YESCO Store
           0

Printed signage is a necessary and cost-effective way for small businesses to attract the attention of prospects and customers, whether they’re outside or indoors. Signage that includes banners or feather flags created for events and special promotions or real estate and trade contractor yard signs enhance visibility in high traffic areas. Indoor print signage uses vibrant colors and artwork to display product information with popup banners, posters, and wall graphics. Printed signage draws interest with eye-catching vinyl wall decals, window graphics, and removable floor graphics. 

The purpose of this guide is to explain the wide variety of types and the many applications of print signage. We’ll provide small businesses with a comprehensive view of what printed signage is, how to determine the best signage for your business, and when to turn to a printed signage company like YESCO for high-quality signage that meets your needs.

What is Print Signage?

Printed outdoor signage lets brands engage audiences with vibrant colors and eye-catching designs, and when placed strategically, reinforces the brand qualities through consistent viewing and messaging. Banners and business signs help people, often on the move on foot or in a car, identify a location quickly. Print signage with logo and brand colors lets businesses stand apart from the competition.

Printed indoor signage provides high visibility in settings where they can be adapted for a wide variety of uses. Indoor signage lets businesses lead customers around an unfamiliar place and sell products and services in unique and unforgettable ways. They include customized posters, large indoor banners that can be seen across trade show floors, and fabric tube displays that stand out and let businesses present their brands, products and messaging on two sides of printed signage.

Why is Printed Signage Effective?

Printed signage helps set businesses apart with compelling designs, colors, and short and concise messaging that attracts attention and that people can quickly understand and remember. Several factors play a role in the effectiveness of printed signage.

Printed Signage Creates Brand Awareness With Repeated Viewing

Printed signage never stops working and provides 24/7 brand exposure. Experts estimate that it takes 10 views of signage to become memorable and up to 20 views before the sign assists  in leading to a conversion. When signage is placed in high traffic areas where it can’t be ignored, the messaging becomes fixed in the consciousness of the audience.

Printed Signage is Durable and Transportable

When outdoor signage is constructed from durable, weather-resistant materials and indoor signs use sturdy recyclable paper stocks and vinyls, they can stand up to the elements and handling. Many indoor signs are lightweight, can be installed without specialized tools, and are collapsible with carrying cases for easy unpacking and packing at tradeshows.

Print Signage Uses Visual and Color Psychology to Evoke Emotions

Much human behavior is based on visual cues and eye-catching signage can influence decision-making and emotional response. Graphics like arrows can direct attention to important components in signage. In addition, using colors can significantly impact recall and highlight key information. Colors can convey trust, sophistication, urgency, eco-friendliness, and optimism.

Printed Signage is Versatile for Any Application

There are printed signage formats that serve any need and can be placed practically anywhere. As window decals and window clings they add a splash of color on storefront windows to make a great impression. They attract foot traffic or stand out as sandwich boards or pavement signs on busy sidewalks. Durable and weather-resistant banners and in-store hanging signs can showcase promotions and new products and drive customer engagement.

Printed Signage is Environmentally Friendly

For companies that place a priority on reducing their impact on the environment, printed signage provides several advantages. Innovations in synthetic paper technologies, recyclable plastics, and renewable vinyls create a favorable brand image and appeal to eco-conscious consumers. When printed signage constructed of sustainable materials must be replaced or discarded, they minimize waste and can be repurposed to reduce the depletion of natural resources.

Printed Signage Can Go Mobile

Vehicle magnets let businesses and organizations turn their fleets of delivery trucks, work vans, food trucks, or healthcare transport into eye-catching billboards when on the move or stationery.  They help brands spread greater awareness in the communities they serve and sharp, clean and attractive designs printed on flexible and durable sheeting. Vehicle magnets can easily be swapped out for temporary branding needs without damaging vehicles. 

Printed Signage is Affordable and Produced Quickly

Compared to many other advertising and promotional methods, print signage is relatively inexpensive and within days small businesses can have customized print signage that sets them apart and starts getting their messaging out. Online printing services, like YESCO, are making it easier than ever for businesses to create unique and impactful print signage perfect for any occasion or purpose.

How Can Exterior and Indoor Signage Work Together?

Businesses should strive to create a seamless customer experience through the signage they deploy, using exterior signage to attract and lead customers to the front door and signage throughout their interior space to create a unique environment with signage that directs, informs, and converts.

Get Noticed with Exterior Signage

Maintaining consistent branding across all signage is vital for establishing a connection with customers and prospects that lasts. For many audiences, that connection may begin with an outdoor sign that prominently displays brand logo and colors and provides important information like hours of business and phone number.

