Adhesives (for Lightweight Posters) 

The use of adhesives is an easy and renter-friendly way to hang posters since you don’t have to use the drill. However, this method only works best for posters that aren’t framed and lightweight artwork that weigh less than 5 lbs.  

Using adhesives is quite straightforward, too. Place your poster face-down on a clean, flat surface and apply the adhesive to all its corners, the center, and the midpoints between the corners.  

Below is the list of adhesives you can use to display your poster and other small, lightweight wall decorations.  

Double-Sided Removable Tape 

Double-sided removable tape offers a gentle adhesive that doesn’t leave a mark on the wall or damage the poster. Some tapes come with a thick foam base that acts as a cushion to protect the poster and the wall paint, while absorbing vibrations to keep everything in place.  

These removable tapes are sometimes called poster tapes that are often used to mount posters and lightweight decor on wood walls, painted walls, tiles, refrigerators, vinyl wallpaper, and glass.  

3M Command Strips 

3M Command Strips come in different shapes and sizes. They are sometimes included as a poster accessory because they are quick and easy to install, and don’t damage the wall with proper use. They also work well with textured and brick walls.  

If you are looking to reuse or reposition your poster in the future, use the removable Command Strips variant.  

It is also important to note that sometimes Command Strips can peel off the paint when you remove them from the wall. To avoid any damage, use a heat gun or a blow dryer to warm them up before scraping them off the surface. 

Mounting Putty 

Mounting putty often comes in small squares with a texture that’s almost similar to a dough. It’s excellent for displaying posters and other lightweight wall decor and works great on painted walls, wood, tiles, plastics, metals, and glasses.  

Scotch Magic Tape  

Magic Tape is virtually invisible once you apply it on posters and walls. In fact, you can even use it to fix tears on posters because it won’t show on the surface.  

In addition, you can write on Magic Tape with a marker, pen, or pencil.  

Heavy-Duty Mounting Tape  

Heavy-duty mounting tape is coated with adhesive on both sides and is ideal for mounting slightly heavier posters. Some brands such as Gorilla have tapes that are weatherproof and provide a long-lasting bond. 

Alternatives to Adhesives 

If you don’t want to put any adhesive product on the poster directly, consider the alternatives below: 

Slide Binders  

Slide these binders through the top edge of the posters to turn them into wall art. For extra stability, you can add another binder at the bottom of the posters to give them more weight.  

Next, hang your posters from rods, hooks, nails, or screws.  

Binder Clips 

Use these clips to hang posters, photos, postcards, and other smaller prints. However, be careful when using them to avoid creases, folds, and tears on the corners of the posters.  

Bib Clips 

You probably recognize these metal chains that your dentist uses to hold your towel in place. However, these bib clips also make a great way to display posters.  

Hang these bib clips from a single hook or nail to upgrade your boring wall.  

Pants Hangers 

Display your favorite posters using pants hangers that have a frame and clips you can snap right on and off easily. Although you can use them as-is, you may want to paint the wood to give them a more curated look.  

Tools and Hardware (for Large and Framed Posters) 

For framed posters that weigh more than 5 lbs., you need special tools and hardware to distribute the weight over a larger area, thereby preventing them from tilting and falling.  

Nails 

The ideal nails to hang posters or any wall decor will depend on the wall. If your wall is made of concrete, use a hardened steel nails or concrete nails, which penetrate through the hard surface without bending. 

Screws 

Screws are generally stronger than nails, so they are a great option for hanging heavier framed posters. Just make sure you use the appropriate screws for the material the wall is made of.  

Drywall Anchors 

Drywall anchors, also called wall anchors, are inserts that you combine with their matching screws to create a strong mount. They work by gripping the drywall, resulting in stronger and more stable mount.  

Hammer 

Not all hammers are created equal. Thus, do not use a lightweight hammer on tasks that require heavy blows. Make it a habit to inspect your tools before starting any DIY project to ensure that all parts are secure. 

Hammer Drill 

When using a hammer drill, apply a steady and even pressure rather than use excessive force. Don’t forget to check for cables, pipes, conduits in or behind walls before drilling. 

Safety Equipment  

Use safety equipment and gears, such as goggles, earplugs, and dust mask when using hammer and power tools. Goggles are particularly important to avoid debris from hitting you in the face or eye.

Poster Care and Maintenance

If you ever wonder how can you maintain posters and keep them in pristine condition for many years to come, follow these tips: 

For posters with creases and folds, you can iron the wrinkled surface using the lowest heat setting. To avoid damaging the graphics, position your poster face down and cover its back with a cotton sheet (e.g., bath towel).  

• Other ways to remove wrinkles on a poster include using a bit of steam, adding weight, or spraying a special solution.  
• Dust posters regularly using a soft, dry paint brush or a feather duster. Don’t use any moisture or cleaning products on paper or cardstock posters to avoid the risk of damage.  
• Store or hang posters away from direct sunlight, as constant sun exposure can cause the graphics to fade. Finally, keep posters away from humidity, moisture, and extreme temperatures by storing them in dry, well-ventilated areas.

With these different methods to hang posters, you can now transform your plain wall into your home’s centerpiece. 

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The Best Way to Hang Posters — Signage 101

We’ll work to answer that exact question in our latest series called “The Effectiveness of Signage,” where we cover the do’s and don’ts of sign advertising.

Our First Experiment

On our drives to work every morning, we see all sorts of signs. There are yard signs for political campaigns, security systems, realtors and so much more. Along the busier roads, there are signs plastered all over telephone poles and crosswalks.

Then there are the sign spinners. Those guys or girls who hold signs and dance like their life depends on it. We’ve all seen them, but does all that boogying really work?

At Signs.com, we wanted to find out. We decided to test a few signs of our own served to oncoming traffic in a Metropolitan area, with the simple invitation, “Honk if you see this sign.”

Our ultimate goal was to see whether a person being present with the sign made a real difference in completed calls to action. The results might surprise you!

