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Time for a Grand Reopening

Matt Medel 0 Comments
Grand Reopening
Simple, yet effective.

If business is stagnant and needs a refresh, consider a grand reopening to reboot your business. Change the look and feel of your business and reinvent what you already do. Change the interiors, update them with the new style, remodel your lobbies, and take a look at adding new services. A change of pace might be all that’s needed to invigorate an aging business. If you’re in the restaurant business, you might need to refresh the menu and add some new items that the customers might be craving.

If you’re considering a grand re-opening you’re going to want to consider how you’ll inform the public that already knows you’re there or has forgotten. Word won’t get around that an already established business is reopening its doors. A new store sign that’s refreshed for the times will help but if people aren’t looking for a redesigned store, they won’t find it. A good way to initially advertise the grand reopening is by using vinyl banners outside the business to announce the news. Banners are large and are nearly impossible to miss. Every store in a strip mall will have a sign that’s similar looking. Not everyone has an eye-popping vividly color banner. Draw attention with the banner so people know you are there.

Additionally, you can use lawn and yard signs to advertise in the surrounding areas. Place your lawn signs near the intersections with all the hustle and bustle, and place them near your place of business so that at the very least, drivers that see the sign might turn for a second to see what’s going on at your store. They might notice the new changes and be interested in coming for a later visit. Be sure to reach as many people as possible with the new signs and banners. Use your signage to briefly explain what changes have been made. New Menu Items? Tell them! New services? Tell them!

Refresh your business, attract attention, and build a new customer base. Those are the key steps to invigorate your business.

Signage Recipe: Cooking up Effective Banners and Signs

Matt Medel 0 Comments

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!

Turn Your Car Into An Advertising Machine

Matt Medel 0 Comments

Company cars cost a business a lot of money over their lifetime. There’s the initial purchase, the registration and insurance, the gasoline, and the cost of repairs and maintenance. Naturally a company should try to get every bit of utility out of a big investment like a vehicle. The best way to start adding some value to a company vehicle is to start turning it into an advertising machine. If you have a company car and are looking to turn it into a moving billboard, here’s a guide to help you.

First of all, if you’re willing to make some permanent changes to the look of your vehicle, you might want to consider using vinyl decals and lettering on the body of your car. They’re professional looking and can be big and easy to read. The only downside is that they’re fairly permanent and can’t be taken off and put back on. If you do plan on going this route make sure your car’s color will work with the vinyl decals and lettering you choose. For a simple example, white lettering on a white or silver car is going to be very hard to read.

If you’re not willing to permanently change the appearance of your vehicle you can also look into car magnets. These custom magnets can feature your business logo, address, and phone number. To boot these magnets can be removed and replaced just as easy as well….a magnet! So if you ever decide to sell your company car or want to change the look later, the magnets won’t mar the appearance.

Depending on your situation, you might want to go with either of these options or even both. Maybe you permanently want the truck to have contact information for the business, but would like a magnet that has the driver’s contact information on it. That way each driver can switch out the information. Which route to take is up to you.

Sign Design Basics: Logo Designs

Matt Medel 0 Comments
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

10 Marketing Tips: Yard Signs & Banners

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Table of Contents

The importance of marketing with yard signs and banners

Stationary outdoor advertising normally includes the use of billboards, bus benches, yard signs, and banners.  On the other hand, mobile outdoor advertising includes the use of ad signs placed on buses, taxis, or even your own vehicle (i.e. car magnets or magnetic signs).  For the purposes of this post, we have chosen to focus on certain aspects of using cheap yard signs and banners based on their cost-effectiveness.  It is well known that yard signs and banners are not only the most economical venues, but they are also quite functional and practical.

Using yard signs and banners to promote your business

The following is a list of ten marketing tips for using cheap yard signs and banners to promote and increase your business:

1.    Always use a legible text that is clear, concise, and simple to read
2.    The larger more legible fonts work best – examples include Arial, Sans Serif, or Verdana
3.    Stick to a single idea or message when designing your cheap yard signs and banners – if the idea or message is too complex, it will not have a positive impact on those commuters who are trying to read it as they pass the yard sign or banner
4.    Make it short and sweet – in other words, keep the message brief but get your point across and include an image, a company or product logo, or both.
5.    Bold, bright colors work best – to an extent that is.  Granted, we realize that you do want your cheap yard signs and banners to attract attention.  However, if they are overly garish in appearance, the commuter won’t even try to read them
6.    Choose the image you plan to use very carefully – this is especially true if you are placing an image of your face on the yard sign or banner.  We recommend using no more than three visual elements and staying away from complex scenes or landscapes.
7.    Identify what or who the advertising pertains to – your name and location are paramount because your idea or message means nothing to the consumer if they don’t know who you are and where to find you.
8.    Keep the background of your cheap yard signs and banners as simple as possible – white backgrounds always work best as other colors used will stand out more effectively and attract more attention.
9.    Don’t overdo the amount of white background that you use – granted, you do want images and messages bordered by the white background.  However, if there is too much white, the yard sign or banner won’t be as appealing to the commuter passing them.
10.    Test your cheap yard signs or banners – have a family member or friend pass by your yard sign or banner and get their reaction.  Remember, that the commuter only has about 5-6 seconds when passing by to read your message, so use that as a criterion when testing their effectiveness.

Ready to get the signage your business deserves without breaking the bank? Visit our Super Cheap Signs today and discover the perfect solution at an unbeatable price. Click here to start saving!

Five Marketing Cheat Codes That Will Help You Win at Small Business

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I grew up with a mom who was adamant that I always follow the rules.  Never hit, always do your homework, never cheat… It was while playing CatchPhrase this weekend with some friends that I discovered cheating is OK.  Bear with me for a moment. If you don’t know CatchPhrase, it’s a hand held electronic game that shows a short phrase on it’s digital readout while the beep beep beep increases with speed while you try to get your friends to guess the phrase so you can pass it to the next person for their turn.  After playing this thing all weekend, my wife and I noticed the phrases starting to repeat themselves.  My wife and I suggested we should find a new category or game to play.  But our friends never stopped!  They kept right on going along playing the game and passing it along.  It was then I realized that they weren’t cheating (as my mom would have told me), they were just getting better because they had played the game enough to have seen all the phrases and they weren’t going to let the fact that they knew the answers get in the way of their enjoyment of winning.

So with my wonderfully competitive friends in mind, and the competitive space getting increasingly more threatening, this list can help you cut through the self imposed regulations you put on yourself that keep you from getting the success you deserve in your small business.

Set Easy Goals

Why bother with sky-high goals? Not saying you shouldn’t write down “Be a millionaire”, this is more about having something specific to shoot for like, “Sell Widgits”. Keeping it simple like this make sure that everything else you do is built around this primary purpose. It’s too easy to get distracted in today’s world with “value ads”, “it’s not what you sell, it’s how you sell it”, etc. Write this on the top of your to do list every day to remind you what your primary purpose is; it will keep you from getting off track.

Take short-cuts

My mom had me thinking it was better to take an “F” on my book report than to read the Cliff Notes.  I can understand that reading “Huck Finn” is a more than just book, but give me the gist of the story now and I’ll do the full read on my next vacation. I f there is a way to shave off time or money to get the job done, take advantage of it!

Get Help

It’s out there, and in more forms than you might think.  Sure, you could spend money on good consulting help – nothing wrong with bringing in an expert.  But I’m a people person.  I like surrounding myself with people that are smarter than me.  In addition, there are oodles of podcasts, RSS feeds, blogs, magazines, tweets, etc. that will give you  little bits of great information.  This kind of atmosphere keeps me learning, and keeps me humble enough to keep asking when I don’t know – or even when I think I do!

Compromise

There are two main types of compromise.  First is the kind where my wife is involved, not what I’m talking about here.  The kind of compromise I’m talking about is the Information Compromise.  It’s nice when you can make a fully informed decision.  Nice but rare.  My operations guy is detail oriented to the nth degree which is great! But he’ll spend 15 minutes mining data to get 80% of what we need, and several hours trying to get that last 20%.  Making decisions with partial information is a compromise, and I say make the decision and move on to the next one.

Copy Somebody Else

Mom said not to copy others so I naturally thought that I had to come up with completely original ideas.  Wrong!  Some of the best ideas is taking some other idea and improving on it! Just make sure to add you own spin to it to keep your business unique.

Laugh

Don’t take yourself too seriously.  Remember that creativity comes much easier when you’re not trying so hard.

