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4 Tips to Combat Common Sign Mistakes
Nov 07, 2018
4 Tips to Combat Common Sign Mistakes
Signs play an important role in our everyday lives, and they’re especially important to businesses and organizations. Businesses frequently use signs to provide the public information about what services they offer and how to contact them. Often, signs are used to bring awareness to an event and, for these types of events, it’s important the information presented on the sign is legible and accurate. Unfortunately, there are a number of common mistakes that are made when designing signs. We’ve done the research and have come up with solutions to ensure you don’t make these mistakes.
Mixed messages
A common mistake many businesses don’t realize they are making is having too many messages on one sign. The saying “less is more” rings true when it comes to sign design, as adding too much text to the sign may take away from the key message. Keep in mind a typical sign, unless it’s a billboard, will not be very big. It’s unnecessary to fill every inch of space on the sign and adding only the most important information will benefit your business in the long run.
The solution: Keep your sign to the point. Determine what information is relevant to your audience and always remember to add some form of contact for your business, whether it is your email, website, phone number, or address.
The wrong font
Choosing the wrong font can affect how people view your sign and it can also affect the legibility of your sign. It’s essential that you decide on a font that will be consistent with your brand and not because the font is popular. Using a script typeface for a company selling lumber may not be the right choice, but it would fit well with a business in the wedding industry. However, from a distance a script font may not be as clear as a bolder serif or sans-serif font.
The solution: When you first begin designing your sign, look at the different fonts you want to use in different sizes. By doing so, you’ll be able to determine whether that font will be legible. You also want to choose a font that will complement your brand, not distract from it.
Ignoring nature
Mother Nature is not always the kindest or the most forgiving and signs that are placed outside may feel her wrath. You may think that regular ink and printing material will be durable enough for the outside, but you’ll be disappointed. There are inks which are resistance to UV rays that won’t fade in the sun and we definitely don’t recommend you use biodegradable materials for your sign’s base. Signs which become damaged outside and are never fixed will hurt your business.
The solution: Before approving the design, do your research as to what material will be the most durable. Some sign materials can be quite expensive as they can withstand even the most severe conditions. If you’re placing your sign outside, you’ll want to have a sign that can withstand all types of weathers and be sure to check your sign every so often to ensure it isn’t in poor condition.
Not proofing your sign before displaying it
If you’ve spent a long time working on the design, the only thing you’ll want to do is present it to the public. However, when you rush through the process, you may encounter grammatical errors and misunderstandings. Unsurprisingly, this is the most common mistake people make when it comes to designing and printing a sign. There have been numerous signs presented to the public which have had spelling mistakes, incorrect grammar, and questionable phrasing. Even the slightest grammatical error can dramatically change the way your sign is read and may ruin your business’s reputation.
The solution: Don’t be the only person to read the sign. You should have several people, including those who are unfamiliar with your business, read your sign and tell you if it’s understandable. Work closely with the business that is printing your sign and ask for final proofs before giving your approval. By allowing multiple people to proofread your sign before it’s printed, you’ll ensure your sign is the best it can be.
If you’re worried about creating the perfect sign for your business (or even a personal event!), stop by JLS Decals & Signs. We know how difficult creating a sign can be and with these common mistakes lingering in the back of your mind, we wouldn’t blame you if you felt hesitant on tackling it yourself. However, by following the tips we’ve offered, you’ll ensure your sign properly generates interest from the public and promotes your business effectively.
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Take the next step to grow your business
This year of 2020 is proving to be a year of an unknown type. Protecting our health and those of the ones we love is a great responsibility so social distancing is worth it. There is also the snow. When will it end here in Edmonton area? At a time of social distancing for healthy and safety, what can we do when a weekend like Easter is near? Well, it might be time to get creative and learn more about technology at our fingertips to be sure connection happens regularly. Here are some ideas to get you started if you are a bit rusty like me. Knock Knock jokes Knock Knock jokes are a video opportunity waiting to happen. I recently rediscovered these corny sources of humor while searching the Internet. Inspired, I video recorded myself saying “knock, knock,” and sent to my almost five-year-old great nephew via his Mom’s smartphone. In a little while, he responded with “Who’s there?” in his own video. From there, we traded short videos until hitting the punch line. It was a much-needed connection in the middle of a day for me. My great nephew and his parents, who are working from home and entertaining their two young active boys, appreciated the diversion, too.
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JLS Decals & Signs serves the communities and surrounding areas of Morinville, St. Albert and Edmonton, Alberta.