Posts
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
Holiday Signs
Try to play on people’s emotions.
Depending on what you sell, you may be able to tug on shoppers’ heartstrings by reminding them just how much their grandma, son, boss, etc. will appreciate a particular gift.
Focus on savings.
This should be a no-brainer, but you know everyone is looking for the best holiday deals. Because you know your volume will likely increase, you can afford to offer some fantastic savings—and promote them in signs to get people into your store.
Add a time element.
People will often make purchases when they realize they only have a limited time to take advantage of a special deal. Not many people in your store when you first open? How about offering an “early bird special” that’s only good for the first hour of the shopping day. You can also promote “buy by” dates to give shoppers a deadline to make their purchase decisions.
You might have noticed something about these recommendations: they’re really appropriate all year round when you’re thinking about sign verbiage. During the holidays, however, it’s even more important to drive people into your store and benefit from their seasonal generosity.
www.sdsar.com
Monday, December 3, 2012
Is It Better To Give -- At The Office?
This month will be offering a few tips to help keep your stress levels low and your holiday spirits high during this busy season. The following are a few things to remember about gift giving if you work in a big office or a small one.
- If you are exchanging gifts in the office with all but a few, avoid exchanging them at the office. Instead, meet after work, and do not talk about your gifts the next day in the office.
- Do you give your boss a gift? Not necessarily. It becomes a contest of who gave what and how much did they spend. The boss can give gifts to the employees, but not necessary to reciprocate. A nice card showing your appreciation is always welcome or giving something homemade, such as cookies or artwork. Another nice gesture is getting your co-workers together on a gift.
- Be respective of traditions and religious believes. It does not mean you have to exclude people from holiday parties and gift giving, but give them the option to participate. Office festivities and holiday cards should state "Happy Holidays," "Holiday Greetings," or "The Best for the Season."
- Always personalize your holiday cards. If your company name is embossed or printed at the bottom of the card, a signed name or names still apply. If possible, handwrite the address instead of using labels and use holiday stamps, instead of the meter.
- Have a few gifts in reserve. A gift certificate to the local bookstore can come in handy; a few candles in gift bags can save you an embarrassing moment.
Remember - If you receive a gift with nothing to give in return, do not apologize for not having a gift; just be extremely appreciative and follow up with a nice thank-you note.
Source: Colleen A. Rickenbacher is a business etiquette expert and author of Be on Your Best Business Behavior, and Be on Your Best Cultural Behavior. She helps clients improve manners, image and communication skills.
If you’re interested in great signage for your local business, talk to the experts at Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa. Located in San Diego, we create gorgeous vinyl banners, business signs, and vehicle wraps. For more information, call (858) 565-7446 today.
Unwrapping Tips to Survive The Holiday Season
By Colleen A. Rickenbacher
'Tis the season -- the holidays are upon us. It is also the season for holiday get-togethers of all kinds -- there are office parties, lunches or dinners with clients and perhaps a party or dinner with the boss or board.
This month will be offering a few tips to keep your stress levels low and your holiday spirits high during this busy season.
The key to success when attending any office function, event or party is preparation and planning. This can be the ideal opportunity to meet someone who can influence your career, so take advantage. Here are some etiquette guidelines to follow:
Attending Office Parties
Yes, you should attend. At least make an appearance and find the host or hostess as soon as possible to extend your thanks for the invitation. Try and work the room as much as possible before you leave. Don't make an obvious exit -- never tell anyone you're leaving because you have another party to attend. It will give the impression the other party is more important and you are only attending this one because you need to make an appearance.
The best rule is to arrive on time or within 15 minutes of the designated start time. Your host may have announcements or food presentations scheduled throughout the evening, which will be geared around the starting and ending time of the event.
You don't have to be the first to arrive and you don't want to be the last to leave. Gauge your time to fit the activities and the size of the crowd. If the crowd is larger, it is much easier to depart without notice. But if it is an intimate dinner or party, you may be required to remain for most of the evening.
Don't Talk Only About Business
Don't come with a car full of portfolios or brochures. Parties are networking opportunities, so leave it at that. You can approach someone to set up a future meeting and exchange business cards, but leave the brochures and proposals at the office.
Before the party, prepare by reading the newspaper or watching the news. Be familiar with the events calendar of your city. You'll always have something to talk about if you stay in-the-know. If you're on the shy side, just remember to ask questions. People love to answer questions about their families, work, hobbies, etc.
Food And Alcohol
When you attend a function in a person's home or even in a restaurant as a guest, the food may be free but it's not your last meal. Drink and eat moderately. Consuming food and drink from the time you arrive until you leave may be the last time you are invited. You can partake in both, but the key is moderation.
Your time should be spent mingling with guests. It can be difficult to carry on a conversation with a prospective client or the president of your company when you have a drink in one hand and a plate of food in the other. Mingle and then ask a client or the person you just met to join you for a drink or some food.
Buffet
When people think of buffets, they often think "all you can eat." Keep in mind you can go back again. Don't stack your plate so high you need help. If the entire table is going through the buffet line, try to start at the same time. When at least two or three people have returned to the table, you can begin eating. It is not necessary to wait for the entire table to return to their places before eating. When you are ready to return to the buffet, leave your plate on at the table so the wait staff will take it away. Always start with a clean plate each time you return for more food.
If you are with a client who does not want dessert, try and bring the dessert back with you when you go for your entrée. However, if you know the client enjoys dessert, then ask at the end of the meal if he or she would like coffee and dessert. You can order the coffee first and then return to the buffet for one or two desserts.
Source: Colleen A. Rickenbacher is a business etiquette expert and author of Be on Your Best Business Behavior, and Be on Your Best Cultural Behavior. She helps clients improve manners, image and communication skills.
This month will be offering a few tips to keep your stress levels low and your holiday spirits high during this busy season.
The key to success when attending any office function, event or party is preparation and planning. This can be the ideal opportunity to meet someone who can influence your career, so take advantage. Here are some etiquette guidelines to follow:
Attending Office Parties
Yes, you should attend. At least make an appearance and find the host or hostess as soon as possible to extend your thanks for the invitation. Try and work the room as much as possible before you leave. Don't make an obvious exit -- never tell anyone you're leaving because you have another party to attend. It will give the impression the other party is more important and you are only attending this one because you need to make an appearance.
The best rule is to arrive on time or within 15 minutes of the designated start time. Your host may have announcements or food presentations scheduled throughout the evening, which will be geared around the starting and ending time of the event.
You don't have to be the first to arrive and you don't want to be the last to leave. Gauge your time to fit the activities and the size of the crowd. If the crowd is larger, it is much easier to depart without notice. But if it is an intimate dinner or party, you may be required to remain for most of the evening.
Don't Talk Only About Business
Don't come with a car full of portfolios or brochures. Parties are networking opportunities, so leave it at that. You can approach someone to set up a future meeting and exchange business cards, but leave the brochures and proposals at the office.
Before the party, prepare by reading the newspaper or watching the news. Be familiar with the events calendar of your city. You'll always have something to talk about if you stay in-the-know. If you're on the shy side, just remember to ask questions. People love to answer questions about their families, work, hobbies, etc.
Food And Alcohol
When you attend a function in a person's home or even in a restaurant as a guest, the food may be free but it's not your last meal. Drink and eat moderately. Consuming food and drink from the time you arrive until you leave may be the last time you are invited. You can partake in both, but the key is moderation.
Your time should be spent mingling with guests. It can be difficult to carry on a conversation with a prospective client or the president of your company when you have a drink in one hand and a plate of food in the other. Mingle and then ask a client or the person you just met to join you for a drink or some food.
Buffet
When people think of buffets, they often think "all you can eat." Keep in mind you can go back again. Don't stack your plate so high you need help. If the entire table is going through the buffet line, try to start at the same time. When at least two or three people have returned to the table, you can begin eating. It is not necessary to wait for the entire table to return to their places before eating. When you are ready to return to the buffet, leave your plate on at the table so the wait staff will take it away. Always start with a clean plate each time you return for more food.
If you are with a client who does not want dessert, try and bring the dessert back with you when you go for your entrée. However, if you know the client enjoys dessert, then ask at the end of the meal if he or she would like coffee and dessert. You can order the coffee first and then return to the buffet for one or two desserts.
Source: Colleen A. Rickenbacher is a business etiquette expert and author of Be on Your Best Business Behavior, and Be on Your Best Cultural Behavior. She helps clients improve manners, image and communication skills.
If you’re interested in great signage for your local business, talk to the experts at Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa. Located in San Diego, we create gorgeous vinyl banners, business signs, and vehicle wraps. For more information, call (858) 565-7446 today.
Keeping Your Business Safe During the Holiday Shopping Season
In a perfect world, your employees would be working hard all day long ignoring the tempting distractions the Internet brings. However, with Cyber Monday and other online holiday deals being blasted all over the place, chances are they will be shopping online, grabbing great deals while on the clock.
Small businesses have a lot more at risk than lost productivity this holiday season, experts warned. Employees browsing and shopping online can open a business up to scams and security breaches, particularly smaller companies that tend to lack adequate protection.
Michael Kaiser, executive director for the National Cyber Security Alliance, said that 77% of small businesses do not have internet security policies in place, so many employees that shop online at work aren't violating workplace protocol. For businesses that want to be upfront with their workers about shopping online on company computers, Kaiser suggests having an honest conversation.
"Start by reminding them that they have a significant responsibility to protect the information of employees and customers," he said. "That is a shared responsibility with employees. This can put the whole business at risk, and people don't understand that as well as they should."
Eduard Goodman, chief privacy officer for IDT911, advised employers to tell employees that the office is not the time to get personal shopping done. "
Let them know there is work time, and that should be separate from private time," Goodman said. "Their time shouldn’t be spent looking for buys and surfing sites."
Here are Goodman and Kaiser's tips for keeping your company information safe this Cyber Monday and throughout the holiday shopping season.
No. 1: Talk about email accounts. Goodman said businesses should make clear to workers that if they are going to shop online, they should not use a work email to login or sign up for offers.
"There are a number of reasons for that, including potential spamming after you make a purchase to spear phishing for larger, more well-known companies," he said. "This takes up company resources and opens the company up to other potential attacks."
No. 2: Update software. Kaiser said that while this tip may seem obvious, many companies don't take the time to ensure their software is up to date.
"This includes patched operating systems, current web browsers and making sure your [anti-virus] subscriptions haven't lapsed," he said.
He also added to be sure employees that are connecting to your company's server remotely over WiFi networks are only using protected sources. Unsecured networks open up your company to greater risk.
No. 3: Think about blacklisting. You can take your protection and web policy one step further and actually blacklist certain sites on company computers, Kaiser said. While some businesses do this for things like personal email sites and social media networks, businesses can also include retail web addresses.
No. 4: Use temporary cards. The experts suggested employers buying gifts online for their employees use a temporary card that can only be used once.
"A lot of times businesses will be using corporate or company cards when buying things for their employees," Goodman said. "You don't want to expose company credit or debit cards; the rules are not as generous as they are with consumer accounts."
No. 5: Use only refutable URLs. Goodman and Kaiser agreed that for those employers who are allowing employees to shop online, they should let them know not to click through email links to find buys.
Tell employees to type in URLs directly and only shop from well-known sites. Spam emails with false deals will be abundant, especially during the holiday retail rush.
"People will be flooded with amazing deals," Kaiser said. "If it looks too good to be true, it probably is."
URL http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/technology-web/2011/11/28/keeping-your-business-safe-during-holiday-shopping-season/
Read more: http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/technology-web/2011/11/28/keeping-your-business-safe-during-holiday-shopping-season/#ixzz2DzzH3Kdu
If you’re interested in great signage for your local business, talk to the experts at Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa. Located in San Diego, we create gorgeous vinyl banners, business signs, and vehicle wraps. For more information, call (858) 565-7446 today.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Sunday, November 4, 2012
A Font By Any Other Name…
One of the many decisions you have to make when creating signs is which font to use. It can be quite mind-boggling, given the number of options available…but here are a few tips:
Serif or sans serif?
A serif font has “notches” at the end of each word (like this one—Times New Roman)—while a sans serif font doesn’t (like Arial). The rule of thumb is that serif fonts should be used for copy, while sans serif fonts are best for headings…and that’s equally applicable to signs and other printed materials.
Many signs are all “headings,” so using a sans serif font is a good choice. For instance:
That font is Calibri. It’s clean and easily readable, unlike the following:
That font is Garamond. Since it’s a serif font, it’s a bit more “busy” than Calibri or other sans serif fonts, and thus lacks the same impact.
All caps or sentence case?
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to sign capitalization, but the more copy a sign contains, the less likely you should capitalize all the letters. For instance, our example above has only five words, so it’s fine to capitalize everything, but see what happens when you start adding copy:
All those capital letters are a bit mind numbing. Perhaps this reads better:
You can also choose to keep the sans serif font for the “heading” and use a serif font for the “copy”:
What’s the moral to this story?
Don’t overlook the importance of fonts when designing signs. Those of us who make signs for a living can certainly assist you with making good choices, since the last thing you want to do is create compelling copy that gets lost due to the use of a less-than-ideal font.
Serif or sans serif?
A serif font has “notches” at the end of each word (like this one—Times New Roman)—while a sans serif font doesn’t (like Arial). The rule of thumb is that serif fonts should be used for copy, while sans serif fonts are best for headings…and that’s equally applicable to signs and other printed materials.
Many signs are all “headings,” so using a sans serif font is a good choice. For instance:
That font is Calibri. It’s clean and easily readable, unlike the following:
That font is Garamond. Since it’s a serif font, it’s a bit more “busy” than Calibri or other sans serif fonts, and thus lacks the same impact.
All caps or sentence case?
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to sign capitalization, but the more copy a sign contains, the less likely you should capitalize all the letters. For instance, our example above has only five words, so it’s fine to capitalize everything, but see what happens when you start adding copy:
NO SWIMMING POOL IS CLOSED
DIVE IN AT YOUR OWN RISK
NO LIFEGUARD IS PRESENT
PLEASE DON’T RISK YOUR LIFE
All those capital letters are a bit mind numbing. Perhaps this reads better:
NO SWIMMING POOL IS CLOSED
Dive in at your own risk
No lifeguard is present
Please don’t risk your life
You can also choose to keep the sans serif font for the “heading” and use a serif font for the “copy”:
NO SWIMMING POOL IS CLOSED
Dive in at your own risk
No lifeguard is present
Please don’t risk your life
What’s the moral to this story?
Don’t overlook the importance of fonts when designing signs. Those of us who make signs for a living can certainly assist you with making good choices, since the last thing you want to do is create compelling copy that gets lost due to the use of a less-than-ideal font.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Video: Car Magnetics from Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa
Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa Car Magnetics combine promotion with portability for your business. Customers requesting these popular vehicle signs include residential clients, landscapers, real estate agents, insurance professionals, private investigators, florists, pizza delivery clerks, surveyors, county and state employees, and pool maintenance professionals just to name a few.
Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa magnetic signs deliver a powerful message and can be removed or shared among several vehicles. This feature and the relatively inexpensive cost of these effective advertisements are what makes magnetic signs so popular at Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa sign centers worldwide.
