At the heart of it, every sign is a call to action. But there’s a different strategy to creating enticing instruction versus directing folks to the bathroom. Try something new, be that a new colour, new location for your sign or creating a fresh campaign, offer, or tagline. Go high tech with digital signage or think big with a vehicle wrap.
Wallpaper your message on an entire wall in your shop. Install an etched glass sign in your front window, or dream up a hanging shade banner. Brainstorm for days until you’ve got something really exciting on the go! But before you place an order, use these tips to help guide you your interactive message.
First of all, you have to see your signs how your ideal audience would – and whether they’ll see your signs at all. If you don’t know your audience, how can you know what they want? Sure, you come up with the bottom line – let’s say 10% off their next purchase – but you’ve got to tell them about this hot deal in a way that will appeal to them. Even if you are the only company in your field, you’re still in competition with every other 10% off deal in existence. And even if yours is the only sign around, you’re competing for attention with phones and busy schedules. Know your audience!
Which means that secondly, you have to study the space your sign will hang out in. Don’t pick out a colour or font until you know what you’re competing against. Blue and white is popular, but before you choose hot pink go back a step 
and be sure that will appeal to your audience. As you look at your space, decide whether it’s more visible to have a hanging sign, a standing sign, a banner, etc. If you’re preparing for a trade show and aren’t sure what to expect, search online for images from last year to see what you’ll be up against. Yes, your display ultimately should be cohesive to your brand, however, that’s not a rule and there are ways to enhance your brand’s style without making everything match.
You can craft a clever message, but get to the point sooner rather than later. You have mere seconds to catch attention and hold it. It is entirely possible that advertising your 10% off doesn’t hold enough allure, you may want to leave that to the end or once folks have come over to you for details. But rather than simply advertising that you’ve got a SALE! going on, provide some information on what kind of sale and why your customers should check it out. And make sure whatever you’re offering is worth your customer’s time!
Borrow from Social Media and use images. Pictures speak 1000 words, just be sure that whatever you choose says exactly what you need it to. This provides you with 1000 different ways to precisely focus on your ideal audience. Be bold, be brave, but be smart about it.
Grand River Sign Design has a professional graphic designer on premise to help you design attractive sign designs that are cohesive to your brand. Contact us at (519) 740-7272 or come by our showroom at 25 Struck Court unit 5 in Cambridge, Ontario.
