In Greenville’s competitive market, the signage you choose for your business is not just a mere decoration; it’s like a brand ambassador working 24*7 to attract foot traffic and establish your brand identity. As signage plays such an important role in your business, you simply cannot afford to make mistakes that hinder the growth of your business. As a leading Greenville sign company, we’ll tell you the biggest sign mistakes made in our region—and how to avoid them.
5 Sign Mistakes to Avoid
1. Poor Visibility and Readability
The primary aim of your sign is to make people notice it. If it can’t be seen clearly from a distance or in low light, the whole purpose behind your signboard fails. Many businesses, in order to make their signs attractive, choose fonts that are too decorative, or use weak color contrast, or install their signs in obstructed spots, which clearly becomes a missed opportunity.
How to avoid it:
- Decorating your sign is good, but make sure you use simple, bold fonts that are legible from a distance.
- If you want greater visibility, choose high-contrast color combinations such as dark text on a light background to make your sign attractive but also clearly visible.
- Install signs in unobstructed locations for good visibility. If your business runs into the evening, it’s best to opt for illuminated or backlit designs.
2. Overcrowded or Confusing Design
Some business owners, in order to make their business attractive, try to cram in too much information. For instance, putting hours, taglines, services, and phone numbers all in their signage, making it cluttered and hard to read for the passersby.
How to avoid it:
- Decide what your message is going to be. For instance, what exactly are you going to put in it, like the business name, logo, or maybe a short call to action?
- Remember, white space plays an important part in your signboard, and therefore don’t forget to use it to make your design clean and uncluttered.
3 Ignoring Local Regulations
You not only have to make your signs attractive but also ensure that they follow Greenville’s regulations as well. If you fail to follow them, then you might run into delays, permit rejections, or compliance issues. Hence, make sure that you install a sign while following all of Greenville’s codes to prevent yourself from hefty fines, redesign costs.
How to avoid it:
- The best way to avoid this is by working with a sign shop in Greenville, SC company, such as Signant, who understands Greenville’s local ordinances, permitting process, and zoning requirements so that your sign meets the city’s guidelines.
- Before you finalise any design for your sign, check with Greenville’s Planning & Zoning Department. If you find the process to be complicated, you can also rely on a professional team that manages the whole permitting and approval process for you.
4. Poor Material Choices & Low Quality
Often, one of the common mistakes that most people make while choosing a signage board is using cheap quality materials. In the beginning, this might save your money, but later on, it will turn into a major cost as cheap boards crack, fade, or deteriorate quickly, costing you even more in the long run.
Also, don’t forget to plan maintenance, as burnt-out lights or peeling paint might make your business look neglected and not give you the right vibe.
How to avoid it:
- Make sure that you choose materials suited to Greenville’s climate. Material should be such that it supports durability, weather resistance, and long-lastingness.
- Set up a maintenance schedule so that you can regularly inspect and repair your sign so it always looks fresh and professional.
5. Inconsistent Branding
Your signage should be a seamless extension of your brand. But too often, businesses end up using different fonts, colors, or logos on their signs than they do in their other branding materials. With this inconsistency, customers get a confusing message, and it might make your brand recognition weak.
How to avoid it:
- Stick to a clear brand style guide, such as choosing consistent fonts, color palettes, and logo placement that gives a strong message to your customers.
- Work with a Greenville sign company such as Signant that understands your brand identity and can translate it into effective signage.
Why These Mistakes Hurt Greenville Businesses
In Greenville, where your store’s visibility matters, signage missteps can cost you:
- Lost Foot Traffic: Poor readability of signs means the potential customer moves forward without noticing you.
- Brand Damage: A low-quality or outdated sign means you are sending the wrong message about your commitment to quality.
- Regulatory Headaches: Non-compliance with local rules or ADA standards can lead to fines or forced redesigns that end up costing you even more.
- Wasted Investment: If your sign fails to deliver due to poor design or material choice, then it’s like a wasted investment.
How to Get It Right with SignAnt
At SignAnt, we serve areas like Greenville, Spartanburg, and upstate South Carolina; hence, we understand what common mistakes are and therefore are signs of expertise to help you to avoid those.
Our expertise covers:
- Design & consultation, where we cover all the aspects from branding to permitting and site surveys.
- Fabrication of high-quality signs where we cover all the channel letters, monuments, sign cabinets, and 3D lettering
- LED & digital display solutions for day-and-night visibility.
- Installation and ongoing maintenance to keep your signage looking sharp and attractive.
Conclusion
Signs are of utmost importance for businesses seeking to rightly promote their business. However, while designing those signs, businesses often commit several mistakes that might not only waste their money but also fail the whole motive of signs. As we have listed the mistakes in the blog, try to avoid these and hire a professional sign company such as SignAnt that guides you in the whole process of making signs to help you achieve the aim of signs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How long does it take to get a sign permit approved in Greenville?
The approval time can vary depending on several factors, but typically most permits in Greenville take 1–3 weeks.
2. What materials last longest in Greenville’s weather conditions?
The materials that last in Greenville weather conditions are typically aluminum, acrylic, PVC, and UV-resistant, as these materials have the capability to handle Greenville’s humidity, rain, and even fluctuating temperatures.
3. What makes a shopfront sign effective in attracting customers?
There are several features that make shopfront signs attractive for their customers that include the use of high contrast, simple fonts, and clean design while still focusing on your brand name.
