Signs are Marketing

A Minnesota business needs to be marketed, and signs are just one part.

There are several ways to market your business, whether your in Minneapolis, Coon Rapids, Edina or anywhere in Minnesota. Let us talk about some of the most obvious ones.

On site marketing – Wall signs, banners, pylon signs:
Signs on your building or property are the most obvious ways your clients will find you. If you have a retail business where you rely on walk in business, the building sign is the most vital part of your marketing plan. Many business find a great location with high traffic, then shoot themselves in the foot by not putting up a well designed, lit wall or pylon sign.

Point of Sale signs:
Point of purchase signs, the sign people see when they are in your store promoting a special product, are often under used. Think about this, why does Target, WalMart or any other major retail outlet have in store displays? Because they sell more stuff. The next time your in one of those places look around and see all of the signs, then notice how they’re being used.

Promotional products:
Not typically called a sign, but promotional products like pens, t-shirts, golf balls, all emblazoned with your company name, are like mini signs. A business card is important, but they get thrown away all to quickly. Promotional products allow your name to be in front of potential clients much longer. More about this in a future blog.

Thank you Cards:
Again, not thought of as a sign, but saying thank you to your clients is a must. Don’t buy just any card, get them printed with your company name. My company uses SendOut Cards. This has been one of the easiest ways to keep a client. You would be amazed at the results. For about $1.50, I can send out a printed card from my computer, with my company logo and my signature to any or all of my clients. I can even create campains and let the program do it auotmatically.

Your customer then receives a hand written card in the mail. Beleive me, they get opened and read.

This is just the tip of the ice berg. Next week I will share with you some other ideas that we know will help your business in these tough economic times.

good signing

The Sign Guy is the owner of Signs by RSG located in Ramsey, Mn. He and his brother (The sign dude) are 4th generation sign makers and can be reached at 763.753.7571

Electronic reader boards, are they worth it 2?

You have a business in Minnesota and you’re trying to make money in these economic times. We read earlier  in my previous post that Message centers are worth the expense, but how much could I make?

Here is a simple way to see if a Message Center is worth the cost:

Let’s say you have 100 clients per day, a very conservative starting point. Each customer spends on average $10 per visit. You would make $1000 per day. 100x$10=$1000 If you do that every day for 30 days then you make $30,000 per month in gross sales.

Now, let’s see what happens when you sell just 10% more with your electronic message center. Remember, an EMC can bring up to a 100% increase in sales on an advertised item. You sell to 110 customers (10% increase in customers) at the $10 average sale would mean an increase of $100 per day. In one month you would make an additional $3,000. ALL WITH A SIMPLE 10% INCREASE IN TRAFFIC. Your Minnesota sign will bring you an extra $36000 per year.

Just for kicks what if you brought in 25% more traffic. Same average sale of $10. 125 customers x $10 = $1250 per day. Over 30 days you would realize $7500 extra per month!

Since we’re having fun with the message center, what if we took our 10% increase in customers and just sold 10% more in the average sale? 110 customers x $11 average sale = $1210 per day. Over 30 days that is $36,300! Your sign could make you an extra $6,300 per month or $75,000 per year.

Let’s look at one more example, a real one:

You have a restaurant and you sell a lunch and dinner buffet. $6 for lunch with 50 customers. $8 for dinner with 30 customers. If you sell only 10% more for each service that would bring you an extra $30 for lunch, and $24 for dinner for a total daily increase of $54 per day. Multiply that by 30 days and you have an extra $1620 per month or $19710 per year. Your electronic message center could be paid for in the first year. This is a very conservative example but demonstrates the power of an electronic message center.

I think you can make some money in Minneapolis, Minnesota or anywhere with an EMC

good signing

The Sign Guy is the owner of Signs by RSG located in Ramsey, Mn. He and his brother (The sign dude) are 4th generation sign makers and can be reached at 763.753.7571

Electronic reader boards, are they worth it?

Are electronic message centers really worth the expense? We live in Minnesota, and times are tough, so should you invest in a LED message center?

These are legitimate concerns, so let’s try to answer one of them now, and part two next week we’ll answer more questions.

Are electronic message centers worth the expense? Let’s look at this practically. First, why even have a sign? We all know why, so that we can let passing potential customers know where we are and what we sell. That being said, can you advertise everything you do on one sign effectively? No, you have a limited space and time for people to read it. This is why I recommend you main sign tell people what you do in your name. You can refer to my blog on this subject. Since you know you need a sign and can only advertise the main thing, are you begining to see why a message center may be necessary?

EMC can advertise much more

An Electronic Message Center can advertise more items throughout the day by scrolling or changing the sign many, many times a day. Studies have shown that sales increase by up to 100% on items advertised on a message center. This is the same principle behind the use of banners for sales. Banners are limited for the same reason as above, only one message at a time. An Electronic sign can advertise specials, events, timed sales and much more. The ideas are limitless.

Coon Rapids, Edina, Minneapolis or anywhere.

Electronic message centers are regulated, but most Minnesota cities allow them without much restriction.

Do you want to increase sales for that Minnesota business?

If you do, then an Electronic message center may be the way to go. Next week we will talk numbers.

good signing

The Sign Guy is the owner of Signs by RSG located in Ramsey, Mn. He and his brother (The sign dude) are 4th generation sign makers and can be reached at 763.753.7571

minnesota signs 2009

How do buy a sign in ‘09

Kinda catchy, I may use this in my literature. The question is important. How DO you buy a sign? At first it may sound simple, but really their are some hidden pitfalls. Let me show you.

You call a sign guy from the phone book, or three. He asks, “what kind of sign do you want?” You guess what kind of sign you want, either channel letters or pylon,  because you don’t want to sound stupid. You get their bids, all different. Then choose the guy who called you back.

Why go through this hassle. Buying a sign in Minnesota is much easier than that. Here’s how

Call me, Signs by rsg,  and I will immediately become your sign guy (consultant). I will come and visit your building if a lit sign and find out what you need, can have, want and can afford. In other words, sell you a sign that gives you the most impact for the money you have to spend. In many cases, SAVE YOU the money from your sign budget so you can spend it on your business.

Here’s why this is better:

Are you a sign professional?
Do you know the city sign rules?
Do you know how to determine an effective sign size?
Do you know the difference between channel letters, pylons, monuments, raceway signs, and why one is better than another?

If the answer is no to any or all of those questions, then why would I or any other sign person ask YOU “what kind of sign do you want?” It’s like going to the tax guy and him asking you which form should he fill out. Ridiculous.

Don’t be forced to buy a sign that you had to come up with because you didn’t want to sound dumb, call me, I will never let you sound dumb. You will always be able to make an informed decision.

good signing