Building signs identify businesses, which helps save time. Imagine how a world without signs or addresses would cause mass confusion. Furthermore, signs help people find destinations from a distance. Ideally a sign communicates to as many eyeballs as possible to build a brand and clarify location. Inviting Signs for Increasing Foot Traffic Most brick-and-mortar establishments still rely on physical location for connecting with target customers. The business may have been strategically planned in a spot where the demographics fit the product and surrounding entities support the culture. Consumers, for example, often expect malls to have restaurants, so they look for signs that communicate food. Sometimes an image of food is used as part of a restaurant sign to lure the dining crowd. The most effective signs for small businesses are those that communicate the name and type of business in one sign. If it associates with an appropriate emotion, that's a bonus. In this sense the logo serves as a vivid connection to the brand. If there's room for the sign to convey more than the logo it should include something that identifies the brand as unique. The more the sign communicates effectively, the more it can be used in other aspects of marketing in different forms. Specific Building Signs Every business potentially uses multiple signs to communicate multiple messages to customers or employees. Signs are needed to identify bathrooms, roof access, meeting rooms, as well as for entrances and exits. For large places like schools, hospitals, and parks a giant directory is needed to help guide visitors to their destinations. In many of these places locations are given numbers to simplify the search. Different Shapes and Sizes Not only does a message on a sign communicate, so do characteristics of the sign, such as shape, size and color. Many people have developed personal associations with these factors, such as associating red with vibrant energy and green with a more relaxed state. This concept can be used to test how customers respond to in-store displays. Big signs reach more people and have more impact than small signs. Window signs can help raise interest level and attract foot traffic. It's important to remember that sign makers deal with templates and have access to many universal designs. At the same time a business owner should be aware of options for customized signs, since no two businesses are exactly the same. The more unique the sign is, the more it will stand out among many signs. Contact us at James River Signs to learn more about how signs can be the key to improving business activity.