Preparing for an open house takes a lot of work. Often the homeowner must deep clean, de-personalize the home, bake cookies, landscape for curb-appeal, perform minor repairs, and list the open house online. After all of that, you would think that potential buyers would be busting down the door to take a peek. However, many homeowners forget or are unaware of the steps it takes to attract buyer attention for the event itself.
Open house signs are easily recognizable and a cost-effective option for advertising the event the day of. There are a variety of open house signs available to choose from, and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to effective open house sign marketing. So, how do you know which one is right for your home and neighborhood? Below are a few ideas on what types of signs attract more buyer attention and how you can use them for your open house.
Signs That Say “Open House”
This should be a no-brainer. However, if a sign just says “For Sale”, potential buyers won’t know there is an event happening the day of or at all. If you want them to come through the door, the sign has to be clear that you’re hosting an open house and when they should stop by.
Directional Signs
If a home is tucked away in a neighborhood or it’s not visible from any main roads, directional signs can be helpful for leading people to the open house. Placing a sign at the main entrance of a neighborhood or on the closest main road can help attract passersby who don’t live in the neighborhood. The more traffic a road gets, the more potential buyers will see the sign. Some neighborhoods and cities have specific rules involving temporary signs, so it’s important for homeowners to learn these rules before accidentally breaking one.
Repetitive Signs
Several signs before the entrance of the neighborhood not only catch the attention of passersby, but they can also serve as alerts and reminders of where to turn so they don’t miss it. Each sign can say something different or contain only one word each to form a whole sentence. Either way, multiple signs are hard to miss.
Informative Signs
Signs with the date, time, price, and basic information about the home can help buyers determine if the home fits their criteria in the first place. Open houses that waste everyone’s time aren’t profitable, so informative signs can help weed out the outliers. Informative signs are usually placed in front of the home with the most important information in the largest lettering so people don’t have to get out of their cars to read it. Too much information on a sign can overwhelm a potential looker, and small print is difficult to read from far away. Contrast and color can help signs stand out around the landscape and are easy to read for someone driving by.
Humorous Signs
Humor is an easy way to grab someone’s attention when marketing for anything, including homes. Phrases like “It’s what’s on the inside that counts” or “Say yes to the address” can peak the curiosity of a potential buyer at the very least. Creative and clever home promotion tactics will attract buyers’ attention at the very least. This strategy may be more successful in certain areas or neighborhoods, and a realtor may know best if it will work in yours.
Creative Placement
Open house signs aren’t restricted to neighborhoods and in front of homes. To widen the search radius, some realtors will create open house flyers and post them in coffee shops, grocery stores, or wherever local ads are displayed. To prevent random strangers from showing up to the house late at night, these may only want to be promoting the open house for a couple days or just the day of the event. The home address doesn’t even need to be shared if there are signs leading to the home from the entrance of the neighborhood. When thinking about open house signs, there are more ways to promote an open house than just the traditional signs and methods. Creativity and strategy can lead to a wildly successful open house, and even a contract at the end of the day.
While there was a time when it seemed like every person couldn’t hand out their business cards fast enough and everyone had a collection of various cards gathering dust in their wallets, it seems that the popularity of business cards is finally starting to wane. While the explosion of business cards a decade ago was at times overwhelming and oversaturated, by no means are business cards dead today. In fact, there are many situations, settings, and cultures where business cards are still relevant. The way society uses business cards now, however, has slightly evolved in the past ten years.
Businesses are choosing quality over quantity of transactions.
A decade ago, entrepreneurs may have handed out their business cards to every person they met in hopes that a few of them would convert. After years of trying this method, it’s apparent that a one-dimensional card isn’t the only factor that potential clients or network partners use to determine whether or not they will work with you. Today, a personal connection is often made before a business card is ever passed off. People who have experienced a positive interaction with someone are more likely to keep the card than those who haven’t.
Creative designs are helping businesses stand out.
Business cards used to be quite basic. After collecting a myriad of similar looking white cards, they all start to blend together to a potential client. To stand out, businesses are now getting creative with the design and look of their business cards. Not only is color a big deal now, but different shapes, interactive cards, and even see-through cards are more popular now than ever before. Unexpected and creative touches to a business card help clients remember the giver and can help promote a brand even further. Especially unique cards may even get shared dozens of times on social media, furthering brand promotion.
Information shared is evolving.
Most business cards contain basic contact information such as phone number and email, along with the name of the person, the name of the business, and the website. However, with the rise of social networking, professional social media accounts are a must-list for modern business cards. People are more likely to find a company on a social media channel than keep a business card anyway, so many businesses are using their cards to bridge this gap instead. Professional headshots and calls to action are also commonly included on business cards today, as they are still widely used in a business’ marketing plan.
Touched on above, handing out business cards to everyone and anyone is no longer considered an effective strategy. Businesses are now focusing on creating personal connections before passing off their contact information to a potential client or network partner. Instead of having a business card be the beginning, middle, and end of an interaction with someone, they are saved for the good-byes after a conversation has been had if the person wants to keep in touch. A decade ago, business cards held little value because everyone got one. Now, business cards are mainly given to people most likely to keep them and use them.
