People encounter signs on a daily basis for multiple different reasons. Signs direct people to where they want to go, they identify restaurants and other businesses that are nearby, and are used for traffic purposes. A good sign will do all these things very well. However, we’ve all seen bad signs that completely miss the mark. How do you know if a sign is a “bad sign”?
The most important aspect of signs is how quick it can be read and processed and how effective it is for reaching its intended audience. Signs serve several different purposes to help make our lives a little easier. However, when they lead to confusion, frustration, and inconvenience this can be an indicator that they are inadequate and should be updated or replaced.
Traffic signs that are not effective, for example, can not only be irritable, but could also be potentially dangerous. If the sign is confusing, drivers may spend too much time trying to decipher the sign when they should be concentrating on the road.
For instance, the picture to the right displays a poorly planned traffic sign that leaves it up to the drivers to guess which lanes are open at any particular time. If a sign is not comprehensible or quick to read, it can lead to a very serious safety hazard if the driver ends up going into the wrong lane.
Another example of bad signage are signs that are inaccurate, outdated, or falling apart. If your sign is advertising information that is wrong or is irrelevant, then customers may eventually stop trusting your signage.
Your sign is often the first impression you make on a customer. If your sign is falling apart, it can reflect poorly on your business and cause people to turn away because of a lack of professionalism. Sometimes it is better to have no sign at all than to have one that can potentially drive traffic away from your business.
In order to have a good sign for your business, you will want it to have the following qualities:
- It has to be memorable. You want people to remember who you are and what you do (and how you can help them).
- It’s important to be creative, so have fun with the design of your sign. A good sign should be captivating enough to grab the audience’s attention; whether it is in the size, shape, content, or installation, make sure that it stands out in some way so that it doesn’t blend in with all the others in the area.
- Location is also a key factor in having a great sign. You want to be sure that it can be seen by the most number of people possible. If it is hidden behind landscaping, or where there is little to no traffic, what good will having a sign do for your business?
As you can see, having up-to-date and polished signage can really benefit your business. Signage is an important aspect in promoting your company and receiving recognition so make sure to keep it as noticeable as possible. When you are looking for a new sign, or to replace a bad sign, it is best to consult with a professional sign company to help you avoid making some of the mistakes mentioned in this article. Click here to fill out our free quote form, so we can help you.
