If your business has top-notch service or amazing products that people simply adore, that’s a great step towards success. If you’re trying to sell those services or products without a highly visible business sign, however, you’re creating an uphill battle. Commercial business signs are a key strategy for advertising your business to passersby and letting everyone know exactly what you’re all about.

What happens if your sign is located amongst a shared display of commercial business signs — for instance, as one sign among many in a leased office space or strip mall? This type of setup has certain benefits; you’ll save money when sharing signage with others and have less chance of accidentally violating zoning restrictions if your sign is being fitted into already-existing signage, but you’ll also have to jockey for attention amongst the other businesses on the sign.

Thankfully, there are tried-and-true ways to stand out even if yours is one of many commercial business signs on one shared display. Here are things to consider when designing your sign and negotiating for space.

Consider the Color

Some properties have specific rules around the colors they allow for their architecture and signage (green and white for everyone, for example). If you’re allowed to jazz your sign up with various colors, however, this gives you room to really let the personality of your business shine. As seen in iconic brands such as McDonald’s and Coca-Cola, color should play an important part in your business’s branding and marketing strategy. Carefully research the emotions that various colors convey in order to decide which ones are right for your brand.

In addition to color, letter size is also important. Some properties will have specifications around font and letter sizing on their signs, but if they don’t, make sure you choose one that’s appropriate for your business and highly visible from a great distance.

Make Your Message Matter

When passersby see your sign, you only get a split second to make an impact. Will your sign draw them in? In that brief moment, will it tell them everything they need to know about your business? This is one of the most important reasons to work with a signage designer. They’ll help you create the whole package, crafting a message and maybe even including your logo. Your designer will also help you work through the other factors we’ve discussed such as font size and color.

When done right, your messaging will do a few things. First, it will attract the attention of people traveling by on foot or via car — people who may not have intended to grab a sandwich or stop in and inquire about pool cleaning services, but who were intrigued by your sign. Well-done commercial business signs also help reinforce the decision of people who find places online and set out to find them. Have you ever run across an intriguing new restaurant online and driven to go try it, only to be turned off by the shoddy appearance of their signage or storefront? Don’t be one of those establishments!

Negotiating Your Commercial Business Signs

The rules around commercial business signs in a leased business space should be negotiated before signing the lease. This includes what type of signage you’ll be allowed (color, size, style, etc.) and where it will be located (inside the office building and/or outside on a shared display). The negotiation process will give you the opportunity to push for a more prominent position for your sign. It will also lay out who is responsible for the sign’s cost in terms of installation, maintenance, and so forth.

While having a shared display for commercial business signs means that your individual sign will need to be cleverly designed in order to stand out, it also often guarantees that you’ll have some of the best real estate in terms of total signage visibility. Get creative and you’ll soon have customers streaming through your doors!

At Brady Signs, we’re a third-generation family business that’s served as a premier provider of business signage solutions throughout the North Central Ohio region and beyond for nearly 50 years.

Want to learn how we can convert your brand into a statement using our eye-catching signage for business? We’re here to talk.