class="tag"Posts Tagged ‘advertising’
No Comments 2019 Will Be The Year to #StepUpYourSignage
Start Planning For 2019 Now
One month from now we will already be into 2019 which makes it the best time to start planning your signage for the new year. The City of Kitchener has already posted that their sign permit regulations will change effective January 1, 2019 so you will want to get your sign permit application in within the next few weeks in order to adhere to today’s standards. We think this makes it a perfect time to #StepUpYourSignage. Our expert sign designers and sign fabricators are here to help you through the process. Whether you need interior wayfinding signs or exterior business signage we can help with sign permits, sign design and all of your OOH advertising.
What’s The Buzz Around OOH Advertising
The term OOH Advertising has had quite the buzz recently. The meaning of OOH advertising is Out of Home Advertising. In other words it is advertising that reaches people after they leave their houses each day. Signs play a big role in the OOH advertising mix. They are a critical part of your business branding and are a necessary component of your marketing plan. In a recent article by THE DRUM it was mentioned that brands that chose to spend 15% of their marketing budget on OOH advertising had a significant increase in their social media channels and improved brand trust.
Crafting unique signs that leave a lasting impression is what The Sign Depot is known for. We can create memorable signs that will keep your brand top of mind with potential clients. Your exterior business sign serves as a 24 hour advertisement for your establishment and is often the public’s first impression of your company.
Start 2019 Off Right
The best way to start off 2019 right is to visit our CONTACT US page and let our expert sign-makers know that you want to STEP UP YOUR SIGNAGE with a custom sign from The Sign Depot in 2019!
Ways To Make Business Signs Part Of Your Marketing Mix In The New Year
Managing Modern Marketing
With the New Year just around the corner, now is the time to decide how your business will move forward in the coming year. Many business are finding it difficult to maneuver their way through a modern marketing plan and are looking for ways to update their marketing and advertising campaigns. We want to ensure your branding is at the forefront of your marketing mix, so we have put together a plan that is simple to incorporate and meant to elevate your business.
A Business Sign Is Your Best Branding Tool
An outdoor business sign is a 24 hour advertisement for your business. Make sure it represents what your company stands for and properly brands your establishment. It is best when choosing your business sign to select something that is highly visible. This mean it can be seen by both vehicle traffic and those passing by. You also want it to be memorable and create buzz around your business.
Is It Instagram Worthy?
Will it make it to IG? Did it get liked and shared on facebook? How many times was it re-pinned? Did they RT it? When it comes to modern marketing, nothing has changed the game the way social media has. It is important that your signage makes to masses, as many people spend a good part of their day on at least one social network. It is a way to get your messaging across many platforms to connect with both current and potential clients.
Your Influencers Can Be Found In Your Client List
Influence marketing is one of the best ways to keep your business current and on trend. All it takes is the right people talking to your target audience to create online buzz and potentially media attention. Often the influencers you need are already on your client list. Be sure to engage with your customers online by sharing their content and quite often they will reciprocate by sharing yours as well. They may even talk about your services and products online and refer others to you. This is a great way to get your brand in front of their audience and bring your business to those who may be unaware of it.
These are just a few ways that your business sign can used in a modern marketing mix. If you have other ideas or insights, please let us know by leaving a comment below.
Artistic Sign Design With Pantone’s 2017 Colour Of The Year – Greenery
‘Tis The Season
As in prior years, designers await an early December announcement from Pantone. It’s an announcement that does set a “tone” for the next year. Yesterday the wait ended as Pantone announced it’s upcoming Colour Of The Year. The choice for the 2017 Pantone Colour Of The Year is GREENERY.
It’s perfect timing as our last post was about selecting cedar trees as Christmas trees and we think adding some green is always a great idea. It’s a colour we often incorporate into our artistic sign design for our seasonal products.