Indoor signage should maintain brand consistency and the look and quality of the signage should continue to attract and entice. It should smoothly guide prospects and customers and reinforce both brand and messaging. Indoor signage can stand out with eye-catching call-to-actions that lead to higher revenue and conversions.

How Do Businesses Use Printed Signage?

Printed signage can play several roles to help a business engage with their prospects and customers at different points of their relationship. Because printed signage can be customized to fit and adhere to practically any space or surface, different industries often have unique ways to display signage that gets the attention of their customers.

Retail Printed Signage

Exterior signage for retail is the first opportunity for many businesses to create a good impression and it’s important they represent the quality the brand stands for. Indoor signs should maintain promotional continuity with unified messaging that increases conversions.

Printed signage provides high visibility for product images including floor and carpet graphics and shelf signs and aisle violators that grab attention. QR codes on printed retail signs can add digital dimensions for multichannel customer engagement. Promotional signage can easily be replaced or updated when campaigns change with little or no significant downtime. When placed near checkout areas, they lead to impulse buys.

Healthcare Printed Signage

Healthcare organizations use printed signage to improve the patient experience and reduce stress and confusion. Wayfinding signage is particularly important both inside and outside of their buildings for patients and visitors. Exterior signage can help them easily find permitted parking and the right building. Printed lobby signage gets people heading in the right direction. Healthcare facilities can be intimidating places and floor and wall decals help patients, visitors, and staff find destinations with minimal frustrations.

Organizations can use print signage with colors proven to create a calming environment. Wall posters can provide information in waiting rooms to educate patients and provide information on important topics and emerging treatments. Attractive vehicle magnets make a great way to take messaging into local communities and spread brand awareness across a wider area.

Restaurants and Food Service Printed Signage

Restaurants and other businesses in the food service industry rely on printed signage that nurtures the appetite of their diners with colorful and sharp photos that showcase their finest offerings. Color choices on printed signage for food service businesses matter and studies have shown that the use of warm colors can stimulate appetite, green imply freshness, and light colors make spaces feel larger and more inviting to diners.

Roadside food service signage captures attention at all times of day, and placement can play a large part in attracting customers who see the signs on their travels or during commutes. Messaging should be easily grasped in the moments passersby have to understand it and important information conveyed clearly. Indoor printed signs are great opportunities to create a memorable experience for diners and reinforce the brand with food boards, menus, and posters to create an environment that customers won’t find anywhere else.

Hospitality Printed Signage

Printed signage serves several functions for hotels, casinos, resorts, health clubs, amusement parks, museums, and tourism attractions. Exterior hospitality signage provides brand awareness and leads customers to the business and can act as a guide to help guests find parking and locate entrances, attractions, and facilities.

Indoor hospitality signage can express the personality of the business and sets the tone for the customer’s experience by creating a welcoming atmosphere. Indoor wayfinding makes it easy for them to find their rooms and enjoy amenities. Hospitality signage can be used to promote special offers, activities, and loyalty membership and upgrade opportunities that increase revenue and build stronger relationships. QR codes printed on hospitality signage are a way to extend customer service and enrich the occasion with integrated digital content, like video, for multichannel engagement.

Commercial Building and Office Printed Signage

Commercial properties reflect professionalism and provide confidence for visitors with  clearly marked wayfinding that lets them reach their destinations on time and without stress.

Lobby signs provide essential information and are used to identify escalators and elevators and help people find offices. Businesses can create a terrific first impression when clients and visitors enter their establishment and are greeted with welcoming reception signage. Wall space becomes optimized with wall graphics and posters that transform the space with brilliant brand colors and designs that build trust and credibility. Window graphics provide elements of style and privacy for offices and boardrooms.

Printed signage gives small businesses in every industry ways to set their business apart from the competition with signs that attract, inform, guide and create opportunities to increase revenue. This guide provides information to develop printed sign strategies to get your business noticed and create a memorable experience for your customers, patients, or guests. To take the next step, contact YESCO.

Types of Printed Signage

Signs play an important role in how businesses spread brand awareness and get found. They increase sales, raise attendance, and provide unforgettable experiences for their customers and prospects.

Print signage falls into three categories – outdoor, indoor, and signs deployed at events and tradeshows. The best signage strategies integrate a consistency of color and design through all displays and at every important moment when audiences are looking for answers and ready to make a decision.

Outdoor Signage

Outdoor signage helps businesses attract attention with bright colors, vibrant messaging, and sturdy materials that are durable and maintain a great look from a distance. Banners, flags, window graphics, yard signs, and car door magnets provide businesses with a wide range of choices to sell real estate, promote grand openings and sales, guide visitors around festivals and events, and spread awareness of contractor services.