Business cards are still viewed as the most professional hand-off of contact information, and it can be embarrassing to a business owner when they are caught without one when asked. Even with digital sharing of information, business cards are still the quickest and easiest way to exchange information, especially with certain audiences and in certain settings.
Business cards are used within rather than outside of a company.
In large companies, employees are often given their own set of business cards. This can be helpful for promoting the business when they are off the clock. However, they are also helpful for a quick exchange of information with co-workers in other departments. Increasingly, it is becoming common for employees to utilize their business cards this way, especially if they are somewhere away from their computer or phone.
The way business cards were used in the past is certainly dead, and we are probably better off because of it. However, today’s adaptive business cards are still very much useful, especially when a unique element is incorporated into the design or they are given to the right people. If business cards aren’t working for a business, it may be time to update them!
You just bought a box of 10,000 business cards (because that’s what all business owners do, right?), but now what are you supposed to do with them? Some entrepreneurs feel awkward handing out their business card at networking events, while others are naturals at it. Are you supposed to give your business card out to everyone you meet, or should you target certain audiences? If you aren’t sure how business cards can be implemented into your marketing strategy, take a look at four unique ideas below to help you get started.
Partner with Related Services
The easiest marketing is when someone else does it for you, right? If you have worked with partner companies in the past, and they aren’t direct competition, it may be worth contacting them about displaying your cards for customers in need. For instance, a web design company can display cards for an online marketing company, and vice versa. If you’ve already built a trusted relationship with the company, they will naturally promote your business anyway. Give them a stack of cards to make it easier!
Include Special Offers or Discounts
When designing your business cards, think about who you will primarily be handing them to. Will they be new prospects, repeat customers, potential network partners, or perhaps all three? You may consider including a promotion or special discount on a percentage of the cards for potential customers so they are more likely to keep your card for future reference. People love saving money and finding a deal. Give them a reason to hang on to your card rather than toss it in the trash.
If you want your discount to be flexible based on seasons or holidays, you can include a basic discount code (such as the name of your business) that customers can enter and you can change depending on what you want the discount to reflect. If the discount always stays the same, such as 10% off for every new customer, then the clarity can help customers remember exactly what they are keeping the card for. Punch cards or referral discounts can also be applied to the back of a business card, and be all the more reason for a customer to hang on to the card.
Include Landing Page Link
As part of your marketing strategy, you may have already created a landing page that is designed specifically to draw new customers into your brand and lead them to conversion pages. Instead of listing the basic home page of your website on your business cards, why not perform double-duty and list the landing page instead? As long as the landing page has a readable URL and easy for customers to type in (especially think about mobile users!), then this can be a great way to integrate in-person and online marketing strategies.
Get Creative with Placements
Not every business owner has time to attend a dozen networking events, conferences, or trade shows every year. Instead, they may have to find other creative ways to get their business cards in the hands of target prospects. Luckily, there are plenty of opportunities in every day life to strategically place a business card.
Community boards at coffee shops and grocery stores are easy and free ways to market a business. You can also head to a local bookstore or library and stick your business card in a few industry-related books (as long as the people in charge are cool with it). Or, you can hide a few of your business cards around town and make a scavenger-hunt type game out of it where the customer gets a discount if they find all of them.
There are tons of creative ways to get your business card out there rather than spending hours talking to strangers at an event. The four ideas listed above are a few of the more unique ones to get the creative juices flowing. Business owners can also utilize friends and family, friends, neighbors, past clients, and co-workers to pass out cards, or include their cards in a mail marketing campaign. While in-person connections are always the most effective when it comes to a business card exchange strategy, it doesn’t mean you can’t get your information out there even when you can’t be physically present!
Nearly every modern business utilizes business cards to promote themselves, yet they are often tossed in the trash by their recipients by the end of the week. While business cards continue as a staple in the business world (and it’s nice to have one available when a client asks), businesses need to adapt their cards to fit ever-shifting trends and stand out amongst the competition. Otherwise, the expense and hassle of creating a business card is a total waste.
What inspires a client to keep your card in their wallet rather than toss it when they get home? For one, your business card must be eye-catching. You can achieve this through fonts, brand-colors, phrases, imagery, or even the shape of the card itself. Of course, the most important goal of a business card is to convey useful information to the client, such as name, email, website, and professional social media pages. If you aren’t sure where to begin in your business card design brainstorming session, take a look at the top seven on-trend business card designs of the future below to spark an idea or two.
Minimalistic
A business should convey some information on their business card, but overstuffing and overwhelming a card can be overkill. A customer doesn’t need to know details about specific products or services on a business card. They do need to know your website to find that information, however. Keep it short, sweet, and simple when it comes to how many lines of text you decide to include on your cards.
Along with the amount of words on the card, minimalistic amounts of color, fonts, and images are also on-trend right now. A single-color background with just the business name or logo on the front can help a card look clean, fresh, and professional. You can play around with foiled lettering or different textures to make it unique and un-boring. The important business information can be listed on the back without cluttering up the simple and bold advertisement on the front.