Five Ways To Entice Clients Using Yard Signs

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For all practical purposes, there is no more affordable and effective form of outdoor advertising than yard signs. Dollar for dollar, they are the most cost-effective way to drive foot traffic to your business or organization and generate sales. The key to having effective yard signs involves using creativity in the design of them. Be careful that you don’t overdo it though because you could detract from the impact that the sign will have on passersby. Additionally, an overly flashy sign can also be garish and detract from the looks of your business or home property.

Creativity leads to greater effectiveness when designing your yard signs. The following are five creative ways to bring in customers using yard signs:

You obviously want to put your name, address, and phone number on your yard sign. However, the creativity you use in the way you display those can make a difference in the amount of foot traffic that sign does or doesn’t generate. We recommend that you use large block 3-D lettering for the name of your business so it looks like your name is jumping off the face of the sign.

Add directional information that stands out and attracts attention. If you place signs away from your business to direct them to it, using a map that shows your location or employing direction arrows make the sign more creative and effective at attracting customers to your business. Placing a map on the sign means that you will have to use a larger sized sign so that people can see your map.

Put your company logo on your yard sign. This is what we call a “no-brainer” and is a creative way to make your yard sign more effective and bring you more customers. Your logo is the recognizer for those potential customers as it serves to identify you. The more people see your logo, the more market awareness is created.

Images and photos are creative ways to entice more customers to your place of business. It’s a psychological fact that placing a face with the name of a business or a particular product on the yard sign breeds trust for you and your business. Additionally, the use of an image, such as a photo of a product you are promoting on sale is another creative way to get potential customers to pay attention to you.

Use multiple signs in groups of three to five to send out your message. Remember the old Burma Shave or Stuckey’s signs you used to see when you were driving down the highway? That was creative genius in the finest sense of the terms where the use of road/yard signs was concerned. It should also serve as a good idea on how to be more creative with your yard signs. Use groups of three to five signs to get your message across either by having them all be identical or by spelling out a call to action.

Vector vs Bitmap

Matt Medel 0 Comments
Vector-vs-bitmap

Table of Contents

In the realm of digital design, especially when crafting visually compelling signs with images or logos, the choice between vector and bitmap (or raster) graphics is crucial. These two foundational types of 2D graphics serve distinct purposes and are essential tools in a designer’s arsenal.

Bitmap (Raster) Graphics: Pixel-Perfect Detail

Bitmap graphics are digital images composed of a matrix of pixels, where each pixel holds data for its specific color. This pixel-based structure means bitmap images have a set resolution and lose clarity when scaled beyond their original size. Commonly encountered bitmap formats include JPEG, PNG, GIF, and TIFF, each with its own use-case scenarios, from web images to high-quality print documents.

  • Key Traits of Bitmap Images:
    • Pixel-based composition
    • Fixed resolution, making resizing a challenge without quality loss
    • Versatile in usage, but restricted to rectangular shapes
    • Limited transparency support, depending on the format

Bitmap images are ideal for detailed, complex imagery like photographs, where capturing nuance is key. However, their dependency on resolution and difficulty in resizing without quality degradation can be limiting in dynamic design scenarios.

Vector Graphics: Scalability Meets Precision

Vector graphics, in contrast, are not defined by pixels but by paths based on mathematical equations. These paths outline shapes, colors, and fills, making vectors infinitely scalable without any loss of quality. This resolution independence of vector graphics makes them perfect for logos and sign designs that need to maintain sharpness across various sizes and mediums.

  • Key Traits of Vector Images:
    • Comprised of scalable objects, allowing for flexibility in design
    • Resolution independent, ensuring clarity at any size
    • Ideal for bold, graphic illustrations, logos, and text
    • Supports transparent backgrounds for versatile overlay applications

Common vector formats include AI (Adobe Illustrator), SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics), and EPS (Encapsulated PostScript), among others. These formats are favored for their adaptability and precision, especially in branding and marketing materials where visual impact is paramount.

Choosing Between Bitmap and Vector

The choice between bitmap and vector graphics depends on the project’s needs. Bitmaps are unbeatable for intricate, photo-realistic images, while vectors offer unmatched scalability and simplicity for graphic designs. Understanding the strengths and limitations of each can significantly impact the effectiveness of your visual communication.

For detailed guidance on file formats supported and how to best prepare your designs for production, exploring further resources or consulting with design professionals is recommended. Embracing the right graphic type not only ensures your designs are visually stunning but also optimizes your workflow for efficiency and impact.

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