Is your brand ready to conquer the great outdoors? If you are not so sure about the answer, don’t worry—this guide will help you make sense of your outdoor signage advertising options, including:
- Pylon signs
- Storefront awnings
- Channel letters
- Building signs
- Wall signs
- Bus benches
- Billboards
- POS displays
- Pole signs
- Window graphics
You will learn all the characteristics of each type of sign, including a description and the advantages you get with each alternative.
You are watching: A Guide to the Different Types of Outdoor Signage Advertising for Your Business
At the end, you will find a section that will help you determine which is the outdoor sign that works best for your business.
Ready? Then let’s get started on our outdoor signage journey. We’ll begin by taking a closer look at outdoor signage to understand what it is and why it is important.
Outdoor Signage: a Brief Introduction
Great advertising helps you meet your clients where they are, and that place is often outdoors.
Whether driving on a freeway, walking down the street, or biking to work, your potential customers are constantly on the move, and promoting your brand in public spaces is the best way to catch their attention.
Outdoor advertising, also called out-of-home advertising (or OOH for short), is any visual media that is placed so that your potential customers can notice it when they are out of their homes.
In our hyperconnected world, it’s easy to underestimate the importance of outdoor advertising. However, this is a myth worth dispelling. For example, according to a 2017 study by the marketing measuring company Nielsen, out-of-home advertising is the most effective offline medium when it comes to driving online activity.
In short, outdoor signs connect with your clients in the places they frequent, bolstering engagement across all media and increasing sales.
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Pylon Signs
What Are Pylon Signs?
Pylon signs are freestanding, tall structures that can be described in simple terms as a pole that displays an advertising sign on top.
This type of signage is one of the most imposing forms of outdoor advertising. Pylon signs can be supported by one or two poles. They can be one-sided or double-sided and can promote more than one business. In fact, shopping malls often use pylon signs to advertise all the stores you can find within their premises.
What Are the Advantages of Pylon Signs?
Height and size are the two strongest qualities of these signs. If your business is located in a busy area where you have only seconds to capture the attention of potential customers, a pylon sign can do wonders for your visibility.
You just can’t miss a pylon sign because it towers over other forms of advertising. That’s why they are the outdoor sign of choice for businesses located by a highway or in other areas where you run the risk of having potential customers speed past your business without noticing it.
What Businesses Can Take Advantage of Pylon Signs?
Generally speaking, pylon signs are a great signage option when you have a good portion of outdoor space at your disposal. Some of the businesses that fit this profile include:
- Shopping centers/malls
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Gas stations
- Restaurants
- Industrial complexes
- Hotels
Commercial and Storefront Awnings
What Are Commercial and Storefront Awnings?
A classic form of outdoor advertising, awnings are roof-like structures that protect a storefront from sunlight and rain.
An awning adds a new dimension to your storefront, turning your business into a landmark that grabs the attention of passersby.
What Are the Advantages of Storefront Awnings?
The defining characteristic of storefront awnings is that they blend form and function. This means that in addition to offering protection from the elements, an awning is an effective way to promote your products or services.
A storefront awning gives your business a unique look that your clients will notice instantly. Additionally, awnings may even help you cut down on your energy bills by easing the burden on your air conditioning system.
What Businesses Can Take Advantage of Storefront Awnings?
While awnings are the go-to outdoor advertising option for industries like hospitality, a broad range of companies use them to attract more clients:
- Hotels
- Cafes
- Restaurants
- Salons
- Malls
- Theaters
- Galleries
Channel Letters
What Are Channel Letters?
As their name implies, these are tridimensional letters cut individually to form the name of a business or to convey any other advertising message.
Channel letters are often mounted on a wall or above doorways. Despite their name, a channel-letter sign may include any other shape other than letters, including your logo or any other design of your choosing.
What Are the Advantages of Channel Letters?
Channel letters are memorable and durable. They project a contemporary look that will leave a lasting impression on your customers.
Due to their structure, channel letters offer some added advantages compared to other signs. For example, if a letter of your sign is damaged, all you have to do is replace the individual letter, not the entire sign.
What Businesses Can Take Advantage of Channel Letters?
Channel letters are versatile and can help advertise almost any kind of company. These are some of the businesses that are already using channel letters regularly:
- Gyms
- Malls
- Retail stores
- Restaurants
- Tech companies
- Hotels
- Wellness/health services
Building Signs
What Are Building Signs?
Building signs are graphics that help potential customers identify your business.
Building signs are as versatile as signage itself, so they can fulfill many functions. They can display the name and logo of your company, but you can also use them for directional purposes, to promote seasonal sales, or to convey any other type of message.
What Are the Advantages of Building Signs?
These signs are versatile, durable, and easy to maintain. Today’s materials are extremely robust, allowing your sign to stay vibrant for a long time with a common-sense maintenance routine.
Building signs come in many shapes and sizes. Whether you need a large sign to get your business noticed or a small sign as a wayfinding aid, there’s an option for you. This variety means that you can use building signs as the star of your outdoor advertising strategy, or you can decide to cast them in a supporting role if necessary.
