and regulations. Cities and municipalities often have specific rules regarding the size, placement, lighting, and type of business signs allowed.
- Research your area’s zoning requirements. Some locations may restrict the height or square footage of outdoor signs, while others may regulate the use of illuminated or digital signage.
- Obtaining the necessary permits is typically part of this process and helps you avoid fines or the removal of non-compliant signs.
Takeaway
Selecting proper signage for your business location should be the first step, as it makes your brand visible. By understanding your needs, getting necessary information from your location, choosing the right materials, and strategic placement, you can have signage that stands out.
If you are eager to step up your game by having the best-designed and expertly installed signs in town, then Branditt is your best choice. We are one of the best signage companies in Toronto, where our expertise lies in developing customized solutions unique to your needs. Call Branditt today and let’s make your signage a real asset for your business!