Banners Mean Big Business for all Your Advertising Promotions

If you’re in business, banners are a really effective way of getting your brand name in front of more prospects. Perhaps you have recently taken over a business and you want to tell people the place is under new management. Alternatively, maybe you are a high street concern with a special promotion you want more passers-by to know about.

It is often said that one needs to be subjected to a brand image or marketing message around seven times before it impacts on our memory. Just think how much it would cost you to place an ad in your local newspaper or trade magazine for seven weeks!

That’s why banners are such fantastic marketing tools for businesses that have a high footfall of passing trade. Because they are easy and cheap to produce they provide exceptional value for money. Also they are hard-wearing and durable in all weathers, so your marketing message will look good for longer, which is great for your reputation. If you’ve ever come across a business displaying a tatty or weather-beaten banner, you’ll know what sort of image that gives off.

And really there’s no excuse for it, because banners are one of the cheapest forms of advertising you can use, representing a great return on investment. The fact that they are such a versatile and cost-effective medium means you can afford to change your marketing message or promotions whenever you wish.
Word-of-mouth advertising is widely recognized as being the best (and cheapest) form of advertising anyone could have. This aside, most other forms of advertising tend to be expensive and don’t guarantee a response.
By comparison, most people who have used banner advertising in their business would agree that there is no other outdoor advertising medium to touch it. In fact, when the US Chamber of Commerce asked 2475 shoppers how they learned about a business, 50 per cent of respondents said it was through an “on-premise sign.” Next best came “word-of-mouth” with 33 per cent!

It’s possibly something you’ve never considered before, but banners are great tools for reinforcing your online marketing messages. If you use social media to promote your business then backing up your online marketing with an innovatively-designed banner can win you new fans and help you shift more product:- “Visit our Facebook page and sign up for a FREE choc muffin next time you drop by!”

Cross-promoting your products and services via different kinds of media is a good way to spread awareness of your business and win you more fans via different sources.

Create the perfect banner for your business

You’ve refurbished your shop or brought in an exciting new product line, but now you need a bold, striking way to get this message across to your core customer base. There are many ways to market your business, but banners are one of the simplest and most time-honoured methods out there. If you get the design right – simple and bold is best – then you stand a great chance of pulling in new clients and increasing your turnover. So how do you go about creating your advertising banner?

Get your message right: As we all know, the most important element to any advertising campaign is a bold, succinct and memorable slogan that encapsulates in a few words what your business or new product is all about. And if you’re advertising a sale in a shop, for example, then the date and time it is happening should be very clearly displayed. Beautifully designed, well-made banners are all very well, but if they aren’t telling potential clients what you want them to know, they are essentially a waste of your marketing budget.

Keep the design simple: Once you have decided on your slogan, you need to start fitting the design of the banner around it. Make sure your text is clearly visible from a distance to ensure the maximum possible effect. Don’t, whatever you do, overcrowd it by using too much colour or imagery as this will detract from the message you are trying to convey. Less is most definitely more.

Choose the right materials: If you want your banner to be up for more than a week then you need it to be durable. Look for banner makers which are sewn with rot-proof polyester threads or something equally strong, and printed with long-life UV-stable outdoor inks. If you really want your banner to be strong you should also go for a fairly heavy fabric. On the other hand, if you are only intending to use the banners once, or very occasionally, a lighter weight material will do fine and is also cheaper. If you want to go for a greener option, choose a recyclable material such as polypropylene, or even a biodegradable material such as bamboo or some form of bioplastic.

Location, location, location: Now you have your banner, or banners, the final step is choosing the perfect place for them. Who do you want to see it? Motorists? Pedestrians? Will you be putting it outside your shop to entice people in, or putting several banners in strategic places throughout the town on custom banner stands? Are you aware of all the laws regarding sign placement?

The key to creating a great banner to promote your business is a strong, simple message. You also need to make sure you choose the right location to display your banner and use the right materials if longevity is a factor.

