A Sign of the Times: Choosing a Business Sign

Tips for Using Portable Signage for Small Businesses

Whether you're trying to attract foot traffic to your business by expanding your display into the street or creating advertising for a mobile business that doesn't have a permanent location, varying signage is a versatile way to increase your visibility at an affordable price. When choosing portable signs, you'll need to consider a few important factors. 

Think about visibility

A portable sign increases your visibility by expanding the area in which you can catch a potential customer's eye. This is especially important if you have premises that aren't easily visible or that don't provide you with a lot of room to advertise. For maximum visibility, you'll need a simple design that's easy to recognise and read from a distance. After all, customers typically won't look at your sign for more than a few seconds.

Positioning is also vital for visibility; identify the main directions from which people approach and place the sign so that it's easily visible from them. Because it's portable, you can move it if at different times of day people will be coming from different directions.

Integrate with your brand

Your sign's design is an extension of your company's branding and should fit in with the other signs and logos you've created. Ideally, that means replicating your logo on the sign itself, but if that isn't possible, you can still maintain your theme by using the colours, fonts and other visual elements found in other parts of your brand. 

Choose a message

Once you know what your sign is going to look like, you need to decide what it will say. This depends on the specific needs of your business, of course, but bear in mind that portable signs are relatively small and usually don't get more than a quick look from passersby. Instead of trying to cram all the information you want to convey on a portable sign, focus on getting across the message that will bring customers in to learn more.

If you have changing information needs, like sales or daily specials, a chalkboard or whiteboard sign lets you update information and add personal touches. 

Consider the environment

Choosing your sign's message and visual design is important, but you'll also need to think about its physical qualities. Will your sign need to stand up to high winds or rain? If you plan on leaving it in an area you can't see, you may want a sign you can chain and lock up securely. A heavier sign might be more durable, while a lighter one will be easier to transport and set up. Consider these factors when choosing the type of sign you want.