What Businesses Can Take Advantage of Building Signs?
If you have a physical location, chances are that you can use building signs to bolster the visibility of your brand. Some examples of businesses that use building signs include:
- Wellness/health services
- Retail stores
- Banks
- Restaurants
- Cafes
- Real estate
- Dealerships
Wall Signs
What Are Wall Signs?
As you may have guessed already, wall signs are displayed on a wall. You can think of them as huge decals. They are printed on self-adhesive vinyl, which makes them extremely easy to install and remove.
If this sounds simple, the results are anything but. Large format printing technology has evolved at a dizzying speed and even the boldest branding vision can be brought to life with an outdoor wall sign.
What Are the Advantages of Wall Signs?
As we mentioned earlier, wall signs are easy to install and remove, reducing downtime for your business to a minimum. Since they are printed on vinyl, they are also durable and can withstand extreme weather conditions without fading.
Most importantly, wall signs never fail to make an impression, so if what you want is to raise awareness of your brand, this is an alternative that should be on the top of your list.
What Businesses Can Take Advantage of Wall Signs?
It’s no exaggeration to say that wall signs are for everyone. If your business has an exterior wall, then you have space that you could be using to promote your brand. Some businesses and organizations that are already leveraging the potential of wall signs include:
- Restaurants
- Retail stores
- Sports teams/venues
- Event venues
- Clothing/lifestyle brands
- Real estate
- Wellness/health services
Bus Benches
What Are Bus Benches?
When it comes to outdoor advertising, you should leave no stone unturned, or rather, no surface unused. Bus benches help your brand stay foremost in the minds of your potential customers even when your business itself is out of sight.
This piece of urban furniture offers enough space to display your message comfortably, allowing your brand to become an everyday presence that your customers feel attached to.
What Are the Advantages of Bus Benches?
Unlike other types of outdoor signage, these graphics are detached from your brick-and-mortar location. This is a crucial factor because at some point all brands need to expand their reach or target a specific audience, and bus benches allow you to do just that.
Advertising on bus benches tends to cost less than advertising on billboards. Additionally, there are more bus benches than billboards, a fact that helps you reach more specific audiences.
What Businesses Can Take Advantage of Bus Benches?
From global companies who want to solidify their local presence to small businesses looking to take their branding strategy to the next level, bus benches are a good option for a wide breadth of organizations.
- Event venues
- Media companies (radio/TV shows, podcasts, etc.)
- Franchises (restaurants, coffee, etc.)
- Nonprofit campaigns
- Sports teams/venues
- Clothing/lifestyle brands
- Local businesses (real estate, dentists, hair salons, etc.)
Billboards
What Are Billboards?
Billboards are the example that comes to most people’s minds when they think of outdoor advertising.
A billboard is a large structure that displays advertising messages in high-traffic areas such as busy streets and intersections. Given their size and scale, billboards are among the outdoor signs that boast the highest reach.
What Are the Advantages of Billboards?
It’s undeniable that billboards have the power to take your brand to the next level. They are bold advertising statements that set you apart immediately from your competitors and grab the attention of your potential customers.
While other forms of advertising (such as TV or radio ads) may last less than a minute, a billboard advertises your brand 24/7 and reaches a broader audience.
What Businesses Can Take Advantage of Billboards?
Any business looking to ramp up its advertising strategy should consider adding billboards to its signage toolkit.
- Clothing/lifestyle brands
- Event venues
- Automakers/dealerships
- Wellness/health services
- Insurance companies
- Banks
- Food industry
POS Displays
What Are POS Displays?
POS displays, or point-of-sale displays, are advertising structures located near the area where a consumer completes a purchase.
This means that POS displays are always located at the right place and at the right moment to help you make sales and grow your customer base.
What Are the Advantages of POS Displays?
POS displays are a cost-effective way of increasing sales and driving brand awareness among your customers.
These are eye-catching, lightweight structures that can be used multiple times and in different settings (for example, near a checkout line or as part of your trade show exhibit).
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They are also highly customizable, making it easy to convey a message as unique as your brand.
What Businesses Can Take Advantage of POS Displays?
Any company looking to boost its bottom line can use POS displays to appeal to new and current customers.
- Food and beverage industry
- Clothing/lifestyle brands
- Makeup companies
- Household items
- Pet supplies
- Automotive products
Pole Signs
What Are Pole Signs?
These signs are mounted on poles and are often utilized to direct traffic to a business or to help your customers navigate an outdoor area, such as a parking lot.
Pole signs can be mounted on one or two poles, depending on the size of your sign. As a general rule, the larger the sign, the more support it will require.
What Are the Advantages of Pole Signs?
Pole signs are versatile: they come in many sizes and can convey many different types of messages, including branding, wayfinding indications, and even historical information.
This type of outdoor signage enhances the visibility of your brand and strengthens the relationship with your customer base by allowing you to create many timely branding opportunities without straining your budget.
What Businesses Can Take Advantage of Pole Sigs?