Transparent
Another interesting design idea that has been recently floating around is that of transparent business cards. A specific brand color or pattern can be applied to the transparent paper, but the uniqueness of the see-through design can help it stand out amongst competitors. Of course, transparent cards don’t work with every type of business, especially since transparency conveys a certain message. For instance, a data privacy company may not want see-through associated with its name. However, it may fit the theme of a window company. The takeaway is that businesses are no longer limited to traditional cardstock for business card backgrounds, and they can experiment with different types of material.
Out-of-the-Rectangle
Businesses are no longer limited to the traditional rectangle shape for business cards either. To stand out, some businesses are experimenting with different shapes and sizes for their business cards. Of course, business cards should still serve the practical purpose of storing until future need and easily fit inside a wallet or card carrier.
Interactive
Depending on the type of business, interactive cards can be a fun way to hold the attention of a client or future client. Cards that fold into different objects or have hidden pull-and-slide messages are unique and fun for clients to fidget with when they are familiarizing themselves with your contact information. If anything, these types of cards will definitely be remembered for their distinctive designs.
Social
Just like other types of marketing, business cards should display professional social media accounts as a way for customers to connect with a business. Even if they don’t use the services or products right away, they may want to connect digitally before tossing a card. If a business spends a lot of time marketing and/or selling on social media, this is essential information to include.
Humorous
Humor is a universal language, and it can stand out and intrigue just as much as a color scheme, font, or design. Humor, puns, and sarcasm especially resonate with younger target audiences. Whether it’s through clever imagery or a play on words, many businesses are now incorporating humor into their business card designs to help make a lasting impression with their clients.
Multi-Purpose
A business card can serve two or more functions if you get creative. Instead of handing out multiple cards for different purposes to potential clients, why not just hand them one? If you offer 10% off to new clients, you can include this deal on the card. Or, if there’s a page on your website specifically created for potential clients, you can put this URL on the card in place of the standard homepage. You can even turn a business card into a “frequent customer” card and offer a free product or service for every 10 punches on the back. Businesses are consolidating some of this information onto one card that increases the chances that a customer will keep it longer than a day or a week.
When it comes to real estate, signs are everything! Well, nearly everything. A real estate sign like bandit signs can attract passersby to stop and check out the new listing or they can help potential buyers find the right property when arriving for a viewing. Real estate signs are often the first detail buyers notice when looking for homes. Because of this, real estate and open house signs need to convey a clear, clean, and informative message. A tattered or cheap looking sign may warn buyers to stay away, while an elegant and clean sign can be inviting to a potential buyer.
Open house signs are different than traditional “For Sale” signs in how they market the home and attract potential buyers. However, they can also pair well with “For Sale” and other signs for maximum impact. If you need an open house sign that stands out in the neighborhood, take a look at the top six unique sign ideas below.
1.Use Separate Signs.
For the most part, the “For Sale” yard signs stays near the front door or in the front yard of a home for sale from the time it is listed to when the buyer takes ownership. An “Open House” sign may only go up the morning of the open house and taken down that afternoon. Since open house signs are not permanent fixtures, there is more flexibility in how and where they are displayed. It can be as small as a sign rider that is attached to the for sale sign, or as large as a big campaign sign visible from a block away. Whatever type of marketing is used for the open house, the sign should be separate or stand out from the permanent for sale sign.
2.Consider the Color Scheme
When using separate signs, it can be a good idea to create cohesion with the same color scheme. Usually, the color scheme on real estate signs matches the color of the real estate company. However, one color could be highlighted over another depending on the area or neighborhood. Understated signs may be best for high-end neighborhoods, while bold signs will help a sign stand out in more affordable neighborhoods, especially if the market is saturated in that area. A unique color scheme is also more easily spotted over traditional real estate color schemes.
3.One Size Does Not Fit All
Potential buyers are so accustomed to seeing real estate signs. One sign begins to look like every other sign until they can’t tell the difference. Make sure your sign stands out by altering the size of the signs that are placed on multiple properties. Real Estate signs come in a variety of sizes, from 9×12, 18×24 (standard size), to 24×32. Catch a buyers attention by diversifying your sign size.
4.Pair the Post with the Place
Signs would be relatively useless without a way to display them. However, not all sign posts are created equal. Standard wire stakes may work for most open house signs in most places. Although, a steel sign frame can add a touch of class, while a promotional a-frame sign is free to place on the sidewalk or the street. The layout of the street and the set-up of the entryway may dictate what type of sign display method is best. The type of sign post used can also influence what information and how much is used on an open house signs. The more room you have to work with, the more creative you can get!
5.When in Doubt, Add More Signs
A single open house sign may be missed, ignored, or completely hidden from a majority of the traffic in the area depending on the location of the home. To overcome this hurdle, a unique solution some real estate agents are using is simply adding more signs around the neighborhood. Directional signs at the main entrance of the neighborhood not only help potential buyers find the home they saw online, but it can attract extra traffic passing by on the main road. More signs in the front yard can also signal that an open house should not be missed. You can always add a bit of distinctive charm by including balloons or other eye-catching items so that the home buyers won’t quickly forget.
When it comes to reaching an audience, posters are one of the most fruitful and surefire means of capturing someone’s attention. All you need to make a powerful visual impression is a tactful design and clean layout that is memorable but does not cost a fortune. No matter what your business objectives, custom posters are an effective means of promoting your cause while simultaneously imparting a little aesthetic flair. If that idea sounds enticing, here are some more reasons why economically priced custom posters are a must.
