Banners are an extremely cost effective way to sell your service, product or event to the world. They are easy to get, versatile to use, communicate a message quickly and provide a high return.
Banners are used to directions[/caption]
Your Message needs to be simple, short and sweet. If more than 10 words on a banner – we need to be very careful about loosing the message. Many clever banners will have a phone number and 2 to 5 words – that is it. People see the shapes of words faster than reading them. All CAPITALS can be effective for drawing attention to a single word, but capitals for every work can reduce readability. Color is more effective than black and white. Bold images can be very effective. Here are a few examples of what to say:
Include the phase: time-limited offer, Gone soon, Just arrived,
Event Announcements, register today, limited seating,
Use arrows, the word HERE, or around the corner
A picture of the product
Mark an area : A School, a city, a shopping area
Include the word: Sale, Discount, Price cut
What is a CTA? – It is a Call To Action. This is what you want the viewer to do. The number of things you can ask are limited. Tell your customer what the next step is. Here are a few ways to do this:Put your phone number right there (call me!), invite them in (an arrow, the word “Here”), give them your web site, twitter or Facebook tag.
These are most of what you can normally do. You want to pick one – maybe two “Call to Action” items. Too many and you wash out your message.
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A banner being made at Signs for San Diego's shop[/caption]
Create Urgency. Banners are generally temporary. Most zoning laws read that banners must come down in 90 days. (Hint – have 4 or more banners and change them out) There are banners in this town that have been there for 7 even 8 years, but these are the exceptions. As a rule, banners are announcements or something “now”. This creates a need for the viewer to act “now”. So seasonal messages, sales, events, new locations, directions like “turn here!” are generally effective. The one common exception is branding a location, like a school, a stadium, or a mall with banners. These are territorial banners telling the traveler they have entered the host’s realm (the boundaries of the kingdom, the nation, the high school, the college, etc.). These are not sales banners, but strike a mood or set an environment.
Where should you mount your banner?? Banners are normally temporary and are compelling an action. They work off impulse. They work best in high traffic areas. These can be foot traffic, bikes or automobile. Banners can be indoors or out. If the case of fast moving traffic, placement at intersections is much more effective than in-between intersections. The viewer needs some time to notice and absorb the message. – How much time? At least a second, but 10-60 seconds would be better. A hall way is good, but where 2 hallways meet is better. A highway is good, but a stop sign is better, a side of a building is good, but just above the entrance is better. The real answer depends of the details.
Locate banners on your building or entry way. Your call to active is “stop here” or “come in now” or “buy it here” are very effective. This can be on a fence, the side of a building, between 2 pools, above the driveway or hanging from a pole. (Note: check on the zoning issues – Carlsbad specifically prohibits fence mounting)
Busy shopping districts, doorways, road entrances, stop lights, places where turns are required are all good places. You need to think about the traffic density and the critical locations (like your front door).
What to say, where to say it and how – Done – Next steps. So now you know what to say, where to say it and a little about how to say what you what on a banner. Lets delve into the details that will make doing these things easy!!!