Pole signs are a great fit for companies looking for a cost-effective option to raise brand awareness and boost sales.
- Real estate
- Shopping malls
- Wellness/health services
- Dealerships
- Event venues
- Gas stations
- Restaurants
Window Graphics
What Are Window Graphics?
Window graphics are signs printed on self-adhesive vinyl and placed on a glass surface, such as windows or storefronts.
This form of outdoor advertising is ideal to promote seasonal sales or to keep the exterior of your business always fresh, conveying a sense of fun and dynamism that your customers will find irresistible
What Are the Advantages of Window Graphics?
Window graphics are a high-impact, cost-effective advertising solution that has proved to work for organizations of all sizes.
From family-owned restaurants to global brands, all kinds of businesses are using window graphics to boost sales and you could be next!
Window graphics are easy to install and require only minimal maintenance. Plus, you are usually not required to get a permit to install a window graphic, a need that may arise with other forms of outdoor advertising.
What Businesses Can Take Advantage of Window Graphics?
Your physical facilities are more than brick and mortar—they are also glass! As many businesses have found out, windows and your storefront are a blank canvas you can use to promote your brand.
- Event venues/Convention centers
- Tech companies
- Banks
- Food and beverage industry
- Clothing/lifestyle brands
- Restaurants
- Museums
Which Is the Outdoor Signage Alternative That Works for You?
Now that we have reviewed the most important types of outdoor signs, you may be wondering which is the sign that works for you.
Your decision will depend on many factors, including your budget, your marketing goals, and the unique character of your brand.
These are some questions you can ask yourself to determine which is the ideal type of outdoor signage for your business.
- How much space do you have at your disposal? Not all outdoor spaces are the same, and your signs should account for this fact. If you have lots of space, then you may consider a pylon sign or an awning. Conversely, when space is a constraint, channel letters, window graphics, or wall signs may be a more convenient alternative.
- What’s your budget? Naturally, your budget is one of the most important factors when it comes to choosing outdoor signage. If you are on a budget, window graphics and pole signs are two powerful budget-friendly options. However, if you want to splurge on your advertising, you can go for a pylon sign, a billboard, or bus benches.
- What are your communication goals? Having clear communication goals makes it easier to determine which is the type of outdoor signage that fits your needs. If what you want is to make an impression, billboards, big wall signs, or bus bench graphics are good alternatives. If what you need is to send a more subdued branding message, then a building sign or a pole sign may get the job done.
- What audience are you targeting? For your outdoor advertising strategy to succeed, it’s essential to choose a sign that helps you reach your intended audience. For example, a window graphic is ideal if you are a local restaurant trying to attract passersby and people from your neighborhood. However, if you are a new brand in town trying to make a big splash, bus bench signs or billboards may be a better alternative.
Outdoor Advertising: Wrapping It Up
Just like a person, no business can succeed without venturing outside. Outdoor signage advertising helps you get noticed, amplifying your branding message and increasing both foot and online traffic to your business.
That’s the good news. The excellent news is that regardless of your budget and your communication strategy, there is a type of outdoor signage that meets your needs. From pylon signs to billboards, bus benches, and window graphics, there is a wealth of effective visual solutions you can leverage to take awareness of your brand to the next level.
Choosing the right type of outdoor sign takes careful consideration. The most important factors are the space at your disposal, your budget, your communication goals, and the audience you want to target.
These general guidelines will allow you to get a deeper insight into your outdoor advertising needs. However, every situation is unique, and only a team of signage experts can help you refine your strategy to take full advantage of outdoor signage advertising.
A signage expert can help you create an effective outdoor signage advertising strategy that delivers the impact you need for the budget you have in mind.
If you are considering creating outdoor signs for your business, contact CR&A Custom to discuss your signage needs, or fill out the online form to request a quote today.
CR&A Custom, Excellence in Outdoor Signage
We are a large format printing company based in Los Angeles, California. Our expert team of designers, technicians, and installers is dedicated to creating effective visual solutions in outdoor signage for companies of all sizes in the United States and around the world.
When you choose CR&A Custom for your outdoor signs, you get all the benefits that come with working with a leader in the large format printing industry:
- Fast turnaround times. Thanks to our in-depth experience and our advanced technical capabilities, we can bring your outdoor signs to completion in time and without stress for you.
- Comprehensive expertise. From design to installation, our in-house team includes experts in every aspect of large format printing. This ensures maximum quality in all our products.
- Certifications. Our culture of excellence is backed up by some of the most stringent certifications in the industry, including the G7 Master Qualification, the 3M MCS Warranty, and the SB/DVBE Certification. You can check the full list here.
- A proven track record of success. For more than 25 years, businesses of all types have trusted CR&A to help them reach their customers and boost awareness of their brand.
Whether you need billboards, window graphics, pylon signs, or pole signs, our experienced team is here to help you take your business to new heights.
Contact us today by email (info@cracucstom.com), telephone (213-749-4440), Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn) for a free quote or to learn more about our full range of large format printing solutions.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor