Five reasons for using digital banners

Banners are an important advertising technique that helps you in communicating your brand message to the audience. Traditionally, these signs were made from vinyl, paper or cloth that could be rolled up, allowing for simple removal and installation. But as you’ve probably guessed, technology has come a long way from the times in which organizations had to hand-stencil their signs. Today, we have digital banners that allow large-scale signs to showcase detailed and dynamic content in the most cost-effective way.

To give you a better understanding of why digital banners are an effective method of advertising and why they should be a major part of your business’s marketing strategy, we have put together five reasons why digital banner ads work:

Exposure:

Majority of the advertising exposure happens when the prospect’s attention is focused somewhere else, such as while driving or walking down the road. According to experts, even an incidental exposure to advertising, at this time, can have a positive effect on the attitude of consumers.  Banner ads have the ability to create a favorable attitude towards the advert because of repeated exposure.

Cost effective:

Outdoor banners are believed to be the most cost effective and popular ways to advertise. They are a powerful technique to attract attention and are perfect for a variety of marketing activities.

Digital banners are clear:

If you are looking to send out a message to the masses and want to get as many “eyes” on your message, then digital banners are the right way to go. Banners make an impact on the audience when nothing else can. For instance, while stuck in traffic, while waiting for someone on the street. A creative and humorous billboard offers that escape and if done properly, it can be an extremely powerful advertising technique.

You tell the world what you’re about:

There is a huge customer base out there for you to tap into. But, how can you do it? Simple, just search for a format that works best for you. A well-made digital banner placed outside your shop can give your prospects information about your business and highlight discounts or offers. This technique will attract the customer towards your business, helping you to talk to them even before they enter the building. You can think of digital banners as a silent sales team.

Versatility:

Digital banners are all about quick installation, versatility and removal. A permanent digital display can be used to announce an endless string of information. And as HD screens and high-end software applications are being developed simultaneously, digital signs have taken off with unbelievable speed.

These advantages should be able to provide you with an understanding why banner ads work. With the right creation and planning of a digital banner campaign, you can have an extremely positive effect on the marketing efforts of your business. Banner ads permit you to reach thousands of customers at a comparatively low cost.  However, remember that digital banner ads are only one of the several elements that go into the creation of a successful marketing campaign.

Tips to buy magnetic car signs

Whether you want to display your services, company logo or name on the side of your vehicle, magnetic signs are one of the best ways to advertise your business. Here is how to buy the right magnetic signs for your vehicle:

Decide on a size

Start off by deciding what size of signs you’ll like to get made. Magnetic signs can be as tiny as a business card or as big as one whole side of your car or van. Certainly, the larger the graphic, the more it will cost to produce. Measure up the size of the area where you’ll like your magnetic signs to be used, and order accordingly.

Get in touch with local providers

Get in touch with local print shops and ask them if they manufacture magnetic signs. If so, discuss about the technology they use for printing and if they have the ability to include a photograph or logo on the sign. Make sure to confirm what layout they accept logos in. Apart from this, ask the designers to show you the final design before printing -- this will give you the time to check the sign for any errors before it is actually manufactured.

Quality

The materials that magnetic signs are printed on come in different quality and gauges. Thicker-gauge and higher-quality material is more durable and sticks better. Such signs will cost more, but their longevity is worth the money.

Wax your vehicle

Before using magnetic signs on your vehicle, make sure you have a fresh coat of wax on the automobile. Removing magnetic signs can scrape the paint. Also, when sending the vehicle to car wash, make sure the signs are removed. You must also take off the signs if you’re planning to park the vehicle in a single spot for too long.

When designing your magnetic signs, be sure to include important information, especially your company's phone number, in large print. Also, choose colors that are attractive to the eye. It is best to use brighter hues for background or lettering. Remember, a magnetic sign on your vehicle is also a reflection of your business. So, make sure you drive carefully.