The design experts at Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa will help with the proper measurement and layout of your car magnetic signs. Our experience with many types of vehicle lettering, permanent and temporary, allows us to guide and advise you with your color selection, font and logo placement, and design. We use the finest quality materials that are weather resistant and UV (ultra violet) resistant to avoid fading. Unless specified otherwise, it is common for Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa to round the corners of your car magnetic signs to keep the corners from peeling up on the road during use. Our customers also see the benefit of purchasing magnetic signs in quantities of three, driver's side, passenger's side, and rear. The rear magnetic sign statistically enjoys more readership than the side pair, which is why this is often recommended by our professional staff.
For night use, Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa can create your magnetic signs using reflective material. Similar to what you may be familiar with on emergency or construction vehicles, reflective material allows light from headlamps to illuminate your company's message and logos even in the dark! This is a popular upgrade to many magnetic sign orders. The materials, either premium or reflective, are designed to last outdoors, in the rain, snow, heat, and cold. Storage recommendations for magnetic signs include not folding the signs, rather placing them flat on a metal surface to keep them flat and attractive looking. For obvious reasons, a SIGN-A-RAMA design or salesperson will inquire as to the type of vehicle you'll be using with you magnetic signs, as newer plastic and composite materials do not accept the magnetic material (i.e. Saturn brand vehicles or Corvettes).
Magnetics are usually sold in sizes such as 12" x 18", 12" x 24", 18" x 24". It is important to consider where the placement of your magnetic signs will be on the vehicle when choosing a size and we can help you with that decision. We encourage our customers to place magnetics in an easy to view area, clear of plastic body styles or moulding strips that interfere with the magnetic's ability to adhere to the metal of your car, van, or truck.
If you're interested in learning more about Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa magnetic signs for your business or personal use, contact the nearest store and design your magnetic signs today!
Friday, October 19, 2012
Video: Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa Design Tool Tutorial
Signage: the broadest definition of the term is
“any kind of visual graphics created to display information to a
particular audience.”
Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa is a full service signage company
that can help with any type of project, whether it is temporary signs
for an occasion or a permanent stone monument for a business. We can
help direct traffic and advertise for a community event or brand and
create a street presence for a new business. Our professional staff
can help define the material, size, color and location of your business
signage based on the scope of your event or project. Most projects can
be designed and produce within a week. More involved projects will
require our expert advice and project management to meet completion
deadlines.
Whatever your definition of a sign may be, we can help create it.
Shop for a Sign
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Wild about Decals
What should you consider when you seek a decal vendor?
- Quality materials. Your vendor should ask you how you plan to use your decals—for temporary purposes or the long term—and then suggest the right material for the job. Options include stickers for short-term use and longer-lasting decals that resist weather and graffiti.
- State-of-the-art technology. Your vendor should be using the latest software tailored to the needs of decal customers. You want to make sure elements like your logo, graphics, and special fonts and typestyles replicate exactly as expected, and you can incorporate intricate outlining or special cutting into your design, if desired.
- Design expertise. Your vendor should be able to professionally design your decal, whether you know exactly what you want or you need some creative input.
- Wide selection. Your vendor should be able to offer you a wide variety of decals, everything from those small enough to fit into a sticker book to those that fill up a wall. Perhaps you want metallic, embossed decals; letters for vehicle or storefront windows; bumper stickers; or decals that adhere to a brick wall as if they were painted on—your vendor should be able to accommodate you.
- Turnaround time. Your vendor should have the ability to produce your decals in a timely manner, perhaps even under “rush” circumstances.
By the way, as you might expect, we offer decal customers quality materials, state-of-the-art technology, design expertise, wide selection and fast turnaround times. Natch.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Customer Spotlight: Magic Massage at Westfield Plaza Bonita
Customer Spotlight
This month we created and installed graphics for a new kiosk at Westfield Plaza Bonita. They have a new tenant "Magic Massage" and I wanted to share some photos of the exciting work we did for them.
This month we created and installed graphics for a new kiosk at Westfield Plaza Bonita. They have a new tenant "Magic Massage" and I wanted to share some photos of the exciting work we did for them.
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Saturday, October 6, 2012
Friday, October 5, 2012
‘Tis The Season To Start Your Holiday Marketing – 4 Points To Help Make It Jolly
By Ramon Ray
Not many people shop for gifts in the middle of September, but in the business world, the holiday shopping season is not very far away. Retail sales aren’t the biggest problem for you at this moment, but as the season of joy approaches, so does your need to market to your customers. Holiday shopping is unique on its own because it is the only time in which customers rampage through every shop, leaving its shelves dry at around 5 in the afternoon.
To fully take advantage of the holiday shopping spree and Black Friday sales, however, you must adopt certain promotional strategies to best fit the season to be jolly. The advent of mobile consumer technologies changes everything for better or worse, and we also must learn to change with the fickle nature of the market.
Responsys, a company that provides email marketing solutions, provides a few words on how you should develop your promotional strategies during the holiday shopping frenzy that parades on into the “Last Sleigh day” on December 21st. Here are a few pointers:
• Free shipping during the holiday season gets you lots of perks. Customers on holiday shopping errands prefer not to empty their pockets so quickly. They’ll appreciate any generosity they can get. Responsys found that over 50 percent of businesses already offer free shipping to their customers. Retail sales have a tendency to do extraordinarily well when customers are met with free shipping offers.
• Keep in mind that mobile shopping is now a huge factor on the market. Customers are now ordering on their mobile devices more than ever. This should reflect positively on any online retail sales you want to make. This year, mobile is king and it’s ready to make its reign on the land. If you don’t cater to your mobile customers, you’re missing out on a giant opportunity. Emailing your customers with mobile-ready emails that direct them to websites that can be seen on a mobile device will give you an edge over your competitors.
• Holiday shopping often happens until December 21st. Retail sales tend to be highest on the day before Thanksgiving, the day itself, Black Friday, and (surprisingly enough) on Christmas Day (because customers are cashing in on whatever the gift cards they just received can buy). Your best bet is to email your customers on these days with special offers. Don’t forget, though, to also email them on December 21st, which is the last day they can count on express shipping to arrive before Christmas.
• Some argue that Black Friday has fallen backwards into Thanksgiving Day. This is largely due to the amount of emails sent on that day with special offers. Expect higher retail sales on Thanksgiving Day if you send an email to your customers at that time.
Let’s recap a bit. Here are the points in a nutshell: Offer free shipping until the holiday bonanza is over, send your customers emails that are compatible with their mobile devices, give them emails on December the 21st reminding them that it’s the last day they can expect express shipping, and try to see how Thanksgiving Day will work out for you. A combination of all of these will surely boost your sales this holiday season.
Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/tis-the-season-to-start-your-holiday-marketing--4-points-to-help make-it-jolly-2012-9
Not many people shop for gifts in the middle of September, but in the business world, the holiday shopping season is not very far away. Retail sales aren’t the biggest problem for you at this moment, but as the season of joy approaches, so does your need to market to your customers. Holiday shopping is unique on its own because it is the only time in which customers rampage through every shop, leaving its shelves dry at around 5 in the afternoon.
To fully take advantage of the holiday shopping spree and Black Friday sales, however, you must adopt certain promotional strategies to best fit the season to be jolly. The advent of mobile consumer technologies changes everything for better or worse, and we also must learn to change with the fickle nature of the market.
Responsys, a company that provides email marketing solutions, provides a few words on how you should develop your promotional strategies during the holiday shopping frenzy that parades on into the “Last Sleigh day” on December 21st. Here are a few pointers:
• Free shipping during the holiday season gets you lots of perks. Customers on holiday shopping errands prefer not to empty their pockets so quickly. They’ll appreciate any generosity they can get. Responsys found that over 50 percent of businesses already offer free shipping to their customers. Retail sales have a tendency to do extraordinarily well when customers are met with free shipping offers.
• Keep in mind that mobile shopping is now a huge factor on the market. Customers are now ordering on their mobile devices more than ever. This should reflect positively on any online retail sales you want to make. This year, mobile is king and it’s ready to make its reign on the land. If you don’t cater to your mobile customers, you’re missing out on a giant opportunity. Emailing your customers with mobile-ready emails that direct them to websites that can be seen on a mobile device will give you an edge over your competitors.