Posters Are Cost Effective
Whether your goal is to market a business or decorate your home, posters are extremely cost-effective. Compared to print ads, posters will save you a lot of money and, in the case of marketing your business, could potentially result in more exposure.
Compared to print ads, posters are a decidedly more economic solution. Typical print ads can range anywhere from $500 to over $15,000, which is much more expensive than an ostentatiously large poster with high-quality graphics. On top of that, keep in mind that a print ad will restrict your audience to those who read or subscribe to those particular publications. On the other hand, a cleverly placed poster will incur no such restrictions.
First Impressions Are Everything
While posters are certainly convenient for your budget, they are also an excellent means of generating positive first impressions from prospective customers. This is why high-quality materials and extensive color options are so important. Fortunately, quality is easy to find at Super Cheap Signs. In addition to providing photo-quality, large format printing, they offer the option to customize your entire poster. You can even upload custom designs for inclusion wherever you see fit. Whether you want to create something completely new or riff on an old idea, their team of experts is ready to help you every step of the way.
Posters Are Flexible
One of the most convenient aspects of posters is their seemingly endless range of possible shapes and sizes. So whether your goal is to create hundreds of smaller promotional posters for a particular ad campaign, or several larger posters for branding purposes, the inherently flexible capabilities therein should give you peace of mind in knowing that your options are wide open. Additionally, posters are convenient because they can be customized to suit your audience’s desires and expectations. For example, you can incorporate a QR or coupon codes to engage tech-savvy consumers. Beyond that, posters give you plenty of room to play around with customized sizes.
Posters Promote Visibility
Posters are a marketing savant’s dream because they can be hung just about anywhere. From coffee shops to bookstores to banks, posters can add some needed depth to just about any setting. When hanging your posters, try to think as strategically as possible. You will want to ensure they are spread out in locations where people’s eyes frequent, as opposed to cluttered together in a corner somewhere. However, be sure to check with your local laws and regulations prior to hanging anything, as there may be some rule particular to your location that escapes the scope of this article.
Posters Are a Great Way to Gain Exposure
This may seem obvious, but the mere act of hanging a poster in a walkway or public location means that someone is bound to see it. As mentioned, this directly contrasts with print ads, which are only available to a specific subsection of the population. Additionally, placing a poster in a high traffic area is a great way to capture engagement and attract prospective customers. If you are planning to use your posters for a prolonged period of time, you could even opt to frame or laminate them to ensure their longevity.
Posters and Marketing
Even in today’s increasingly digital world, posters still remain one of the most intuitive ways to market a business. Expounding on the reasons listed above, posters are:
Affordable
Versatile
Portable
Flexible
Engaging
Using posters for marketing purposes is an economical way to amplify your brand’s visibility and gives you a strategic leg up on the competition, especially if they are ignoring posters in favor of social media advertising (though this is still important in its own way). In terms of affordability, posters are economic enough to suit just about any budget. Even if you just need to test some ideas, purchasing some custom posters in bulk and running an A/B test for font colors, sizes, designs, and image content is a cost-effective solution.
As far as portability is concerned, posters are very easy to install and transfer from location to location. Even better, some posters can be used repeatedly no matter the timeframe. This also speaks to their versatility, which makes it easy to reconfigure in accordance with the needs of your target audience.
When it comes to capturing engagement, a seasoned marketer could have a field day with just about any poster format. Combining psychological techniques, branding techniques, color theory, and tactful language is a surefire way to engage your target audience and drive engagement. To this extent, posters are available in an astonishing range of sizes, all of which can be customized to fit your aesthetic inclinations.
Finally, posters can be strategically placed just about anywhere you can think of, including indoors and outdoors. This makes them an ideal means of driving traffic. In fact, several recent studies show that calculated poster placement can drive targeted engagement of specific products. So be sure to do your research and place your posters as strategically as possible.
Around the Clock Marketing
Unlike commercials or print ads, most posters are visible 24 hours per day (though this obviously varies in accordance with where they are located). Consequently, they are not limited by budgetary or spending constraints. This means that people will always have a chance to familiarize themselves with your businesses. How’s that for around the clock marketing?
Science Has Spoken
One of the biggest hurdles in advertising and marketing is getting an idea to stick in someone’s mind. However, before an idea can be incepted, you need to make sure your subject is paying attention. A 2013 study published by the Health Information and Libraries Journal discovered that posters are the primary means of relaying information in academic and public health industries. Further, it shows that posters can effectively condition attitudes and influence behaviors. This insight has been incorporated into the medical and dental industries to great success.
The aforementioned success isn’t just applicable to health industries. Posters have been used to successfully convey and instill information across a variety of professions. As an entrepreneur, you likely do not have a lot of time on your hands but have critical information that you need to convey. In this situation, many people would opt for a slideshow presentation or a PowerPoint.
