If your deciding on how to promote your next product launch or simply need a way to organize a function, a well-designed sign can be the ticket to success

Signs are important in aiding in advertising for business.  Signs can be used for public displays or used to direct visitors or employees.  There are certain criteria to pay attention to when selecting signs for businesses.  This guide will go over types of signs, materials, signage design, sign makers, pricing and ADA compliance.

A How To Guide About Buying Signs For Your Business

Signage Types

There are two main categories for signs: indoor signs and outdoor signs.  Normally, outdoor signs are used in marketing or directional usage. These banners are placed outside on walls, storefronts, and stand up or hanging banners or stuck to the sides of trucks and cars.  Indoor signs are typically hung from ceilings and on walls, usually in reception areas or trade shows to display information.

Signage Materials

There are many different options of materials you can use when designing your signs.  Depending on your requirements a sign can be as simple as adhesive vinyl or printed-paper and canvas.  Backing materials include metal, wood, cardboard, foam core, plastic, cloth or glass.  Lettering or graphics are typically printed on the backing material.

Signage Design

There are numerous factors to think about when choosing a sign design. The location of your sign will influence how far away your audience will be which affects the size of lettering and graphics used. Time of day and lighting are also considerations.  Location of your signs will also determine how durable they need to be.  Indoor versus outdoor, shade versus full sun, exposure to rain or snow all makes a large impact.  If you are planning to travel with your signs, taking them up and down should be a factor in your choice as well.

Picking a Good Signage Company

Once you’ve determined roughly what type of sign you want and where it will be used, the next step is to pick a company to make the signs for you.  Most companies can create a whole range of signs but some are more proficient with particular materials.  The same goes for project types, whether it be for trade shows or outdoor parking directional’s.  Assess the level of support a given company will provide before, during and after the sales process as you may need advice in what to order, may need to make changes to the signs while the process is underway or require maintenance support or follow up ordering later on.

Signage Zoning Regulations

Sometimes there are zoning laws in effect that detail how big your sign can be and where it can be placed.  This is where a knowledgeable signage company can shed light for you.

ADA Compliance

ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act and requires that public places meet the needs of persons with disabilities by respecting physical or communication barriers.  This affects the design of signage and subsequent placement locations.  While this may cause some extra costs, most of these are tax refundable.

Signage Pricing

Prices are solely dependant on the specifications you choose for your signage.  The size, material and content come together to form the pricing structure.  Be prepared to pay $8 for a 12″X6″ sign and around $100 for larger 30″X30″ signs.  Signs can be priced into the thousands of dollars if they get big enough or complicated enough.  Typically, delivery charges are extra.

Extra Advice

  • allow for changes to the signs over time as your needs change
  • use stock signage to decrease lead times and cost
  • using magnetic signage can allow for extra ease of use
  • the summer is the busiest time for signage manufacturers as lots of outdoor events are taking place, so be prepared to wait and order accordingly

For advice or purchasing of signs for your business, a good place to start is at Signs World Wide, a signage manufacturer that operates out of Texas.  They can be reached via their easy to use website that is found at: https://www.signsworldwide.com/