• Holiday shopping often happens until December 21st. Retail sales tend to be highest on the day before Thanksgiving, the day itself, Black Friday, and (surprisingly enough) on Christmas Day (because customers are cashing in on whatever the gift cards they just received can buy). Your best bet is to email your customers on these days with special offers. Don’t forget, though, to also email them on December 21st, which is the last day they can count on express shipping to arrive before Christmas.
• Some argue that Black Friday has fallen backwards into Thanksgiving Day. This is largely due to the amount of emails sent on that day with special offers. Expect higher retail sales on Thanksgiving Day if you send an email to your customers at that time.
Let’s recap a bit. Here are the points in a nutshell: Offer free shipping until the holiday bonanza is over, send your customers emails that are compatible with their mobile devices, give them emails on December the 21st reminding them that it’s the last day they can expect express shipping, and try to see how Thanksgiving Day will work out for you. A combination of all of these will surely boost your sales this holiday season.
Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/tis-the-season-to-start-your-holiday-marketing--4-points-to-help make-it-jolly-2012-9
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Twitter Fan Monthly Special - October 2012
Facebook Fan Monthly Special - October 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Sign Politics
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How can you make your sign stand out? What are some dos and
don’t for campaign signage? Allow us to enlighten you:
- Know the rules. Before you start planning to blitz an area with signs, check out the rules and regulations that apply to temporary signage. You may be limited in terms of size as well as where signs can be placed. The last thing you want to do is spend a bunch on signs that you subsequently learn are unusable.
- Less is more. Most people are going to interact with your sign for seconds, especially if they’re passing it in a car. Your intent with campaign signs should be to develop name recognition, not promote specific agendas or positions, so it’s best to keep things simple, i.e., Brad Jones for City Council.
- Choose your material wisely. Any sign that will live outdoors needs to be weatherproof—or you risk it being damaged or destroyed by the elements. Be sure you select a sturdy material for your sign that can survive wind and rain, and won’t “wilt” after a few weeks outside.
- Go professional. There’s nothing wrong with purchasing poster board and making your signs yourself—but if you want to enhance your image with the voting public, it makes sense to work with a sign company that can assist you with things like choosing materials and fonts…and will then produce professional signs that are a positive reflection of who you are.
Can we help? We’ve worked with many candidates to design and
produce signs that have helped them get elected.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Habitat for Humanity
SIGNARAMA Partners with Habitat For Humanity to Build Homes Across The Country
Worldwide Sign Franly 23chise to Participate in Various Initiatives to Help Families in Need of Better Homes
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.—Sept 23, 2012- SIGNARAMA, a full-service sign business, today announced a $250,000 partnership with Habitat for Humanity to help build and rehabilitate affordable homes across the United States and around the world. Through financial support, in-kind donations and hands-on building projects, SIGNARAMA will help advance Habitat for Humanity’s mission to build homes, communities and hope.“We are very excited to partner with Habitat for Humanity and help families in need realize their dreams of homeownership,” said “JT” Jim Tatem, president of SIGNARAMA. “As the world’s largest signage franchise, serving our communities has been a long-standing tradition at SIGNARAMA, not only because it makes good business sense, but more importantly, because it’s the right thing to do for our customers and those living in the areas we serve.”
As part of the commitment, SIGNARAMA employees and franchise operators will volunteer in regional team builds throughout the course of the year and participate in marketing efforts to raise funds for Habitat’s work. In addition, SIGNARAMA corporate and local operators will also donate materials and signs in support of various Habitat for Humanity initiatives, including wrapping 14 Nissan trucks across the country to increase consumer awareness.“In order to serve more families in more communities faster, we rely on creative partnerships like SIGNARAMA’S,” said Kymberly Wolff, senior vice president, Development, Habitat for Humanity International. “We’re grateful for their support, which will mobilize volunteers and resources, while raising awareness of Habitat’s vital work in communities across the country.”
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that has helped to build over 500,000 decent, affordable houses and served 2.5 million people worldwide.
About SIGNARAMA (SAR)
SIGNARAMA is part of a successful system of business-to-business franchise brands and development services under the United Franchise Group. As part of the $30-billion-plus worldwide sign market, SIGNARAMA has been at the forefront of the sign industry for more than two decades providing cost effective advertising and branding solutions for companies to increase recognition. Approaching 900 locations in more than 50 countries, SIGNARAMA uses cutting-edge industry software programs to provide a full range of comprehensive sign and graphic services to both the private and commercial segments of the business community. For franchising information, please call (800) 465-0362 or visit www.signarama.com.
About the United Franchise Group (UFG):
United Franchise Group (http://www.unitedfranchisegroup.com), the Global Leader for Entrepreneurs, is a $500-million franchising expert with 30 years of experience and 1,400 franchise locations in over 50 countries. Brands include SIGNARAMA, EmbroidMe, Billboard Connection, Plan Ahead Events,
SuperGreen Solutions and Transworld Business Advisors. Information on franchising opportunities is available at 800-286-8671 (U.S.) or 001-561-640-5570 (international).
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization that seeks to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 500,000 families by welcoming people of all races, religions and nationalities to construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit www.habitat.org, or follow us at www.facebook.com/habitat or at www.twitter.com/habitat_org or join Habitat’s blog community at www.habitat.org/blog.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Unlocking The Secrets Of QR Codes
What are QR Codes?
Quick Response Codes are similar to bar codes… they are
used to store information like text, locations, website URLs,
phone numbers or maps. When scanned by a smart phone
with a reader application, the code takes the user to that
stored information. Suddenly, that customer is engaged in
your business. For the first time, signs, displays and banners
can be truly interactive.
A recent study by InfoTrends reveals right now only 20%
of sign buyers are using QR codes, but 70% of buyers will
consider using QR codes or other interactive elements on
the signs they create in the future. This presents a huge
opportunity for us! Now, something that was first created in
Japan to identify car parts on assembly lines can be used
by your customers to market, promote products, and share
information.
How Does a QR Code Work?
Nearly any cell phone with the right application can be used
to scan a QR code. Some new phones have readers built
right in, but others require a free (or inexpensive) download.
Once the phone has a scanner, all you have to do is take a
picture of the code, and it automatically takes you to the linked
information.
QR codes most commonly link to:
Creating QR Codes is free. There are many services that
can be readily found on the internet. Several franchisees
recommend Zxing. (http://zxing.appspot.com/generator/).
This generator allows you to easily create a contact link, a url
link, or several other options in a format that’s clean enough
to blow up the file for almost all uses. This site is free and
allows you to create a code that doesn’t communicate with a
server, so the code you create is not dependent on another
site to function. The QR code size made available through
Zxing is adequate for most jobs, but if you need a bigger
image, you can vectorize the file for unlimited scaling.
QR Codes Resources
Free QR Code Generators
http://zxing.appspot.com/generator
http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
http://www.qrstuff.com/
http://www.quikqr.com/
https://bitly.com/
Quick Response Codes are similar to bar codes… they are
used to store information like text, locations, website URLs,
phone numbers or maps. When scanned by a smart phone
with a reader application, the code takes the user to that
stored information. Suddenly, that customer is engaged in
your business. For the first time, signs, displays and banners
can be truly interactive.
A recent study by InfoTrends reveals right now only 20%
of sign buyers are using QR codes, but 70% of buyers will
consider using QR codes or other interactive elements on
the signs they create in the future. This presents a huge
opportunity for us! Now, something that was first created in
Japan to identify car parts on assembly lines can be used
by your customers to market, promote products, and share
information.
How Does a QR Code Work?
