Matt Medel

How to Win Your Election with Political Campaign Signs

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Nine Ways Signs are Impacting Political Campaigns at All Levels

Every year it seems like more and more people are becoming politically active. As the number of political movements grows, campaign managers must step up their advertising efforts to keep from being drowned out by the crowd. These individuals are busy planning events, organizing rallies, and getting the word out about their campaign, so any advertising help they can get is helpful.

Campaign signs are one of the best ways to spread the word about a campaign without spending too much time and effort on advertising. While a good campaign needs to advertise across a broad range of channels, even the slightest increase in visibility can give them a competitive edge. There are many ways to use a campaign sign that can help boost the performance of a larger initiative. 

Local Politics

National elections draw a lot of attention, but local politics is where voters can make the biggest difference. Using a campaign sign to encourage voters to participate in their local government can help unify the community and bring power back to the hands of the people.

National Elections

If there’s one thing that recent elections have taught Americans, it is the power of grassroots political campaigns. Getting media attention during a presidential election is challenging for less well-known politicians. Campaign signs can help put their name in front of thousands daily with minimal effort.

Ballot Initiatives

Ballot initiatives are an important way for citizens to get an issue on the ballot during the next election. These initiatives require many signatures before they can be brought to a vote. Campaign signs can direct citizens to a website to read about the initiative and sign their names.

Judicial Elections

In several jurisdictions, judges are appointed to an office by a popular vote. Whether they run a campaign to be newly elected or keep their office, campaign signs can increase awareness of their campaign and encourage voters to support them.

School Board Elections

In most cities, members of the board of education are elected into their position. The number of people that run for these seats can be overwhelming, making it difficult for a candidate to stand out. A well-designed campaign sign can help a candidate get the public’s attention, giving them a competitive edge over others.

Law Enforcement Elections

Some law enforcement positions rely on an election to determine who fills them, such as the Sheriff and Chief of Police. Individuals who want these positions have to run aggressive campaigns to win over the public. Campaign signs can help these individuals get publicity and encourage voters to vote in their favor. 

As Part of an SMS Marketing Campaign

SMS marketing strategies use 5-digit shortcodes to encourage individuals to opt-in to a marketing campaign. This is more effective than email marketing, making SMS marketing a huge asset to politicians running for office. Rather than send emails that are never read, candidates can use campaign signs printed with the shortcode on it to encourage citizens to receive text messages directly from their campaign. 

Solicit Donations

Campaigns rely heavily on donations from the people that support them. Soliciting donations from these individuals often involves various tactics, including fundraising events and social media advertising. Campaign signs can be printed with information on where to send donations, giving campaign managers a passive way to solicit donations from the public.

Raise Awareness About a Cause

Most political campaigns are built upon a specific cause, such as climate change or equal rights. Individuals who feel passionately about a cause and are part of an organization to address it can use campaign signs to increase public awareness. These signs are viewed by thousands of people each day with minimal effort.

Raising awareness about a campaign is integral to getting a person elected to office or getting an issue onto a voting ballot. The number of candidates from which to choose can be overwhelming, which discourages many voters from engaging. Campaign signs passively raise awareness about a campaign so voters become familiar with the cause and are more likely to support it. 

Why Businesses Should Include Magnetic Car Signs in Their Marketing Strategy

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Businesses today have begun to find it necessary to use more and more creative ways to market their businesses and gain new customers. Although online advertisement is useful, physical methods of advertising are still extremely effective because they reach a large audience. More and more businesses are turning to magnetic car signs as a great way to get their name out and garner more business. Here are a few reasons why magnetic car signs are an essential part of a business marketing strategy. 

Mobile Marketing

One of the greatest things about a car magnet is that the advertisement goes everywhere that the car goes. It is the equivalent of advertising on a bus or a taxi but without the cost of renting sign space. The customer base of most businesses comes from clients who live within a five-mile radius of the business. Therefore, having a sign on a car that drives within the nearby neighborhood on a daily basis will reach the desired clientele. 

Always Advertising

A magnetic car sign is always working for the business. Whether it is a weekend, or in the middle of the night, it will be there for anyone who passes by. It is 24/7 advertisement without the expensive cost. 

