Posted by Terry McCloud on Fri, Jul 31, 2009 @ 02:32 PM
Signage is the single, largest promotional tool you have. It is your way of saying to the public, "Hey! We're open for business and here to serve." Nice job! You've reminded your current customers that you are here ready to take care of their next need and you've introduced your business to future customers.
But what if your sign is in disrepair? What if the lights in and around your sign are out or the face is broken or dirty. Worse yet, what if it is outdated? Now what kind of impression or message are you communicating? It still reads "Hey - pick me" but it consciously and subconsciously causes your customers to read between the lines . . .
. . . and what they're reading isn't good!
It's saying, "maintenance and upkeep isn't a priority for this business and neither is quality or cleanliness." "If they care so little about their business, how could they possibly care about me, their customer?" What your sign has done is effectively set a negative expectation of your business in the mind of your customer. Your unkept sign defeated the very purpose for which it was intended.
Upkeep and freshening of your signage and lighting shouldn't be an afterthought; it should be a priority . . . protect your marketing investment and allow your signage to do what you intended - work for your business, not against it!
Something else to consider: On average, 46% of first-time customers find your business as a result of your sign. (Claus 1998) What would a 5 or 10% drop in sales mean to your bottom line simply because your sign was in disrepair or out of date?
Some food for thought the next time your sign is screaming.
Posted by Terry McCloud on Tue, Jun 02, 2009 @ 02:18 PM
You've seen them hanging in stores, movie theatres, shopping centers, even at your local grocers' checkout line. No it's not tweens discussing the latest sci-fi movie but digital signage.
What is it you ask? It is a new and unique method of delivering product and service information to your customers leveraging all forms of media to get the job done. You've probably said, "that is really cool, but I couldn't afford something like that." Not true. Sure Light Sign Company is now a licensed Integrator of the iCompel digital signage solution from BlackBox. Digital signage continues to grow in popularity as small and large businesses alike are finding the return to far outweigh the investment. The digital signage industry is expected to grow from $7.5 billion this year to over $15 billion in the next 24 months. Businesses that take advantage now will be able to capitalize on a unique presence in their marketplace that has shown to return up to 300% in revenues. Of course a critical aspect of a digital solution is having relevant and engaging content to capture the attention of your audience. Fortunately, the iCompel system is user friendly with pre-set templates and automated scheduling features. Even a first time operator could be up and running within an hour of sitting down at their computer. But don't worry about that. Sure Light Sign has been delivering digital solutions for years with their Electronic Message Centers . . . we can help. Learn more about Sure Light Sign's newest product offering by calling 847.214.9595. We'll get you started right away. Download a white paper on Choosing a Digital Signage Solution to learn about how an interior digital sign can move your business forward.
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Posted by Terry McCloud on Tue, Jun 02, 2009 @ 12:45 PM
The challenges of 2009 continue to be fresh in our minds as the economy shows some glimmer of recovery. As a result, if you are not implementing new methods of driving customer traffic you may indeed have a challenging rest of the year and into 2010. From traditional advertising to direct marketing to social networking, your customers are being bombarded with multiple promotional messages. As a business owner you must ask yourself, "how do I cut through the clutter to get my customer's attention and where do I spend my promotional dollars to engage current customers and acquire new ones?"
One advertising medium that has grown in popularity with retail based businesses is the use of electronic message centers (EMC). Today's units vary in size and options to fit most budgets and applications. They utilize energy-efficient LED technology and user-friendly, graphically intense design software to grab the attention of your customer. EMC owners deliver targeted advertising based on time of day, customer type, traffic patterns, time of year and more. Imagine your breakfast-to-go special being delivered during morning rush hour or dinner & a show promo with the local video rental store. The options are endless.
Location, location, location. Did you know that over 40% of new area residents choose local businesses based on their exterior signage? Leverage your prime location and capture new customers with a flexible and effective marketing tool. To learn more about EMCs, contact our experienced, full-service sales consultants at Sure Light Sign and go digital today.
Posted by Terry McCloud on Tue, Jun 02, 2009 @ 11:50 AM
With the ongoing buzz of eco-friendly and reducing our carbon footprint, consumers and businesses recognize it will take all of us to create a better tomorrow. In the case of Green Signage, the rules apply, however, this investment goes beyond the ecological impact it provides.
Most business owners do not realize the amount of electricity their signage consumes on an annual basis. You might be alarmed to know that some of you are paying thousands of dollars annually to throw that sign switch nightly. Don't fret; there are some options out there besides keeping your sign dark at night.
Did you know that your existing signage can be retrofitted in the field to be more efficient? Simply adding a timer or converting a mechanical transformer with an electronic one can reduce your operating costs by as much as 30%. "Conversions can be problematic however" states Brian Schaner, our Service Director at Sure Light Sign. "Conversions can possibly impact the UL certification of your sign which may affect your insurance. That is not to say that the sign cannot be recertified but it can be costly. It is important that you contract with a sign company that has the experience and a technically-apt service team that can handle the hundreds of different scenarios that exist in the field to convert your signs and keep them compliant."
Businesses can typically expect an 18 to 48 month return on their investment depending on the scale and nature of the conversion. "Sometimes it may be in your best interest to simply replace the signage. Not only will you experience the energy efficiencies, but you will also be able to refresh/upgrade the look of your business and depreciate the capital expense." states Schaner. So go green and start collecting your "Green Dividends" today by requesting a service consultation!