Chances are travelers notice hundreds of temporary signs as they trek through neighborhoods and cities, urban and suburban areas. Whether traveling by automobile, bus, train, taxi, or bicycle – even walking or jogging – public and private properties are teeming with temporary signage competing for attention. If getting your signs – and your message – noticed is the name of the game, understanding the ins and outs of making temporary signage work for you is key!
What Are Temporary Signs?
Temporary signs are those designed to provide information for an event limited by a specific time frame. Examples include: political campaigns, real estate sales or rentals, construction sites, civic events, or any type of promotion aimed at the general public. Temporary signs are also used as short-term signage solutions announcing “Coming Soon!” or “Remodeling Underway”, virtually any reason that permanent signs are not in place.
Temporary signs come in many forms, including:
Banners – Signs made of durable, flexible materials that can be attached to walls or windows, hung from ceilings, and can be used indoors or out, depending upon the material the banners are made of
Political/Election Signs – Signs made especially to promote a candidate or a political agenda; typically these signs are only permitted to be displayed on private property and must be removed a specific number of days after voting has taken place
Real Estate Signs – Signs designed to advertise the sale or rent of specific properties, whether private or commercial; these signs are non-illuminated and are generally limited to one sign per property
Construction Signs – Signs erected at construction sites displaying individuals or businesses that are associated with a project; usually only one temporary sign is permitted per construction site
Directional Construction Signs – Signs directing those visiting construction sites and/or making deliveries to proper entrances and exits
Wayfinding Signs – Signs strategically placed to guide and/or direct pedestrian or vehicular traffic when temporary detours are required
Yard Signs – Outdoor signs that can be single or double sided, designed to display a message to passersby; these signs are free standing and often supported by H-stakes
Light Boxes – Illuminated boxes of various sizes that can be free standing or affixed to a wall; interchangeable letters, numbers, and symbols allow temporary messages to be displayed and changed as needed
Indoor Temporary Signs – Signs made to inform people of temporary situations, such as when something is “Out of Order” or “Temporarily Out of Stock”; custom temporary signs that can easily be attached with Velcro give a much more professional appearance than a handwritten or computer printed piece of paper affixed with tape
What are the Benefits of Temporary Signs?
Temporary signs provide an exceptional platform for sharing your message with the masses. These signs are a cost effective marketing tool that can help your business – or your candidate – stand out from the competition. These signs can be exceptionally helpful in promoting a home-based business where additional signage is impractical and/or not permitted.
Additionally, temporary signs are easy to install and remove as needed. Durable, lightweight, and often weather resistant and reusable, temporary signs are portable and help to support the tried and true adage that location is everything!
What Are the Challenges of Temporary Signs?
Some of the biggest challenges for posting temporary signs are the varying rules and regulations in place throughout the country. These can be based on the density of a given area as well as local zoning laws. Public safety is also of concern, for both pedestrians and moving vehicles. Rules may be in place limiting the number of temporary signs that can be posted in a given area, as well as standards that specify font sizes and contrast levels to reduce potential accidents caused by those attempting to view hard to read signs. To make temporary signs stand out and effectively relay your message, less is more. Convey your message in clear, concise language with simple graphics and fewer colors to reduce visual clutter and enhance readability.
Historic districts often also have their own set of special regulations designed to maintain the integrity of local historic districts or landmarks. A temporary sign should never take away from the historic character of these thoughtfully preserved areas.
Urban vs Suburban Signs
Urban areas, such as bustling downtown districts, often have greater pedestrian and vehicle traffic than their suburban counterparts. Therefore, it is important to plan temporary signage that has a compelling, effective message that is clearly visible to travelers quickly moving from one destination to another. Successfully, and safely, catching a potential customer’s or voter’s attention is the name of the game.
Creating effective urban signage is not without its challenges. Often, clutter becomes a concern when an abundance of temporary signs are vying for prime visual space. Additionally, urban areas typically have countless permanent (most often illuminated) signs as far as the eye can see.
Customsigns.com carries an exceptional selection of customizable temporary signs sure to meet your needs. Our Customer Focus Team is here to guide you or answer any questions you may have along the way.
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