When you're looking to create an outdoor sign, one of the most important decisions you'll make is...
As a business owner, creating an eye-catching outdoor sign that effectively represents your brand is crucial to attracting potential customers. Whether you're looking to advertise your store, promote a sale, or showcase your company's identity, a well-designed sign can make all the difference.
To help you create a sign that stands out, here are 11 essential tips to keep in mind when designing an outdoor sign for your customer.
1. Design
To ensure your outdoor sign effectively represents your customer's brand and catches the attention of potential customers, careful design is key. This involves considering all the elements of your design, such as your logo, fonts, and colors.
It's important to ensure your sign complements your customer's brand and maintains a consistent message with their business. Remember that if your sign doesn't stand out enough, consumers may ignore it altogether.
Just like any other marketing or advertising effort, your sign should make a lasting impact on potential customers.
2. Illumination
Lighting is a great way to make your sign stand out and attract attention, even at night.
There are three methods for illuminating your sign:
Face Lit Letters, where the light shines from inside the letter to enhance readability and add depth to the sign.
Reverse Channel Letters, also known as Halo-lit channel letters, create a soft glowing effect by illuminating the letters from the back.
Neon Signs provide a characteristic and unique look that has been popularized since the 1900s, although they're not as commonly used as they were before the 1990s.
LED lighting is the ideal lighting source for your sign, given its popularity, affordability, even casting, and long-lasting quality. Check out our selection of LED Lighting options from renowned brands, such as G2G, France, Principal LED, and Allanson.
3. Size
Before creating your sign, it's essential to check your city's municipal guidelines to ensure compliance. Knowing any size restrictions can guide you in choosing the right size that balances visibility and readability.
While creating a large sign could boost your customer's visibility, it's crucial not to overdo it.
4. Height
The ideal height for your sign depends on its location. If it's near a busy highway, it is best to raise it above the surrounding tall objects, such as bushes, trees, and phone lines, for maximum visibility from different angles.
For signs placed in areas with high foot traffic, it's better to keep them at the consumer's level, which may imply lowering their position on the ground.
5. Width
When designing your sign, ensure it's wide enough to accommodate your carefully crafted artwork. Avoid cramming letters or logos together, as this could compromise readability even from a distance.
A well-proportioned width that allows your design to breathe could make all the difference between creating a lasting impression on your potential customers or having them ignore your sign altogether.
6. Legibility
The most crucial aspect of your sign is ensuring that your creative design is legible from a distance. If potential customers cannot read your signage, they're likely to overlook it altogether, defeating its purpose.
As a general rule, letters should be at least one inch tall for every twenty-five feet of viewing distance. For instance, to read letters from 100 feet, they must be at least four inches tall. When it comes to font selection, choosing a readable font rather than a fancy one is best practice.
7. Environmental Factors
Selecting the appropriate material for your outdoor sign is crucial. We previously emphasized this point in "10 Sign Making Mistakes to Avoid."
Environmental conditions such as exposure to sunlight or high winds can cause fading or cracking of the sign. Therefore, it's important to choose a material that can maintain its fresh appearance to make the best first impression on potential customers.
To gain more insight into which substrates are most compatible with specific applications, check out "4 Substrates to Use for Your Sign." If you need further help with choosing the right substrate, we're here to help. Email or call us at 1-800-253-1569.
8. Signs are an Investment
Consider your sign as a valuable long-term investment for both you and your customer. Although it may require a significant upfront expense to achieve the ideal design, size, and material, it can prove beneficial in the long run as it can capture the attention of numerous customers not just for them, but your shop as well through referrals and repeat business if they are happy with your work.
9. Permits
Having a thorough understanding of sign permits and local regulations can save you significant inconvenience. It's crucial to understand the applicable permits and regulations before installing your sign to avoid the potential for its removal or additional charges incurred for resizing.
10. Installation and Mounting Options
Numerous signage mounting options are available, including placement along walls and on rooftops. It's essential to explore each of these alternatives and carefully consider the most suitable location for your sign, ensuring optimal visibility and accessibility.
11. Placement
To maximize your sign's visibility, it's essential to consider its placement carefully. Studies indicate that signs mounted parallel to the road need to be 70% larger than those mounted perpendicularly to be noticed in time.
Additionally, the speed of potential customers passing by is a crucial factor. For instance, if cars are traveling at 30 mph on a one-lane road, the sign needs to be visible from 155 feet away, while on a two-lane road, it should be visible from 410 feet away. Consider these elements when selecting the sign's placement and design to attract attention.
A powerful sign can make a lasting impression on potential customers as they pass by. To ensure optimal exposure, carefully consider the sign's placement and design, as well as any other relevant factors.
Moreover, bear in mind that obtaining permits and following regulations are critical to your outdoor sign planning. Let your sign represent the business accurately and attract the attention of the right audience.
