Signage is a powerful and cost-effective way to market your business, as well as your products, services and events. Generally, signage can be broken down into two main categories: interior & exterior.
Exterior Signage
Exterior signs enhance visibility, attract customers and drive foot traffic 24/7, offering continuous advertising and branding opportunities for your business.
The most common type of exterior signage is a sign that displays the name of your business and your logo. The most complex of these includes lighting and may even be cut in a custom shape. The two largest considerations with exterior signage are permitting and installation.
Permitting: Most companies engaged in the production and installation of exterior signs are familiar with the necessary permitting. In fact, they typically offer to navigate the permitting process for you with the corresponding county. Keep in mind that different jurisdictions have different permitting rules so a sign approved in one county may not fulfill the requirements in another county.
The other important consideration with permitting is that it will add time to the installation of your exterior signage. In fact, when factoring in design, permitting, fabrication and installation, it typically takes months to get a sign installed. If you lease your office space, you may need to have the building owners approve the artwork. With tropical storms in Southwest Florida, exterior signs can get damaged or blown away. If you’re seeking an exterior sign following a tropical storm or hurricane, you should expect additional delays.
Installation: Installation of permanent, exterior signage may require a bucket truck if the signage will be displayed above your business. This will be factored into the installation costs. For both permitting and safety reasons, it is not recommended that you attempt to install your own external signage, particularly if it is elevated.
PVC, a smooth plastic-type material, is most commonly used for exterior signage. It holds up well in the elements, accommodates full color printing and is relatively light and inexpensive.
Short-term, temporary external signage is a great solution while you are waiting to have your permanent signage installed. While it may have restrictions or also require permitting, this can generally be accomplished with a call to your municipality. Short-term signage is much less expensive, so you may consider ordering and installing it while you are in the approval process. If the temporary signage is not approved, you may be required to take it down, and you could risk a fine.
Examples of other common types of external signage include:
Vinyl Banners
Vinyl is a great external sign solution because it is relatively weather-proof, and can be hung a variety of ways. The most common methods to support vinyl banners are with grommets which are reinforced holes or pole pockets.
Window or Wall Clings
The thin material used for window and wall clings is designed to adhere to glass or a smooth wall without using an adhesive. One of the advantages of a cling is that is easy to remove once permanent signage is completed. When it is removed, it does not leave any sticky adhesive and there will be no damage to the wall surface. Wall clings will only adhere to a smooth wall. Drywall or doors are typically the best for adhesion. Brick walls, or other textured walls generally will not accommodate a cling. While clings are great for outside temporary signage, they can also be used inside.
Sidewalk Signs
Sidewalk signs are versatile and allow you to change your message as often as you wish. They can be removed at night or even relocated during different parts of the day. Because the sign-holder is separate from the actual signs, it’s very easy to replace or update the content with a new sign. Typically, inexpensive corrugated signage is used with along with sidewalks signs. These are a popular option with restaurants and retail stores.
Flags
If you’ve got a grassy area outside your business, flags are a cost-effective way to attract attention and customers. They are typically made from printed vinyl which is light-weight and washing machine-safe. We recommend to our clients that they order 2-sided printed flags, rather than one-sided. One-sided flags show the reverse image on the opposing side, so the text will appear backwards on the second side.
Interior Signage
Interior signage can be used in many ways, including promoting specific products, services or events, which help drive sales and engagement. The majority of exterior signs (see above) can also be used inside. In addition, you may want to consider these options for interior use.
Aluminum Signs:
Aluminum signs are available with either a silver or white solid background. This example shows an aluminum sign with a silver background:
While these can also be used as exterior signs, they are more prone to scratching, especially those with a white background. Aluminum sign printing is generally limited to single-sided printing. These come with either round or square corners, and are typically drilled. When you work with us, we also provide special stand-off mounting hardware, so they are ready to hang upon delivery.
Acrylic Signs
Acrylic signs are considered premium signs. In most cases, printing is done on the back side with the clear acrylic in front. This adds a dimensional effect that can be stunning. Here’s an example of acrylic next to other types of signage. The acrylic is the option on the far right as you will see the shine is quite visible:
Laser-engraved Signs
If you can limit your artwork to two colors, laser-engraved signage is also an impressive option for interior signs.
Trade Show Signs and Banners
These printed fabric signs can not only be used at trade shows, but they can also be used as temporary interior or exterior signage:
For more information about fabric displays, check out this recent post, here.
See example of a mini pull-up banner stand:
Mini pull up banner stands are a great option for interior signage next to a cash register or on a counter top. They can also be used on trade show tables.
See example of a die cut sign:
If you need a sign in a special shape, you may want to consider a custom die-cut sign. These are generally printed on PVC and corrugated sign material.
Do You Need Help With Signage?
Contact us today with questions you have about signage or to receive a free copy of our fabric display and signage catalog.
Also, let us know how we can help you with an upcoming branding initiative, marketing campaign, a gala invitation package, or a sales folder that could use a little creativity, we want to be your partner. We stay on top of the trends and can share with you the new techniques, tools and skills to elevate your marketing materials. Contact us today for a consultation.
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