Outdoor Signage Materials

Outdoor signage should be able to stand up to heat and moisture, and be lightweight and sturdy enough to be moved and reinstalled, rehung, or repurposed. The most common materials used for outdoor signage include:

  • Aluminum – Valued for being strong and lightweight, aluminum signs are waterproof, UV resistant and will not rust or warp even in rugged conditions. Aluminum signs are used for parking lot signs, street signs, and business nameplates. They require little maintenance to maintain a great look. They’re available in various thicknesses and can be cut to different shapes to create a custom look.
  • PVC – Affordability and durability make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) outdoor signs a leading choice for weather-resistant promotion and marketing applications. This material does not fade or lose shape, can be cut into custom shapes and printed in high-resolution colors. It’s used for yard signs, banners, and A-frame signs for temporary events and promotions, directional signage, and sidewalk advertising and sandwich boards.
  • Vinyl – Portable and lightweight, vinyl outdoor signage is adaptable for a wide variety of outdoor uses, and, if properly maintained, signs constructed with vinyl can last several years. Vinyl signage can be cut to unique shapes, display messaging and attract attention with vivid colors and large sizes that can be seen at a distance. Vinyl banners have grommets, ropes or pole pockets that make them easy to hang and stand out with printing on both sides.
  • Coroplast – An extremely versatile and affordable signage material, corrugated plastic (coroplast) is weather-resistant, and budget friendly, making it extremely suitable for short-term applications. Signs made with coroplast are easy to handle and, when used to create yard signs and event signage, easy to transport, distribute, and install as needed. It’s a waterproof material that is easy to maintain.
  • Dibond – Signage created with aluminum composite material (Dibond) is highly resistant to extreme temperature swings, which makes it an ideal choice for longer-term outdoor use. It consists of a lightweight polyethylene core sandwiched between two thin aluminum sheets, can be cut into unique shapes, produced in a variety of sizes, and finished with brushed aluminum or UV gloss coating.
  • Magnetic Vinyl – Car-safe magnetic vinyl lets businesses use their auto fleet to spread the word throughout communities for event promotions, political advertising, and displaying contact information. Magnetic vinyl can be cut into unique shapes and sizes and printed with vibrant colors and designs. Installation is a snap and the material is designed to withstand rain and never fade.

11 Most Popular Types of Outdoor Signage

When deciding upon the right outdoor signage to promote their business and engage with customers, several factors should be taken into consideration. Cost is important, but so is the ability to safely store signage when not in use and, for short-term applications, how to discard unwanted signage without damaging the environment.  Outdoor signage professionals can work with you to find the best solution for your unique situation and help you find the perfect sign.

Your choices include:

  1. Standard  and Heavy-Duty Yard Signs - Standard 4mm or heavy-duty 10mm thick coroplast yard signs promote local businesses, political candidates and campaigns, grand openings, and events like yard sales and corporate outings. Yard signs attract attention with simple messaging, colors that stand out, and clear, well-placed calls-to-action or easy to read and remember contact information. Affordable and a snap to set up, they are also sturdy enough to be reused and reinstalled as needed.
  2. PVC Sidewalk Signs - Outdoor sidewalk signs, also called A-frame or sandwich boards, made with PVC are used by retailers and restaurants to display a short and compelling message for pedestrians and passersby. PVC is a popular material for businesses looking for a durable solution that is weather-proof and UV-resistant. They promote special offers and events, provide hours of operation, and increase brand awareness. Sidewalk signs are easy to transport and store at the conclusion of the business day.
  3. Aluminum Parking Signs - Aluminum parking signs are low maintenance, come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can easily be mounted on poles or walls. Heavy-duty aluminum parking signs stand up to all types of weather with UV cured inks and colors that stay vibrant and will not fade. These parking signs can be customized with rust-free finishes that give signs greater visibility and improves the look of the sign.
  4. Aluminum Sandwich Boards - Restaurants, cafes, retail stores, real estate agencies, and service provides use aluminum sign boards for long-lasting, lightweight, and portable advertising solutions. Aluminum sandwich boards stand up to all types of weather and resist damage from moisture, sun, and wind. Many include features like weighted bases for greater stability.
  5. Aluminum Post Signs - Aluminum post and pole signs stand out and get noticed when hung from posts and fences or attached to other surfaces. Their durability and low-maintenance needs makes them valuable for long-term use and their versatility lets businesses promote real estate sales and rentals, guide visitors in parking lots and across properties, and enhance visibility and brand recognition. Aluminum is environmentally friendly and recycled without losing material quality.
  6. Outdoor Mesh Banners - Outdoor mesh banners look great hanging on chain-link fences, stretched between poles, or mounted on the sides of buildings. The mesh material allows for easy air-flow to help them withstand wind and prevent the buildup of mold and dirt. Businesses use them at sporting and fundraising events, outdoor receptions and parties, festivals, and construction sites, and for outdoor retail advertising.
  7. Outdoor Vinyl Banners - Outdoor vinyl banners attract attention across distances and help people locate events and find businesses with vibrant colors and large, easy-to-read messaging. Most banners come with grommets that make them easy to hang for retail promotions, around construction projects, and to increase visibility for events. Sturdy vinyl stands up to repeated use and maintains color vibrancy and quality for long-lasting impact.
  8. Feather Flags - Stored and assembled with ease, feather flags grab attention through strategic placement and eye-catching colors and design. Durable polyester flags stand up to wind and moisture and dye sublimation techniques provide long-lasting, bright colors. Feather flags can be printed on both sides to maximize visibility and make them suitable for displays outside businesses, in parking lots, and on event properties. 
  9. Teardrop Flags - Teardrop flags that wave with the wind add movement to promotional signage and provide an eye-catching visual element that can’t be ignored in crowded areas or at events. Flexible pole structures and lightweight polyester or nylon make it easy to pack and unpack teardrop flags and base options provide stability. Retail stores, restaurants, and cafes use teardrop signs to announce grand openings and special products, real estate agents place them to attract potential buyers to open houses, and event organizers stage them to direct traffic and guide visitors.
  10. Blockout, Perforated and Window Cling Graphics - Blockout and perforated window decals and window clings add vibrancy and color to reflective surfaces with materials that have see-through qualities or block sunlight. Perforated and clear window decals gives shoppers and diners transparency into the establishment while drawing them in with attractive branding and messaging. Blockout window decals let businesses optimize valuable advertising space while also saving on energy costs during daylight hours.
  11. Car Door Magnets - Car door magnets spread brand awareness all throughout communities and reach new customers. They’re a great way to target local marketing efforts and reach prospects where they live and work. Car door magnets are easily customized for service-oriented businesses like electricians and plumbers, florists and food delivery services, and real estate agents. They are effortlessly removed without damaging car, van, or truck doors, and turn vehicle fleets into mobile billboards.

Indoor Signage

Retailers, hospitality properties, restaurants, event organizers, healthcare facilities, and professional offices require indoor signage that meets their specific needs, is affordable, and presents a professional appearance. Easy-to-deploy point-of-sale displays, posters, and wall and floor graphics engage shoppers and gator board and foam core boards guide and create welcoming environments for guests and visitors.

Indoor Signage Materials

The materials used to create indoor signage should be durable enough to withstand handling and be lightweight enough to hang on walls or mounted on easels. Businesses have a wide variety of indoor signage solutions that are affordable and produced quickly to meet tight schedules.

The most common materials used for indoor signage include:

  • Acrylic – Durable and professional looking, acrylic signs can be customized for engaging and consistent directional branding in healthcare facilities and hospitality settings. They add a professional appearance to reception areas, lobbies, and hallways. Acrylic signs produce sharp, vibrant colors and require little maintenance once placed on a wall or door.
  • Vinyl – The versatility of vinyl indoor signs offer restaurants, retailers, and other businesses fun and creative ways to attract customers and create unique environments. Colors and designs stand out on vinyl. Vinyl wall decals can use either high-tack adhesive for long-term implementation and durability or low-tack adhesive that allows posters and wall decals to be moved whenever desired.
  • Foam Core – Extremely lightweight foam core signs, also known as foam board signs, are adaptable for many indoor applications that require a one-time solution, although with care these signs can last longer. Foam core signs are affordable and can be produced with quick turnarounds for promotional displays, when used as informational signs at events and in lobbies, and when displayed on easels and stands.
  • Gator Board – More durable than foam core, gator board delivers the same sharp colors and images but is more resistant to damage and warping and stands up to repeated use better. Event organizers and property managers use gator board signage for frequent events such as open houses, job fairs, and conferences.
  • Aluminum – Strong and lightweight aluminum indoor signs require practically no maintenance and continue to look great whether used as permanent directional or safety signage. They’re available in various thicknesses, are lightweight and easy to handle and install, and can be cut to different shapes to create custom looks that maintain brand consistency and convey a professional appearance. Their long-term effectiveness makes aluminum indoor signage an affordable signage investment.