However, that basically just gives your employees and colleagues a break from their daily tasks and in no way ensures they are retaining any of the information presented. Instead, research shows that whipping up and displaying a custom poster that succinctly conveys the information is a much better means of promoting active learning. Additionally, an effective poster will inspire viewers to ask questions. In the context of a meeting or presentation, this will likely result in a meaningful discussion that will illuminate everyone’s understanding of a particular topic. Needless to say, this is much more effective than the passive experience facilitated by slide shows, PowerPoints, and worst of all: presentations with no visual aids whatsoever.
Super Cheap Signs Is Your Best Source for Custom Posters
Taking the above information even further, while the information conveyed in slideshows and Power Points vanishes from sight the second the next slide occupies the screen, posters remain present until you physically move them. When combined with high-quality material, such as the Postermax paper used by Super Cheap Signs, posters appear authoritative and are likely to inspire positive comments.
If you are on the market for economically priced custom posters, Super Cheap Signs has everything you need. In addition to providing a wide variety of templates, they also offer complete customization, which is a great way to convey more specific messages. Even better, they accept custom images, meaning you can incorporate your own art and custom graphics into your poster. They also offer discounts if you choose to order in bulk quantities, which ultimately saves you time, effort, and money.
All of their posters are made with high-quality Postermax paper, feature one-sided print, and are strong enough for any indoor use. They also offer an array of poster and sign accessories, including wireframes, stakes, spin handles, flyer boxes, suction cups, and more. No matter the application, the seasoned professionals comprising their team are more than ready to assist with all of your poster-related needs.
When it comes to advertising your business, it literally pays to maintain mobility. Sure, there are few things as effective as a well-placed sign or banner—however, there is one medium of advertising that is able to go where those mediums cannot: vinyl stickers.
Custom stickers are one of the most cost-effective means of promoting any business or cause. Simply place them on a vehicle in a well-chosen spot and you will have people all over town registering your brand in no time. Still not convinced? Read on to learn about some of the other advantages of vinyl stickers.
The Benefits Of Vinyl Stickers
When it comes to advertising and promotion, vinyl stickers have some clear benefits as opposed to other approaches. For one, vinyl stickers are much more durable than stickers constructed from paper. Additionally, they are resistant to tearing, fading, and degradation—properties which make them ideal for outdoor applications and public displays.
The benefits of vinyl stickers are directly correlated with the beneficial properties of the vinyl itself. These include:
Affordable and durable material
Environmentally friendly
Easily removable with no harmful residue
Moisture and humidity resistant
Available in matte
Vibrant images on a mobile platform
Potential Uses For Vinyl Stickers
The potential uses for vinyl stickers are virtually limitless. Whether you use them to advertise specific aspects of your product or as a warning label, vinyl stickers are a cost-effective means of conveying your message. This versatility is amplified by their inherent ability to be customized with specific lettering, colors, shapes, and messages that provide pertinent information to your target audience.
Using Vinyl Stickers For Mobile Advertising
Mobile advertising is one of the most practical uses for vinyl stickers. With some clever placement and a little luck, vinyl stickers could open your business up to an entirely new customer base. This is especially advantageous if your stickers include your contact information such as an email address or phone number. Even if you opt not to include contact information, a colorful, eye-catching logo is sure to garner some attention and amplify your visibility. Pairing with a seasoned signage company like Super Cheap Signs is an excellent idea, as they have everything required to create quality vinyl stickers that are adherent to a variety of shapes and sizes. So if you have specific questions, do not hesitate to get in contact with a member of their team.
Vinyl Stickers Cheap To Produce In Large Quantities
When it comes to mass appeal, one of the most advantageous aspects of bumper stickers is their inexpensive cost when produced in large quantities. Thanks to advancements in technology, printing is now largely automated, which has substantially driven down costs across the board. So before you spend an arm and a leg on that gigantic billboard, ask yourself if that is really a better way to achieve brand recognition than having thousands of instances of your logo all over town.
Using Vinyl Stickers Means Easy Distribution
To put it succinctly, people love putting stickers on things. Whether for artistic or psychological reasons, something about affixing stickers to things is resolutely appealing. As far as advertising is concerned, stickers essentially automate the entire process. As a quick tour of any social media profile will demonstrate, people will not hesitate to show others what brands they associate themselves with. Vinyl stickers ensure that you are able to use this proclivity to your advantage.
Don’t Just Introduce Your Brand, Reinforce Its Identity
Any seasoned entrepreneur will tell you that building a reputable brand identity is no easy task. From finding the perfect logo to developing a comprehensive message and strategy, conveying the best aspects of your brand requires a lot of hard work and dedication. Fortunately, once you have successfully developed your brand, you can use vinyl stickers to drive your message home. No matter whether you give them away for free or sell them, you are conveying that your brand has value. In the long run, this will facilitate closer relations between your brand and your target audience. What’s more, you will get free advertising when any of these people affix the sticker to their vehicle and drive around.
When it comes to today’s advertising landscape, few things are more important than establishing a trusted brand identity. This is why it is so important to have customers sporting your logo. When their friends see that they trust your brand enough to put your logo on their vehicle, they are more likely to trust your company. Needless to say, this gives you a clear advantage when it comes to growing your business and expanding your customer base.
