Using Signage to Help Your Business

A guide from MegaFormat

Since the Beginning...We tend to view signage as an art that began in the 1800s with the advent of advanced printing methods. While the signage of today owes a great deal to that century, advertising with signage goes as far back as the ancient empires.

An Ancient TraditionAncient Greece and Rome still serve as templates for the modern metropolis, and signage emerged as a way for businesspeople to adapt to the increasingly large crowds we associate with metropolises today.

Clutter Among Clutter

Of course, these days it's not just about making your business stick out amongst throngs of people. It's also about making your sign stick out amongst countless other signs.

Keys to Success - 1: Simplicity

Think about air pollution. Now consider noise pollution and light pollution. Overstimulation is basically a form of visual pollution. (Times Square is a record-breaking producer of each.)

Keys to Success - 1: Simplicity

But look closely: it's the simple signs that stick out the most. When competing with other advertisements, the signs convey a single, clear message within a second or two will always come out on top.

Keys to Success - 2: VarietyPrinting is not the sole advancement in signage over the past millennia. Vinyl banners, motion banners, backlit signs, retractable banners--it's commonly known that anything outside the norm will draw the eyes of passers-by.

Keys to Success - 2: Variety

Sometimes a striking visual on an automobile is all a potential customer needs to become an actual customer.

Keys to Success - 3: Positioning

Obviously, you'll want to put your sign where someone will see it. But this is more complicated than it sounds. What is the general flow of traffic in your area or business space, and where do people's eyes tend to travel along that path?

Keys to Success - 3: Positioning

If you're advertising outside of your space, what makes the most sense relative to what you're selling? For instance, should you advertise at a bus stop to sell automobile insurance? No. But an ad for a microwaveable dinner will look awfully comforting to someone waiting to get home after a long day at work.

Of Course, Pick a Good Sign Maker

At MegaFormat, we specialize in large printing. We're based in the south side of Williamsburg, where effective signage provides the lifeblood of small businesses. Whether you're in the market for backlit signs, retractable banners, or magnetic signs, we guarantee your business the best quality possible.