When you’re starting a new business, you’ve got a lot on your mind. Making payroll. Paying the bank back on a small business loan. Finding office space and furniture. Finding clients. Finding customers. Finding an hour in the day you can have to yourself without focusing on work.

With all of those worries attacking you on a daily basis, it’s only natural that you skip through a few key processes as quickly as possible. But don’t let your signage be one of these processes. Your business’ sign is going to be its “business card to the world.” It pays to know what you’re doing before you procure one.

Fortunately, you’ve arrived at the right place. Here are a few simply “do’s” and “don’t’s” for your very first business sign:

Don’t…

• Buy a sign that looks like everyone else’s in the neighborhood. If you have a business that relies on foot traffic, then you’re going to have to take a look around the other shops and businesses in the area to see how your sign might stand out. If your sign looks like every other one on the block, then guess what? You’re only going to attract as much attention as everyone else on the block. But you don’t want to be average. You want to be above average. Take a few minutes and a clipboard and jot down some notes.
• Only put your business name on the sign. You need a call to action. A unique sales point. A way someone can contact you. Think about political signs: they usually say “Vote _____ for State Representative.” A short statement, but three bits of information are conveyed quickly: your name, the office you’re running for, and what people should do once they’ve read your sign. If your own sign doesn’t have these three elements, you’re just wasting your time.

Do…

• Buy a sign that utilizes the principles of visual contrast. It’s not enough to have a bold color. You have to have a bold color that sticks out from its surroundings. Think about it this way: if you live in the Emerald city, then you don’t want a sign that’s emerald green. It would be impossible to make out against the background.
• Invest some time into selecting the right sign type. There are a lot of different sign services out there. Vehicle decals. Window signs. Sand-blasted signs for real estate. The list goes on and on. If you don’t select the right sign type, then you might run the risk of your sign getting lost in the shuffle. And you will always want to pick an appropriate sign that conveys the right things about your business. For example, a dentist’s office using a neon sign will have people wondering if it’s also a tattoo parlor.

If you want to know more about proper sign techniques and how to secure the right sign for you, contact Sign It Quick with your questions and comments—we’ll be sure to point you in the right direction for your sign…and your brand.