Nearly any cell phone with the right application can be used
to scan a QR code. Some new phones have readers built
right in, but others require a free (or inexpensive) download.
Once the phone has a scanner, all you have to do is take a
picture of the code, and it automatically takes you to the linked
information.
QR codes most commonly link to:
- Websites (which should be mobile friendly)
- Social Media sites (Facebook, Twitter)
- Contact information
- A map of your location
- A mobile landing page with links to other pages
- A gallery of previous work
- A video designed to capture the mobile user
- Coupons & deals
Creating QR Codes is free. There are many services that
can be readily found on the internet. Several franchisees
recommend Zxing. (http://zxing.appspot.com/generator/).
This generator allows you to easily create a contact link, a url
link, or several other options in a format that’s clean enough
to blow up the file for almost all uses. This site is free and
allows you to create a code that doesn’t communicate with a
server, so the code you create is not dependent on another
site to function. The QR code size made available through
Zxing is adequate for most jobs, but if you need a bigger
image, you can vectorize the file for unlimited scaling.
QR Codes Resources
Free QR Code Generators
http://zxing.appspot.com/generator
http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
http://www.qrstuff.com/
http://www.quikqr.com/
https://bitly.com/
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Sign Grammer
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| [click to enlarge] |
What should you be looking for as you review your sign
verbiage? Most people immediately think, typos, and while those should be
avoided at any cost, there are other things to be concerned about, including:
- Spelling errors. Be sure every word on your sign is spelled correctly.
- Homophone mistakes. Remember that spell check won’t catch instances when you’ve used the wrong word—i.e., “are” instead of "our," "there" instead of "their," etc. -so you need to take special care to ensure you haven’t erred in that way.
- Unclear messaging. If your sign is outlining a process, providing directions or describing the details of a sale, it’s especially important to make sure the copy is clear and not subject to different interpretations.
- "Fancy" words. Simpler is always better when it comes to sign copy. Don’t use words that may not be present in many people’s vocabularies.
You don’t necessarily need to hire a professional writer to create copy for your signs—but that’s never a bad way to go. What you must absolutely do is ensure that plenty of people have reviewed your sign copy to ensure none of the issues noted above are present. You want your signs to be compelling and informative, not confusing or error-filled.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Design Factors for Political Signs
by CASEY VALIANT on SEPTEMBER 4, 2012 When designing your political signs for your campaign, there are many different factors to consider. Most political advertising signs have a 1 – 3 month lifespan, so the signs need to last at least that long. They also need to be attractive and easy to read. Beyond that, here are three things you need to consider when designing your political signs.
1. Is a Coraplast Substrate a Good Choice… ?
The life expectancy of the sign can be greatly affected by choosing the right material. You can go with Coraplast — corrugated plastic — which is then mounted to a heavy wire frame, which is driven into the ground.
You can print directly to Coraplast with a UV printer, which is a real time saver and lets you do full-color signs. You can also screenprint to the substrate, which is perfect for high volume print jobs, like 400 – 500 signs.
However, if you want to use full color, show a photo of the candidate, or more than one color, than UV printing would be your best bet. These full color signs will also have a greater impact than those single color signs, although they will cost more.
2. . . . or are Bag Signs?
Bag signs are another popular choice for political campaigns. These signs are printed on plastic “bags” that are then slipped over a heavy wire frame. Since the signs don’t need to last longer than three months, they aren’t printed on heavier materials. That really makes the price drop significantly for these signs. Bag signs are typically screenprinted, and people often use this method for its high volume, low cost benefit.
3. Signs Should be as Large as They Need to Be
That may not sound profound, but it’s important. It means don’t stick a 4 foot by 8 foot sign in a front yard, and don’t stick a 12 inch by 18 inch sign on the highway. Typically, political campaign signs come in an 18 inch by 24 inch size, which highway signs are about the size of a piece of plywood — 4 feet by 8 feet — in either corrugated plastic, or even plywood.
Recently, however, we’ve noticed that a lot of candidates aren’t really using traditional sizes. Every single sign starts to look alike, but the candidates want to stand apart from one another.
Here at SIGNARAMA Evansville, we have a die cutter that lets us do different shapes and sizes, which can help a candidate’s sign stand out a little bit more from its neighbors, helping the candidate’s name stand out from the competition.
Photo credit: Mpls55408 (Flickr, Creative Commons)
Source: http://blog.signarama.com/
www.sdsar.com
10 Tips on How to Write the Perfect Blog Post
by Sarah Fudin
You have a story that everybody wants to hear, but how do you get people to your blog? The perfect blog post is about more than just great content. In fact, the way you format your post is almost paramount to the actual content itself. Readers may not even realize that they like these formatting nuances, but a well organized and designed post can help keep them reading and sharing.
Here are ten things you can do to turn your content into the perfect blog post:
1. Pick the Perfect Title
Coming up with a direct but enticing title is the most important part of your blog post. You want readers to find your article easily with a simple search. Picking a title that will accurately match what the reader is searching for is obviously important in this age when nearly every Internet experience begins with Google.
The tricky part is striking the perfect balance between a relevant title and an exciting one. The perfect blog post title will be fun, funny, ironic or controversial while still keeping the core point of the article clear and present.
2. Make the Main Point Clear
The perfect blog post will let readers know what they are about to enjoy right away. Unlike a novel or movie, you don’t want the crux of the blog post to develop slowly. Internet readers have notoriously short attention spans, so make sure you open with an intro paragraph that lays out the post and lets the reader know he or she has come to the right place.
3. Make a List
One easy formatting trick is to organize your post as a list. Make your different arguments into numbered or bulleted points, or include bolded subheadings. Top-ten lists and rankings are interesting to readers and give the post a clear reason to be read to the end. It also makes the post organized and clearly shows the reader what the key points will be.
4. Linkbait
The perfect blog post will have content that other bloggers want to link to. Posts with “How to…” or “Top 10” in the title tend to get a lot of blogosphere attention. A great blog post also needs to have a large number of outbound links in the body. This is will help other bloggers notice your work and give you a return link, and will also give readers a feeling that you have done your research before writing your post.
5. Make It Attractive
Making your post look nice is a quick and easy way to make readers happy. Before making a post public, take time to go back and format it to your liking. Make keywords bold, form organized or bulleted paragraphs, cut out unnecessary content to shorten up the post, enlarge titles and subject lines, and so on. A perfect post will be a pretty post.
6. Include Multimedia
Even if your writing is the richest on the Internet, adding images or videos is crucial to breaking up the text and keeping things interesting. If you are writing a travel post, include attractive images of the destination. If you are writing an editorial piece, embed a fun video clip that helps illustrate your point. Multimedia livens up a post and is a critical part of the perfect blog post.
7. Stick to the Point
For a blog post to be perfect, it needs to be concise and it needs to stay on topic. As stated before, blog readers have a short attention span. When they search for a specific subject, they want the post to deal with that subject and not meander between several topics. Unless your post is about a Hollywood star or political scandal, mentioning such an event will only draw readers who are really looking for a post on a different topic.
8. Use Keywords
The perfect blog post will be constructed with keywords in mind. A simple search using Google AdWords on a subject will let you know which related keywords are most commonly searched. Keeping those words in your title and throughout the body will make it easy for your audience to find your post and will make it clear to them that they have come to the right place.
9. Keep Length in Mind
Though it depends on the nature of your blog, keeping your post to an appropriate length is crucial. There is no optimal post length, but if it is too long, you risk readers getting impatient and leaving before they are done. In general, keeping a post under 1,000 words is a good rule of thumb. Keeping it between 500-800 words is ideal.
10. Be Original
Make your post unique! Don’t simply say what everybody else is saying. Add your mark by mixing it up and making your post stand out in some way. The perfect blog post will make your audience stop and think. It will conjure some sort of emotion and make readers talk amongst themselves. A good indication that you have done your job is a post with a lot of engagement. If a post has readers commenting or arguing, you know you have given your audience something valuable to talk about.
