Super Cheap Signs

Category: Sign How-Tos

  • Seven Sure-fire Tips for Real Estate Signs

    Table of Contents

    When it comes to real estate success, it’s not what you say so much as how and where you say it that makes the difference. Try these tips to create real estate signs that will have competitors asking for your secret:

    Assess your audience

    While some crossover artists are able to bridge diverse worlds (think Adele’s blockbuster album, “21”), this is a rare gift. It makes more sense to sing (or write) to your intended audience. Imagine a group of teen girls turning out to hear the latest rock band, only to watch the group take the stage and croon Frank Sinatra ballads! They’d request refunds. So if you’re selling upscale, designer homes, don’t create signs that appeal to young, middle-income families. Instead, make wealth your central message: “A home for people who appreciate the finer things.”

    Tell them what to do!

    It seems so obvious it’s often omitted: let prospective homeowners know what action you want them to take: stop by this weekend for an open house; call now for an appointment; email for a full-color brochure, etc.

    Testing, one, two

    Before you order dozens of signs, test your message on a market sample to make sure it generates the desired result.

    Sell the steak

    Yes, it’s common practice to sell the sizzle, but then your prospects won’t really know whether the house you have to show them will meet their needs. So give ’em the WIIFMs: “What’s In It For Me?” All the features — and all the benefits.

    Be sure to proofread everthing

    Did you notice the “y” was missing from “everything”? It’s all too easy to skip over a typo, or leave off essential information, such as your phone number or address. While the team at Super Cheap Signs takes pains to turn out a perfect sign every time, you have the final say. This is “y” it pays to have a fresh set of eyes review everything.

    Balance visual and verbal cues

    Don’t create a gorgeous sign with lackluster content, or sparkling copy with poor design. Aim for both excellent graphics and high quality content to captivate your prospects. If you need help, just ask us.

    Learn from the masters

    Do your homework, study what works and what doesn’t, and incorporate the best ideas into your own real estate yard signs. Who knows, someday a recording artist might immortalize your business in song!

  • Custom Aluminum Signs – So Many Uses!

    Do you believe in magic? How about this:

    Advertising magic? Believe it!
    Advertising magic? Believe it!

    A material that won’t corrode, is super flexible, lightweight yet strong — and the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust. Perhaps it’s no surprise that versatile aluminum has the atomic number lucky 13. And aluminum is a team player: it combines in nature with over 270 different minerals.

    As everyone knows, one of the most popular uses for aluminum is beverage cans — so if you were really enterprising, you could save your soda cans, hammer them flat, whitewash the existing message and create your own signage! But that’s an awful lot of labor, which might be better spent running your business or campaign.

    Aluminum signs can be used to convey important information regarding your property or business.
    Aluminum signs can be used to convey important information regarding your property or business.

    Fortunately, you can purchase high-quality, .040 gauge aluminum signs for any purpose:

    • A “No Parking” sign to keep desperate drivers from blocking your entry? Check.
    • A fence sign, indicating “Private Property” or “No Trespassing” to keep the incurably curious out? Check.
    • A sign that informs parents and kids when the community pool begins summer swim classes? Of course.
    • A sign that indicates hours of operation for your business’s entrance gate? No problem!
    • Advertising a real estate listing? SOLD!

    Whatever type of custom aluminum sign you require, this resilient metal will hold up and look terrific for years to come. You can design it single- or double-sided, in full color or just one or two hues — and with ten sizes to choose from, you’ll find the perfect combination to fit your unique needs.

    Just remember: as adaptable as aluminum is, you can’t eat an aluminum sign to get your RDA of essential minerals.

  • Thirsty for Success: A powerful slogan

    Invest in a campaign you believe in! Give your customers something they'll remember and hold onto.
    Invest in a campaign you believe in! Give your customers something they’ll remember and hold onto.

    The stunning success of the California “Got Milk?” campaign is legendary, and the powerful slogan is now part of the American lexicon. While this kind of advertising accomplishment is exceptional, it’s not the exception; any brand can apply the same principles used to develop, launch and maintain a landmark campaign — or build name recognition for their business.

    Here are some of the most valuable lessons from “Got Milk?”. They’re especially relevant for real estate professionals and investors looking to dominate their market, which our real estate signage solutions have been helping them to do for years:

    1. Make New Friends But Keep the Old. Focus first on keeping those who are brand-loyal, because they’re your best source of increased sales.

