How to Choose the Right Signage for Your Business

Choosing the appropriate signage options for your business can really make a big difference to getting footfall, brand identity and overall visibility. A well-designed sign isn’t just an advertisement but is a representation of how professional you are and can be a valuable asset in communicating your message. But with an overwhelming array of options to choose from - channel letters, monument signs, banners, digital displays, dimensional letters - how do you know what the best signage is for your business?

In this post, we’ll cover the tips that you need to consider when deciding on your business sign. You’ll learn how to assess the goals for your homestead, choose crops that fit your location, select the tools you’ll need and make sure you can get a return on your investment. In abiding by these suggestions, you will continue to make the right decisions for the betterment of your brand and have more customers.

1. Understand Your Business Goals

Before you pick a sign of any kind, it’s imperative that you know your business goals. Signage comes in various forms and each type fulfills a specific function, so selecting one that matches your requirements will guarantee the best possible impact and ROI.

Questions to ask yourself:

• Do you want to walk-in traffic, passing drivers or all of the above?

• What is more important to you brand message, direction, or advertisement?

• Whether it's short-term promotional material, or a permanent fixture for long-lasting repeat value.

Example: A retail outlet that relies on foot traffic might benefit from bright, lighted channel letters that are visible at night, while a corporate office may want a monument sign to send the message of professionalism and brand identity. Knowing your goals from the outset will make your options clearer, and you’ll avoid costly errors.

Pro tip: come with a well-defined list of your needs when you see a professional about signage. This will make sure that the style, scale and materials used are in line with your business’s goals.

2. Assess Your Location and Visibility Needs

The location of your business plays a major role in determining what kind of signs will work best. To make that decision, factors including foot traffic, road access, lighting and sightlines all come into play for size, height and style.

Key considerations:

• Exterior and interior signage: Exteriors signage should be bigger and bolder, while interior signs are for wayfinding and branding.

• Speed of traffic: If the business is located on a fast moving high street, then signage needs to be easily read and visible from far away in order to catch people’s eye.

• Lighting settings: The signage can be lit against the morning, evening or cloudy sky.

Example: Our café stands on a crowded road, so we want a high-lit signage with bold lettering that is clearly visible to the cars driving by at any time. An office suite in a business park, however, may prefer to have an elegant directory sign with modern finishes in conjunction with a branded monument sign at the main entrance.

Pro tip: Consult with a professional sign company such as Competitive Signs to determine what the best solution is for your location, sight lines and which signage type will work best.

3. Choose the Right Type of Signage

All signs are not created equal. Choose the right sort, and your business can do its bit to speak clearly to the world at large. Which side you land on is going to vary based upon your goals, where you are in the world and how disposable your income may be.

Common options include:

• Channel letters: Bright and illuminated visible signs, ideal for storefronts.

• Monument Signs: Durable commercial signage for corporate offices or multi-tenant buildings.

• A-frame or sidewalk signs: Easy, affordable and adaptable to promote seasonal offers or drive walk-in traffic.

• 3d sign letter: Gives walls and exteriors an instant sophistication.

• Banners and vinyl graphics: Good for short-term advertising or seasonal messaging.

Standards: A gym that’s launching a new membership package may want a vinyl banner situated outside as they work to get their message out, while a law firm would invest in monument signs to build trust by demonstrating stability and endurance. The right type ensures that your signage constitutes what you seek to achieve and talk to visually.

4. Consider Materials and Durability

Your signage’s aesthetic and longevity will be based upon the materials you select. Unlike indoor signs, outdoor signs have to be able to withstand conditions such as sunshine, precipitation (like rain or snow), winds conditions and temperature changes. Indoor signage needs to be able to withstand wear and tear from being touched and cleaned.

Material options and benefits:

• Aluminum: It is rust-resistant, sturdy yet lightweight and appropriate for channel letters, panel signs or outdoor building signs.

• Acrylic: Modern and metallic, for indoor and protected outdoor use. UV-resistant coatings prolong its lifespan.

• High-Density Urethane (HDU): Outdoor and great for sandblasted dimensional lettered or intricate logos.

• Vinyl: offering economical option for temporary or seasonal promotions but not durable when used long-term.

For example: A seaside restaurant may choose power-coated aluminum to withstand the salt air, and an indoor office directory could utilize acrylic or HDU letters that will look professional for years to come.

Pro Note: Companies like Competitive Signs can suggest materials suited to your own climate, helping you strike just the right balance between price, longevity and visual appeal.

5. Prioritize Readability and Design

No point in a sign that no one can read or understand it in time. Design considerations (for example, the font type or size used, level of contrast between text color and background color) contribute substantially to readability.

Design tips:

• Select thick, readable fonts and don't get too fussy with your lettering.

• Use high contrast colors (like white text on a dark background).

• Keep texting brief; overly cluttered signs obscure understanding.

• You also need to think about the lighting and location so that it remains visible from different distances and angles.

Example: A fast-food chain would love bold high-contrast letters on the storefront sign so drivers can read the place and menu from the road in a second. Likewise a directory in an office building with distinct font color contrasts make it easier for visitors to get around quickly.

Conclusion: Make Signage Work for Your Business

Selecting the right banner signs is an important decision when establishing a visible, credible and recognizable brand. Considering your goals, location, design, materials, budget and regulatory requirements will help you choose signs that communicate effectively with customers.

Carefully designed signage adds to the customer experience, builds your brand and becomes an asset for years to come. When you use professional providers like Competitive Signs, you know they will look great, be accurate and long lasting. The time and effort you put in to having the right kind of signs will more than pay off in the long run, in terms of exposure, professionalism, and getting customers.