7 Most Popular Types of Indoor Signage

When determining the ideal indoor signage to promote products and services, provide temporary wayfinding or permanent safety information, attract customers, or announce special events or sales, several factors should be taken into consideration. In addition to cost and turnaround time, because indoor signage is often replaced and disposed of, signs should be made from sustainable and recycled material whenever possible. Indoor signage professionals can work with you to find the best solution for your unique situation and help you find the perfect sign for your purpose.

Your choices include:

  1. Blockout and Photo Gloss Posters - Blockout and photo gloss posters are used in retail spaces to promote sales and special offers, convey information in appealing ways, and showcase brand attributes in visually attractive ways. They offer cost effective and temporary solutions that can easily be mounted on walls without the need for special installation aids. Healthcare organizations and hospitality properties locate posters in high visibility areas to convey important information to patients and guests and improve employee morale.
  2. Wall Art on Aluminum Panels - For high-resolution vibrancy, few indoor signs can compete with wall art printed on aluminum panels which uses a dye-sublimation technique that embeds images with heat into the aluminum surface of the panel. They’re resistant to scratches and fading and require little maintenance. Aluminum panel wall art offers ideal solutions for branding in lobbies and professional corporate offices and for wayfinding signage in airports, shopping centers, and hospitals.
  3. Floor Graphics - Bright, attention-grabbing floor graphics transform hospital, hospitality, and retail walkways, hallways, and floor space in high-traffic areas. Floor graphic signage serves as directional aids, provides ways to induce impulse buying, and presents unique branding opportunities. Relatively inexpensive to produce and install compared to other indoor signage, floor graphics are constructed from durable, premium vinyl materials with slip-resistant laminates. They can support special offers, provide important safety information, and, because they are easy to replace, are fun ways to engage customers during seasonal or holiday promotions.
  4. Wall Decals - Durable, customizable, and easy to install, wall decals provide long-term value and branding in entryways or reception areas. Available in various finishes including matte and gloss, made from eco-friendly materials, and with adhesive backing that doesn’t damage walls or surfaces, they enhance the appearance of any space. Wall decals are versatile and conform to any setting, including healthcare and corporate reception areas, waiting rooms, lobbies, and along hallways.
  5. Aluminum Directional Signage - Strong and lightweight, aluminum directional and wayfinding signs can be easily customized with various sizes and shapes available. Aluminum provides high-quality images and sharp, crisp colors for a long-lasting professional appearance in corporate offices, lobbies, and reception areas. Used to identify entrances and provide safety guidance, aluminum signs can be easily mounted and add a touch of class to doors and walls. They’re incredibly durable and easy to maintain, and won’t warp or fade.
  6. Foam Core andGator Board Signs - Businesses that need eye-catching displays for retail promotions, event signage and informational signs that are temporary, inexpensive and effective rely on indoor foam core or gator board signs. They make impressive window displays, presentation boards in educational settings, and informational signage to identify conference rooms in hotels. Professional finishes can enhance the impact of foam core and gator board colors, and while gator board is preferred for uses that require greater durability, both are lightweight and easy to transport and install.
  7. Point of Sale Displays - Strategically placed point of sale displays drive last minute and impulse buying with print signage that gets noticed and influences buying behaviors. Retailers use them to draw attention to products and promotions as endcaps, in aisles, and on countertops. Brand recognition, eye-catching colors, and short, snappy messaging makes shoppers pause and make emotion-driven purchasing decisions. 

Event Signage

Event signage requires big, bold, and colorful solutions to stand out on crowded trade show floors, at outdoor and indoor promotions, and to help people efficiently navigate through crowds and avoid bottlenecks and confusion. Businesses require event signage that is durable to withstand repeated handling, stand up to the elements when deployed outside at fairgrounds and arenas, and can be transported easily in carrying cases and be easy to set up and break down after the event.

Event Signage Materials

The materials used to create tradeshow signage should be lightweight and easily transportable, durable enough to stand up to packing and unpacking, simple to clean, and suitable for indoor or outdoor promotions and wayfinding. Businesses have a wide variety of event signage solutions that are affordable and produced quickly to meet tight schedules.

The most common materials used for indoor signage include:

  • Vinyl – Suitable for indoor or outdoor event signage, vinyl provides versatility with waterproof and fade resistant solutions that are lightweight. Colors and designs stand out on vinyl. Vinyl banners often come with grommets to make them easy to hang and when used for banner stands and event displays able to retract easy for storage and portability.
  • Polyester Fabric – Best for indoor event display, polyester fabric establish a high a high-quality appearance using dye-sublimation or UV inks. Polyester fabric is eco-friendly, easy to clean, and often wrinkle resistant, and while best for indoor displays, it can stand up to mild, outdoor weather.
  • Mesh Vinyl – Mesh openings in banner signage let air pass through and maintain form and shape in windy conditions. Great for hanging on chain-link and other outdoor fencing at sports events like little league games, marathon races, and music and arts festivals to attract attention and advertise products.
  • Coroplast – An extremely versatile and affordable signage material, corrugated plastic (coroplast) is cost-effective, recyclable, and weather-resistant and suitable for both indoor and outdoor events. Signs made with coroplast are easy to handle and transport, and ideal for temporary applications at tradeshows and events.
  • Dibond – Durability and its light weight make Dibond  a popular material for event signage that is suitable for long-term use.  It consists of a polyethylene core sandwiched between two thin aluminum sheets, can be cut into unique shapes, produced in a variety of sizes, and finished with brushed aluminum or UV gloss coating.

6 Most Popular Types of Tradeshow Signage

Two factors to consider in tradeshow signage are durability and transportability. Tradeshow signs should be easy to set up and require no special equipment, other than hanging rope and hardware. Turnaround time can also be important to meet tight event schedules. Businesses need confidence that when they unveil their tradeshow signage it will look as good every time as it did the first time it was deployed. Tradeshow signage professionals can work with you to find the best solution for your unique situation and help you find the perfect sign for your purpose.

Your choices include:

  1. Pop-up Banner Stands - Also known as roller banners or retractable banners, this event signage is portable and a breeze to set up with a printed banner that retracts into a base for storage and stability when unfurled. They attract attention with beautiful images and colors and use brand engagement to promote sales and new products and attract customers and prospects to trade show booths. Pop-up banners make great backdrops at corporate events and in environments where businesses are competing for the notice of event-goers.
  2. Fabric Tube Displays - Regardless of the size of the event, there are fabric tube displays that can make an impact with event attendees. Many can be used as two-sided displays that are impossible to miss and printed graphics can be interchanged on displays for versatile uses. Lightweight and portable, constructed of durable aluminum frames, fabric tube displays can be set up along passageways, stand out on tradeshow floors, or greet visitors in lobbies and welcome centers.
  3. Tabletop Displays - When businesses want to draw customers and prospects to presentations and space is a concern, tabletop displays provide the same impact with color and design as larger signage does. Great for events like college fairs, job fairs, non-profit lobbies, and indoor events of all kinds, tabletop displays are cost-effective, versatile, and customizable. Retractable vinyl tabletop banners are portable, can be set up in minutes, and stand up to repeated use.
  4. Portable Backdrop and Banner Stands - A more affordable option for event banners for many businesses, portable backdrop and banner stands provide the same brilliant design and color option for event signage as retractable signs. These signs are easy to be rolled up or folded and carried from event to event to add a professional backdrop at corporate functions, conferences, and trade shows. They are a classy way to add elements of branding, color, and messaging behind speakers and at panel discussions.
  5. Outdoor Banners and Indoor Banners - Banners get noticed, which is why corporations display them at trade shows and other events, retailers use them for promotions and new product launches, and food vendors hang them to attract customers at festivals. Nonprofits and schools and universities place them to welcome event attendees and provide directional guidance for visitors. Their versatility and durable make them a terrific investment for businesses looking to make a great impression.
  6. Flags - Flags can be a simple and yet very effective way to highlight brand and messaging that attracts attention even from afar. Feather flags and teardrop flags can grab attention across a crowded tradeshow floor or add color and brand in lobbies and conference centers. Flags are inexpensive ways to make impacts at a wide range of events, and are easy to set up and transport from event to event.

Design Tips for Effective Print Signage

Every brick-and-mortar business requires signage, as do hospitals, hospitality properties, schools, construction businesses and tradesmen, and restaurants. While signage goals may vary, to be effective it’s important that each and every sign adheres to five essential design principles regardless of budget, whether deployed indoors or outdoors, or sign size.

Make Them Easy to Read and Understand

Print signage might be the first opportunity you have as a business to speak to your audience, with only moments to make an impression. A cluttered, color-mismatched, and hard to read sign sends the wrong message. Color choices and contrasts, and a generous use of white space, are important for sign clarity and helping people quickly grasp the information on the sign. Print fonts should be large and sharp enough to be read and understood from a distance.

Branding Consistency Makes Signs Memorable

For many people, your signage is your brand. It stands out along busy roads or throughout your place of business, providing reassurance and serving as a beacon for the next stop in your customers’ purchasing journey. The brand logo, colors, and messaging must remain constant across all signage to build on the relationship you have with them. Make it easy for your customers to pick your signs out in a crowd and immediately establish a connection.