As technology continues to expand and evolve, the attention span of an average person is shortened. Grabbing attention while on the go is one of the best ways to enhance advertising opportunities. Put up a magnetic sign on your vehicle to give your business another way to display its services, products, and contact information. However, make sure you invest in a good sign making company so that your graphics are attractive and of the best quality. If you’re looking for local sign makers in California, the best way to search for them is to research online. There are plenty of forums and directories that list reputed companies and the rates they charge for their services. Most sign makers also have their own websites that display their work and other related information. However, in case the internet doesn’t work for you, you can also ask family and friends for suggestions.

The Advantages of Modern Advertising

"Learn the rules. Then learn how to change them, and get others to follow." - Heidi Minx

Marketing is an important ingredient towards the success of a business. The concept integrates a number of techniques such as distribution, promotions, and sales that aid in establishing and keeping solid client relationships, while ensuring profitability. Marketing is very important if an enterprise wants to enjoy higher traffic and better sales. However, there is a big shift in the way businesses like to advertise themselves these days. A lot of them are swinging towards a more modernistic stance (such as, guerilla and online marketing) from a traditional marketing mindset.

There are a variety of reasons why so many owners prefer a modern marketing philosophy. These are,

Customer-orientation

Modern methods are more customer-oriented and reasonable. Conventional marketing, on the other hand, is often financially demanding and is not consumer-centric. One of the examples of contemporary marketing is guerilla marketing. The concept was invented as an unconventional method of promotion that relies on energy, time, and creativity rather than spending huge amounts of money. For instance, startups can utilize stadium cups to push adverts right into the hands of the prospects. Making use of customized stadium cups as an advertising tool is extremely effective because it adds to the advertisement’s functionality.

Web Marketing

Another modern advertising technique is e-marketing. What makes internet marketing so popular is that it is economical if you take into account the ratio of cost and traffic. By promoting your services and goods over the Internet, you have the benefit of appealing to consumers using a medium that can bring in quick results. Internet marketing is also very efficient as it allows companies to analyze how their marketing strategies are performing, and tweak them as required to ensure desirable returns.

Signage

Digital billboards, banners, vehicle graphics are other forms of modern day advertising techniques that have taken the advertising world by the horns. A lot of marketing companies use these signs as part of their marketing strategy. Most of them employ the services of sign makers who help them design and create effective signage. Creative graphic signs have the ability to gather instant attention of the passersby and arouse their curiosity for the brand.

Trust

Modern day marketing techniques are more effective in establishing credibility in a brand. In the long run, this improves the business’s utility and value.

The advancements in modern world may have transformed the way we do business, but spreading the word about your services or products is still important to your success irrespective of which industry you work in. There are more than a thousand ways to promote your brand to interested customers. However, the best way to go about it is to take a modern approach. Do not be scared of using new technology to your advantage. Conventional forms of marketing remains strong, but as the world increasingly moves into the digital age, it has become all the more important for companies to ensure they use digital and online advertising avenues as well. One of the best ways to find out about good sign making and advertising firms in California is to research online. Most providers these days have full-fledged websites displaying their services and work.

Six reasons for Using Digital Banners

Most businesses are looking for cost-effective and easy promotional strategies that will help them enhance their customer base. Thanks to the new age digital banners, it is now possible to promote a brand without putting a hole in your advertising budget. Contemporary banners are one of the most eye-catching and attractive ways of putting across a piece of information or message to the audience.

The extensive use of digital banners and their preference over other types of advertising can be attributed to their durability and cost-effectiveness. They provide a stiff competition to paper banners, cloth banners, and other forms of traditional advertising. Here are six reasons why digital banners should be used by every business:

Quality

When promoting an event or a business, the advertisement quality should never be risked. Conventional printing generally has problems such as miss printing and smearing ink. Digital banners, on the other hand, provide high quality assurance and better finished results.

Time-effective

It is a lot easier to align and tweak a digital image and then take out as many prints as possible, in comparison to re-printing a cloth or paper banner. You or your designer can create a good final copy before print and then take out smear-proof, clear copies in no time using digital printers. There is no need to spend hours creating digital banners as the technology does not require printing plates.

Durable

When compared to cloth or paper banners that tend to damage with time and if hung outdoors, digital banners are more stable.

Less Ink and less paper

Digital banners are extremely resourceful. The technology ensures there is less wastage of paper and ink. You are not required to worry about the colors and image positioning.

Cost-effective

There is no doubt in the cost effectiveness of digital banners. Whether you plan to get them printed at your own office or hire a sign making company to do the job for you, the cost per banner will be a lot less in comparison to other modes of advertising.

Versatility

Digital banners are extremely versatile and suitable for all kinds of situations that necessitate advertising. Be it a product advertisement or an outdoor event, these banners get noticed easily by the masses due to their brightness. They can be utilized widely for visual displays, general business, outdoor activities, and displays at booths.

Digitally created banners have become an important part of indoor and outdoor advertising for companies. However, when planning to use these graphical signs for your campaign, it is best to go to a professional. There are several sign makers in California that specialize in digital banners. The good ones do not just print the graphics, they also provide help with the designing. They use the best material and printing techniques to make sure the end result is nothing less than spectacular. One of the best ways to find out about a good provider is to search online. There are plenty of good options you’ll find here.

Ways to Improve your Grocery Store Signs

Grocery stores offer an extensive range of products for their customers. Therefore, to make navigation easy, signs are placed at different corners of the store. While some signs list the items found in a specific aisle, others inform customers about promotional items or locally grown goods. Making sure that your signage is helpful and appropriate helps your grocery store attract more customers and provide an enjoyable shopping experience.

Talk to Customers

The best feedback you can get is through your customers. Ask them what they’ll like for sign sizes, colors, designs, lettering, and locations. Make a note of the most common style and color preferences. Apart from this, request your customers to suggest sign location. Find out if they prefer floor signs or hanging signs.

Remember, your signs should be written in attention grabbing, bold color and text. Keep the information brief and easily readable, and include prices and product names. Also, the color you choose must stand out and at the same time should not overwhelm the customer.

Choose the Right Material

Find out which material will best suit your needs. Every store has a different personality, so the sign material you choose should vary according to the environment you want to create. Normally, grocery store signs look good in plastic or wood. However, the size should vary. Smaller stores should stick to smaller signs, to avoid overwhelming customers. Large stores, on the other hand, need prominent signs due to the higher square footage involved.

Keep it Uniform

Make sure you decide on a unifying theme for your signs. Do not use different materials for different departments.

Use Outdoor Signs

Put up signs at your store front to attract more customers. These signs can promote particular items, sales or other specialties that make the store different. One of the best forms of outdoor signs is chalkboards. You can easily draw imagery or list your best products on these traditional but creative mediums.

Include Shelf Signs

Shelf signs display numbers, item descriptions, and prices. They are fixed to the edge of each shelf and make shopping extremely easy for customers. Many grocery stores also add barcodes to these signs for inventory purposes.

Signs Over Food Items

It is a good idea to put up signs over food items on display. This helps customers differentiate between items that are fresh and local from the ones that have been transported from far flung areas.

Contact a Sign Making Company

Sign makers do not just manufacture your signs but also help you design your signage from scratch. Due to their experience and expertise, they can help you decide which material and style will best suit the personality of your store.

From handmade signs to state-of-the-art materials, grocery store displays have come a long way. By doing some research and getting a sign maker on board, you can certainly come up with winning strategies that will help you attract repeat customers and increase business.

Easy Tips to Design a Company Logo

A logo is not just words and images, a well-made logo tells people about your company-- what you do, who you are, and what you value the most. Because, there is so much a logo can do, it's important to take out time to make one. Here are some tips to create a design that will brand you in the marketplace successfully.

1. Figure Out What the Main Function of your Logo should be

A logo is the representation of your brand. So, what do you want your logo to do for you?

1. Create trust in your company. Trust is a major part of any business relationship. Your clients should be able to trust you. A good logo should convey your integrity and honesty and should help you build credibility.
2. Memorability. People like to shop with their eyes; brand logos are a lot easier to remember than products, services and names.
3. Enhance admiration. If your customers already hold a good impression about you, you can certainly build on that by developing a logo that is admired for its cleverness, looks, or effective simplicity.
4. Understand your Brand and Customers

A logo should essentially be an introduction to your brand and must reach a particular audience. Hence, when creating one, you should keep your customers and brand ideology in mind. Make a list of what you consider your company represents. Research well and try to come up with something that will resonate to your potential customers and make them come to you.

