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How to create brilliant business signage

10 tips to help your event and exhibition signage stand out from the crowd!

When it comes to effectively advertising your business, signage is the way to go. Especially when it comes to busy shows and events, well-designed and thought-out signage can help you stand out from the crowd and get your company noticed.

So, how do you make an effective sign, and what elements do you need to ensure your advertising is successful?

These ten tips will provide you with the insight you need to create effective business signage:

1. Stay on-brand

It might be tempting to switch up your colour palette and go with something really out there to attract attention at events. But staying on-brand is just as crucial to creating successful signage. If you have brand colours, logos or even set styles, stick to the rules so that repeat or returning customers will have a far easier time finding you.

2. Make sure it’s readable

Any signage you create needs to be readable, but for event signage where you may be spotted from off in the distance, creating legible signage is even more vital. Think about contrasting colours for text and imagery, and ensure you use a big enough font so your signage can be read from a further distance.

3. Go simple on your fonts

There is so much choice and variety out there in terms of fonts that it can be too much for many businesses. But follow the hard and fast rule that simple is better and you’re far more likely to succeed. Leave out cursive or symbol-based fonts in exchange for plain, simple text, and your signage will look far better for it.

4. Restrict the amount of information

While it may be tempting to get as many details as possible on your signage, opting to restrict the level of information you include can make it far less confusing for customers. Think about what you need to say and include, and get rid of all the extra text – it’s far more likely to be read that way.

5. Think outside the box

What’s the point of signage if it looks the same as your competition’s advertising? Think outside the box with the shape, size and design of your signage, and you’ll be attracting attention in no time. There’s a reason why it’s a good idea to stand out from the crowd.

6. Leave plenty of white space

Cluttering your signage up with imagery, text and other graphics is an excellent way to give your customers a headache, and it can also quickly look unprofessional in comparison to other signage out there. Leaving blank space, also known as white space, can help to balance out your sign and make it easier on the eye as well as more practical to read.

7. Don’t go overboard with colour

While colour is a fantastic way to grab the attention of passers-by, too much of a good thing can be less than favourable. Stick to a colour scheme that contrasts your background with your text, but doesn’t clash, for maximum readability. Your best bet is to use one neutral, such as black or white, with a colour of your choosing to ensure the most effective results.

Looking for printing advice about the differences between digital printing and screen printing this guide can help.

8. Decide how you want your customers to see your business

Your signage is often the first glimpse potential customers will get of your business, so you want your promotional material to reflect your business more than anything else. While bright colours and graphics represent a more fun-loving ethos, sober shades and simple designs show greater professionalism.

9. Be consistent

If you already have some event signage created for your business that you’re planning to use, any new signage should be made to match with or work alongside what you already have. Consistency is vital when it comes to brand awareness, and even mismatched background colours or font sizes can quickly look unprofessional.

10. Attract attention

Most importantly, any event signage should attract the attention of your chosen audience – and how better to do that than to know what your audience is looking for? Whether it’s graphic representations of what you’re selling, bold text or a simple, classic sign that has your company name, your signage should be designed to get customers over to you.