Use Visual Hierarchy to Highlight the Important Message

The human eye follows documented patterns when scanning and comprehending signs. Attract the human eye to the most important aspects of your business print signage using colors, font sizes, and design elements to get highest priority content read. Applying effective and strategic visual hierarchy in signage designs helps customers navigate the information on the sign quickly and get the answers they need, like address, hours of operation, or phone number.

Simplicity Increases Comprehension

Focus on communicating one important message in your signage that you want your audience to remember. It can be tempting to oversell on signage, but signs works best when there’s plenty of white space and important information is easily read.  Most signs are viewed by audiences on the move, giving your signage only moments to make a customer take notice and comprehend its message.

Prominently Place the Call to Action

Use action-oriented language or introduce deadlines and apply visual cues to guide viewers’ eyes to give CTAs urgency and spur immediate response. CTAs should be bold, large commands that stand out from backgrounds, and focus on what makes your business different and the value you offer your customers. Adding a QR code and “Scan the Code” language into the CTA leads customers to opportunities for digital conversions and enhanced engagement.

Calculating the Return On Investment (ROI) for Print Signage

It can be challenging, but not impossible, for your business to measure the effectiveness of print signage. A successful sign may or may not produce an immediate response, making it hard to have tangible numbers to analyze. For instance, billboards provide long-term visibility and help to build brand awareness through repeated viewing, while point-of-purchase (POP) print signage sitting on a countertop or in checkout aisles increase revenue through impulse purchases making their impact on sales easier to analyze in the short term

Determine Goals for Signage

The first step to measuring the ROI your print signage delivers is to clearly define what the marketing goal is for your print signage. A different key performance indicator (KPI) should be based on the intention for each sign because every sign in your arsenal can have a specific and different purpose, whether it’s spreading brand awareness, increasing sales, or building a better customer experience. In many cases, measurements are based on qualitative and observational impacts, such as foot traffic, responses to specific calls to action, or customer feedback and participation in surveys and contests. When deploying directional and wayfinding signage, the goal may be a reduction in the amount of time staff spends helping customers find their way around.

Add Interactivity With Print Innovations

Although print signage is passive advertising, innovations in interactive print and A/R technologies are allowing businesses to place vanity or branded URLs and QR codes and incorporate digital analytics into result measurements. Adding the possibility for more interactivity and increased social media interactions. This allows businesses to study multichannel metrics and the impact signs have on driving traffic to company web sites  helping to better gauge a sign’s success.

Methods to Measure Print Signage ROI

Here are a few ways to measure print signage ROI to see if it’s meeting the objectives you establish in your planning:

  • Listen to Your Customers. Feedback provides an immediate response from customers when their experiences are fresh and relevant.
  • Monitor Behavioral Patterns. Observe whether or not customers are finding their way around your business easier or locating sales items and special promotions on their own.
  • Increased Revenue. If sales, store traffic, or reservations are closely related to when and where a new sign is set up, it’s a good indicator that the sign is attracting attention.
  • A/B Test. Change and test alterations in layouts, headlines, imagery placement, and color, and only test one thing at a time. This can help align your business signage with customer expectations and gain insights for future campaigns.
  • Use QR Codes. Distinct QR codes can provide insights into frequency and time of day when your signs drive engagement. Use landing page analytics and conversion tracking obtained when customers scan codes in response to surveys, polls, or other incentives.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways

Consumers rely on print signage for decision making, direction finding, safety guidance, and information gathering, but not all signs are created equal. It’s up to businesses to develop a strategy that coordinates indoor and outdoor signage and builds upon brand recognition to increase sales, enhance the customer experience, and stand apart from the competition.

Quality Materials Matter

When deciding on the best print signage to deploy, businesses must consider what materials to use. Indoor signs such a banners, foam core signs, teardrop flags, standing displays, and floor and carpet decals should be lightweight, durable, yet inexpensive and manufactured from environmentally friendly materials that can be recycled when the signs are disposed of. Outdoor signs must be able to withstand the elements and sidewalk signs, sandwich boards, yard signs, and outdoor vinyl banner and feather flags should be easy to install and maintain. Signage used at tradeshows like pop-up banner stands, table top displays and fabric tube displays should be light and portable and be able to withstand repeated use and travel

Effective Signs Share Common Design Features

Print signage can come in all shapes and sizes, but they must be easy to read and audiences must be able to grasp the most important information, like contact information or the call to action (CTA), quickly, often while on the move. All signage must remain consistent so loyal customers can immediately identify signs on crowded streets helping to build brand recognition. Simplicity is important to make it easy for audiences to navigate the sign’s messaging and visual hierarchy attracts the human eye and helps consumers understand the sign at a glance.

