How Exterior Business Signage Helps Your Brand Stand Out
As you drive around, you’ve likely noticed that some signs instantly grab your attention while others fade into the background. Effective exterior business signage plays a major role in how customers perceive your brand and whether they choose to stop in or keep driving.
Our job is to make sure your signage stands out—drawing in customers and driving business growth. The most successful businesses use a strategic combination of exterior business signage, such as an illuminated storefront sign paired with a pylon or tenant sign near the road, to maximize visibility from every angle.
Choosing the Right Exterior Business Signage for Your Building
Selecting the right exterior business signage depends on several factors, including your location, budget, and brand goals. Our expert sales team is here to guide you every step of the way, helping you choose signage that works for both your building and your business.
We’ll work within your budget and align with your design goals to ensure you get the most impactful exterior business signage tailored specifically to your business and location.
What Is the Goal of Your Exterior Business Signage?
Defining the goal of your exterior business signage is one of the best ways to narrow down your options and ensure your sign delivers real value. When your objectives are clear, your signage becomes more than just decoration—it becomes a strategic marketing tool.
Goals to consider
- •Interior or exterior use: Will your signage be used outdoors to attract attention and increase visibility, or indoors to enhance customer experience?
- •Wayfinding or navigation: Do you need signage to guide customers, direct foot traffic, or improve accessibility?
- •Providing information: Should your exterior signage communicate hours, promotions, or safety information?
- •Brand recognition or marketing: Is your goal to reinforce your brand, promote a product, or create a lasting impression?
Questions you should ask when purchasing an exterior sign
Q:What types of signs do you offer, and what sign is right for me?
A: Custom Graphics offers a wide range of exterior business signage solutions, from small storefront signs to towering 30-foot displays—and everything in between. Common options include:
- Channel Letters: 3D, internally lit letters ideal for storefronts in multi-tenant buildings
- Cabinet Signs: Illuminated enclosures designed for high visibility day and night
- Pylon Signs: Tall, freestanding signs perfect for high-traffic roads and highways
- Monument Signs: Ground-level signage with stone, brick, or metal bases for professional entrances
- Blade Signs: Vertically mounted signs ideal for busy sidewalks and narrow streets
- Tenant Signs: Exterior signage identifying businesses in multi-tenant properties
- Aluminum Composite Material (ACM): Cost-effective, non-lit signage for temporary or short-term use
- Electronic Messaging Center (EMC): LED displays that allow for changing messages and promotions
Q:What Regulations Apply to Exterior Business Signage?
A: When installing exterior business signage, it’s important to account for local regulations and property requirements. Many cities restrict sign height, size, and placement—especially on historic buildings. Landlords may also limit certain mounting methods to prevent structural damage.
For example, the city of Fargo restricts permanent signs by height and area but typically requires only a one-time permit. The permit cost varies based on the total square footage of the sign face.
Understanding these rules in advance helps ensure your exterior business signage project stays compliant and avoids unnecessary delays.
Q:Where Should Exterior Business Signage Be Placed?
A: The placement of exterior business signage is just as important as the design itself. Key factors to consider include traffic flow, viewing angles, distance from the road, and building layout. However, final placement is often influenced by city regulations or landlord requirements.
Working with an experienced signage provider can help you determine the most effective and compliant placement for maximum visibility.
Q:Should I light my sign?
A: Our winters are not only long and dark, but they also bring shorter daylight hours, making visibility a crucial factor for businesses. During the winter months, consumers typically leave for work before sunrise and return home after sunset, meaning much of their daily commute happens in the dark. This makes well-lit signage an essential investment for any business looking to maintain visibility and attract customers.
Lit signage helps your business stand out against the dim winter backdrop while reassuring customers that your business is open, even during the darkest months of the year.
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