Roadside signs, building-mounted signs, and interior signs can help you make a great first impression for your business. In this article, we’ll help you work through the options you might consider to attract attention and help your customers gain immediate confidence in your brand. We’ll also show you how to find a sign designer, a printer, and an installation firm to complete the task.
What kinds of signs does my business need?
Signs should help you achieve a purpose. They can attract your audience, inform them that they’ve found your site, hint at (or explicitly state) what you do, highlight a special you’re offering, or build familiarity.
If you have a retail, factory, or office location that customers will visit, exterior signs can accomplish many of these tasks. Inside your location, you can use signs to affirm your brand image and inform your visitors of a next step they need to take.
When it comes to your business, you may need some or all of the following signs to accomplish your goals:
Permanent signs for your building
- Building-mounted signs with your logo
- Awning signs that direct visitors to entrances
- Monument and free-standing signs near roadways
Temporary signs for your building
Permanent signs inside your building
- Acrylic signs for your reception desk
- Electric and light-up signs (such as those used by retailers within a shopping center)
- Brushed aluminum signs (often used to label individual rooms of offices)
- Regulatory, safety, or ADA signs
- Wayfinding signs
Temporary signs inside your building
- Vinyl wall decals with your logo or other graphics
- Indoor floor decals or carpet stickers
- Fabric hanging banners
- Retractable banners
- Mounted posters
Other business signs
- Yard signs (often used by companies providing residential services)
- A-frame sidewalk signs
- Vehicle decals or magnets
- Pop-up displays, pop-up tents, table covers, or x-banners for trade shows and conventions
- Counter cards or tabletop retractables
- Street or sidewalk decals
- Fence wraps
You might also want to consider some digital signs that are easy to update on the fly. These are great for menus, featured items, rapidly changing information, and more. OptiSigns is one of many services that can help you create your digital signs. It's especially popular because of its audience intelligence AI add-on that helps owners know who is looking at their signs and taking action because of them. You can learn more and book a demo here.
Who can help me design the signs my business needs?
Local print shops often have designers on staff who can help you with this task, but for complex designs, you may want to work with an experienced graphic designer. Find one who has experience in creating the kinds of signs you need, is great at identifying and demonstrating brand voice, and is willing to propose multiple options for you to choose.
Would you like some help finding a designer? Here are a few business-owner favorites:
Studio1 Design
Design for Market Leaders
Studio1 Design isn't your regular, run-of-the-mill design house. It's a team of branding experts who know how to create logos, sites, and imagery that build your authority, boost your credibility, and help you become a visible leader in your industry. They do this by taking a deep dive into your business, learning what you want to become, and using what strategies to maximize the appeal of your brand. Would you like to learn more? Click the button below to book a free consultation.
99designs
World-Class Design. At Your Service.
You probably already know Vistaprint, the online printshop business owners love for creating branded gear, but their design service, 99designs, is where the company really shines. Through this service, you can work one-on-one with a designer or start a contest to find a logo, web, ad, or packaging design you love for your business. To learn more—and to check out pricing for this service—follow the link below.
Penji
Trusted by Thousands of Brands
Business owners love Penji for a wide range of design projects. Here's why. This platform of highly qualified designers create designs brands—and their customers—love, and they do it all quickly, often within 48 hours of submission. And, with Penji, you can have unlimited drafts and revisions until you're fully satisfied, all for a flat monthly fee. Ready to connect with a designer? Follow the link to find the right plan to match your design needs.
Check this out: For a limited time, you can save up to 15% on the first month of any Penji plan with this coupon code: OWNERACTIONS15. Restrictions may apply. Visit Penji's website for details.
How do I have the signs printed and installed?
When it comes to printing and install, there are a few ways to proceed.
If you work with a graphic designer, your contact will likely recommend a printer and sign installer to help you complete the project. Printers often have go-to companies for installation work, too.
If you choose to work with an online sign company such as Signs.com or FastSigns, printing is part of your sign package. However, installation is not. You can work with the customer support teams of your sign design firm to locate an installer in your area.
What’s next?
Log into your owner’s portal for a step-by-step guide for growing your business.