Too Long, Didn’t Read

Before we dive into how we conducted our tests, here are some of the nuggets we’ve pulled out of our findings you can take advantage of right now. We’ll go over the specifics of how we arrived at these recommendations throughout the rest of the article:

• Signs get noticed despite repeated studies claiming we’re blind to ads.
• Using a person boosts engagement: if it is appropriate for your business, try having someone stand out by the sign to help attract customers—the human element will drive a greater response rate than just having a sign posted.
• Use color contrast.
• Make your message short and clear for drivers passing by to read.
• If you want to get more people to respond to your sign, make your call to action (CTA) as easy as possible (low-involvement) to eliminate barriers. (keep your message simple)
• Give oncoming drivers enough time to react to your sign.
• Location matters—make your sign as visible as possible. Place your sign in a well-trafficked area when possible.

How We Did It

A good experiment needs a sound method. We wanted to see how design, sign size and amount of text could affect the responses of drivers on their morning commutes. Take a look at each of the 11 signs below along with how we used each in the test:

For each variation, we used three different ways of presenting the sign:

1. Sign Standing Alone: just set up on the side of the road with no one near the sign
2. Sign Held: No Motion—where one of our employees held the sign, but didn’t move… at all
3. Sign Held: With Motion—where one of us played the role of the sign spinner.

For each test, we showed each sign to 100 oncoming cars, in a moderately trafficked metropolitan area, just outside of Utah’s Capitol, Salt Lake City. To make sure drivers only had enough time to read the sign while driving rather than stopped at a traffic light, we conducted the experiments a quarter mile from the oncoming stoplight and 200 ft away from the stop light behind us.

It would only take about seven minutes for each round of 100 cars to pass us. To make sure we were only counting completed calls to action from those who saw the sign, we ignored honks and waves from cars driving in the opposite direction who honked or waved without actually being able to read the signage. Keep that point handy: the people on the other side of the street offered an interesting insight!

It’s important to note that because it was an especially windy day, we could not put up the small sign by itself because it kept blowing away.

Results

And now, for the good part. We’ll look at the data in a couple of different ways and walk you through the most salient takeaways. Keep in mind that this isn’t a perfect study, but what we found does give us a glimpse of what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to small business advertising signs.  

Before we dive deeper, looking at the chart above, the “Sign Standing Alone” test received the least amount of engagement compared to either of the other two tests. Whether moving or not, having a person present with the sign increases responses by over 150%.

So if you’re wondering whether sign spinners are worth the extra money, the answer is yes! Without a doubt introducing a human element dramatically increased the response rate of the signage. We didn’t perfectly imitate sign spinners during our test—during the second round of testing we simply stood behind the signs, and for the third test, we waved the sign back and forth a little. Even still our presence with the sign made a dramatic difference in engagement. Assuming customers would act on a sign with a human element to it inside your store then we believe it is safe to say that the extra cost is worth it.

Adding motion to the sign, however, only increases responses by about 6% over no motion. So adding a sign spinner really does work! But don’t stress if your sign spinner doesn’t have great dance skills. Let’s take a look at the total responses across all tests for each sign.

Far and away our most completed actions came from waves (sign 6) compared to honks. On the other hand, responses to sign 10 was very low (95% fewer responses than the basic black text on white background). Some other things things that really stand out when looking at the results this way is that small text and small signs aren’t as effective as larger text and larger signage.

Digging Deeper

Using high contrast in text and color on your signs can boost responses by as much as 23%.

Short, concise messages are over 90% more effective at driving engagement.

Using a person in with your sign can increase engagement as much as 60%.

A few others to consider:

• Compared to its larger counterpart, the small sign received 30 fewer completions than the control. That’s a 75% decrease in response.
• By far the worst performing sign was the block text sign, which received only 2 total completions across all the tests.
• Switching to the CTA of waves instead of honks increased responses by 70% from the control.
• While adding an image to your design won’t hurt your response rate, having a complicated image proved to be too distracting. There were only 26 total responses for the complicated image compared to the 44 responses with the normal image.

So what does all of this data mean? Let’s take a look at the practical applications for small businesses and sign advertisers.

What This Means for You

One of the more obvious takeaways is that people notice signs while driving! Whether they pay attention or not relies heavily on design, copy, and size. As long as the text was legible, the design didn’t make a major difference, as long as it didn’t get too crazy (See the results for the sign with the “Complex” purple, orange and yellow design. )

Plenty of people saw our signs but for whatever reason, didn’t complete the CTAs. Maybe they were just reluctant to honk or wave; maybe they absent-mindedly read the sign. What was interesting is the place at which most drivers would complete the call to action. Let’s look at the graphic below:

About 20% of drivers would read the sign as they approached the green zone,
but wouldn’t react to the message (honk or wave) until approaching the red zone.
While in the yellow zone, it appears drivers are processing your sign’s message.

There is a clear delay in how information is processed when attention is divided. So it’s important to keep your messages short and legible. Additionally, you’ll want to place your sign spinner far enough ahead of the entrance to your business to give drivers time to connect the dots and turn into the parking lot.

And while our CTAs aren’t anything you would use in the real-world – comparing waves to honks – it seems people are more likely to react when there is less of a cost to doing so:

Waving is an easier response than honking as it is less likely to be noticed by other participants around them. So it’s important that your CTA when trying to reach drivers is low-involvement. Keep that in mind for your objectives, especially since this type of advertising is usually at the top of the sales and marketing funnel.

Final Thoughts

Another key takeaway is that people are drawn to other people. More specifically, they’re drawn to faces.  When people see someone holding a sign on the side of the road, they will see the person holding the sign, then they will read the sign. If you want to boost the visibility and the reactions for your sign, the best way to do that is have a person holding your sign. That’s all the more reason to keep your messages brief, as passerby will read the sign only after looking at the face behind it. But sign spinners do work!

One of our biggest surprises though: remember how we said we ignored the honks and waves from people coming the opposite direction of our sign? There were a lot of them. Part of this could be what’s thought to be the monkey-see-monkey-do phenomenon (apparent because some of the honking from the opposite direction was excessive). But some even stopped in the middle of the road to turn their heads to get a look a look at what they were missing.

So FOMO plays just as much a role on the road as it does online. Don’t know what FOMO means? You’re experiencing it right now: it stands for “Fear of Missing Out” and it’s a powerful insight that marketers can use to drive traffic and sales. Take advantage of it!