2. Choose a Color Wisely

When choosing a color for your brand logo, you have to think of the personality of your brand. Bold and bright colors may seem attention grabbing, but can also look brash. Muted tones on the other hand exude sophistication, but can be overlooked.

1. Red: bold, energetic
2. Yellow: inventive, sunny, optimistic
3. Orange: friendly, creative,
4. Green: organic, growth
5. Purple: wise, spiritual, evocative
6. Blue: tranquil, professional and trustworthy
7. Black: powerful and credible
8. Pink: flirty and fun
9. White: pure and clean
10. Brown: historical, rural, and steady
11. Keep it Flexible and Easy

It is important to keep a balance between quirky and simple. You want your brand logo to be appealing, but you don’t want the viewer to sit and stare, analyzing the meaning of the design.

3. Do not Expect Instant Success

Logos take time to gain popularity. They won’t become iconic instantly, even if the design and combination is perfect. Ultimately, the success of your logo will depend on the popularity of your product and the market that you cover.

4. Use Online Tools and Resources

The internet offers a sea of information for those who require inspiration, assistance or collaboration when designing the company’s logo.

5. Hire a Sign Maker or a Designer

You may want to create a logo on your own; but, a professional will certainly do a better job. They have the right skills and equipment to help you come up with the right design. You can instruct them with what you want, your ideas and requirements. They will keep those in mind during the designing phase.   

Crafting a brand's visual identity is more than placing a name in a circle. A logo is a company's first impression, one that can influence a prospect’s brand perception, overall attitude and ultimately purchase decisions toward a product.

Most Common Advertising Mistakes

“Good advertising does not just circulate information. It penetrates the public mind with desires and belief”- Leo Burnett

This quote does hold a lot of truth. A well-made advertising campaign can attract the right prospects and get everyone talk about your product and service. While on the other hand, bad marketing can just as easily spoil your reputation and cost you thousands of dollars.

Here is a list of seven mistakes commonly made in the field of business marketing that you must avoid.

• Not Knowing your Ideal Customer - There are several companies that have no concept of who their ideal customers are. They keep a very product-centric view and believe that knowing who to target is not important since their product is so "hi-end". This is one of the biggest marketing mistakes businesses make. If you do not target the right audience, you will have a hard time increasing sales, no matter how “state of the art” your product may be.

• Lack of Testing and Research - Market testing and research should be done to determine how effective your marketing strategies really are. This helps you take the guesswork out of what your customer really wants. You should always make sure you have tested different prices, offers, and packages.

• Marketing without a Unique Selling Point - Your USP is the statement that singles you out amongst your competition. This should be utilized in every piece of advertising material. Do not market without it! Positioning your business away from competitors and making it distinctive keeps your business strong.

• Advertising at the Wrong Places - If you spend your advertising dollars at the wrong place then your advertising becomes expenditure and not an investment. It is important to get to know your potential customers. Give them a survey to fill out. Ask them what magazines or newspapers they like. You have to build a profile of your target market. After this, the advertising media will match you up with the right sections and stations.

• Listening to Wrong Advice - When it comes to advertising, everybody is willing to offer you advice. And, since you feel that you know so little, you take everything at face value. There are a lot of media salespersons who are just out to sell you advertisement. Hence, be careful whose advice you take.

• Concentrating on Product Features - There are so many businesses that talk about what their service or product has, not what it does. The truth is no one buys a service or product for its characteristics. Hence, evaluate every service and product you offer. What are the real benefits of each to your products? Are you displaying these benefits in your advertisements?

• Lack of Advertising Signs - One of the areas where businesses fail to invest is advertising signs. Banners, A-frames, and billboards are some of the most popular ways to attract foot traffic into your establishment. Make sure you get these graphics designed by creative and witty sign makers.

If your current marketing plan is making one of these mistakes then it’s time for you to take a step back from your present strategy, research prospective customer bases, and spend good time listening to the needs of your clients. It is never too late to start afresh.