Going Green For 2017
With Greenery making it’s way to the forefront of Pantone’s extensive colour list, we expect to see it incorporated into logo designs and branding strategies very soon. The new year is a fantastic time to plan a re-brand or launch advertising campaign, and a fresh colour like Greenery will add vibrancy to branding and marketing initiatives. Finding ways to stay ahead of competitors is something that needs to be planned months in advance, so now is the best time to decide if your business should go green for 2017. One of the best ways to get ahead of the pack is to update your company signs. If you are not sure where to start when it comes to signage, just visit our CONTACT US page to be connected with The Sign Depot’s artistic sign design team. They can assist with ways to incorporate this colour and complimentary shades into your branding, exterior business signs and retail signage. If you already have your designs in place we are able to work with that as well. Many well known design firms come to the sign-makers here at The Sign Depot for their expertise in creating signs that match their design work. The Sign Depot’s artistic sign designers and sign-makers understand the creative process. From concept to design to manufacturing the approved signage, they can produce a high quality representation of your business.
Do you plan to incorporate the Pantone’s Colour Of The Year GREENERY into your business for 2017? Let us know in the comments.
Five Types Of Custom Business Signs That Draw Attention To Your Company
Bring Your Business The Attention It Deserves With Custom Signs
With so many things attempting to grab the attention of the population, shouldn’t your business be one of those items? We have compiled a list of five types of custom business signs that draw attention to your company.
1. Grab Attention With A High End Exterior Business Sign
Your building’s exterior is often the first impression of your business. Make it a memorable one with a high end exterior sign that conveys what your establishment is all about.
Choices for Custom Exterior Signs include
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Monument Signs
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Dimensional Entrance Signs That Serve As Landmarks
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Projection Signs
2. Provide Wayfinding To Ensure Your Potential Clients Find You With Ease
Many people find your business through Google but you still have to be sure they can find your address without frustration.
Some examples of Wayfinding Signs include
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Entrance Markers
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Parking Lot Signs
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Accessibility Signage (also known as ADA signs)
3. Portable A Frame Signs To Advertise Specials
Portable A Frame signs work to grab the attention of both vehicle and foot traffic in your area. They are often used to advertise time sensitive specials or to create brand buzz.
A Frame signage options
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Metal A Frames That Hold Coroplast Inserts For Temporary Advertising
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Chalkboard A Frames For Message Boards That Are Changed Frequently
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Wood A Frames With Business Logos And Company Information For Info Hubs
4. Custom Reception Signs For Brand Recognition
When a potential client makes the decision to enter your business be sure to capture their attention with a custom reception sign that reflects your business.
Reasons for Reception Signs include
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Having A Professional Looking Entrance
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Increase Brand Awareness
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Give Clients Another Wayfinding Landmark Within The Building
5. Promotional Signage To Promote Your Company
Promotional signs are used to drawn in new customers. They often include some element of fun to attract new business.
Ways To Use Promotional Signs
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Trade Shows To Guide People To Your Booth
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In House Promotions To Reward Clients
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Promotional Vehicle Graphics To Serve As A Moving Advertisement For Your Business
These five reasons are just some of the ways custom business signs work for you. To learn more be sure to visit our blog often and find a sign system that will work with your company. When you have something in mind, be sure to CONTACT US for your free quote.
Build Your Business With JR Waddell
This month The Sign Depot is featuring a few of our Sign Depot Demo Day attendees that are in the Business Marketing Industry. When we and issue with our industrial dust collector we called on the assistance of JR Waddell. He and the team at Hogg Mechanical made recommendations that were best for workshop. We chatted with JR Waddell of Hogg Mechancial about the changes in advertising and marketing over the years.Get To Know JR Waddell
JR can you tell us the nature of your business/job description at Hogg Mechanical and how you got started?
Hogg Mechanical is a 138 year old full service HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) company spanning the era’s of wood/coal/oil/gas/geothermal/solar. We help residential and commercial properties with all of their heating and cooling needs by providing the perfect comfort level!
My title at Hogg Mechanical is Business Development and Communications which is a somewhat fancy name for sales and marketing. Business to Business sales for commercial buildings and marketing for residential houses. I met Ryan vanDyk (Sales and Operations Manager at Hogg Mechanical) in my previous position at the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce. Hogg was aggressively looking to grow their business and knew that online/social media was becoming a huge presence in the area. They wanted to capitalize on this fast paced emerging trend and we came to a mutually rewarding agreement. With this Hogg Mechanical’s online presence was born.
