Though there are dozens of uses for custom-printed lawn signs, the end goal is the same for all of them — to get noticed and motivate your audience to respond in some way. So whether you’re advertising a tag sale, stumping for your favorite candidate, or celebrating a recent graduate, there are rules of thumb you should follow to make sure your signs command the attention they’re supposed to.
Follow Basic Principles of Good Design
You don’t need to be a graphic designer to create attractive and effective lawn signs as long as you keep the following in mind:
Fonts
- Choose easy-to-read fonts. In most cases, it’s best to stick with simple serifs or sans serifs, rather than scripts. Script (or cursive) lettering can be hard to read, especially in the short time a person sees it as he or she drives by.
- Make sure your text is large enough to read at a distance while driving or walking.
- Choose a font color that stands out well against the background.
Information
- Less is more. Communicate what you need to as succinctly as possible — remember a person will only see your lawn signs for a few moments as they go by.
- On the other hand, include enough information for your audience to understand what your sign is for and what action (if any) they should take.
- Include an address, phone number, or website to lead your audience to take action or find out more.
Graphics/Photos
- A great picture can communicate so much more than text alone, so consider combining graphic elements with your text to make your lawn signs look professional.
- Coordinate the colors of your text and background with your logo for a pulled-together look.
- Balance the size of your text with your visual elements, so each is large enough to be seen and read clearly.
- Using a photo or image as a background can be tricky to pull off well. If you do, make sure the image is transparent enough to keep the text legible.
Choose a Prime Location
Where you put your lawn signs is critical to getting them noticed. If you plan to post them on your own property, decide what location is the most prominent and receives the most traffic. Place them away from trees, bushes, or other landscaping that may obscure them from view, keeping in mind your signs should be visible from both directions of traffic.
If your location doesn’t receive much traffic, consider placing your signs on a busier street, at intersections, or near shopping centers. Just make sure your neighborhood or town allows that, so you don’t risk getting fined and having to remove them.
Use a Quality Printing Company
A good printing company will have several options of sizes and materials you can choose from and print your lawn signs in a high resolution with weatherproof inks. If you don’t want to create your sign from scratch, you can work from one of the many templated designs they offer. And, if you’d rather hand over the entire job to a professional, many printers also have graphic designers onsite to work with you to create exactly what you need.
At Minuteman Press of New England, we can help you get your message out there and get it noticed, with fast turnaround times and quality that can’t be beaten. Contact us for a quote today!