Conclusion

Are you interested in increasing your business traffic with signage? Signs.com has you covered! We have over 75 types of signs to choose from with free design services and quick turnaround times. Check out the selection and get your business seen with high-quality signs.

Fair Use Statement

Feel free to use this data for your own research. We encourage sharing for non-commercial purposes. If you do use our content on your own site or social channels, simply attribute us with a link back to this page.

How To Drive Engagement With Outdoor Signs

We’ll answer what large format and small format printing are and give you ideas and examples to help you know where to start on your print project.

What is Large Format?

Large Format (which is also known as wide format) is any print with a width between 18” and 100”. Print widths that are over 100” wide are super wide or grand format. There are several applications to large format printing. Many businesses utilize large format print materials for aluminum signs, banners, vinyl lettering, vehicle decals/wraps and more. You’ll often see examples of large format prints in retail stores. Many stores will hang promotional signage up in storefront windows as well as within the store from the ceiling tiles. Take a look that the following table to see some of the most frequent types of large format print applications along with common sizes and uses.

There are a few different methods for printing large format. The earliest prints in large format were completed using lithography and screen printing technologies which are still used in certain situations today. In lithography and screen printing, material is laid flat while the press or screen with the design works ink into the material leaving the impression. In some cases, the material is laid in a movable bed and rolled through the press to apply the ink. As you might imagine the larger the desired print, the longer the setup time and thus more expensive each single print costs.

Near the end of the 20th century, large format truly took off with the advent of digital printing methods. Inkjet, laser, and UV Printing have evolved rapidly. You can now print very clear images in vibrant color on nearly any substrate. Most digital printers today have a feeder which pushes the material through the printers allowing inks to be applied from the printhead. These are called roll printers (aka “roll to roll”). Some digital printers are designed to print on rigid materials like the aluminum signs mentioned above. The material is loaded onto the bed and pushed through the print heads on rollers—these are called flatbed printers. See the examples of both below:

The most common types of large format printing today are:

• Screen Printing – a process that involves transferring ink through a screen. This method works particularly well with fabrics and were the same design will be printed in large quantities.
• Offset Printing – Where ink is transferred from one surface to another, usually through a series of rollers.
• Digital Printers – Ink is printed through heads and the printing machine feeds material through the printer as the print heads release ink.   

Check out our blog post which describes these print technologies in more detail.

Displaying a piece of art, advertisement, or attention-getting graphic in large format is a fantastic way to get noticed as a business. Despite the fact that big commercial printers, which can be very cost prohibitive for anyone except large companies, large format printing is a growing industry with more cost-effective print options available all of the time. Printing technologies and the spread of such companies with access to these printers now allow you to print stunning graphic designs or custom artwork on virtually any medium.

Signs.com proudly employs state of the art digital UV printers for all of your wide format jobs. This means your design can be printed on almost any material from plastic, to vinyl, to metal up to 48” x 96” in most cases. The UV Printing process also makes your design more durable on your sign. Learn more about the way digital UV ink works here.

Large Format Highlights:

• Print width between 18” and 100”
• Grand format has print width over 100”
• Common large format prints include vinyl banners, yard signs, aluminum signs, a-frames and flags
• Prints are created using lithography, screen, and digital printing
• Digital printing method allows for vibrant color on most surfaces

What is Small Format?

Small format printing includes a much broader definition in the printing world. Your personal printer sitting on your desk at home is a small format printer, for instance. Depending on the type of paper you buy, you can inkjet or laserjet print lots of different media from photographs to pamphlets and (of course) copy paper materials. From the commercial print industry many small format products are printed with high quality inks on industrial printers that can produce large quantities in a very short period. You are familiar with a lot of the products associated with small format printing. See the table below for some of the most common applications, sizes and uses of small format print products:

Similar to large format, there are several different types of small format printers. The large quantities usually needed for small format products like business cards or postcards means that most jobs are professionally printed onto larger sheets and then cut down to size after printing and drying. This process is usually done via offset printing, but can be completed with digital printers as well. Due to the time to set up, cost of materials, and other factors, it is much more affordable to order small format products in bulk rather than purchasing one print at a time. Sellers of small format printed materials usually provide discounts when purchasing higher quantities of the same print.  

Small Format Highlights:

• Print almost anything on hundreds of material types
• Some prints can be done with personal printers
• Great for marketing materials like business cards and brochures
• Inexpensive, especially for large quantity orders

What Format is Best for You?

Now that you have a better understanding of large format vs. small format printing, you should be able to make a more informed decision about what type of printing you will need for your project.

Large format printing gives you the freedom to make a bold statement by printing whatever you want on several sign materials from flexible to rigid and durable to light. With large format printing you can get great indoor and outdoor use signs that easily capture attention of passersby. You can also order in smaller quantities or one off prints. Small format printing, on the other hand, often means that you’ll need to order your designs in bulk due to the cost ratio of set-up time, materials and size of the print job. With small format however you may find lots of value in promotional products that can be distributed to a large, but targeted audience.

There are major differences separating small and large format printing—it comes down to how you plan to use the end product. Now that you have a better understanding of these printing worlds, take a look at our large selection of large format and small format options by browsing our products found on our site. When you order from Signs.com, you’ll get high quality, fully customizable signage and quick turnaround times on your orders.

Large Format Vs Small Format | Signage 101

A 2021 graduating senior at Cairo-Durham High School in Greene County, New York, Kadie intends to attend Suny Oneonta this fall and pursue her degree in the medical field. As she stated so well in her winning essay, Kadie envisions becoming a practitioner who not only sees the physical needs of her patients but also shows sincere personal care out of human kindness. 

We created the “Design Your Success” scholarship to give back a little of the success we have experienced at Signs.com. High school seniors around the nation were eligible to submit a creative essay of 1,200 to 1,500 words, describing how they intend to design their own success throughout their lives. With only a simple and open-ended prompt, we received many essays — Kadie’s response rose to the top!