While the perfect blog post starts with compelling content, there is clearly much more to the formula. Use these ten tips when you write your next post and sit back and enjoy the results!
Source: http://www.dailywritingtips.com/10-tips-on-how-to-write-the-perfect-blog-post/
You have a story that everybody wants to hear, but how do you get people to your blog? The perfect blog post is about more than just great content. In fact, the way you format your post is almost paramount to the actual content itself. Readers may not even realize that they like these formatting nuances, but a well organized and designed post can help keep them reading and sharing.
1. Pick the Perfect Title
Coming up with a direct but enticing title is the most important part of your blog post. You want readers to find your article easily with a simple search. Picking a title that will accurately match what the reader is searching for is obviously important in this age when nearly every Internet experience begins with Google.
The tricky part is striking the perfect balance between a relevant title and an exciting one. The perfect blog post title will be fun, funny, ironic or controversial while still keeping the core point of the article clear and present.
2. Make the Main Point Clear
The perfect blog post will let readers know what they are about to enjoy right away. Unlike a novel or movie, you don’t want the crux of the blog post to develop slowly. Internet readers have notoriously short attention spans, so make sure you open with an intro paragraph that lays out the post and lets the reader know he or she has come to the right place.
3. Make a List
One easy formatting trick is to organize your post as a list. Make your different arguments into numbered or bulleted points, or include bolded subheadings. Top-ten lists and rankings are interesting to readers and give the post a clear reason to be read to the end. It also makes the post organized and clearly shows the reader what the key points will be.
4. Linkbait
The perfect blog post will have content that other bloggers want to link to. Posts with “How to…” or “Top 10” in the title tend to get a lot of blogosphere attention. A great blog post also needs to have a large number of outbound links in the body. This is will help other bloggers notice your work and give you a return link, and will also give readers a feeling that you have done your research before writing your post.
5. Make It Attractive
Making your post look nice is a quick and easy way to make readers happy. Before making a post public, take time to go back and format it to your liking. Make keywords bold, form organized or bulleted paragraphs, cut out unnecessary content to shorten up the post, enlarge titles and subject lines, and so on. A perfect post will be a pretty post.
6. Include Multimedia
Even if your writing is the richest on the Internet, adding images or videos is crucial to breaking up the text and keeping things interesting. If you are writing a travel post, include attractive images of the destination. If you are writing an editorial piece, embed a fun video clip that helps illustrate your point. Multimedia livens up a post and is a critical part of the perfect blog post.
7. Stick to the Point
For a blog post to be perfect, it needs to be concise and it needs to stay on topic. As stated before, blog readers have a short attention span. When they search for a specific subject, they want the post to deal with that subject and not meander between several topics. Unless your post is about a Hollywood star or political scandal, mentioning such an event will only draw readers who are really looking for a post on a different topic.
8. Use Keywords
The perfect blog post will be constructed with keywords in mind. A simple search using Google AdWords on a subject will let you know which related keywords are most commonly searched. Keeping those words in your title and throughout the body will make it easy for your audience to find your post and will make it clear to them that they have come to the right place.
9. Keep Length in Mind
Though it depends on the nature of your blog, keeping your post to an appropriate length is crucial. There is no optimal post length, but if it is too long, you risk readers getting impatient and leaving before they are done. In general, keeping a post under 1,000 words is a good rule of thumb. Keeping it between 500-800 words is ideal.
10. Be Original
Make your post unique! Don’t simply say what everybody else is saying. Add your mark by mixing it up and making your post stand out in some way. The perfect blog post will make your audience stop and think. It will conjure some sort of emotion and make readers talk amongst themselves. A good indication that you have done your job is a post with a lot of engagement. If a post has readers commenting or arguing, you know you have given your audience something valuable to talk about.
While the perfect blog post starts with compelling content, there is clearly much more to the formula. Use these ten tips when you write your next post and sit back and enjoy the results!
Source: http://www.dailywritingtips.com/10-tips-on-how-to-write-the-perfect-blog-post/
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa - Window Graphics
Originally one of the top sellers in SIGN-A-RAMA sign centers, window lettering remains one of our most popular products. We measure and design high quality window lettering solutions for your business to inform and direct. SIGN-A-RAMA can create a lasting impression to the many viewers that see your storefront windows. Window graphics combined with window lettering make for a powerful message to would be consumers of your product or service.
SIGN-A-RAMA window lettering starts with long-term use materials that do not crack or peel when exposed to the extremes of weather. Vibrant colors that resist fading and peeling are standard issue at SIGN-A-RAMA. We work alongside our customers to establish the finest design and message that will impact and inspire the reader. The windows of your business are not the only place to use this powerful type of sign. From rear window graphics to truck window graphics, you can rely on our attention to detail and understanding of your message's objectives to get it right. If it’s promotion, SIGN-A-RAMA excels in getting results. If it’s information, directory listings, store hours, or services rendered that need a boost, let our experts put your glass to work for you!
Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa - Magnetics
SIGN-A-RAMA Car Magnetics combine promotion with portability for your business. Customers requesting these popular vehicle signs include residential clients, landscapers, real estate agents, insurance professionals, private investigators, florists, pizza delivery clerks, surveyors, county and state employees, and pool maintenance professionals just to name a few.
SIGN-A-RAMA magnetic signs deliver a powerful message and can be removed or shared among several vehicles. This feature and the relatively inexpensive cost of these effective advertisements are what makes magnetic signs so popular at SIGN-A-RAMA sign centers worldwide.
The design experts at SIGN-A-RAMA will help with the proper measurement and layout of your car magnetic signs. Our experience with many types of vehicle lettering, permanent and temporary, allows us to guide and advise you with your color selection, font and logo placement, and design. We use the finest quality materials that are weather resistant and UV (ultra violet) resistant to avoid fading. Unless specified otherwise, it is common for SIGN-A-RAMA to round the corners of your car magnetic signs to keep the corners from peeling up on the road during use. Our customers also see the benefit of purchasing magnetic signs in quantities of three, driver's side, passenger's side, and rear. The rear magnetic sign statistically enjoys more readership than the side pair, which is why this is often recommended by our professional staff.
For night use, SIGN-A-RAMA can create your magnetic signs using reflective material. Similar to what you may be familiar with on emergency or construction vehicles, reflective material allows light from headlamps to illuminate your company's message and logos even in the dark! This is a popular upgrade to many magnetic sign orders. The materials, either premium or reflective, are designed to last outdoors, in the rain, snow, heat, and cold. Storage recommendations for magnetic signs include not folding the signs, rather placing them flat on a metal surface to keep them flat and attractive looking. For obvious reasons, a SIGN-A-RAMA design or salesperson will inquire as to the type of vehicle you'll be using with you magnetic signs, as newer plastic and composite materials do not accept the magnetic material (i.e. Saturn brand vehicles or Corvettes).
Magnetics are usually sold in sizes such as 12" x 18", 12" x 24", 18" x 24". It is important to consider where the placement of your magnetic signs will be on the vehicle when choosing a size and we can help you with that decision. We encourage our customers to place magnetics in an easy to view area, clear of plastic body styles or moulding strips that interfere with the magnetic's ability to adhere to the metal of your car, van, or truck.
If you're interested in learning more about SIGN-A-RAMA magnetic signs for your business or personal use, contact the nearest store and design your magnetic signs today!
Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa - Site Signs and Real Estate Signs
Was your company awarded the latest construction job? Post your companies Site Sign on the property today and stake your claim.
SIGN-A-RAMA wood site signs are a great way to advertise your construction, architect, developer, or sub-trade business. Use the construction sign on-site to attract new business from every day traffic. Design your job site sign today with our user-friendly sign design software and have it shipped directly to your job site or pick it up at your local SIGN-A-RAM. Not a designer, no worries, each of our local sign shops are staffed with graphic designers to help you design a perfect jobsite sign for your business. In most cases, our sign experts can have your construction site sign built within 24 hours.
Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa - Sidewalk Signs
Our sidewalk signs are powerful displays that bring the message to your customer right on the street! SIGN-A-RAMA creates and sells many A-frame signs, temporary signs, sandwich boards, and other outdoor durable products to help you promote your business or products. These products are custom made, yet affordable and specific to your needs. Our expert designers and state of the art equipment allows us to offer a large variety of sign products that are commonly classified as SIGN-A-RAMA sidewalk signs.
We routinely create pavement signs, sidewalk signs, discount signs, dry erase signs, changeable letter signs, custom signs, and wood signs for use at the storefront level. Passerby visibility is outstanding when your message can be positioned to "meet" your customer as they walk down the street. Our SIGN-A-RAMA sidewalk signs can be fashioned with differing weight systems for easy transportation or storage during non-business hours. This means that your sign is portable, you can easily move it to where impact and viewership will be greatest as well as put it in a safe place when your business closes for the day/night. Some sidewalk signs are equipped with flexible wind management components to keep the sign upright during inclement weather. We offer a vast assortment of sidewalk signs for your business at SIGN-A-RAMA
www.sdsar.com
Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa - Custom Banners
SIGN-A-RAMA is a provider of full color printed fabric graphics.
SIGN-A-RAMA Fabric Graphics are popular in the exhibit and event industry and many trade show displays are made with fabric. Fabric Displays have the advantage of wash-ability, durability and they are very light weight. The lightweight Fabric Displays make the products easy to store and inexpensive to transport.
SIGN-A-RAMA can provide single-sided, double-sided, sheer or opaque fabric banners. Use a custom designed Fabric Graphic for a recruiting event, meeting, seminar, conference, or even in your retail location.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa - Channel Letters
Channel Letters
These letters emit illumination both through the letter face (front) and the letter back. Front/Back lit letters have a very impressive and professional business appearance, and combine the positive qualities of both front lit and reverse lit channel letters. These letters can be illuminated with either neon or LED, and have clear polycarbonate backs to keep animals from nesting inside the letters. Our Front/Back lit channel letters are U.L. listed
These letters emit illumination both through the letter face (front) and the letter back. Front/Back lit letters have a very impressive and professional business appearance, and combine the positive qualities of both front lit and reverse lit channel letters. These letters can be illuminated with either neon or LED, and have clear polycarbonate backs to keep animals from nesting inside the letters. Our Front/Back lit channel letters are U.L. listed
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Selecting the colors for your sign’s background
According to the Outdoor Advertising Association of America,
the highest visibility colors combinations to use on signs are as follows:
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If you stray from these “tried and true” combinations, you
risk decreasing the readability of your sign, and thus limiting its
effectiveness. You might have a really compelling message, but if no one can
read it, you’ve made a serious misstep.
We’ll make sure your outdoor signs are easy to read as well
as appropriate for the audience you seek to attract and your product or
service. We’ve helped thousands of businesses create signage that drives
customers right to their door.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Proof, Proof and Then Proof Again
Choosing the right verbiage is one challenge, but what about
when you craft the perfect message…but then fail to notice a typo until the
sign is delivered (or even worse, when a current or potential customer points
it out)? Take a look at these sign miscues, noted on the blog, In Our Write
Minds:
- Ramen Suop/Lobter-Beef-Shtimp & Chiken
- Book Case’s Made to Order
- No Unortherised Parking
- Perparing Your Child for College: It’s Not Too Soon!
To ensure you don’t end up in their shoes, make sure you
follow the directives noted in the opening paragraph. When you choose us as
your sign creator, we’ll make sure what you intended to say is what you get on
the finished product.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Monument Signs - Sign-A-Rama Kearny Mesa in San Diego
Monument signs are signs that stand at the foot
of an entrance to a parking lot. They help direct your visitors from the
road to your building. Monument signs can be single sided or double
sided. Many monuments are installed at entrances to business parks,
residential developments and shopping plazas. A monument sign provides an excellent format for street advertising while representing an image of your company.
Monument signs are essential to any business or residential development. Monument structures add a professional look as well as assist people in finding your location. The sign design experts at Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa in San Diego are the industry’s best resource for monument signage. Our award-winning sign centers combine the industry’s most comprehensive custom graphic services with the industry’s best sign manufacturers. We deliver sign solutions for your business that help build brand recognition and loyalty among your buying customers as well as drive new traffic to your location.
Monument Signs in San Diego
Monument signs are essential to any business or residential development. Monument structures add a professional look as well as assist people in finding your location. The sign design experts at Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa in San Diego are the industry’s best resource for monument signage. Our award-winning sign centers combine the industry’s most comprehensive custom graphic services with the industry’s best sign manufacturers. We deliver sign solutions for your business that help build brand recognition and loyalty among your buying customers as well as drive new traffic to your location.
Monument Signs in San Diego
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa - Vehicle Wraps
Vehicle graphics are the most cost-effective form of advertising today. While the impact of other forms of media are over within seconds of their impression, vehicle graphics continue to work for you 24/7. www.sdsar.com
Saturday, August 4, 2012
“Pop” at Trade Shows
What’s the alternative? Consider a pop up display, a
cost-effective, customizable option that’s simple to transport and assemble,
but provides the professional look and feel you require. We can create floor
model or tabletop pop up displays in a variety of shapes and sizes, including
straight, curved and serpentine. Floor model options are eight, 10 and 20 feet,
to accommodate any trade show exhibit space.
In addition to their professional look and ease of use, pop
up displays are great investments for the long term, since they can be updated
with new messaging or graphics as necessary. They’re lightweight, which saves
travel or shipping costs, and also durable, so they’ll last for many trade show
seasons.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Biggest Mistakes Businesses Make with Signs
One of the most prevalent signs—the familiar red octagon
that causes even multi-ton trucks to halt in their tracks—features just one
word: STOP. In most cases, your signs will need a bit more verbiage than that,
but you need to think “less is more” as you write…and edit as necessary to end
up with just enough copy to get the job done.
We can help you craft messages on your signs that
communicate the message you intend without either overwhelming people or
leaving them confused. In addition to ensuring your copy is as succinct as
possible, we’ll also assist you with selecting fonts and font sizes, colors,
and designs that enhance readability. You might be surprised at just how much
difference a few subtle tweaks can make to change a so-so sign into one that’s
compelling.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Vetting Your Sign Vendor
Are all sign vendors the same? Of course not! As in any industry, there are companies that operate at the high end of the quality spectrum, and those that aren’t quite as accomplished. How can you be sure you’re working with the former? Here are a few questions to ask, along with the answers you should be looking for:
Q.Do you have an employee training program?
A. Yes! We believe that ensuring we employ the most skilled and knowledgeable experts in the sign and graphics industry is paramount to our success…so we can develop a signage program that works for you. (Did you know that SIGNARAMA has the most extensive training program in the industry?)
Q. What kind of vendor relationships do you have?
A. We proactively work to ensure we have strong relationships with the most respected vendors in the industry so we can offer customers the best quality and widest variety of products. (Did you know that many vendors test new products and equipment at SIGNARAMA, so we often have the most advanced technology before anyone else?)
Q. Will I ever be dealing with a subcontractor?
A. Absolutely not. We’re full-service sign experts, so we’ll support you through the entire process, from conception to installation. (Did you know that the SIGNARAMA team can assist you with everything from selecting design elements to make your sign stand out to ensuring you’re aware of the maintenance required to keep your sign looking its best?)
You may have other questions that pertain to your specific needs, and don’t be afraid to ask them. The more you invest in vetting your sign vendor, the better your end product is going to be. You’ll never regret investing the time required to know exactly whom you’re dealing with…to ensure you receive the professional, quality service you deserve.