Never Underestimate The Power Of Word-Of-Mouth
With the rising popularity of social media, many people seem to think that successful marketing must take a decisively digital direction in order to maintain relevance. Fortunately, these people are wrong. Several recent studies have demonstrated that most of the world—over 85%, in fact—trust word-of-mouth recommendations from their friends and acquaintances. To this extent, most word-of-mouth conversations take place on-site and offline. Rather than appealing to one side or the other, stickers occupy the middle ground by encouraging people to discuss your brand both online and offline.
Stickers Are A Great Way To Reach People Who Do Not Like Advertising
Given the influx of advertising these past few decades, it is not surprising that most people are becoming resistant to traditional methods. Consequently, this has forced advertising and marketing professionals to adopt more connection centric approaches. In this regard, stickers are extremely effective thanks to their ability to be displayed without seeming like an outright advertisement. In this context, a sticker is mobilized more like an endorsement or recommendation than an advertisement.
Stickers Can Be Used For Inexpensive Branding
Although giving away stickers for free certainly comes with its own advantages, they can also be used to brand your products and related packaging or signage. Rather than solely relying on your audience to put your message out into the world, you can ensure that some of that ground is covered before your product even hits the shelves.
Use Stickers To Compound Your Marketing
While increasing your brand exposure is certainly something you should remain focused on, you can also use stickers to strengthen your marketing efforts. For one, stickers make great giveaway prizes. All the better if they contain pertinent information or some kind of message on the reverse side. Additionally, you should always be sending stickers if you operate by direct mail. That’s because stickers have been shown to increase the open rates of direct packages. Even better, stickers serve as a crucial linchpin in cooperative campaigns by keeping costs down and garnering more impressions.
Stickers Can Help You Develop Future Marketing Efforts
As you have likely learned from this article, a lot of time and effort should go into creating the perfect sticker design. The nature of this process affords ample time to develop a comprehensive understanding of your brand’s message and how to convey it. In turn, this knowledge will inform future marketing efforts, including future logo designs, business card ideas, website ideas and features, press releases, and more. So when you are engaging in this process, pay close attention to what you learn. Specifically, understand who you want to communicate with, how to find them, what their interests are and how you can appropriately address them, and how you can clearly and succinctly convey your message in the most effective but least intrusive way possible.
Can’t I Just Make Stickers Myself?
Many people have purchased expensive printing machines and attempted to make their own vinyl stickers only to find out that the process is much more arduous than it seems on the surface. Problems typically tend to arise when die-cutting, coloring, or applying adhesive, and can prove to be rather time-consuming in the event that anything goes wrong. This is why many professionals opt to order their stickers from seasoned signage companies like Super Cheap Signs, who use powerful machines and software to produce a variety of custom images with expedient turnaround times.
The professionals at Super Cheap Signs understand that marketing is all about developing and maintaining relationships. It is about forming a symbiotic relationship with people who will ultimately benefit from your services and support you in the process. As far as these relationships are concerned, stickers signify trust and understanding. Consequently, equipping the right people with your stickers could potentially spread brand awareness much faster than any expensive advertising campaign, and lend your brand an air of authenticity in the process.
In addition to providing a comprehensive array of fonts, shapes, and colors, stickers from Super Cheap Signs can be completely customized using their convenient website. Beyond that, their impeccable team of seasoned professionals is ready to help with any questions or concerns you may have along the way. The process is so smooth you’ll wonder why you ever thought about doing it yourself in the first place.
When it comes to safety in the workplace, few locations have a greater need for signage than construction sites. In truth, construction is considered to be one of the highest risk industries out there, so it is always a good idea to exercise proper safety precautions. If you are in the market for quality construction signs to use on your worksite, Super Cheap Signs is your one-stop shop.
As you may know, it is imperative that the perfect construction sign displays the right message, which can be tough in certain scenarios where the information needs to be more specific. This is why, in addition to providing a variety of relevant templates for sale, Super Cheap Signs also gives you the ability to customize your signage to suit your particular needs.
Custom Signs Can Be Tailored To Expound On OSHA Guidelines
When selecting your signage, it is important to ensure it complies with OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and ANSI (American National Standards Institute) safety standards. What’s more, by alerting workers of potential hazards and promoting proven safety practices you will be able to minimize workplace injuries, avoid costly fines and potential imprisonment, establish clear and concise safety protocol, and shield yourself from potential lawsuits. In this situation, the advantage of using custom signs means you can add additional information that would not be included on a generic OSHA or ANSI mandated sign.
In regards to minimizing workplace injuries, a sign will discourage workers from entering restricted areas. Additionally, some signs could instruct them to consider extra safety precautions while in a particular area. Such precautions could include wearing a hardhat or protective goggles in designated areas.
When it comes to efficiency, the right sign will be able to convey a clear message in regards to what constitutes proper workplace safety compliance. These types of signs promote informed workers, minimize confusion, and save you precious time.
As a business owner, you are likely aware of the expensive consequences that result from failing to adhere to OSHA and ANSI safety guidelines. In addition to costly fines, failure to comply could potentially result in your imprisonment. Along with OSHA and ANSSI compliance, having the proper signage displayed minimizes your exposure to any potential lawsuits that could arise as a result of employee negligence.