Kadie thoughtfully described her future plans by reflecting on her experience and accomplishments so far and projecting a road map to success from what she has learned. She described how a knee injury that required surgery and rehabilitation helped leverage her resolve to reciprocate the care she was shown by the physician who “treated her as a person and a friend”. Kadie has already shown great spirit and a strong work ethic by volunteering much of her free time as a surgical services volunteer at a local hospital. 

“We’re very happy to be able to share some of our success here at Signs.com by supporting and contributing to the growth of students across the country through our Design Your Success scholarship,” says Nelson James, co-founder of Signs.com. “It is so wonderful to read about the challenges these students have overcome and the goals they are working so hard to achieve. Kadie conveyed her plans and goals with a high level of maturity and understanding. We are excited to help her along her journey.”

5th Annual Signs.com ‘Design Your Success’ Scholarship Awarded to Kadie Galewaler

Are you looking for our printed banners’ prices?
Check out our price calculator.

Banner printing on vinyl or PVC has been commonplace since the late 20th century. Most producers at the time were screen printing on vinyl to create affordable and versatile advertising signage. With the advent of digital printing in the 1990s, however, the opportunity for on-demand, truly customizable vinyl banners came to the forefront — customers can now change out their design at will, whether they were ordering one banner or 100. As a result, banners have continued to thrive as a medium for printed signs.

Today, you can pretty much get high-quality banners anywhere. Whether you are purchasing them online or commissioning local print shops, custom banners are very much thriving for offline promotions and branding. In this article, we’ll show you the many factors for the pricing of these banners.

Banner Prices: the Breakdown 

First, let’s discuss brick-and-mortar operations: your local sign shops. While costs will vary from sign shop to sign shop and region to region, it can be helpful to know a ballpark cost range when you’re preparing to purchase a banner. A standard pricing rule for local sign shops is to charge $8 per square foot for printed banners. So, a 6’ x 3’ banner would cost approximately $144 — including only the banner material, labor, and printing. Design work is most often an extra charge so, unless you’re bringing in a print-ready, formatted file, you’re likely to see additional design fees. Sign shops can charge as much as $30-$70 per hour for design work beyond the “basic” sign price.

If you’ve shopped around for banners online, you’ve likely noticed a bit less expensive offer than your local sign shop. One of the biggest reasons for the varying banner cost is that while local shops receive some requests for banners, they don’t have the same volume that some online sign providers do. Many online sign printers focus their business on banners and other printed signs; this allows them to lower their costs because they’re producing banners in bulk.

How Much Does a Banner Cost?

Material Costs

Vinyl banner materials are made in multiple weights and qualities. Lightweight materials are more affordable than the sturdier and heavier variants, though these may have a shorter lifespan.

The weight of vinyl banner material can range from 9 oz. to 22 oz. per square yard of material. The banner’s denier (its fiber density) will also affect material cost. A denser or heavier denier will hold up better over time but is also more expensive. Vinyl banner denier ranges from 100 to 1,000. Check out our blog post on banner material comparison to get a better understanding of the differences in material.

Printing Costs

While there are a few different ways to print banners, most banners are now digitally printed with UV or solvent inks using large-format roll printers. Some banners are produced by screen printing. Screenprinted banners are cost-effective, especially if you are mass-producing the same banner designs.

As we noted at the beginning of this blog, digitally printed banners are great for customization. When it comes to the inks themselves, UV inks have become the industry norm because the printing process results in a long-lasting print and avoids the harsh chemicals and odors that are present with solvent inks. Banners printed with UV inks can be customized to a wide color range for any design.

Other Costs 

Other costs that can contribute to banner prices are the extras such as grommets and hem (aka edge). The banner producer sometimes includes grommets and hems in their pricing, but others will charge for these options. Here at Signs.com, we include grommets and a welded hem at no additional cost with all our 13-oz. banners and mesh banners.

If you’re considering the full cost of printing and setting up your banner for display, you might also consider the cost of display options such as rope, bungees, screws, or other display methods. Many sign providers will give you the option to purchase display hardware as accessories with your banner.

Signs.com – How Much Does a Custom Banner Cost

At Signs.com, we offer a wide variety of banners, including our most popular vinyl banners in both 13-oz. and heavy-duty 18-oz. vinyl. We also have mesh banners and fabric banners if you’re interested in something a little different to really make your project stand out in a crowd.

Standard Vinyl & Fabric Banners Pricing at Signs.com*: 

*The given sizes and prices are to provide a quick reference to the most commonly ordered banner sizes

We want you to be satisfied with everything about your banner purchase. That’s why we provide you with the tools to customize your banner in a simple and intuitive way. Use our online design tool or take advantage of our free design services. Once your banner is designed just the way you want, hit “Save & Continue” to proceed to checkout. You can choose your shipping preference depending on how fast you need your banner to arrive. If you want to save your draft, click “Save” so you can get back to it at a later time.

Once the order is submitted, we don’t waste any time. Your banner will be produced the very same day if you submit the order before 3:00 p.m. MST. We’ll have it shipped and on its way to your front door (or office) the very next day.

While we work fast to get your banner produced, that doesn’t mean we neglect quality. We start by using high-quality, locally sourced vinyl material. We then digitally print your design using top-of-the-line printing technology. Our printing technicians have more than 15 years of experience operating our printers — they ensure that the UV inks and the printers sync just right to produce your artwork or logo onto the vinyl precisely how it was designed. And if you want to add the free added hem and grommets to your banner, our fabrication technicians will complete these tasks with both finesse and attention to detail.

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This research about the effectiveness of signage will show you the impact of sidewalk signs for small business through examples that we personally tested. We’ll explain why small outdoor advertising is impactful despite the fact that online shopping continues to grow at a record pace and fewer people visit physical stores. even in the foreshadow of the ever-growing percentage of online sales. If you run a small business or know someone who operates a physical business then you need to know and share this information.

TL;DR — A-frame Sign Research

In a nutshell, using an A-frame sign for small businesses can be very effective. Here are the top indicators that we pulled from our research to show that sidewalk signs help drive foot traffic and increase revenue. 