    The California Milk Processor Board (CMPB) chose to target regular milk drinkers, who constituted more than two-thirds of the market and were already favorably disposed toward the product — and thus more open to influence, especially in the short-term.

    Entice your existing customers with discount offers and specials before expending energy attracting new business.

    1. Be Candid. If you employ a “Candid Camera” approach to discover how consumers feel about your product or service, you’ll be able to develop strong brand positioning based on these insights.

    The “Got Milk?” ad agency removed all the milk from company refrigerators, placed video cameras inside, and recorded employee reactions to discovering there was no milk. In another research study, consumers were asked to forgo milk for a week, then report back. Their stories provided fabulous fodder for future ad direction.

    1. Cozy Up. Find a strategy that speaks to the consumer’s heart — or stomach, or bank account — and go the distance with it.

    When the CMPB tried to sell more milk based on its health value, people yawned. But when the CMPB heard what consumers were telling them — that food choices drive milk purchases — they came up with the winning “deprivation strategy”: chocolate chip cookies or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches lost their cachet without the classic accompanying beverage.

    What “goes with” your product or service like peanut butter with jelly? Put that on your yard sign or sandwich board and gauge how customers respond, then tweak your strategy accordingly.

    1. K-I-S-S (Keep It Super Simple). A great ad campaign that is too clever can lead to the opposite result from what you intend. Consumers must be able to easily grasp your message and understand what action you want them to take. This is where a powerful slogan is key.

      messypaws
      A great example of a simple, memorable slogan that could lead to an enlarged customer-base and generate new interest in your brand!

    In two words, “Got Milk?” functioned as a hook, a call to action and a take-away that could be adapted to a variety of placements. Think, “Got House?” if you’re a real estate professional, or “Got Lumber?” if you’re a builder.

    Got the idea? Great. Just order it on the yard sign, banner or car magnet of your choice, and we’ll take it from there.

  • Signage Recipe: Cooking up Effective Banners and Signs

    Ok, so what in the world do I mean by “signage recipe?” I can already hear you thinking that I have gone right off my rocker. But this is a very effective analogy when you get right down to it. Having that perfect recipe for cooking is the goal of chefs around the world. Obviously because this is the only way of making customers remember them and hit sales. Now, let’s relate that to advertising: a perfect recipe is also needed when coming up with advertising campaigns in order to catch the taste of consumers and get their support for your product.
    Custom Banners

    Your experience may tell you that in order to have an effective banner or sign you have to follow a lot of solid principles that most graphic designers use to create attractive, high impact custom signage that will help you yield the greatest return on your advertising expense. This is true most of the time because they are the experts. Some entrepreneurs spend their money just to get the experts’ advice. However, with a few tips you can save some of that expense and get straight to creating that special sign recipe that will have clients wanting more.

    You need to meet with your colleagues to discuss exactly what you want to display on your banners and signs because just one missing ingredient can have a negative effect. You want to be as clear and concise in as little space as possible because the majority of people are either driving by at speeds that demand their full attention (meaning you get just that two second glance to make your impression), or they already have their own goals and objectives in mind when they glance over and you want to create enough lure to make them stop and take notice. A jumble of words will have them walking on pretty quick or turning their attention back to the street.
    Custom Sale BannersWe all know about IM and text messages. We also (most of us) have joined one or two (maybe more) social networks online. Etiquette says that all capital letters means you are yelling. While yelling might be what you want sometimes (come on, admit it…) yelling at customers is not one of those times. When creating that special recipe for your banners and signs, do not use all capital letters. Contrary to popular belief, this does not make you message stand out more. Mixing upper and lower case text is friendlier to the eye and has been scientifically proven in visual tests to be more legible. You may have thought (or used?) that using those capitals would a great attention grabber when it can actually have a very negative impact. Remember your manners and who you are. Be polite. Don’t yell. You are not desperate so don’t give that impression!

    Be careful when choosing the text font for your message. Don’t overdo the text in an attempt to stand out from the crowd. To maximize legibility of your text use an easy-to-read text. In addition, do not use more than two different type faces in one banner or sign. This is also irritating to the eye and can have people turning away before they ever get your message!

