Your Ultimate Guide to Creating Outdoor Signage for Business
Outdoor business signs should be bold and impactful. Remember that most customers will see your sign while driving and only have a few seconds to read it. Make sure your message is short and easy to read.Ensure your signage is consistent with your branding and logo. It should also be readable from a distance.
Storefront & Building Signs
A well-designed storefront sign portrays your brand’s personality and helps customers find you. It can communicate essential business information and even help customers decide whether your product or service is right for them.
Storefront signs typically include your company name and logo, but they can also feature important business details like contact information, operating hours, special offerings, and promotions. They can be one of the most cost-effective ways to generate retail traffic and convert passersby into paying customers.
Lighted retail outdoor signs, a type of storefront sign, ensure your business has 24/7 visibility and grabs the attention of passersby. These signs are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and illumination options to best suit your business needs and aesthetics. They can also be a great option for retailers with limited budgets as they are more affordable than other retail signage types. They consist of a frame, a translucent or opaque face, and internal lighting to make them stand out at both day and night.
Channel Letters & Dimensional Letters
Channel letters create a 3D look to your business’s name, numerals or symbols. They’re typically fabricated from aluminum and are often found on storefronts, mall entrances or corporate lobbies. These signs are available as standard front-lit, reverse lit or dual lit.
Standard dimensional letters include metal returns, a trim cap and a translucent acrylic face that allows light to illuminate your company’s name. The faces can also be etched, painted or digitally printed with your logo, colors and other graphics to enhance branding consistency.
They can be Flush Mounted (options 1-4), Raceway Mounted (options 5-6) or Wireway Mounted (options 7-9) depending on the desired mounting location and electrical requirements. Backer Panel mounts can also be used to create a unique, multi-dimensional look to your sign.
Lighted Signs
Lighting is one of the best ways to make your sign stand out in the crowd and get people to notice it. Lighted signs can showcase your business name, hours, and even product details. They are eye-catching and can attract attention day or night. When it comes to lighted signage, there are many options including backlit signs, individual illuminated letters, halo backlit signage, and LED screens that are easily updated with dynamic messaging.
The fonts used on a sign need to be able to be read at a distance, so they must be bold enough. There are different types of fonts that convey a different feel, like slab serifs that have a bulkier look and script fonts that are perfect for feminine brands. Fancy fonts are also popular but should be used sparingly because they can be hard to read at a distance. The overall style of the signage needs to be cohesive with your brand and match your logo.
Custom Sign Panels
Whether your business is a high-end retail store, or you’re a legal office offering advice and representation to clients, you want your branding on display in the best way possible. Outdoor business signs are a prime opportunity to do this and bring in more customers. Just make sure your messaging is clear and concise. You don’t want to use a million-dollar word if it can’t be easily understood. Try to write your copy on a fifth grade level so that anyone who sees it will get it.
When choosing colors for your sign, follow your brand guide developed for your other marketing materials. Also, contrasting colors can help increase the response your signage gets from viewers. Lastly, be sure to include enough white space to prevent visual clutter that impairs readability. For additional tips, contact a reputable sign professional to audit your property and determine the best zoning and size for your business signs. They can also help you find the right locations to ensure that your business signs are seen by your target audience.