The sign outside your business introduces customers to who you are and where you are. It is an advert and a welcome, so it is only natural that you would spend tome and money choosing a designing the right sign.

However, this can all be wasted if that sign finishes up in the wrong place. The placement of your sign is just as important as what you put on it, so careful consideration needs to go to its location.

So, you might ask, where should I put my sign? In this article, Judson Signs, specialist signage makers in Mansfield provide their insight into the most important points that you need to think about when deciding where your sign should go.

Legal implications

You might decide that you have the perfect site for your sign, but that does not mean that you have the right to put it there. You will need to check local council regulations to make sure that you are within your rights to place the sign in that spot. It is particularly likely that this might be a problem if it is placed on the roadside.

If you lease the building that you work from, you should also check the terms and conditions of your contract to see whether your landlord has any restrictions on the type of signage that you can install.

Think about your angles

You should think about how your customers approach your business and where it can be seen from when you think about where your sign should go. That means you don’t just need to think about where it goes, but what angle it is positioned at to maximise the number of eyes that fall on it.

It is generally thought that signage is best seen at a 90-degree angle, so this should be taken into consideration.

Signs which are mounted on to the front of a building parallel to a roadway have been found to need to be at least 70% bigger than a sign which is mounted perpendicular to it in order to allow passers-by to read it in time.

Choosing a site for your sign will also depend on the type of building that you have. For example, a sign positioned on the top of a tall building can potentially be sign from miles around, but few businesses have this opportunity. Instead, you should remember that the best chance of your sign being seen is by putting at eye level.

The environment

A beautiful sign will look great when it is first put up, but you need to consider the kind of treatment that it will get and how long it is likely to last. Exposure to direct sunlight can cause fading, whilst strong winds, rain and snow can damage or break your sign.

Is there a place where your sign can be better protected? If not, you need to take this into consideration when designing your sign to make sure that it is made from something durable that you will not have to replace in a hurry.

Mounting the sign

One important consideration is how you intend to attach the sign to your building. You will need to check whether the location can offer adequate support in order to keep it safe and secure, and not falling foul of any health and safety concerns.

Will it be hanging, fixed to a wall or in a window? This should all be thought about before you design your sign as it will help to determine the size and materials that are needed for it.

Line of sight

Your sign looks beautiful, and you’ve picked a great eye-catching spot for it. What could go wrong? One of the biggest mistakes that business owners make with their signage is only looking at it from one angle. Walk around the area outside your business and check for anything that might obscure people’s vision of your sign.

Are there other road signs, tree branches or posts that might block the view? You also study how many times vehicles stop outside your business, covering where you plan to put your sign.

Text size and fonts

It stands to reason that a bigger sign creates greater visibility, but the size of what you put on it is also important. As a general rule of thumb, text which is one inch high can be seen from 10 feet away. You therefore need to keep in mind how far away your sign will be viewed from when you choose the lettering for it.

The size of the text is one thing, but the font is something else that you should consider. Some fonts will look beautiful when up close but can be difficult to read at a distance, so make sure that you test this out. There is nothing worse than a customer being able to see your sign but not being able to read it.

It is also worth considering how your sign fits in with its surroundings. You will need a colour palette which is cohesive to the environment around it, but should avoid it blending in too much as it still needs to stand out to those around.

Other locations

It seems logical that your signage should be attached to your business, but there are other options available to you. Placing signage above car parks, at the entrance to shopping centres or at the end of a walkway can help to direct customers to your business if it is not easily seen.

Of course, you will have to check whether there are any restrictions in doing this, but it can be a great way to point people in your direction.

Your sign is often the first thing that people will notice about your business, so it is vital that it can be seen. It advertises where you are, tells people a little about you and invites them in, so the importance of maximising its impact cannot be understated.

Thinking about these points will make sure that your sign stands out and drives more customers through your door.