If you run a local business, you may be doing a lot of the marketing work yourself. There's no point in creating a sign if it doesn't help your business. Here are some tips to make your outdoor signage readable, attractive, and useful.

1. Check Legibility 

You may love a particular typeface when you use a word processor, but signage is different. You usually don't want fancy or extravagant typefaces on outdoor signs because they can be difficult to read at first glance. If a lot of potential clients are seeing your outdoor signs as they drive by, they should be able to get a quick idea of what the signs say without becoming too distracted. The colors you choose for the sign can also affect legibility. Avoid neon-colored words, and avoid pairing colors that have little contrast (e.g., placing pink text on a red background). Lastly, make sure that the letters are big enough to see from a distance.

2. Keep the Message Simple

You may be tempted to go into great detail on your signs. Again, readers won't have the time or attention span. Brochures, websites, and flyers are great for paragraphs, while signs should be short and sweet. The name of your business, its address, and the contact information can often be enough. If you want a little more flair, you can add calls to action to prompt potential customers. You could also include your logo or your company slogan.

3. Make Sure That the Sign Materials Are Sturdy

While garage sale signs and other temporary signs may be made out of poster board, you may want to invest a little more in your signs. Cheaply made signs can be destroyed by the elements. There are outdoor signs that you can get out of vinyl, aluminum, plastic, and so on. If you don't have the budget yet for electronic signage or a large marquee, look for banner signs. Banners are constructed out of tarpaulin and have grommets so you can hang them from your storefront.

4. Save Money with Bulk Purchases and Templates

If you need to make a lot of custom business signs, it's a good idea to buy in bulk. If you're happy with the colors, text, and content, there's no reason to make multiple versions of your sign. Plus, if you want to start building your brand, signage repetition can be good since people won't confuse your signs for another business. If you are having a hard time coming up with a design, ask a custom sign business about premade templates. Sometimes these templates can save you money, since the company won't have to craft a new logo, color palette, and so on. As long as you have the text you want, some sign companies are happy to paste that text into a preexisting sign template. That can be a good option if you are having trouble figuring out the appropriate layout or color scheme.

Reach out to a custom outdoor signage business for more information.