How much time and effort do you think companies should put towards their marketing/advertising?
We think all industries and companies are different. In our industry our leadership team dedicates approximately 45% of our time to marketing/advertising. The HVAC industry is extremely competitive in Southwestern Ontario and we feel that we are doing an amazing job staying ahead of the game. We allocate approximately 6 to 7% of our budget per year towards marketing and advertising.
How often do you see your efforts turn from leads to sales?
We have about a 60% conversion rate of our leads to sales. We constantly strive to generate the best leads and feel that Quality over Quantity is our competitive advantage.
Working for a company that has been in business for many years, what challenges do you face when it comes to implementing changes?
Our first step is to ensure that everyone on our team is brilliant at the basics. Setting realistic change patterns and taking baby steps towards an end goal. We have had success in accepting that co-workers change at different paces and styles. We approach this in a way that allows everyone to adapt and grow at their own reasonably oriented pace and style.
How do you stand out from others in your field?
We truly let our customers dictate what we offer and how we offer it. We found the old approach of HVAC companies selling what was best for themselves as opposed to what was best for their customers inhibited growth in today’s market. Ex. Our generously priced $45 tune up fulfilled a need in the market for homeowners to have a reasonable way to keep their heating and cooling equipment running safe, efficiently and with having an educated piece of mind about their Air Conditioners, Furnaces, Fireplaces, Pool Heaters etc.
Want to learn more about JR Waddell and Hogg Mechanical? Make sure to RSVP for our Sign Depot Demo Day on June 20th to network with JR and many other fantastic business industry professionals. We will have lots of onsite demos and our expert signmakers will be on hand to let you know how we can enhance your marketing through the use of custom business signs.
Five Ways To Build Business Buzz With Custom Business Signs For Your Company
Jump-starting January
Welcome to the New Year which for many means getting back to business and for others means starting plans for a new business. When putting together your business plan for the year, remember the importance signs play in building buzz and getting attention through word of mouth. Creating a custom sign is an important part of your business’s strategic marketing plan and advertising agenda.
Just A Tease
When The Charcoal Group was introducing their latest Restaurant Concept, Beertown Public House, they incorporated their custom sign creation as part of the buzz building for their brand. They built a strategy to get people talking about Beertown long before they opened the restaurant.
Choose To Be Visible
The Cakebox was already well established in the community, but they wanted to ensure that they were easily found when they moved locations. By choosing to use multiple types of signs, they were able to make sure they could capture both drive-by traffic and the attention of those walking in the area.
Find What Fits
If you have ever heard the phrase measure twice, cut once then you understand how important it is to go over the details before proceeding. Knowing what you want your sign to do for your business will help you decide on the budget you want to put towards it. Other details like proper sign permits and professional sign design are also things to consider when it comes to signs for your company’s establishment.
Take Note Of What You Notice
A business sign is a 24 hour advertisement for your business. It doesn’t take days off. What types of signs catch your attention? Those are the signs that are working. Make sure you think of the surroundings and distractions for your outdoor business signs. Findability is key for a new business and keeping on trend is important for businesses looking for a refresh.
Now that you have five ideas to start building buzz with custom signs for your business, what ways will your company be implementing signs this year?
Better Branding – Red Bull Wins
Red Bull Stratos Sponsors Felix Baumgartner’s Live Jump From The Edge Of Space
Where were you the day that Felix Baumgartner stepped out of the weather balloon’s shuttle will be a question that many may ask, but most likely it will be described as the Red Bull Stratos LiveJump. The Red Bull Stratos Mission was scientific mission backed by several companies but the only one you’ll remember is the one that claims it GIVES YOU WINGS.
What Red Bull Did Right
Over the years many public figures have been associated with wearing brands. Think of Michael Jordan and Nike or which fresh faced celeb is now the spokesperson for Covergirl or the movie star sporting a milk moustache for the Got Milk? campaign. This has also been a trend with car races and now event venues IE The Air Canada Centre. Finding a way to get a company name to be common place in everyday discussion is the right way to market.
