Signs 101: The “Why” and “How” of Signs
Why Do I Need a Sign?
We’ve all had that experience. You’re driving home from a long day at work. At a red light, you glance to the side, and- woah, that logo looks cool. What a creative business name. Maybe I’ll stop by tomorrow. Or maybe you’re on an errand and spot the glowing letters of your favorite fast food chain. Looks like a new location has popped up, positioned conveniently between your house and the grocery store. Score.
On the other hand, we’ve all experienced this, too: you’re trying to find a specific location, maybe to drop off a package or pick up that niche supply you’ve been needing. “Your destination is on the left,” intones Google Maps, but when you crane your neck, you don’t see it. It takes three loops around the block and a lot of cursing before you find an unmarked entrance in the back of the building. You grumble as you get out of the car. How does anyone find this place?
According to the Sign Research Foundation, 36% of American consumers have gone out of their way to visit a new store because of the sign, and 61% of American consumers have failed to find a business because their sign was too small or unclear.
Making an excellent first impression–or an impression at all–is a crucial part of drawing customers into your business. Signage is your opportunity to introduce yourself and your brand, increase brand awareness, direct customers to the right location, and even advertise deals or specials all in one place and for a much lower price than a long ad campaign or TV spot.
But creating signage, like any other business venture, can be complex. Here at MRC Signs, our goal is to help you create signage that wows and to make that process as easy and transparent as possible.
How Signs Are Made
“Signs are easy, right? You just design it, manufacture it, and put it up.”
If only! The behind-the-scenes of sign creation is complex. Many hands must touch a sign to make it successful. At MRC Signs, we drive this process from start to finish:
Sales: Signs start as an idea. Our sales staff work with you to decide on your budget, needs, goals, and aspirations, then put it all together to send to our designers.
Design: Our designers work with you to create the perfect sign that incorporates your branding, logo, color, and business name with any technical limitations you may have.
Quote: Once you know what you want–or if you already know what you want–our sales team sends you a quote.
Permitting: After you approve the quote, our team has to do some heavy lifting: paperwork. Our permitting team works with local officials to make sure your signage complies with local laws and regulations.
Manufacturing: Also called fabrication, our team uses the best materials to manufacture your sign.
Installation: The big reveal: your sign goes up! Our fully equipped vehicles install your signs with the highest quality workmanship.
Maintenance: To keep your sign as enticing as the day it was installed, schedule regular, preventative maintenance.
MRC Signs has committed our expert team to making this complex process as easy, transparent, and professional as possible. Give us your dream sign idea and we’ll make it work.
Essential Characteristics of a Good Sign
Signs can be as creative as you and your business are, and come in many shapes and sizes. Four main characteristics describe every sign: its type, its lighting, and its design and placement.
Each of these features impacts how your brand is viewed by potential customers, so nailing them is crucial to making a good first impression. See our next post for an in-depth discussion of types of signs, or skip straight to sign lighting, sign design, or sign placement.
If you want a useful guide for choosing the best signage for you, we’ve got a cheat sheet to make choosing your signage as easy as M-R-C. Enter your email below to gain access to our signage cheat sheet and other future offers!
Still have questions? No worries, we’ve got you. Get our next installment directly in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter, or if you’re ready for the next step, reach out to our team to get a quote.