Banners Are Perfect For Promoting New And Established Businesses

Financial constraints often mean that small businesses are limited in the amount of advertising they can readily afford. Therefore whatever advertising they commit to has to work harder to justify itself. If you’ve ever run an ad in a newspaper or magazine you’ll know exactly what I mean. Traditional forms of print advertising like newspapers, trade publications and advertising directories can work out extremely costly. Even the smallest-sized ad in your local newspaper can be expensive and may not always provide a satisfactory return on investment.

This realization means that many businesses are shying away from directory advertising. For example, to make your advertising stand out in a local business directory such as Yellow Pages, you will need a well-designed box ad, which once again can prove a budget buster. Not only that, but the merits of placing your ‘well-designed’ and costly ad bang in the centre of those of your closest competitors is debatable to say the least.

It is regularly lamented in the press that two out of three start-up businesses fail within their first 18 months of trading. Often this is directly attributed to a lack of funds, but equally it can be said that many businesses fail because they fail to get their brand values across to their target audience successfully.

One established way to get your company message into the wider world is through advertising banners. Banners are equally effective for start-up ventures as for well-established businesses. They are the affordable advertising solution for all types of businesses.

Unlike traditional print advertising which requires a weekly or monthly financial commitment, banners require a one-off investment, but they make your advertising go further. Banners are a unique and versatile way to make the most of your marketing budget. Banners are perfect for using on site at your place of work, as well for events, exhibitions and shows. You can use them for new product launches and promotions . . .
Banners come in a variety of sizes and can be designed to your individual requirements, incorporating your company logo and branding.

Because banners are generally made from PVC material and are therefore virtually weather-proof, they are ideal for all kinds of outdoor events and marketing promotions. Your banner can be eye-catching . . .  thought provoking . . . entertaining . . . whatever you want it to be.

Banners are a proven way to attract new custom at a fraction of the cost of traditional print advertising. Unlike a print advertisement, once your banner is installed outside your business or place of work, it will remain there until you decide otherwise. Banners provide a unique and cost-conscious type of advertising service that will run and run . . .

Advertising Banners that are Environmentally Friendly

The green revolution is ever present and many companies, in particular, are finding themselves under scrutiny for their attention or lack thereof to green or eco-friendly initiatives.  Various areas can be green in the way that you do business and you can use eco conscious advertising banners  to demonstrate your commitment to being green.

You might not have given much thought to the sorts of advertising collateral you use. You want it to be effective and cost effective. But have you thought about the fact that using environmentally friendly advertising materials also makes a positive statement to everyone you do business with?

Signs and advertising banners are used on a regular basis for many companies. If you are purchasing a banner or sign, whether your event is eco friendly inspired and related to a green initiative or not, choosing something sustainable or recyclable is a smart idea. Whether you’re hosting a green event or you simply want to be sure your company consistently exhibits a commitment to being environmentally friendly, signs and banners are another area that can demonstrate your commitment.

Many companies do internal launches for being more environmentally friendly to educate their staff on conservation of company resources and kicking off an educational event in this area can be done well if you’re using eco-friendly marketing materials such as recyclable paper, doing digital advertising to save trees, and perhaps using an advertising banner in the office that serves to remind staff of the company’s firm commitment to be greener.

In advertising, banners can often be made with sustainable, recyclable, and recycled materials. Today’s options include polypropylene fabric, which is 100% recyclable and bamboo fibre, over 99% biodegradable and you can work with bamboo that isn’t treated with pesticides to further demonstrate the company’s conscious decision to be as green and earth friendly as possible. Beyond eco friendly advertising banners, you might also be interested in eco friendly roll up displays that are made with bamboo fibre.

If your company gives preference to earth friendly practises, you will probably want to work with companies who take a stand on environmental issues and who lead by example.  When choosing an advertising banner or printing company to deal with, look for their commitment by checking for some of the following initiatives:

• Offering an eco friendly option
• Demonstrating a commitment to avoiding harsh chemicals wherever possible
• Indications that the company does its best to conserve energy in manufacturing and printing processes
• Demonstrates a commitment to employee health and safety through business practises.