Affordable

Magnetic signs are a very affordable option. For a one time purchase of less than $40, a business can have an attractive sign that will last for years. Most continuous advertisements cost this much or more every month which can create a pretty big dent in the marketing budget. 

Easily Customizable

Most companies will allow a business to customize their own signs. This gives the company complete freedom when it comes to color, text size, layout, and artwork. Once the sign has been designed, it is quick and easy to order as many as needed. Customers can even pay a little more to have the sign designed by a professional if they are not confident in their artistic abilities or simply wish to outsource the task.

Easy to Add and Remove

One great feature of a magnetic car sign is that they are easy, both to put on and remove. They simply stick to a clean and dry steel surface and can be peeled off whenever desired. This is great for companies that need to change the advertisement often or even for those who wish to advertise only occasionally. They also do not harm the vehicle, or permanently alter it in any way. 

Unique and Memorable

These signs provide a unique and memorable experience for potential customers, according to Redesign. They can be designed using striking colors, memorable phrases, and eye-catching pictures. They can be especially effective when placed on the back of the car where they can be easily read at stoplights when drivers of other cars are happy to be distracted by something interesting to read. 

Can be Used for Any Type of Business

These signs can be used for any type of business. They are great for advertising small businesses such as music lessons or computer repair and are also great for real estate, restaurants, and political campaigns

Versatile

Car magnets are one of the most versatile forms of advertisement. They can be placed on any steel surface and can be moved to a different car or other location whenever necessary. Businesses can even think beyond cars. These can be placed on a steel surface and used for a wide variety of purposes. Some businesses even use them as gifts to loyal customers, or handouts to potential clients, to help get the word out even further. 

Easy to Maintain

Car magnets are easy to maintain. They should always be placed on a surface that has been thoroughly cleaned with soap and water and dried to a shine. The signs can be taken off and cleaned whenever necessary so that they can continue to look bright. They are weather resistant and will not fade in the sun. 

Effective

Perhaps the most important benefit of having a car sign is that they are proven to be effective. Many individuals spend a lot of time sitting at stoplights, and these memorable signs will keep the company on the customer’s mind until they need the service. They reach a very large audience and help to target individuals in the desired neighborhood. At such a cheap price, there is no reason to not invest in this type of marketing. 

Car magnets are growing in popularity. Because of their immense versatility as a form of advertisement, not to mention their affordability and ease of installation, many are choosing to put a magnetic sign on their vehicles or other areas. These bright and colorful signs are a wonderful way to supplement a marketing strategy. 

When to Use Car Magnets to Make Your Message Stick

A magnetic car sign is a versatile advertisement generally made from vinyl and, instead of being backed with an adhesive, is backed with a magnet. These signs often attach advertisements or messages to vehicles without permanently attaching the sign. This helps to preserve the vehicle’s paint and allows the user to add and remove the signs whenever they would like. Many companies love these advertisements because of the opportunity it gives them to quickly and effectively spread the word of their business throughout the entire neighborhood. These mobile signs are a great alternative to some of the more expensive forms of advertisement. 

There are many different ways that magnetic car signs can be used. Because of their unique properties, they are extraordinarily versatile. Here are four different ways that magnetic car signs can be used to enhance businesses.

Car Magnets for Political Campaigns

Running for a campaign can be an extremely stressful time. Candidates have a limited amount of time and certainly a limited amount of resources. They must find creative ways to get their name recognized without spending a lot of money. Car magnets are a great way for candidates to advertise their campaigns wherever they drive around the neighborhood. These signs can be attached to any car and will be used advertising anywhere that the car drives. This is proven to help in gaining name recognition as well as reminding individuals in the community that an election is on the horizon. All of these factors can contribute to gaining more votes for the candidate. Car magnets are also much more affordable than other advertisements, such as on television or radio. 

Mobile Magnetic Signs for Local Real Estate Pros

Car magnets are a wonderful way not only to advertise a real estate business but also to serve as a mobile billboard to advertise specific properties. These are ideal because they can be exchanged as often as needed without causing any damage to the vehicle. They also come at affordable prices that don’t strain the budget. These signs have the potential to match prospective homeowners with the perfect properties as they see these updates posted on the vehicle next to the information of the realtor.  