• A-frames can be effective in low density / low traffic areas.
• Use A-frame signs for pedestrian and roadside traffic.
• A-frame signs increase foot traffic by at least 8.3%.
• On on average the businesses we worked with saw: 

A-frame signs Background

There are several studies on the effectiveness of signage including well-circulated research conducted by the University of San Diego stating that on average, having one additional on-premise sign increases annual revenue by 4.75%. While structural roadside signage or building signs are certainly important, one of the most affordable ways to advertise a physical business be it a restaurant, a specialty store, or what have you, is by using a custom A-frame sign.

A-frames, sometimes known as sandwich board signs or sidewalk signs, are versatile and easy to use graphics for advertising or branding. They enable the sign owner to change messaging and sign location quickly for promotions, events, directions or information by simply writing on them if they are chalkboard or dry erase, or by switching out the printed sign that attaches to the frame. A-frames can be used in almost any weather condition and can attract attention both indoors and outdoors. 

Effectiveness of A-Frame Signs

Are A-frame signs effective at driving sales and improving business? In essence, do sidewalk signs help bring customers into a store? (see illustration):

A-frame signs have been used by businesses for many years to advertise and invite visitors in. 

But just how effective are A-frame signs? Working with three businesses gave us evidence to show that A-frame signs are an investment you don’t want to miss out on. From the businesses we worked with, each one saw at least an 8.3% increase in foot traffic when they set out a branded A-frame sign. 

When sustained, that increase will presumably translate to increased sales—no matter the industry. Not only that but sandwich boards and A-frames when designed well, complement a business’ permanent signage and can add character to the location around the business as well. A-frames and sidewalk signs when used correctly can also help guide drivers and pedestrians alike by providing wayfinding signage for businesses that may be more difficult to locate.   

A Closer Look A-frame Signs Research

We believe that our study, conducted over a month with three different businesses and unique locations, helps answer the question of whether sidewalk signs are effective. Let’s dive into the research. 

At the start of the project, we did some outreach to small businesses in the local greater Salt Lake City area. To ensure our data wasn’t skewed by working with companies all from one industry or location, we worked with a variety of companies: Bluebird Candy Co., a local candy store, in Logan, Ut; Cafe Sabor, a Mexican restaurant, in Layton, Ut; and Beauty Mavens Collective, a lashes and hair salon, in Salt Lake City. The first step was to establish a baseline. In other words, figure out what foot traffic in and out of the store looked like on a normal business week. To do this we set up a sensor by the entrance to each business that counted how many times people moved in front of it. We recorded the number of people going in and out each day and let it run for a whole week. 

The next step was to introduce the sidewalk sign and see if the number of people going in and out increased, decreased or stayed the same. We worked with each business on a customized design, specific to each business, for their custom a-frame. Our team of professional designers helped each business through our Free Design Services to get designs that met the business’ needs as well as the needs of the study. The goal of each A-frame sign was to invite passersby to “come in” either through a promotion or a simple message. We tested a few different designs for 2 weeks, setting out the A-frame sign in front of the businesses every day while continuing to monitor the foot traffic in and out of each business with the sensor.

Results From The Study

What we found is that A-frame signs did increase foot traffic in these stores. Let’s look at the numbers:

The chart shows the average weekly percentage increase in foot traffic when the A-frame sign was introduced. In the case of Bluebird Candy Co., the percentage increase is dramatic. Bluebird Candy Co. has perhaps the best location for passersby of the three businesses as it is located close to downtown Main Street of a large town. One of the promotions for Bluebird Candy Co also incentivized high school students who are within walking distance from the school to the store. Nonetheless, for the other businesses where natural sidewalk foot traffic wasn’t as prominent, the A-frame signs were noticed and heeded.   

While the percentages varied quite a bit, we’re certain any small business would take an average increase of 43.8% foot traffic. There is little doubt that such an increase would translate to a significant amount of in-store revenue.

We also looked at weekly revenue for each of the three stores during this time period to see if there was a correlation to the increase in foot traffic. Both the restaurant and the candy shop saw a revenue increase in the same period by as much as 14.1% compared to an operating week without the sign.

The Salon actually saw a decrease in revenue during the two weeks where the A-frame sign was used, but this doesn’t include the sales from stylists who were renting out booths—we were unable to attain individual stylists revenues which may have increased the overall revenue of the salon. One factor about the Salon to consider as well is that work there is done prominently by appointment. So while the salon did see an increase in foot traffic during the two weeks the A-frames were out and tracked, the increase in paying customers may not have been realized until weeks after the time of this study.  

Considerations and Study Limitations

We ran this study in January when outdoor foot traffic is low compared to warmer months in the state of Utah. The potential for increased foot traffic increases as the weather warms up and more people are out and about. Thus, it could be said that the positive impacts of using sidewalk signage are understated in our results. 

The physical location of the three businesses varied between downtown Main Street of a large town, to right next to a public transportation stop, to a metropolitan side street. While placing a sidewalk sign out in a low traffic neighborhood may also have an impact, businesses that use A-frame signs near urban centers or more dense areas are likely to see a more dramatic increase of foot traffic by using A-frame signs. 

For businesses in locations where passersby are less frequent, we recommend using A-frame signs as economical wayfinding tools that guide potential customers in from more heavily trafficked areas of town while a different type of signage or marketing tactic is used to generate brand awareness. This can be done, but be sure to check with your city ordinances on the use of signage on public sidewalks and roadsides.

A-frame Sign Study Summary

A-frames and sandwich board signs have a significant effect in locations where foot traffic is common such as city centers, boardwalks, shopping centers, strip malls, shopping malls, etc. In addition to foot traffic, A-frame signs can be seen by people driving by. The most common size of A-frame signs (36”x24”) is large enough to get noticed by road traffic if the messaging is kept simple so that the font is big enough to be legible. Take a look at our previous study on how outdoor signs drive engagement for passing vehicles. 

A-frame signs and other forms of sidewalk signs have been used for decades and are still relevant today. Even as online shopping has begun to take the place of bricks and mortar locations, interactive and interpersonal shopping, dining and service experiences can still be viable when advertised properly.

You can better inform passersby of what your small business has to offer when you employ an A-frame to convey your messages. As we’ve shown through this research, if you have a brick and mortar location—be it for food, retail, services, or whatever—putting out an A-frame sign will likely increase the foot traffic and help you increase your revenue.