Signs and banners are used in public to make a statement about your company to customers, to business partners, and even to your own internal staff. Using environmentally friendly business practises wherever you can makes sense for how your customers and business partners will see you. This area is very important to make companies and consumers. If you need advertising done, talk to your sign printing company about environmentally friendly banner options.

Know your Advertising Needs Before You Order that Display Banner

A banner hung outside your business or other strategic location can draw customers. However, do you understand exactly what your needs are in terms of advertising in this manner? If you had a basic checklist to follow during the planning and creation stages of your signage, you can ensure that what your order will be the best use of your advertising budget.

How your Sign Will Be Used

Understanding how your advertising signage will be used is an important step in your checklist. Are you simply directing someone to your business, providing business information or selling? Knowing exactly how your sign will be used can help you devise the correct message you want to relay to the public.
The type of display you require for your banner as well as the environmental conditions in which it will be exhibited is important too. Do want your signage to be temporary, perhaps advertising special deals or promotions or do you want something with a more permanent feel? Will the signage be hung indoors or outdoors where climate conditions can affect it?

Projected Image and Target Customers

Having a full grasp on the type of image you want to project to the public will help you determine your design layout requirements. For instance, a playful, fun attitude can be easily projected with bright colours and graphics whereas an austere, professional look may require more subdued pictures and colours. Of course, understanding the targeted customer base can also lead you to the right design layout.

Viewing Probability

Signage like banners are often displayed outside so customers may be in their cars or walking along the sidewalks when they see them. Viewing time and distance needs to be studied to determine the best design for your signage. If your business is located on a busy street with steady traffic flow, your advertising sign should be eye-catching and uncluttered because potential customers may have mere seconds in which to read it. However, if you are located in a heavy foot traffic area or a place with plenty of slow stop-start vehicle action, you just might have a bit more leeway in the design as customers will have more time to view your signage.

Of course, before you start working with a sign company, it is important that you research your local laws in regards to displaying signage as you might have to register for a special permit or adhere to specific standards in regards to size and colour. Once you do that and take into account your advertising sign checklist, you can then get started on the design and order of your display banner for your business.

Design Advice for your Banner Advertising Signs

A vinyl banner can be a valuable tool for advertising and you should view it as a flexible, moveable billboard. There are just a few things to consider when you are designing one to ensure that it will serve as an effective means of advertising, not a distracting deterrent. If you are new to creating signage, there are a few newbie mistakes you can avoid from the onset to prevent wasteful spending.
Keeping It Simple

One of the most common mistakes when developing large signage is trying to pack in as much information as possible. Potential customers are simply not going to examine your banner with a magnifying glass and take in every piece of information, so there is no reason why you should include more than necessary. People are bombarded with advertising every day so a cluttered sign is a boring one. Eye-catching colours, prominent imagery, catchy slogans or a combination of all three can effectively garner attention at a glance.

Make the Most of your Advertising Budget

If you have a finite amount of money to spend on signage, decide what you can afford and then make the most of it. You can choose full-colour vinyl banners which would allow for the use of high resolution photos and business logos along with a variety of backgrounds.

With a smaller budget, you can make the most of your signage by manipulating colour to draw the eye. A reverse text technique can really make a sign pop. Basically, this is when you use lighter colours like red, white or yellow against a dark background, usually a navy or black colour. The contrasting colours of light against dark offers more impact.

Avoiding Dating your Advertising Signage

While there may be times when you might need a vinyl sign with a specific date, you should avoid this practise in other situations. By avoiding specifics, you can get more mileage out of your advertising signs. For instance, a "This Week Only" sign could be used off and on throughout the year whereas a sign with particular date and time cannot.

With the right design know-how, you can ensure your advertising dollars stretch much further than you can imagine. Keep the design simple, with eye-catching colours or photos and avoid dated information. With those things in mind, the banner you order to advertise your business will be an effective tool that brings in customers – and that means a healthier financial bottom line.