Set Clear Goals to Determine Print Signage ROI

The more focused the expectations of business print signage, the easier it can be to determine the effectiveness of every sign used to promote the business, increase revenue, generate leads and new business, or share important information. Although print signage has historically relied on observation and qualitative measurements, such as increased foot traffic or customer feedback, innovations in print technology are making it possible to apply digital measurements to determine website visits and activity after the sign is scanned.

Contact YESCO for All Your Signage Needs

Printed signage gives small businesses in every industry ways to set their business apart from the competition with signs that attract, inform, guide and create opportunities to increase revenue. This guide provides information to develop printed sign strategies to get your business noticed and create a memorable experience for your customers, patients, or guests. To take the next step, contact YESCO Print Shop.

Glossary of Terms 

  • Acrylic – Acrylic signs add a professional appearance to signs and require little maintenance in reception areas, lobbies, and hallways.
  • Aluminum – Strong and lightweight, aluminum are used for parking lot signs and business nameplates and require little maintenance.
  • Backdrop and banner stands – These portable and retractable signs add professional touches and provide advertising and promotional backdrops  behind speakers and panelists at conferences and corporate functions.
  • Banners – Usually constructed on vinyl or another durable, lightweight fabric, banners are ideal for attracting attention across distances and can be deployed indoors or outside.
  • Car door magnets – Businesses turn automotive fleets into mobile billboards with card door magnets that don’t damage auto exteriors and can be removed easily.
  • Coroplast – Versatile and affordable, coroplast is weather-resistant and suitable for short-term applications.
  • Dibond – This aluminum composite can handle wide outdoor temperature swings and can be embellished with brushed aluminum or UV gloss coating.
  • Fabric Tube Displays – Two-sided fabric tube displays make an impact when set up on tradeshow floors and in retail aisles and lobbies. They’re lightweight and durable.
  • Feather Flags – Eye-catching feather flags made from durable polyester offer two-sided visibility and stand up to moisture and wind.
  • Flags – Simple yet effective, flags are tried and trusted signage that can grab attention across distances. They can be deployed on poles, walls, or hung from beams and ceilings. They can be made from durable materials that stand up to repeated furling and unfurling.
  • Foam Core – Lightweight foam core is ideal for one-time signage solutions and can be produced quickly and inexpensively for promotional displays and event signage.
  • Floor Graphics – Attention-grabbing floor graphics capture attention. They are inexpensive, durable ways to present promotions and guide customers with unique branding opportunities.
  • Gator Board – More durable and resistant to damage and warping than foam core, gator board can be stored and reused for frequent events
  • Gloss Posters (Blackout and Photo) – An excellent choice to promote sales and special offers when easily mounted on walls and in high visibility areas.
  • Magnetic Vinyl – Used for car-safe, removable magnetic auto door magnets that can be cut into unique shapes and printed in vibrant colors.
  • Mesh Vinyl – This fabric allows breezes to pass through while maintaining form and is ideal for hanging on fences and chain-link at outdoor events.
  • PVC -Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is used for yard signs, banners, and other signs that won’t fade or lose shape.
  • Point of Sale Displays – Intended to induce impulse purchases at checkout, these signs get noticed and cause customers to make emotion-driven decisions.
  • Polyester Fabric – Best for indoor displays, dye-sublimation or UV inks give polyester fabrics a high-quality appearance.
  • Pop-Up Banner Stands – Also known as roller banners and retractable banners, these signs are portable and easy to set up and retract back into the sign’s base at events.
  • Sandwich Boards – Also called A-Frame signs, these boards are commonly placed on sidewalks outside restaurants and retail establishments.
  • Tabletop Displays – Ideal to draw the attention of passersby at college and job fairs and indoor events of all kinds, these signs are cost-effective, portable, and stand up to repeated use.
  • Teardrop Flags – Like feather flags, the unique shape of these signs add extra eye appeal and are used to announce grand openings, open houses, and other special occasions.
  • Vinyl – Portable, durable, and lightweight, vinyl is used for both indoor and outdoor signage and can have grommets and pole pockets that make them easy to hang.
  • Wall decals and graphics – Wall decals and graphics are an inexpensive way to creatively transform spaces, promote products, and create customized experiences for customers.
  • Wayfinding signage – Also called directional signage and deployed throughout exteriors and interiors of hospitality, healthcare, educational, and other business properties, wayfinding helps people find their way around easily and without stress.
  • Window Cling Graphics- These signs add vibrancy and pique curiosity when placed on storefront windows and provide privacy and style when used on conference room glass interiors.
  • Yard Signs – Used to promote outdoor events and a common sign used by contractors and realtors, yard signs use simple messaging and prime placement to attract attention and spread awareness.