Keep in mind that your workers’ safety rests on your shoulders. As such, you are responsible for their injuries if sufficient signage is not posted. Fortunately, Super Cheap Signs is here to ensure that you have everything you need to avoid this conundrum.
OSHA and ANSI Risk Severity Specifications
As mandated by OSHA and ANSI, construction site hazard signs are subject to three risk severity designations: danger, warning, and caution. Here are brief descriptions of each.
Danger signs are designed to alert workers to grave hazards that could result in significant injury or even death. They consist of the word “DANGER” printed in white atop a red background with the safety alert symbol (an exclamation point inside a triangle) printed above.
Warning signs alert people to threats that could cause serious harm or death. They differ from danger signs in that the overall risk is somewhat smaller. They are printed in black with an orange background and feature the safety alert triangle to the left of the word “warning”.
Finally, caution signs are designed to discourage unsafe workplace practices. While the risks they address typically only lead to minor injuries, it is never good when an employee gets hurt on the job. These signs feature a yellow background with the word “CAUTION” emblazoned across in black text and the safety alert symbol to the left of the text. Notice signs convey particular information related to a building, equipment, or general space, even in ways that do not necessarily apply to safety.
In addition to meeting the aforementioned requirements, you can rely on Super Cheap Signs for a comprehensive range of customized signage solutions such as:
Bio-hazard signs
Bilingual language signs
Evacuation Signs
Exit-only signs
Do-not-enter signs
Warning signs
Labeling Property
In addition to ensuring compliance, signs can also be used to label your property and provide instructions and warnings to workers operating particular machines. This will also serve the dual purpose of amplifying your logo’s visibility. While you can certainly use an adhesive decal for this task, a well-placed sign is also perfectly suitable, especially when it comes to increasing your visibility.
Choose From Two Durable Materials
Super Cheap Signs constructs their signs from two durable, weather-resistant, long-lasting materials: AlumaCorr and MDO panels. AlumaCorr consists of 10mm composite metal bonded to each side of an AlumaCorr plastic core. They are exceptionally sturdy, durable, and mobile. On the other hand, their MDO (medium density overlay) signs are comprised of plywood with a weather-resistant resin overlay. No matter which option you choose, both are extremely durable and perfect for outdoor use. Consequently, they are able to withstand the most ferocious elements, including sun, wind, and rain. Additionally, both are printed with resilient UV inks that will keep them looking pristine for years to come.
Choose From Two Durable Materials
As mentioned, it is possible to have a custom sign that still complies with OSHA and ANSI guidelines. Custom signs come in handy when you need to include a personalized message that could improve safety conditions in a particular area. For example, if you have a specific chemical that is creating a safety hazard, you could note that information on your bio-hazard sign.
Super Cheap Signs allows you to choose the text and overall size that is most suitable to your needs. MDO panels come in 2×4, 4×4, 4×6, and 4×8, while their AlumaCorr sheets are sold in 2×4, 4×4, 4×6, 4×8, 6×4, and 8×4. No matter the size, you are able to customize the text and color to your exact specifications.
Keep in mind that construction signs for a building site are typically temporary. While this does mean that most signage is created for single use, there are a few obvious exceptions, such as “CAUTION” and “DANGER” signs.
When it comes to materials, some companies opt for vinyl or nylon banners, while others utilize building wraps that are typically constructed from some type of mesh. However, if you are looking for a more economically priced sign that could potentially be recycled at a later time, going with the yard sign format is usually the safest option.
Appeal To Natural Curiosity
People are inherently curious, which means that when they pass your site they will usually want to know what is going on. Fortunately, signs by Super Cheap Signs can be positioned on the ground or mounted on a fence for optimal visibility. You can also add some custom text that will answer specific questions, such as when the building will open, what it is and even a small advertisement for your company that could potentially land you another contract.
Signs are imperative to maintaining a safe and efficient construction site. Customizing your signage makes them more visible and relevant to your workers, visitors, and various people passing by. Additionally, they facilitate a safer workplace. Super Cheap Signs wants to help you make sure your construction site is as safe as it could possibly be by simplifying the process as much as possible. Their decades of experience in the sign industry renders them uniquely suited to the task.
Be Sure To Check Local Regulations
Before ordering your construction signs, it is always a good idea to consult with local authorities to ensure your signs and the manner in which you are displaying them remain in compliance with the specific laws and regulations in your area. Fortunately, Super Cheap Signs’ expedient design process and turnaround times allow you to focus on these pressing issues while their experienced team deals with the signage and shipping specifics.
When you’re running a local business, it can be a challenge to stay ahead of the crowd. In the digital age, a two-pronged approach is necessary – companies need to invest in both traditional marketing and the latest online strategies.
Potential customers in your local area need to be aware that your business exists and that you can offer them the products and services they’re looking for.
And while local businesses are making a comeback (with more and more people choosing to shop where they are), many now find the most relevant stores through a web search.
What this means is that your marketing strategy needs to reach people both online and offline. You need a physical presence, as well as a virtual one.
Here are four marketing hacks for local businesses that will help point more customers straight to your door.
Optimize For Local SEO
When people search for goods and services online, they generally do it through their mobile phone. As long as their location settings are on, the search results will point them towards local stores.
