Catch. The. Eye. It’s your first aim when promoting your business. And when it comes to attracting people’s attention from a distance, banners are one of the most direct and effective options.
But I can hear you say, “Banners are beyond me… they’re tricky to make and I’ll mess it up.” Well, let’s just say they’re not, and you won’t.
Banners are easier to create than you think.
With a little planning and a few key pointers, you can make the right banner for your business, just the way you want it. Here’s our guide to creating something you can be proud of.
Decide where your banner will go
The location will influence your sign’s size, color, messaging and material. Will your banner be above your shop door, at a sporting event, at a farmers’ market, in a window display?
Depending on the placement, consider what your audience will be doing when they read your banner – standing, walking, driving, sitting on train – and how far away they’ll be. This impacts things like the size the of the banner, whether you go vertical or horizontal, the font you use and how many words you’ll have to play with.
Another tip is to consider the background behind the banner (leafy trees, red brick, white walls?). You want your banner to stand out against its backdrop. It all goes back to catching your customer’s eye.
Write the copy
Decide on the one thing you want people to do once they see your banner (we know it’s tough, but creating your sign will be so much easier if you can pick just one thing). If you’re clear about the banner’s purpose, it will come across to your audience.
For example, you might want people to step into your shop, taste your homemade apple pie, phone up for a quote or visit your website – whatever your banner’s aim, make sure your call to action (the one thing you want people to do) is clear and concise.
When it comes to the words, less is more. Most people will see your banner from a distance (and for a split second, if they’re on the move), so make sure they get your message by choosing short, direct, easy-to-read statements. Avoid words that don’t mean anything; simply put, if you can cut out a word and your message stays the same, then leave it out.
Choose an indoor or outdoor banner
Where you place your banner will determine the material you use. Although, it’s worth remembering you can use outdoor banners inside, but indoor banners don’t do so well when exposed to the elements.
Saying that, all our vinyl banners are durable, waterproof and fade resistant, so they’ll stay looking good.
The indoor option is made from white 440-gsm vinyl, which is lightweight, tear resistant and comes in a matte finish.
Outdoor vinyl is 500-gsm in weight, also comes in a matte finish, and provides that extra bit of durability, designed to withstand the sun, wind and rain.
Add colors for contrast
Think about the colors you use on your sign and how well they highlight the words. As general rule, you want a high contrast between the letters and background, so dark font on a light background, and vice versa.
Choose your font
Going for classic, bold fonts like Helvetica, Century Gothic and Verdana will help give your banner a professional look and feel, while keeping readability high.
