This is an article a college friend of mind wrote for companies looking to grow in 2010.
~Amy Donahue
Signage Consultant
What Investing in Signage Will do for your Business
By Alyssa Burroughs ©
It is the fresh New Year of 2010 and time to throw off the economical slump of 2009. Corporations such as Coca Cola and Proctor & Gamble are reinventing themselves to sell to a savvier consumer and a tighter economy. Small business owners who have survived the foreclosure and bankruptcy hurricane are looking into cost-effective ways to market themselves successfully. Whatever the size your business may be, driving traffic to it is essential to a profitable and growing company. Here are three ways to increase your marketing exposure with signage.
Banners
Starting the New Year with brand new product offerings, discounted services, or a sale on inventory may be a good way to jump start sales. New product and sales will not help you if no one knows about it. Displaying your sale to the world brings in traffic, and at the very least will turn heads. A relatively inexpensive investment would be to purchase a banner. Vinyl banners are especially popular, and can be used repeatedly. They are weather resistant and can be attached to a storefront, displayed on poles, or even hung indoors. They can be custom created with one color up to full color graphics, even printing your logo to capture brand recognition.
Vehicle Graphics
Driving to meet a client? Going to the grocery store? Marketing your business can even happen while on the road. Vehicle graphics are becoming very popular. According to a study done by Arbitron Inc., an international marketing firm, outdoor marketing plays a key role in the advertising industry. Vehicle lettering, car wraps, and window coverings are getting the attention of thousands daily. Where ever the vehicle goes, it offers your unique brand to impress upon the masses that are commuting. The Arbitron study concludes, that with the heightened awareness needed to operate a vehicle, it has been shown that brand recognition is easier to recall than indoor media (television, radio etc.). Wrapping or lettering a vehicle can give small business owners vast exposure with a low cost.
Illuminated Signs
As a business owner you have searched high and low for the perfect spot to open up shop. You have researched the demographic and found the niche that you are looking to market. Sometimes the sign that points to your front door gets overlooked or it will be missed if customers cannot see it at night. While an illuminated sign might cost more than the run of the mill banner, they have significant advantages. Obviously when dusk hits, illuminated signs will stand out brightly against the darkening sky. A lit, mounted, or free-standing sign subconsciously tells the viewer that your business is no fly-by-night operation. The ultimate goal, other than first attracting customers, is to keep them coming back and wanting more. Providing a strong, trustworthy image is essential in creating return customers.
Expect Results
Whether choosing a simple one color banner or installing lit signage that indicates where and who you are, results will roll in. Investing in signage will always give you a return and provide much needed information to your customer.
