When was the last time you audited your business signs?

As we turn the corner into Q1 of 2021, there’s no better time than now to perform a quick audit of the signs that power the marketing and safety of your Seattle business. There are a few things you’ll need to look at when performing your audit:

• Are the colors, brand logos, and typography correct?
• Is your social distancing signage still relevant and easy to understand?
• Are your signs legible from all distances, angles, and viewpoints?

In addition to the above five questions, there are several other things you need to take into consideration when performing your signage audit. Read on to learn more about how you can audit your signs to ensure that they have maximum impact and perform their job as intended.

ADA and COVID Compliance

If you’re like most Seattle businesses, chances are you had a few social distancing signs created and installed in 2020. Check the signage for any indication of wear and tear and to see if the messaging is still relevant. For example, if you initially used temporary signage, perhaps it’s time to consider more permanent social distancing signs. 

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires businesses to have adequate signage in place. Fines for non-compliance can get extremely costly. If you’re not sure if your signage is ADA compliant, call the experts at McNamara Signs in Seattle, and we’ll ask you a few questions to determine if you’re missing anything. 

Dings, Dents, and Bruises

Your outdoor signage is one of the first things people see when they pull up to your business. If it’s yellow, faded, or cracked, it can lead people to subconsciously assume that there’s something wrong. 

For example, let’s pretend you own a restaurant, and the sign outside is cracked and faded. This can lead new potential customers to believe that your food quality is just as poor as your sign quality.

Many businesses will often perform temporary repairs on signage cracks. While this can work for a few days, consider the impression people will get when they see your outdoor business sign that looks like you found it in a junkyard.

How Visible Are Your Signs?

If it’s been a while since you installed your outdoor signs, there’s a chance that changes in the local environment that you may not have noticed are preventing people from seeing your signs. For example, bushes, shrubbery, and tree branches tend to grow exceptionally fast in the Pacific Northwest. They can impede the visibility of a sign in a matter of a few rainy months.

Try walking around your business on foot and see if you can see your outdoor signs from all angles. Then, hop into your car and drive down the street and check to see if anything is now making your signs harder to read. Cities are dynamic, and new infrastructure pops up all the time. If something is blocking partial or full visibility of your sign, perhaps it’s time to consider a new one?

Take Advantage of Opportunities

In addition to auditing your current signage, you should consider adding new ones to take advantage of a blank wall or area. For example, perhaps you have a side wall on your brick-and-mortar business that pedestrians and vehicle traffic can see from the street. Adding a strategically placed sign can help drive new customers and improve brand recognition.

Look at the walls, windows, doors, and grass/dirt areas outside of your business. There are a wide variety of outdoor signs that you can have created. An LED sign that lights up bright at night is another way to advertise your business when you close up shop for the day.

Brand Identity

A key factor in establishing trust in potential new customers is how well they can identify with your brand. If your outdoor signage isn’t congruent with your indoor branding, a disconnect can happen in many people’s minds. 

A sign audit is an excellent time to have a closer look at your branding—perhaps it’s old, stale, outdated, or could use a good refresh. You can hire a branding expert to develop a new company logo, tagline, and colors. This can have a significant impact and allow your business to set itself apart from your competitors.

McNamara Signs in Seattle

At McNamara Signs, we can help you design, create, and install the perfect sign that will help increase your holiday sales. Our expert in-house graphic designers will sit down with you and brainstorm ideas for your consideration. 

Once you’ve chosen a design, our state-of-the-art printers and master craftspeople will get to work, creating the perfect sign that will last for a long while. Give us a call today at (206) 284-0809 or contact us via our website. To learn more about how we can help with ideas, design, creation, and installation of your new sign.