    That perfect dish can be a mouth watering delight or it can be a savory hint of flavor and spice. When it comes to cooking, less tends to be better. Too much spice can bury the flavor of the dish. The same applies to advertising. The general rule of thumb is the fewer words the better. This is because you don’t want to jumble your message with a lot of meaningless chatter; doing this will simply make your message a hodge podge and the meaning will be utterly lost on your audience. Fewer words will make it easier for people to retain the message you want to convey. Another key thing to remember: the less you say the easier it is to remember later!

    When cooking, “HOT” spices generally have a red label, mild spices tend to have yellow or pastel labels (go on, go check the spice rack…), and bolder spices – those packed with stand out taste – have a lot of black, yellow, white and red in their labels. Have you ever wondered why? No? Well… you should! Color says a lot. You can say SALE in bright red words with a white background and you have just caught the attention of about half the population. Saying Sale in big black letters on a red background will not have the same effect because it appears too aggressive. Your color scheme is just as important as your message.

    To make a perfect sign recipe, use a subtle blend of simplicity, color and appeal. Stir gently and serve!

  • Sign Design Basics: Logo Designs

    I bet you can easily recognize all of these companies. That’s the hallmark of a good logo.

     

    We’ve all seen them – they are everywhere we look. Whether in a book, on TV, on the street, or in a shop. Famous people stand behind them, children drive their parents bananas because of them, and people use them to decide if a purchase is worthwhile or not. Have you guessed what they are yet? No? Really? Alright then, in the spirit of fair play I’ll tell you… BRAND NAMES! I know you already knew that… you were just testing me 🙂

    Every brand name in the universe (yes, I am almost positive that aliens are aware of them too) has one unique thing in common no matter how different that brand may be. This element is very important but sometimes overlooked by customers who contact us to buy signs. In case you aren’t already ahead of me again, I’m talking about logos.

    A logo is the graphic element of a trademark or brand, which is set in a special typeface/font, or arranged in a particular, but a legible way. The shape, color, typeface, etc. should be distinctly different from others in a similar market.  The logo of a business should be a symbol or have a special meaning that defines a business. For example, if your business is in the computer industry such as a web designer, graphic artist, web developer, or data entry clerk, that symbol might be a computer, keyboard or mouse. When picking a logo for your business make sure the logo has a theme that matches your business and it is different from other business logos. You are looking for a unique image that will identify your business.

    You would be surprised by how many people don’t even have a logo of some sort. And these things are imperative to branding your company. I want you to know, I understand. Logo creation can be a very large expense if you go to the experts (recommended), but you don’t have to spend so much. I believe in your creative potential and the power of your imagination. It IS your company, YOUR service, and you alone know exactly what the logo should represent. To get you started on that creative path, I have gathered a few resources for you:

    https://www.logomaker.com/ – free logo designer (online)

    https://www.designevo.com/– free logo designer (online)

    https://cooltext.com/ – free text designer (online)

    https://www.allgraphicdesign.com/logo.html  – tips and tools

    There are a few things you should keep in mind when designing your logo:

    1. A logo doesn’t need to say what a company does – it just IS
    The Mercedes logo isn’t a car. The Virgin Atlantic logo isn’t an airplane. The Apple logo isn’t a computer. Etc.

    2. Not every logo needs a mark

    Sometimes all you need is a professional logotype (text) instead of an image to identify your business.

    3. Picasso had to start somewhere
    You don’t have to be an artist to sketch out some basic ideas to get you started.

    4. Leave trends to the fashion industry

    Trends come and go, and when you’re talking about changing a pair of jeans, or buying a new dress, that’s fine, but where your brand identity is concerned, longevity is key; don’t follow the pack. Stand out.

    5. Work in black first
    By leaving color to the end of the process, you focus on the idea.

    6. Keep it appropriate


    Designing for a law firm? Ditch the fun approach. Designing for a kid’s TV show? Nothing too serious. I could go on, but you get the idea.

    7. Simplicity aids recognition


    Keeping the design simple allows for flexibility in size. Ideally, your design should work at a minimum of around one inch without loss of detail. Look at the logos of large corporations like Mitsubishi, Samsung, FedEx, BBC, and the ever popular McDonalds. Their logos look simple and are easier to recognize because of it.

    8. One thing to remember


    That’s it. Leave your clients with just one thing to remember about the design. All strong logos have one single feature to help them stand out. Not two, not three, not four.

    One.

    Good luck with your logo design! We look forward to seeing it in the future J