Advertise Local Businesses with Car or Truck Magnets

Small businesses can be difficult to advertise. Whether it is a small clothing boutique, a music lesson studio, a dog walking service, or a bakery, getting the word out can be a challenge. However, a car magnet can provide a colorful and striking advertisement that catches the eyes of other drivers or pedestrians and encourages them to use these services. These signs are large enough to stand out, and they can be placed anywhere on the vehicle. Their mobility ensures that many people throughout the community will be aware of the business and contact it when they need that particular service. 

These signs are a perfect solution for contractor businesses. Landscaping, roof repair, painting, plumbing, and handyman businesses often use large vehicles from which they operate. Vans, trucks, and other vehicles house tools and are an important part of the business. Therefore, it can be crucial also to include a sign on the outside both to advertise and to make the vehicle easy to identify. Instead of applying a permanent solution such as adhesive signage or paint, a magnetic sign can give the same professional effect. 

Thinking Outside the Box/Car

These are some of the most common uses for magnetic car signs, but these signs can be used for other creative purposes. Because they can adhere to any smooth, steel surface, magnetic signs can be used in many other places as well. They can be used inside the business for announcements or advertisements that are regularly changed. For example, they can display a variable menu in a restaurant. On a steel surface, a worker only needs to peel off the sign and replace it with another. They can be used to advertise opening hours or provide after-hours information outside of a business. They can also be displayed on buses or other public places such as steel park benches, trash cans, or any other smooth steel surface. 

The uses of magnetic signs are seemingly endless. Although they are most often used to advertise a real estate business, contracting business, or small business on a vehicle, they have many other uses as well. Their affordability, attractiveness, and versatility make them the perfect solution for almost every advertising need. 

Using Car Magnets to Advertise Your Business

If you operate a company with a fleet of vans motoring all over town or simply use your personal vehicle to make deliveries or visit clients, displaying your logo on vehicle magnets is low cost, highly visible, and a great way to get your company name out there. Every day, you or your crew move around in front of different potential customers and company vehicles are like mobile business cards.

The world of car magnets is divided into two distinct categories—Magnets and Sign Magnets. The former refers to magnets of smaller size typically purchased in bulk and offered as customer promotion at live events, included in purchases, or sent in the mail. You’ll often see smaller magnets like these on the trunk or rear bumper area of cars, like the old bumper stickers of past years. In fact, this style of magnet is commonly called a bumper magnet and they are popular with local companies, non-profits, and home-based businesses.

Sign magnets are the larger versions commonly seen on vehicle door panels. They are market-driven tools typically promoting a regional company and its services and often include the company’s name, phone number, brief description of service, and a license number in the case of contractors or similar.

Magnetic Mobility

Creating a custom car magnet for your business is easier than ever, with intuitive online tools and high end-product materials that will add company pizzazz to your company’s four-wheeled billboards. Here’s what’s great about vehicle magnets:

  • Low cost—Designing and making vehicle magnets is one of the most affordable marketing strategies and with the final product in hand, there’s no monthly advertising cost or other additional expense. You get high visibility every time the vehicles hit the road.
  • Mobility—Traditional signage is rooted in one place. It’s great for delivering a message to that particular piece of geography but what about customers across town? A real estate car magnet, for example, is an excellent way to generate leads where you need them most.
  • Flexible—If you run Sarah’s Beach Bonanza three days a week, you can display the magnetic signs in the heat of the action and simply remove them whenever you want.
  • Business branding—One of marketing’s fundamentals is a great logo is the face of your brand. Short of meeting every potential customer for coffee every day, your logo becomes your calling card. As a bonus, your high quality work, or that of your crew, is directly reflected back to the company. For example, contractor truck magnets are roving endorsements of your crew’s incomparable talents.     

Magnet Application and Size

When it comes to applying vehicle magnets, common concerns are will they stick and will they ruin the paint? Regarding the former, business magnets for cars will stick to any flat metal surface. They will not stick to fiberglass panels.