Think of it this way, how often do you ask for a Kleenex? What you should be asking for is a facial tissue.
Red Bull did it right, with just a few properly placed logos in the spots that the cameras would catch and adding their brand to the event’s name they will forever be associated with the historical jump.
http://youtu.be/s_PIyqZYVBkNik vs Felix
Just a few months ago Nik Wallenda crossed Niagara Falls on a high wire. It is believed that millions tuned in to watch the event live and has since been watched by a billion. Imagine if a company had their brand name attached to that event. How many eyes would have witnessed it? How many companies are realizing now that it was a missed opportunity for brand recognition?
Better Branding
A few things to consider when it comes to branding
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Branding is about connecting with your current and future customers
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Find ways to be top of mind in your marketplace
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Be a leader amongst your competitors by staying orginal
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Be known as a reputable company
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Stand out from your surroundings
Whether you are building your brand, or rebranding to refresh your advertising, always consult a professional when it comes to the look of your company logo. Colours, graphics, text and font choices are all part of corporate branding. Make sure your logo is designed as a good representation of what you have to offer consumers, as they are the ones that decide which brand they are going to buy.
So the big question is, do you remember where you were doing during the Red Bull Stratos Live Jump?
Out With The Old – All About Artistic Colour Choices
Colours of The Year
During 2011 you may have notice a lot of bright pink around you. You may not have taken note but Honeysuckle was named colour of the year for 2011 at the end of 2010. To help you get a jump on your look for 2012 make sure to invest in fashions and fabrics in Tangerine Tango which is the 2012 PANTONE COLOUR OF THE YEAR.What is a Pantone?
A pantone is a colour matching system used by many designers/stylists/painters etc. Each individual pantone colour has a standard code number to be matched to ensure a seamless look.
What does that mean for your business?
This means your pantone colour choice for fabric/paint/vinyl can co-ordinate exactly with your business logo and you have a uniform look across the board for your company and its branding.
Now TANGERINE TANGO might not be the colour of choice for you and your business, but knowing the pantone colours in your logo can definitely help when ordering business related items such as signs, graphics, stationary, decor items etc and it will help find complimenting colours to match your logo.
When it comes the colours in your logo, you should always choose to consult with a designer. Professional designers are educated in colour matching and know the best for fit for the look you hope to achieve for your company. Consulting a professional is always best when it comes to designing the advertising for your business. You want your company’s branding to look top notch. Picking the colours to best represent your business is what designers are trained to do. They have the artistic eye to bring your brand to life and show off what best highlights what your company is all about. To find consult with one of our award winning sign designers make sure to contact us here at The Sign Depot
Custom Business Signs – What Kind of Signs Do You Make At The Sign Depot
Full Service Sign Shop
What types of signs does The Sign Depot make? We get asked this all the time. Our answer is any kind of sign you need! That is what differentiates us from other sign shops. The Sign Depot can cover all your sign requirements.
We specialize in Custom Carved Wood Signs, but that’s just one facet of the company. The expert sign makers here at The Sign Depot can handle all the sign needs for your business.
Custom Business Signs
We offer custom business sign solutions to suit your company’s needs and budget. Our services take care of everything from the exterior entrance-way sign, to the littlest details like accessible parking signs. We want to give your customers that great first impression of your business the minute they pull in the lot. For your interior, we can customize window graphics, washroom signs, wayfinding systems etc. & why stop there? Take your advertising with you! We can design and apply custom vinyl graphics your promotional vehicles too! We cover your business branding across the board.
Other Areas Of Expertise
Are you looking for other business soloutions? Here are some additional signs service we offer
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Logo Design
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On Site installation
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Wood Sign Refurbishing
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Interior Decor Elements
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A-Frame Outdoor Signs
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Point Of Purchase Displays
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Promotional Banners
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Golf Tee Markers
We have lots of options when it comes to making custom business signs for your company. All of our signs can be created to your specifications and will be manufactured to best represent your area of expertise. Your custom business sign is a 24 hour advertisement company, you should be sure it properly reflects what you do and what you want potential customers to know about your business.
Need examples of the work we’ve done. How about every sign in this picture…