Advertising with A-Frame Signs

This article shares the details behind pop up tents—what they are, where they came from, and how they can be an effective marketing tool at your next event. The infographic below shows the highlights of our findings. If you’re interested in just the survey results you can jump here.

What is a Pop up Tent?

Pop up tents have many shapes, sizes, and uses. This research is based around the standard 10’ X 10’ pop up canopy tent. The construction of these tents is fairly straight forward. They consist of the frame, a canvas or fabric canopy, carrying case, and stakes with rope for tying the canopy tent down. The frame is designed to collapse and expand easily so that the canopy can be draped over the top. The four legs are telescopic in nature, which allows the tent to be raised and lowered quickly. Most frames are made of aluminum while most canopies are polyester—a fabric that is both durable and waterproof.

Pop up tents have been used for centuries in one form or another to provide shelter in open outdoor markets. One account from Henry Benjamin Latrobe describing an open market in New Orleans from the early 19th century stated that vendors were lined up in two rows as far as the eye could see with stalls or tables with a tilt or awning of canvas. With time, outdoor markets created a demand for what we now know as the pop up tent.  

Where are They Used?

Pop up tents make sense from a vendor’s standpoint because they are highly portable, easy to use and create a sense of “store” or “market” that entices people to step in and see what the booth has to offer. In the old days, tents were heavy affairs using timber as the structural supports with a canvas or hemp canopy. 

As technology improved over time, so did the tents. Today pop up canopy tents are commonplace. We see them used in a variety of locations and for a myriad of purposes including but not limited to:

• Farmers Markets
• Conventions & Expos
• Festivals
• Fairs (Including Job Fairs) 
• Trade Shows
• Tailgate Parties
• Events – Races, Neighborhood Barbeques, etc.
• Beaches

Generic canopy tents are commonplace at these venues, but you may also see custom or branded tents. Individuals who use pop up canopy tents for personal use generally use a single color, generic canopy. These canopies are cheap and can be inferior in quality and durability.  A custom-designed canopy, on the other hand, will look great and last longer with proper care.

Why Custom Pop up Tents?

There are 8,600 Farmers Markets registered throughout the US, some of them bringing in as many as 60,000 visitors per day during the peak season. On top of that, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research cataloged roughly 9,400 B2B exhibitions in 2018 that have at least 10 or more exhibiting companies each year. The number of attendees at these and the other types of vendor markets mentioned above gross in the millions. There is a lot of potential for business in these markets and events. Which begs the question, how do businesses and vendors stand out in a sea of canopy tents? 

There are several aspects to making a vendor booth stand out. Attracting as many visitors as possible is a priority for vendors who are aiming not just to cover costs of exhibiting but to make a profit and build a customer base! One of the best ways to attract attention is to customize the booth itself with custom pop up tents. Not all venues are suited for pop up tents but when they are, our survey results show that having a custom pop up tent really helps draw the crowds.

Survey Results

In our survey on peoples’ perspectives about pop up tents, we wanted to better understand the experience both from the attendees’ point of view as well as from the vendors. People who are familiar with pop up tents generally agree that a branded tent is more effective at attracting visitors to vendor booths than generic pop up tents. In fact, people who attend events are 60.2% more likely to engage with vendors who use a custom, branded pop up tent

Another question we wanted to research was around the idea of how memorable a vendor is. We’ve done previous studies around the difficulty of creating a memorable logo yet know it’s critical for business success.

Think about it this way, when you visit a farmer’s market, event, or something similar, there are several, and sometimes even hundreds of different vendors and booths set up. By the time you’ve meandered through the area are you going to remember the first or second booth you came across? You might, but it is more likely you will remember the booth if they have something that sets them apart.

Our survey found that 65.6% of event attendees are likely to remember a vendor booth that is branded and colorful versus a cheap generic tent that we alluded to earlier. (This doesn’t account for how good or bad the product or service is at the booth, which of course could tip the scales on being memorable for the attendee).

In addition to the fact that custom tents typically provide way more advertising real estate on them, there are other ways to attract attention to vendor booths as well. One of the easiest ways to do this is to stretch a vinyl banner between the back legs of a 10’X10’ booth, which is in signage jargon is called a back wall.

In fact, of the 500+ people who responded to our survey about custom popup tents, 61.8% of them said that feather flags, side-wall graphics, and back-wall graphics increase the professionalism of a vendor booth. It’s safe to assume that more visitors are likely to stop by a vendor who has a professional and well put together tent than the generic ones on either side of it! As such, here is a list of the banners and other products you might consider using to add to your custom tent:

• Vinyl Banner – can be made to any size with any custom design, banners are highly versatile for display signage. These are most commonly used as side and back walls.  
• Table Throw & Stretch Table Cover – quickly turn your product display space into advertising space. Keep in mind that table throws and table covers are best suited for indoor use or mild weather conditions.
• Feather Flag – Large and bold, feather flags are sure to draw eyes and feet. 
• Retractable Banner – Although mainly used indoors, during good weather retractable banners make it fast and easy to display product or service information.

No matter how large or small your operation, if you plan on using a pop up tent to promote or sell you should think about the benefits of using a custom canopy. People look for a level of professionalism with the vendors they interact with. Creating a good first impression with your booth by simply displaying your brand boldly on your tent goes a long way. 90.8% of survey respondents said that a custom branded pop up tent gives a professional perception of the vendor.

92% of businesses who use custom pop up tents agree that the branded tents are effective at getting event attendees to interact with them. Even so, many vendors and small businesses still opt for using plain, generic pop up tents because of the cost savings. In reality, the increase in visitors to a vendor booth from a branded tent quickly pays for itself!

If you are ready to see the success that will come when you employ a custom pop up tent, we encourage you to get started by talking with one of our professional graphic designers. They can help you design a perfect canopy that will literally help shout your brand from the rooftops (in this case tent tops)!