As far as damage to a vehicle, car magnets will not damage paint or leave scratches or scuffs and in fact, help shield the paint from fading. However, it is wise to remove car magnets intermittently to allow some natural sun exposure.

As a general rule, the most popular vehicle magnet sizes are 12×18 inches for passenger cars and 12×24 inches for SUVs and pickups. Larger trucks or trailers have best visibility with 18×24-inch magnets. Square and rectangular sign magnets are the most popular but round and various other shapes are used as well.

What to Include

Designing a car magnet of any size involves many of the same elements as other marketing efforts. Contact information should be the easiest text to read on your sign and displayed in attention-grabbing font style. Someone driving by only has a few seconds to read your magnet so stick with short, clear phrasing and/or a catchy tagline.

Color combinations of course are a major design component and can make a big impact in attracting potential customers. Dark backgrounds with lighter text are catchy and easy to read, as well as company-specific graphics in complementing colors that really set off your business vibe.

Naturally, keeping your magnets and magnet signs clean and in good condition is very important. Vehicle magnets are strong and durable and will generally last a very long time, but a little TLC goes a long way in ensuring that happens. Wipe off that dirt! A bright and shiny sign is your first step to new customers. Make your first mobile impression the best it can be.

How Big a Yard Sign Should My Contracting Business Have?

It’s like planting a flag to stake your claim on a new land. A sign for your contracting business might seem insignificant in the grand marketing scheme, or even an afterthought to some, but the power of a professional contracting sign cannot be underestimated.

Many contractors including plumbers, painters, home remodelers, and landscapers rely heavily on word of mouth advertising and while this is very effective it is not foolproof and only applies if your business generates a consistent buzz.  High profile contractors or those fortunate enough might have their name amply displayed on a job site building to show off to the world, and many contractors have vehicles advertising their services. But a roving vehicle can’t direct a potential customer’s attention to a specific job. How can you shout out your company’s talents and reputation while making the most of your marketing dollars?

 

The Understated Power of a Yard Sign

It’s amazing what sticking a business sign in the ground can do. On that sign you can display most anything related to the work you do, such as contact phone, license number, website, business logo, and color photos of a project. The sign can be in a traditional square or rectangle shape.

When the neighbors stroll by or other people drive, bike, or run past; they will see your business name in bold font and bright, catchy colors. If you or a crew is on site, a custom yard sign can also serve as a welcome for what you do and an invitation to potentially talk with you on the spot. Curious neighbors might be in need of the same type of work and this is your chance to share details of your talents with a new audience.

We live in a digital world, for sure, but print marketing remains a highly effective option for everything from sales and real estate to home improvement and political office. More than likely, you have walked through the door of a business or at least called or perused their website after seeing a yard sign or advertising poster. Best of all from a marketing budget point of view, with a little creativity and strategy you can score affordable signs and generate a significant return on a modest investment.

 

How Big Should I Go?

After you’ve decided on a customer-captivating font, colors, and graphics for your business sign; now it’s time to choose a size. Just how big is best? A little 8×10 postage stamp blurb probably won’t attract the crowds to your door and a humongous mural draped from the eaves is a bit much.

First thing’s first—know the rules. Check local regulations regarding temporary signage. You certainly don’t want to break a law or raise the hackles of important people in city offices. Not only that, signs planted where they don’t belong stand a good chance of being unceremoniously removed and discarded, and there goes your marketing investment.

Choose a sign large enough for people to see when they drive past. You only have a few seconds to capture their attention so combine adequate size with bold colors, easy to read fonts, and a contrasting background. If your “under construction” sign at a high-profile job site is small and hard to read, it doesn’t do much good to have it out there in the first place.

 

Make it Sturdy and Unique

A larger, robust sign also garners attention and will not be bothered by gusty winds or a storm. Use wooden posts or similar whenever possible to keep your sign in place, and incorporate an attractive design that reflects your company’s personality.

People remember things that aren’t the same ol’. Don’t be afraid to push the limits a bit and use unique materials and shapes to catch the eye of potential customers. That one little detail could mean the biggest job of the year.