Q.Do you have an employee training program?
A. Yes! We believe that ensuring we employ the most skilled and knowledgeable experts in the sign and graphics industry is paramount to our success…so we can develop a signage program that works for you. (Did you know that SIGNARAMA has the most extensive training program in the industry?)
Q. What kind of vendor relationships do you have?
A. We proactively work to ensure we have strong relationships with the most respected vendors in the industry so we can offer customers the best quality and widest variety of products. (Did you know that many vendors test new products and equipment at SIGNARAMA, so we often have the most advanced technology before anyone else?)
Q. Will I ever be dealing with a subcontractor?
A. Absolutely not. We’re full-service sign experts, so we’ll support you through the entire process, from conception to installation. (Did you know that the SIGNARAMA team can assist you with everything from selecting design elements to make your sign stand out to ensuring you’re aware of the maintenance required to keep your sign looking its best?)
You may have other questions that pertain to your specific needs, and don’t be afraid to ask them. The more you invest in vetting your sign vendor, the better your end product is going to be. You’ll never regret investing the time required to know exactly whom you’re dealing with…to ensure you receive the professional, quality service you deserve.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Who Uses Boat Wraps? A New Twist on Vehicle Wraps
At my SIGNARAMA Ventura store, we wrap a lot of trucks and cars with vehicle wraps. They look good, they make the vehicle stand out, and they promote your business constantly as you drive.
But why would anyone wrap a fishing boat? Why not? As a professional bass fisherman, this is right up my alley — or is that right in my lake?
Generally, the clientele for boat wraps are professional bass fishermen and women. These boat wraps typically show graphics of the sponsor’s logos, and are changed out every year.
FLW and BASS are two big bass fishing organizations that require all competitor’s boats to be wrapped with different sponsor images. With over 100 boats in each competition, there are potentially 400-500 boats that need to be wrapped each competitive fishing season!
At SIGNARAMA Ventura, we have been helping bass fishermen for a few years, by wrapping their boats, and supporting their efforts. We also get involved with volunteer projects whenever we can. Last month, I volunteered my boat and my services for the Wounded Warriors tournament at Diamond Valley Lake in Riverside, California. Approximately 100 bass fishermen each took two Purple Heart recipients fishing for the day, but in a tournament format. This was a way to spend a fun day with those men and women who have performed a great service to our country.
SIGNARAMA Ventura even sponsored the California Bass Championship (CBC), and has done boat wraps for the organization as well. Last year, Tom Leogrande organized a tournament series for California to find the best bass sportsman in the state; we got involved in the competition and offered a free boat wrap to the winner, as a way to honor the tournament and the winning competitor.
Boat wraps may be an unusual application of vehicle graphics, but they are becoming more popular as more professional bass fishermen are gaining sponsors and want to show their appreciation and support. If you would like more information on boat wraps, contact your local SIGNARAMA store.
Credit: http://blog.signarama.com/who-uses-boat-wraps-new-twist-on-vehicle-wraps/
3 Rules for Niche Marketing
By Kim T. Gordon
Q: What should we know before our company goes after a niche market?
A: Most companies, whether big or small, direct their marketing to select niche audiences. Even the country's largest manufacturers target carefully pinpointed market segments to maximize the effectiveness of their programs and often tackle different niches for each product group. Hewlett-Packard, for example, markets all-in-one machines that print, fax and scan to segments of the home office market, while targeting larger businesses for higher-priced, single-function units.
Niche marketing can be extremely cost-effective. For instance, imagine you offer a product or service that's just right for a select demographic or ethnic group in your area, such as Hispanics or Asians. You could advertise on ethnic radio stations, which have considerably lower rates than stations that program for broader audiences. So your marketing budget would go a lot further, allowing you to advertise with greater frequency or to use a more comprehensive media mix.
Taking on a new niche can be a low-risk way to grow your business, as long as you keep in mind several important rules:
1. Meet unique needs. The benefits you promise must have special appeal to the market niche. What can you provide that's new and compelling? Identify the unique needs of your potential audience, and look for ways to tailor your product or service to meet them.
Start by considering all the product or service variations you might offer. When it comes to marketing soap, for example, not much has changed over the years. But suppose you were a soap maker and you invented a new brand to gently remove chlorine from swimmers' hair. You'd have something uniquely compelling to offer a niche market--from members of your neighborhood pool to the Olympic swim team.
2. Say the right thing. When approaching a new market niche, it's imperative to speak their language. In other words, you should understand the market's "hot buttons" and be prepared to communicate with the target group as an understanding member--not an outsider. In addition to launching a unique campaign for the new niche, you may need to alter other, more basic elements, such as your company slogan if it translates poorly to another language, for example.
In instances where taking on a new niche market is not impacted by a change in language or customs, it's still vital to understand its members' key issues and how they prefer to communicate with companies like yours. For example, suppose a business that markets leather goods primarily to men through a Web site decides to target working women. Like men, working women appreciate the convenience of shopping on the Web, but they expect more content so that they can comprehensively evaluate the products and the company behind them. To successfully increase sales from the new niche, the Web marketer would need to change the way it communicates with them by expanding its site along with revising its marketing message.
3. Always test-market. Before moving ahead, assess the direct competitors you'll find in the new market niche and determine how you will position against them. For an overview, it's best to conduct a competitive analysis by reviewing competitors' ads, brochures and Web sites, looking for their key selling points, along with pricing, delivery and other service characteristics.
But what if there is no existing competition? Believe it or not, this isn't always a good sign. True, it may mean that other companies haven't found the key to providing a product or service this niche will want to buy. However, it's also possible that many companies have tried and failed to penetrate this group. Always test-market carefully to gauge the market's receptiveness to your product or service and message. And move cautiously to keep your risks manageable.
Article source: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/49608
Seasonal Marketing Ideas
Seasonal Marketing Calendar
Begin by creating a marketing calendar for the next 12 months. Write down major holidays like Valentine's Day and Thanksgiving, the four seasons, and seasonal lifestyle events like back-to-school and football season. Use this template to gather ideas that best fit your industry and business. In the fall, a butcher can develop a tailgate campaign for football fans, a landscape architect can send tips on how to prepare for the upcoming winter, and a furniture store can sponsor Thanksgiving tablescapes created by local interior designers.
Seasonal Marketing Campaigns
Once you've keyed in on the seasonal promotions that make sense for your business and fit your budget, the real planning begins. Who do you want to reach? Current customers? New customers? Both? Determine the best way to reach the intended audience, including email blasts, postcards, publicity, advertising and in-store signage. The marketing mix is important, so do your research on how long design and printing will take, how you'll acquire mailing lists, and all the costs involved.
Less-Hyped Holidays
Although the biggies like Christmas and Halloween will be part of your seasonal marketing strategy, try to find at least one less-hyped holiday around which to create a campaign. Doing this effectively will make your business stand out and give you more bang for your marketing buck. A video store can host a Groundhog Day raffle, in which the winner gets a copy of the movie "Groundhog Day" and free rentals for a period of time. These types of promotions are also a great way to increase your direct and email lists, as long as entrants know how their information will be used.
Memorable Seasonal Marketing
Include publicity as part of your goal. What can you do that is newsworthy? What will have great photo opportunities? How about a hair salon donating makeovers to low-income single moms re-entering the workforce around Mother's Day? Get signed photo releases from each participant, then display the before and after shots on your website and social media channels. Submit to the press along with a release.
'Tis the Season
A seasonal marketing strategy is an effective way to create memorable campaigns and increase publicity and word-of-mouth referrals. Brainstorm ideas that link your business to a holiday or season, plan the campaign, and have fun putting it together.
Article source: http://www.ehow.com/list_6162205_seasonal-marketing-ideas.html
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