Using Pop Up Tents as Effective Marketing Tools

Choosing The right Campaign Sign

You might think that the standard 18” x 24” inch lawn sign is the only way to go, and while that’s a great option, it’s not the only one. Think about what you’re trying to accomplish with your campaign signage. A successful campaign involves designing the right signage and other print materials that ensure your name and the office you’re running for are easily seen and remembered. 

If you’re looking for multiple locations at a low cost, you’ll want to go with a corrugated plastic yard sign. The reason so many campaigns go with the standard corrugated sign is that it’s cost-effective and easy. If you want a high impact sign that’s a bit larger scale, choose a vinyl banner. You can also think about car magnets and window decals, as well as aluminum or wooden signs for something a little different. Check out our Campaign & Political Signs page for more ideas and details about the most popular large format campaign signs. 

Along with large format campaign signs, you may also want to consider smaller print materials to supplement your campaign marketing. In municipalities and neighborhoods that allow it—flyers, door hangers, and even brochures are effective “in hand” materials that can help inform citizens about your platform. 

You can also use small print materials for direct mail by using postcards. Bumperstickers can also be used and distributed to your supporters who are happy to show their loyalty and belief in your campaign.

Small format print materials:

• Flyers
• Door Hangers
• Brochures
• Postcards
• Bumperstickers
• Promotional Magnets

Studies show that campaign signs work, and having lots of signs is a definite advantage. Whether you start off your campaign with a wide format sign, small format or any combination of campaign signs or prints – have fun with it! Choose some mediums that you are interested in and get your name out there.

Campaign Sign Sizes

When it comes to getting noticed, the bigger the better is usually the idea. However, where you are placing your sign can sometimes determine what size you’ll need. Here are some sign size parameters to keep in mind for your sign placement:

• Standby traffic (foot traffic or neighborhoods) 12” x 18” to 12” x 24”

• Medium traffic (35-45 mph areas) 24” x 32” to 24” x 38”

• Highway traffic (high speed or long distance) 32” x 48”

• Billboard (Long distance or high impact) 48” x 60” to 48” x 96”

In addition to these sign sizes, there are quite a few other forms of advertising signage that can grab attention for your campaign. Bulletins, also called billboards, come in a standard 15’ x 49’ or 14’ x 48’. There are also bus benches, posters, subway poster ads, and even bicycle taxi ads. While these forms of campaign advertisement are effective, they can also be costly. If you’re considering something along these lines, your best course of action is to first analyze your return on investment and then move on from there. 

While 24” x 18” is the standard size for a yard sign, you’re definitely not limited to that size. You might even consider designing your yard signs slightly larger than 24” x 18” as the slight increase in size can make your signs “stand out” from the other local campaigns. 

If a large banner is allowed in a certain location you’re eyeing, go right ahead! Sometimes there are restrictions on sign location and sizes, so be sure to check on that before posting a sign. We put together a handy list and interactive map to see what’s allowed in your state. 

Design Elements to Consider

Color

In most cases, red, white, and blue are standard, but if you’ve got a different color in mind, that’s perfectly fine. Make sure you use lettering that has high contrast with background colors, as it will be easier to read from a distance. You don’t want to pay to design, print, and place yard signs that are hard to read and are, therefore, ineffective. In the 1992 book Wayfinding, authors Arthur & Passini introduced a formula based on light reflectance value (LRV) to calculate the contrast between two colors—here is the formula:

Where K1 is the highest color value (lrv), K2 is the lowest color value (lrv) and H is the contrast value. 

The industry standard for signage is that the contrast value between the background and the text of the sign should not be lower than 70. In other words, your contrast value (H) should be 70 or above. 

Here’s an example to help illustrate this point a little better: 

Based on this formula, you can identify which colors will work best for contrast and readability. A great place to find the LRV of a color is at a local paint store or online—the color swatch samples will have the LRV listed in the color details as shown here:

Color can be a tricky thing, so pay close attention to what will work and what won’t. Be sure to use text that has high contrast from the background of your sign and don’t get carried away with too many colors. For a more in-depth lesson on color, check out this post on signs.com.

Font

This can be tricky if you’re not careful. First, consider your size. The United States Sign Council Foundation has conducted studies on letter height and distance correlations. Their findings have shown that a 1” letter is visible from 30’ or less when driving, or 50’ or less when standing. Make sure your sign is readable according to the most common reading distance in your environment. Next, consider your font. Overly decorative fonts aren’t good for readability. Choose bold, easy to read fonts with minimal serifs.

Content

Less is more when it comes to campaign signs. Think of the absolute basic information your constituents need to know. These elements could include your name, position you are running for, and the area in which you are running. Sometimes, if you’ve got a particularly different name, you could use a catchphrase, but avoid too much wordage. Keep it simple. 

Besides your text, you may want to add a few flourishes or shapes. Be careful with this! Too much can distract from your vital information. Lines, small shapes like stars or flags, and other flourishes can compliment a sign well, as long as they are placed cleanly, and evenly, not crammed in to take up more space. Because you’re dealing with a relatively small space, pictures, faces, or other images don’t usually work well. Even on large banners, it’s a good idea to stay away from photos.

Layout

The layout of your content can play a big role in readability. In most cases, you want to shoot for 60% negative space and 40% copy. Like we mentioned above, if you are using lines or other flourishes, make them clean and symmetrical, and don’t let the details dominate your important information.

Design Process

Ok now you know the size you need for your sign locations, you have the layout and colors optimized for maximum readability, and you’re ready to design. If you’re nervous about designing your sign from scratch, start with a template! Templates are a super easy way to make sure you’re on track.

At Signs.com, our design tool is easy to use and you can produce great results right from the comfort of your home or office computer or device. If you have any other questions about your specific campaign sign ideas or just want some help creating a great sign, let one of our designers help—it’s free!

Designing your campaign sign can be a cinch, and you’ll secure your position in no time. Follow these handy tips and you’re on your way.

How to Design a Successful Campaign Sign

The “Design Your Success” scholarship is intended to give the applicants the ability to creatively submit a 1,200-1,500 word essay on how they plan to design their own success throughout their lives. The intentionally broad prompt allows applicants the freedom and challenge of creating personalized goals and plans to achieve their own definition of success. Katie has an inspiring background in service, in her local community, and her church. Katie has plans to attend the University of Wisconsin to become a news and sports broadcaster and share her talent for public speaking to a broader audience.