 

Information is Power

Make use of your sign space and include strategic, customer-focused information that is easy to access. Consider including a mobile-friendly QR code about your company or the specific project where the sign is placed. The traditional “mailbox” attached to the sign filled with brochures is always a good bet as well.

Within the sign space, focus on advertising just one or two services. People won’t have time to read your company’s entire repertoire so use the space wisely. Include a specialty and highlight accordingly. And don’t print on both sides; people aren’t traveling behind the sign. Save on print costs and make larger signs for the best results. 

What Information Should You Include on a Real Estate Yard Sign?

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Today’s world is packed full of amazing technological tools for everything from learning ABCs to ordering groceries to stealthy satellite surveillance from space. Yet in spite of all those hi-tech gizmos, the humble yard sign remains one of real estate’s oldest and most effective ways to build a reputation and attract leads. A prospective client might never engage with your listings on Zillow or turn on your Twitter feed or bookmark your website, but they will drive by the house with your for sale sign on the way to work every day.  

They are simple in appearance and made of only a thin sheet of wood, metal, or plastic but a well-made sign very effectively plants your name in people’s minds. They see the same eye-catching sign on tidy front lawns all over town and pretty soon they are familiar with you and/or a particular real estate company. “Hey, there’s Lisa again on that sign over there. She must be selling another house.”

That’s great branding at work—the more recognition you have for your personal logo and colors, the more familiar they become with you, the agent; the business you do; and they naturally associate more and more with your specialty market and neighborhood areas.

Seven Seconds

In a job interview, first date, or your custom real estate yard sign; you have roughly seven seconds to make a first impression and you want it to be a good one. You need to be sure your sign does as good a job attracting buyers as the home itself. If you are a seasoned real estate professional or working on your first listing, connecting with buyers is the most critical element to success. Your sign in the yard must simultaneously invite them in the door while inspiring confidence in your skills as an agent.

And you have a space of about two feet wide and a foot and a half tall in which to do that. That is the size of an average real estate sign but of course, they can vary and be larger. Bigger doesn’t always mean better but when it comes to real estate signs, potential customers need to be able to clearly read from the road what you are presenting. Small, cramped text in decorative fonts might look good on paper but detracts from your intended goal in the field.

Keep it Simple, Make it Count

A real estate For Sale or For Lease sign is your first chance to make a memorable sales pitch. You want your information out there big and bold, in a way that reflects your personal and company branding. Include the most important information about the sale, telling potential customers who you are, what you have to offer, and how to reach you.

To catch the eye of a buyer, include the following on your sign:

  • Personal and/or brand or brokerage logo
  • Your name and contact phone number
  • A quality photo of you
  • Website address

The simpler the main body of the sign, the better. You can share details with buyers later. But your sign can be used for multiple purposes. Think of it as the Swiss Army knife of real estate, starting at the top of the sign.

Toppers and Riders

Aptly named, “toppers” are smaller signs communicating additional information about the sale such as:

  • For Sale
  • Sale Pending
  • New Listing
  • Open House
  • Price Reduced
  • Asking price

Sign Riders” are signs which often hang from hooks below the main sign panel. Some verbiage includes:

  • Your cell phone contact
  • Specific home features
  • Texting options
  • Co-agent contact

Sign Placement

Your real estate sign must be easily visible from the street, preferably in a place that stands out in a yard or complements the property’s existing look. Naturally, you want to avoid posting the sign in a place blocked by parked cars, giant telephone poles, or thick foliage.

It is typically more approachable to place signs closer to the street than right up next to the front door; signs can blend in with a home’s paint color and make them difficult to read. If selling a corner house, take advantage of the natural advertising space and post signs on each adjoining street. Homes in the country on secluded streets don’t see much traffic and in these cases, it is wise to post directional signs in appropriate locations.

Bonus tip

In addition to traditional real estate signage, some agents use cheap bandit signs to attract leads. Bandit signs are low-cost marketing signs placed in various locations to increase spontaneous client leads. Their effectiveness varies but always be sure to check local regulations for posting.  