But how can you make sure you appear near the top of the pile? There are a few things you can do:
Make sure you have a Google My Business account and enter as much information as you possibly can. You should always include your business’s opening hours, a link to your website, photos of your premises and a detailed description of what you do.
Do the same for Bing Local and Yahoo Local.
Show Google that you are relevant to the searcher’s inquiry by optimizing your description for the search terms (keywords) they might use to find you.
Go one step further with optimizing for keywords and set up a Google Places account. You can enter all of your relevant keywords here and they should be optimized for your location. For example, use ‘tire fitters Bradford’, rather than plain old ‘tire fitters’.
Ideally, you will only use high-resolution images and make sure the information you have on Google My Business, Bing Local and Yahoo Local is the same as on your website. You can add some keyword tools to your website builders, or use free web applications like Google Search Console and Suggestion Keyword Finder.
Create An Online Presence Through Reviews
Online consumer reviews play a key role in driving traffic to your business and boosting your search engine rankings. An astounding 93% of all consumers report that online reviews have a significant impact on their purchasing habits.
You can’t ignore the numbers. Harnessing the power of word-of-mouth by requesting reviews from your customers is one of the best things you can do for your business. You can start by:
Providing links to prominent review sites in customer follow-up emails
Mentioning reviews on receipts
Placing posters within your premises that point to places to leave reviews
Asking your staff to request reviews from the customers they serve
Encouraging your customers to leave reviews on Google, Bing and Yahoo can drastically increase your online visibility and make it more likely they’ll visit you when you come up in map search results.
Use Local Signage
To reach a wider audience, you need to expand your online presence. But tried and tested local advertising should not be ignored. Investing in local signage is one of the best ways to drive foot traffic to your business, especially if you’re not located within the main shopping area.
It’s also a great way to reinforce your company’s brand and make your business instantly recognizable to local people. Alongside the internet, signage is a 24/7 solution. It works on your behalf all day, every day.
For anyone attempting to find you from an internet search, some measure of signage that points to your premises is essential. Adding your website URL to your it can increase the ROI from your signage investment since a lot of people prefer to check out a business online before trekking out to their local store.
Some of the best signage solutions for local businesses include:
You can even mix up your strategy across your signs. On some, simply promote your business’s name and contact information. On others, advertise any local events your business is holding, or special promotions you’re running.
Final Thoughts…
They say diversity is the spice of life and this also rings true for advertising. But you don’t have to stay up into the small hours or be constantly on call to make a real difference to your online and offline presence. Both local SEO and physical marketing tactics work for you, even while you sleep. So get yourself on Google maps, invest in some local signage, and watch as the customers roll on in.
About the Author:
“Jodie is a passionate writer and editor (MSc BA Cantab) partnering with UK Web Host Review. She loves to translate dense material into information everyone can access and explores design, branding, and market psychology. Connect with her on Linkedin“
As the political campaigning season has come to an end, it seems the use for large campaign signs has dwindled down. Or has it? There are still other opportunities out there that we can grab by the horns and take full advantage of. We’re going to elaborate on those options and explain how big campaign signs can also make a big impression on your potential customers.
Business/Restaurants
Let’s say you have a new restaurant or business that you want to get more attention for. With a sign the size of a big campaign sign, you’re surely going to grab some attention, but using them closer to the actual location has proven to be more effective than just in the neighborhood. On the other hand, these are also effective from great distances. A sign for your establishment, saying that its 10 miles away and which way to head, will make it a lot easier for future patrons to find their way to you. Plus, it sure beats getting a billboard! Not that there’s anything wrong with billboards, but corrugated plastic is more budget-friendly, costing hundreds to thousands less depending on your area.
Real Estate
Another use you can find for these signs is for real estate. Now there are other options that may have worked for you in the past, such as yard signs, but why not add to your arsenal by having a big real estate sign for you to show future clients where to buy on a plot of land? Maybe a new subdivision is in the works and you need to bring some attention to it. One of these can certainly do the trick but keep in mind that MDO plywood signs are usually used for this kind of thing. A big corrugated plastic sign is still very worthy when displayed correctly and is significantly cheaper.
Promotional
You could be having an event special or a seasonal sale that you would like to advertise. Something like a firework stand or a Christmas tree farm. You can display some of these bad boys in likeness to the big business/restaurant signs but since you’re only going to have these signs up for a short period of time, your signs should last longer than your non-seasonal competitors.
Large Campaign Signs are made from a 4’ x 8’ or a 4’ x 4’ sheet of 4mm corrugated plastic and are digitally printed. That means that a large format, Inkjet or Laser printer will be used to print your signs. Think of how your desktop printer works, just on a much larger scale. They are printed with UV ink and are rated for 3 years of prolonged outdoor exposure. You can always display them indoors but because of their large stature, outside may be more fitting. Don’t forget that you’ll need posts that are sturdy to keep these big boys up, U-Channel Sign Posts are a great reliable solution.
Whatever the purpose of your promotional efforts, it’s a good idea to consider big campaign signs as a new, more creative approach to help with your promotional needs. We hope you find this information useful and that you can capitalize on some of these ideas. Who knows, you may even come up with your own use for these signs; the possibilities are endless.