“One of the best byproducts of Signs.com’s success has been the ability to support and contribute to the growth of students nationwide through this scholarship,” says Nelson James, Co-founder of Signs.com. “Katie was one of many applicants, at a young age, that showed impressive maturity and an understanding on the necessity of goal setting and perseverance. We hope that this scholarship will help cover some of the costs of her college education as she works towards these goals.”

Applications for the 2020 scholarship will open up this Fall to students preparing to graduate in the class of 2020 as well as those who will be college/university freshman beginning in the Fall of 2020. More information on the “Design Your Success” scholarship can be found on our scholarship page.

About Signs.com

Signs.com is the online signage leader for businesses of varying sizes and consumer-based prints and products. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Signs.com’s award-winning customer service, one-day production, free design services, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee has helped the company achieve national and international recognition for its seamless, customer-oriented signage experience. Along with its efforts to facilitate the growth of education through the “Design Your Success” scholarship, Signs.com pursues philanthropy in several ways including working closely with and donating to nonprofit organizations and providing free prints to terminally ill children and those facing extended stay in hospitals nationwide.

3rd Annual Signs.com “Design Your Success” Scholarship Awarded

I’m going to dive into the details of sign standoffs—what they are, why and when you should use them, and how they work. I’ll also go over which signs work best with standoffs and how to easily add them to your order with our user-friendly design tool. I’ll finish off today’s post by sharing a few examples of fully installed standoffs. Let’s dive in!

What are standoffs?

Standoffs, sometimes called standoff screws are a hardware option for hanging a rigid sign through drilled holes. Standoffs attach your sign to a wall, placing an aesthetically pleasing gap of one inch in between the sign material and the wall. The result:  a dramatic and eye-catching display.

Standoffs function as fasteners, creating a durable mount for any sign. They also become part of the design and presentation of the finished sign. Standoff screws are usually round and fit through the drilled holes on your sign. Standoffs are commonly made of aluminum, brass, or nylon. There are many different finishes for standoffs including brushed, chrome, nickel, anodized, and more. Our standoffs are a beautiful brushed, anodized aluminum that look great with any sign.

Why use standoffs?

There are many ways to hang your sign, however, unlike traditional signage installations, standoffs give your sign a refreshing three-dimensional look. With standoffs, your sign is projected from the wall for an eye-catching display sure to impress any visitor. Standoffs allow your sign to literally pop from the wall.

Standoff screws are not only attractive, they also support the weight of a sign firmly to a wall, so you don’t have to worry about your sign falling down from tape or other adhesive hanging methods. Standoffs are the preferred option for logo signs above a reception desk, a directory sign, and even look good for room identification signs. You can also use standoffs to hang a permanent menu in a restaurant or hang a piece of art printed on acrylic or metal    

How standoffs work

A standoff screw is an assembly of hardware that includes the standoff mount, screw, washers, and dry-wall anchor. By itself, a standoff screw isn’t very strong, but like a bundle of sticks, when multiple standoffs are used together—one in each corner, or centered—they can hold a sign in place for years.

To use this elegant hanging solution for your needs, the sign must have predrilled holes where the standoff screws will be placed. When you order a sign from us using our design tool, drilled holes will automatically come with your sign when you choose to include standoffs with your sign. You can also select to have holes drilled without ordering standoffs if you desire.

The most common arrangement for sign standoffs is to have them placed in the four corners of a square or rectangular sign. You can also have the standoffs placed in the corners and the top & bottom of your sign for added support. If your sign is created with a contour cut, meaning that the shape of the sign is custom, then you can select custom placement to have your standoffs wherever you want.

If you select custom placement in the design tool, you’ll be prompted to provide a note describing where you want your holes drilled for your standoffs. Be as specific as you can to ensure your sign is created the way you want it. Another option is to have your standoffs placed at the top and bottom center of your sign or simply from the top corners only. Here is a complete list of the options for mounting your sign with standoffs:

• Four corners
• Corners & top & bottom center
• Custom placement
• Top & bottom center
• Top corners only

The best way to mount the sign with standoffs is to take measurements where the hole centers will be and lightly mark the wall with a pencil. You can also hold your sign up to the wall and use the pre-drilled holes as a template to mark the wall with a pencil where to drill. Just make sure you use a level so your sign is mounted straight. A small hole is drilled into the wall where the anchor is then inserted. After the anchor is placed, the standoff is placed over the anchor and the screw is drilled into the anchor through the hole on the back of the standoff. Once the standoff is in place, the sign with predrilled holes is held over the mounted standoffs with a plastic washer between the end of the standoff and the back of the sign. The Standoff screw cap is then threaded into the standoff housing with a second plastic washer on the front side of the sign.

Materials Compatible with Standoffs

There are a few sign materials where standoffs make a lot of sense and really add to the end result of the display. Our custom brushed aluminum signs and custom acrylic signs make beautiful displays for company logos, name signs, directories, and many other interior signs. Click on one of the sign types below to start creating your own custom sign with standoffs.

• Aluminum
• Brushed Aluminum
• Reflective Aluminum
• Rigid Plastic
• Metallic Photo Prints
• Acrylic Photo Prints
• Acrylic

Standoff display examples

Signs with standoffs look great and I want to show a few examples of some amazing mounted signs here. As a note, we recommend using standoffs for internal use with your signs, however, it is possible to mount a rigid sign outdoors with standoffs. Standoffs must be mounted to a solid surface in order to work.

If you are planning to mount your sign to any surface other than dry-wall, you’ll need to plan for how to drill into that surface and place a screw anchor so that the standoff bracket will be firmly attached. For surfaces like concrete or brick, you’ll need to purchase cement anchors, separately. If you’re mounting a sign to a wooden surface, you can simply drill a pilot hole and mount the standoff brackets directly into the wood without an anchor.

Let’s have a look at some great examples of the finished product:

Thanks for reading, and if you have any other questions about standoffs or anything sign related don’t hesitate to reach out to our amazing customer service team. Give us a call or chat online.

Signage 101 — What Are Standoffs?