Using Custom Yard Signs to Promote Your Special Event

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Could custom yard signs be the missing link when it comes to publicizing your next big event? With yard signs, you can quickly and easily create a customized message that will resonate with potential attendees – but only if they’re carefully planned and designed correctly!

It’s not just what kind of signs you use or where they’re installed – EVERYTHING matters, including when you order them, what they look like, and how you install them. We have some tried and true tips explained below that will help you find “sign success” for your next event.

When to Order Your Custom Yard Signs

The most important part of throwing a good event is planning.  That’s why you should order yard signs at least one month before your event (or as soon as possible). While this might seem like an unnecessarily long period of time, many things can happen between now and then. Typical sign production at our shop can take around five business days, and we’re much faster than most. Then, you should expect to add another 2-4 days for shipping. Even if you don’t have this kind of lead time, make sure you don’t put off ordering your signs until the last minute. Rush jobs always add stress and cost to the project and you might end up with a sign that says “Hapy Graduation” (even though our design team prides itself on its incredible attention to detail). 

Where to Place Your Yard Signs

Audiences require convenience, so your event signage must accurately and simply direct guests to the intended location. It’s a poor strategy to have guests getting lost or meandering around the countryside –  and this is especially true if they’re a necessary part of the event. Signage should be placed in a yard or along roadside corners to be seen without obstructing traffic. 

Use Common Sense and Obey Local Regulations

When posting yard signs on someone else’s property, asking landowners politely can go a long way – especially if you throw in an invitation to the event.

When you receive your yard signs, be respectful of where you place them. You want to place your custom yard signs on a busy thoroughfare or corner, but not if it’s along a high-speed highway, on-ramps, off-ramps, or utility poles. Sign placement might be allowed on state and county roads, so long as they don’t create traffic hazards or block traffic and stop lights. 

Even if you want to post a sign in your own yard for a short while, be sure to check local ordinances regarding sizes and quantities of signs. You wouldn’t want an unpleasant encounter with law enforcement, so always consult the appropriate authorities before posting anything

When Should I Place My Yard Signs Outside?

When to place event signs depends largely on the type and location of the event. If you’re hosting a political fundraiser, a good rule is to place event-specific and standard campaign signs outside about two weeks before the event, then take them down within 24 hours. 

Two weeks typically provide enough advance notice for attendees to clear their schedules. Be sure to record where all of your signs are placed since having old signs perched around town is a poor sign of organization.

Lawn Signs for Closed Events

For events that are closed to the public (like graduation parties and weddings), signs can be placed 1-3 days beforehand. It’s assumed that guests have invitations and directions, but big directional signs can be extremely helpful for getting folks where they need to go.

Make Sure You Have the Right Signage

Yard signs are an affordable, highly visual opportunity to promote nearly any event, including: 

With nearly unlimited options to channel your creative side, it’s important to match an event’s advertising with its personality. So how do you do it? 

How to Make Your Own Yard Sign

Our super cheap yard signs offer flexible designs and durable materials to get your event the publicity it needs. Start with our straightforward online ordering process – you’ll create your custom yard sign in minutes.

Stay organized and plan to make your event a hit.

Join the thousands of businesses that trust Super Cheap Signs for their signage needs. See why we’re the go-to choice for affordable, eye-catching signs. Explore our store page today!

Open House Signs that Attract More Buyer Attention

Preparing for an open house takes a lot of work. Often the homeowner must deep clean, de-personalize the home, bake cookies, landscape for curb-appeal, perform minor repairs, and list the open house online. After all of that, you would think that potential buyers would be busting down the door to take a peek. However, many homeowners forget or are unaware of the steps it takes to attract buyer attention for the event itself. 

 

Open house signs are easily recognizable and a cost-effective option for advertising the event the day of. There are a variety of open house signs available to choose from, and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to effective open house sign marketing. So, how do you know which one is right for your home and neighborhood? Below are a few ideas on what types of signs attract more buyer attention and how you can use them for your open house.

 

Signs That Say “Open House”

This should be a no-brainer. However, if a sign just says “For Sale”, potential buyers won’t know there is an event happening the day of or at all. If you want them to come through the door, the sign has to be clear that you’re hosting an open house and when they should stop by.

 

Directional Signs

If a home is tucked away in a neighborhood or it’s not visible from any main roads, directional signs can be helpful for leading people to the open house. Placing a sign at the main entrance of a neighborhood or on the closest main road can help attract passersby who don’t live in the neighborhood. The more traffic a road gets, the more potential buyers will see the sign. Some neighborhoods and cities have specific rules involving temporary signs, so it’s important for homeowners to learn these rules before accidentally breaking one.

 

Repetitive Signs

Several signs before the entrance of the neighborhood not only catch the attention of passersby, but they can also serve as alerts and reminders of where to turn so they don’t miss it. Each sign can say something different or contain only one word each to form a whole sentence. Either way, multiple signs are hard to miss.

 

Informative Signs

Signs with the date, time, price, and basic information about the home can help buyers determine if the home fits their criteria in the first place. Open houses that waste everyone’s time aren’t profitable, so informative signs can help weed out the outliers. Informative signs are usually placed in front of the home with the most important information in the largest lettering so people don’t have to get out of their cars to read it. Too much information on a sign can overwhelm a potential looker, and small print is difficult to read from far away. Contrast and color can help signs stand out around the landscape and are easy to read for someone driving by.

 

Humorous Signs

Humor is an easy way to grab someone’s attention when marketing for anything, including homes. Phrases like “It’s what’s on the inside that counts” or “Say yes to the address” can peak the curiosity of a potential buyer at the very least. Creative and clever home promotion tactics will attract buyers’ attention at the very least. This strategy may be more successful in certain areas or neighborhoods, and a realtor may know best if it will work in yours.

 

Creative Placement

Open house signs aren’t restricted to neighborhoods and in front of homes. To widen the search radius, some realtors will create open house flyers and post them in coffee shops, grocery stores, or wherever local ads are displayed. To prevent random strangers from showing up to the house late at night, these may only want to be promoting the open house for a couple days or just the day of the event. The home address doesn’t even need to be shared if there are signs leading to the home from the entrance of the neighborhood. When thinking about open house signs, there are more ways to promote an open house than just the traditional signs and methods. Creativity and strategy can lead to a wildly successful open house, and even a contract at the end of the day.

How the Use of Business Cards Have Changed in the Last Decade

While there was a time when it seemed like every person couldn’t hand out their business cards fast enough and everyone had a collection of various cards gathering dust in their wallets, it seems that the popularity of business cards is finally starting to wane. While the explosion of business cards a decade ago was at times overwhelming and oversaturated, by no means are business cards dead today. In fact, there are many situations, settings, and cultures where business cards are still relevant. The way society uses business cards now, however, has slightly evolved in the past ten years.

Businesses are choosing quality over quantity of transactions. 

A decade ago, entrepreneurs may have handed out their business cards to every person they met in hopes that a few of them would convert. After years of trying this method, it’s apparent that a one-dimensional card isn’t the only factor that potential clients or network partners use to determine whether or not they will work with you. Today, a personal connection is often made before a business card is ever passed off. People who have experienced a positive interaction with someone are more likely to keep the card than those who haven’t. 

 

Creative designs are helping businesses stand out.

Business cards used to be quite basic. After collecting a myriad of similar looking white cards, they all start to blend together to a potential client. To stand out, businesses are now getting creative with the design and look of their business cards. Not only is color a big deal now, but different shapes, interactive cards, and even see-through cards are more popular now than ever before. Unexpected and creative touches to a business card help clients remember the giver and can help promote a brand even further. Especially unique cards may even get shared dozens of times on social media, furthering brand promotion.

 

Information shared is evolving.

Most business cards contain basic contact information such as phone number and email, along with the name of the person, the name of the business, and the website. However, with the rise of social networking, professional social media accounts are a must-list for modern business cards. People are more likely to find a company on a social media channel than keep a business card anyway, so many businesses are using their cards to bridge this gap instead. Professional headshots and calls to action are also commonly included on business cards today, as they are still widely used in a business’ marketing plan. 

 

Touched on above, handing out business cards to everyone and anyone is no longer considered an effective strategy. Businesses are now focusing on creating personal connections before passing off their contact information to a potential client or network partner. Instead of having a business card be the beginning, middle, and end of an interaction with someone, they are saved for the good-byes after a conversation has been had if the person wants to keep in touch. A decade ago, business cards held little value because everyone got one. Now, business cards are mainly given to people most likely to keep them and use them. 

 

Business cards are still viewed as the most professional hand-off of contact information, and it can be embarrassing to a business owner when they are caught without one when asked. Even with digital sharing of information, business cards are still the quickest and easiest way to exchange information, especially with certain audiences and in certain settings.

 

Business cards are used within rather than outside of a company. 

In large companies, employees are often given their own set of business cards. This can be helpful for promoting the business when they are off the clock. However, they are also helpful for a quick exchange of information with co-workers in other departments. Increasingly, it is becoming common for employees to utilize their business cards this way, especially if they are somewhere away from their computer or phone.

 

The way business cards were used in the past is certainly dead, and we are probably better off because of it. However, today’s adaptive business cards are still very much useful, especially when a unique element is incorporated into the design or they are given to the right people. If business cards aren’t working for a business, it may be time to update them!

Four Unique Ways to Integrate Business Cards into Your Marketing Strategy

You just bought a box of 10,000 business cards (because that’s what all business owners do, right?), but now what are you supposed to do with them? Some entrepreneurs feel awkward handing out their business card at networking events, while others are naturals at it. Are you supposed to give your business card out to everyone you meet, or should you target certain audiences? If you aren’t sure how business cards can be implemented into your marketing strategy, take a look at four unique ideas below to help you get started.

 

Partner with Related Services

The easiest marketing is when someone else does it for you, right? If you have worked with partner companies in the past, and they aren’t direct competition, it may be worth contacting them about displaying your cards for customers in need. For instance, a web design company can display cards for an online marketing company, and vice versa. If you’ve already built a trusted relationship with the company, they will naturally promote your business anyway. Give them a stack of cards to make it easier!

 

Include Special Offers or Discounts

When designing your business cards, think about who you will primarily be handing them to. Will they be new prospects, repeat customers, potential network partners, or perhaps all three? You may consider including a promotion or special discount on a percentage of the cards for potential customers so they are more likely to keep your card for future reference. People love saving money and finding a deal. Give them a reason to hang on to your card rather than toss it in the trash. 

 

If you want your discount to be flexible based on seasons or holidays, you can include a basic discount code (such as the name of your business) that customers can enter and you can change depending on what you want the discount to reflect. If the discount always stays the same, such as 10% off for every new customer, then the clarity can help customers remember exactly what they are keeping the card for. Punch cards or referral discounts can also be applied to the back of a business card, and be all the more reason for a customer to hang on to the card.

 

Include Landing Page Link

As part of your marketing strategy, you may have already created a landing page that is designed specifically to draw new customers into your brand and lead them to conversion pages. Instead of listing the basic home page of your website on your business cards, why not perform double-duty and list the landing page instead? As long as the landing page has a readable URL and easy for customers to type in (especially think about mobile users!), then this can be a great way to integrate in-person and online marketing strategies.

 

Get Creative with Placements

Not every business owner has time to attend a dozen networking events, conferences, or trade shows every year. Instead, they may have to find other creative ways to get their business cards in the hands of target prospects. Luckily, there are plenty of opportunities in every day life to strategically place a business card. 

 

Community boards at coffee shops and grocery stores are easy and free ways to market a business. You can also head to a local bookstore or library and stick your business card in a few industry-related books (as long as the people in charge are cool with it). Or, you can hide a few of your business cards around town and make a scavenger-hunt type game out of it where the customer gets a discount if they find all of them. 

 

There are tons of creative ways to get your business card out there rather than spending hours talking to strangers at an event. The four ideas listed above are a few of the more unique ones to get the creative juices flowing. Business owners can also utilize friends and family, friends, neighbors, past clients, and co-workers to pass out cards, or include their cards in a mail marketing campaign. While in-person connections are always the most effective when it comes to a business card exchange strategy, it doesn’t mean you can’t get your information out there even when you can’t be physically present!