I’m right behind you

I was chatting with a friend of mine the other night. He was talking about a call he got from a prospect while he was driving to another job, asking some questions about his services.

My Friend, Randy Hagemo with Omega H inspections, asked “How did you get my number?”

The fellow replied, “I’m right behind you. I got your number off your truck.”

TRUCK SIGNS MEAN BUSINESS

I had made some car magnet signs for Randy about 5 years ago, and hadn’t really asked him if he was tracking where he got new business. The other night, we got to talking and he related story after story of folks that had approached him because they spotted his truck lettering

What does this mean to you? Whatever you want I guess, but the reality is, signs make money. It makes money for all kinds of businesses. Are sales down? Get a sign.

Coon Rapids Trailer lettering

The other day, we applied some vinyl graphics to a trailer. Why would someone spend money to put their logo on their trailer? Because they haul that trailer everywhere and it becomes a 5ftx8ft double sided billboard. Actually 3 sides, because of the back door.

Here’s the cool part, there are no city regulations against this. You can, in effect, have a sign located at every single jobsite that you work. That’s cool.

In the next couple of weeks we’ll be wrapping an 8ftx16ft box truck for a concrete company.

good signing

this sign guy is wrapping trucks in Anoka, mn

Truck lettering Minnesota cheap

Have you thought about putting graphics on your truck or car but are not sure where to start or what to say? Do you have just your companies name and phone number installed or do you add some flair and eye popping graphics that could potentially set you apart from you competition?

These are all good points to consider when you are serious about promoting your company. Whether you are driving in a busy business district or are parking your vehicle at a local store, your business name is being seen by potential customers day after day. This is a constant advertisement that can be seen over and over again.

A full vehicle wrap that contains a spectrum of colors and graphics may be a good choice but might not be within your company’s budget. When using full color digital print and the cost that goes with it you want to be sure that the best quality inks and vinyl’s are used. Otherwise, colors fade and vinyl cracks and peeling will leave you dissatisfied and unhappy. Another option is to use multi-color graphics and vinyl to attract your future customer’s eye.

Vehicle lettering or Wraps can last for 3-5 years. This means continued exposure and return on investment for up to 5 years. Compared to other forms of advertising, Vehicle wraps are a great way to advertise your business.

Let Signs By RSG be your guide for all your sign needs.

Paul is working on truck lettering in Ramsey, mn

Minnesota Business Signs Mobile

In the last 2 posts, we covered the Retail business sign and the Office Signs. Today we will chat about……..

If your office is your truck, then your sign need is completely different. You need, no must, put graphics on your truck. A mobile business is driving past his potential clients instead of the other way around. You’re on the road with your vehicle so we can talk about 2 ways to use your vehicle to advertise…….

Vinyl Lettering – Vinyl graphics (truck lettering) are computer cut letters or logos applied to the truck doors. Usually solid colors but can have more. This is the simplest and most economical form of vehicle graphics. These can also be applied to the windows, tailgate or rear window.

Vehicle Wrap – A Wrap is the digitally printed vinyl graphics that are applied as large sheets over your truck or car. Generally more expensive, but highly visible. This can be done as a full coverage, 3/4 or 1/2.

Which one you choose is really based on budget and how visible you want to be. Some customers simply do not want that much attention. Others, like builders, want to be seen by everyone.

A quick story……… We did some van lettering one day for a client. He came by our shop in Ramsey, MN, picked it up and drove away happy. Or so I thought. Then we got a phone call 10 minutes later. If a customer calls within 10 minutes, it’s usually bad. When I picked up the phone the first words out of his mouth were, “It works! I got my first job from the van lettering!”

It does work. People do call off of the car lettering. It makes you look more professional.

Good signing

The sign guy is working on a wrap for a builder in Coon rapids, mn

763-753-7571

Minnesota Business Signs Office

Last article was about choosing a retail sign, today lets talk about your Business Office Sign….

Business Office Sign

If you have a business office, your primary need will be IDENTIFICATION. You’re not likely to receive much drive by traffic, so your sign needs are a little simpler. There are 2 main areas we should consider, the OFFICE DOOR SIGN, and the RECEPTION AREA sign……..

Office Door Sign – This sign type is usually determined by the office building management. You will need to match the sign criteria of all the other signs. It can be something as simple as vinyl lettering on a window, to a routed metal sign panel.

Reception Area Sign – This sign you will have much more control to choose. The reason for this sign is to influence the clients as they enter your office. Have you ever been to an attorneys office? They usually have a non lit sign behind the reception desk. This has the affect of impressing your client. It makes them feel more confident in you and your company. They may not be able to verbalize this, but the effect is still there.

If you’re in an office situation, these are the most common uses for signage. You can of course supplement these with other signs as you location allows.

good signing

The sign guy – is working on a reception sign in Brooklyn Park, Mn

Minnesota Business Signs

What kind of signs can you get for your Business?

Whenever a customer calls, one of the first things they say is ..”I need to get a sign.” Many sign folks follow up with, “What kind of sign do you want?”

Do You Know What Kind of Sign that you NEED for your business? Probably not, so this blog is dedicated to helping you figure out what kind of sign may work for you……

Choosing a sign for your business is more about figuring out what you’re trying to do based on your location or situation. There are 3 basic business situations………Retail, Office and Mobile. There are probably some other subsets, but we’ll concentrate on these 3, beginning with Retail.

Retail Businesses

A retail business uses lit signs for one major reason, TO ATTRACT MORE CUSTOMERS. Generally a sign needs to be seen by the drive by traffic. The best time to reach a new customer is when they’re driving right in front of your door. This can be done with 2 main sign locations….

WALL SIGNS – A wall sign is the advertising located on your building. It can be a sign box or cabinet. It also can be individual channel letters

ROAD SIGNS – A road sign is the advertising located in front of your building, by the road and is closest to the drive by traffic. A road sign is either a PYLON sign, or a MONUMENT sign.

Either of these signs can be internally lit, using florescent or LED. The main reason for choosing one of these signs is it’s visibility to the traffic. These signs will advertise your business.

Many people will make their purchase decisions on impulse based on the signs that they see as their driving by. Signs are about bringing in customers. Many times a business owner just puts a cheap sign on the building to identify their space. This is the least effective way to use your sign.

Your business sign can work for you 24/7. Make sure you let it.

good signing

 

the sign guy – lives and works near Minneapolis, mn

763-753-7571

Minnesota vehicle graphics

BUSTED!!!!

Today I was asked by a friend of mine, “So you have car stickers too, right?”

Car sticker signage

Well, no I don’t. I have truck decals on my service vehicle. I have them on my crane truck, but alas, I do not have them on my personal vehicle. You go me.

You see, I just bought my car a few months ago in here in Minnesota. My last car had some stickers, but I have yet to put some on my new car. Shame on me. Do you realize how many people see my car? 1,000′s upon 1,000′s of people. I drive a bunch. That can translate into a lot of views.

My friend, Greg with Stonehearth, confirmed something for me about vehicle signage. Builders and others in the trades get about 25% of their business from their truck decals. Greg is interested in a truck wrap just because he knows that it can bring him more business.

Vehicle wrap signage

If you have a company or are a person that drives a lot for your business, car stickers can really have an impact on getting more calls. I have even seen folks who just drive a bunch sell ad space on their personal vehicle to help pay for their car.

Thanks Greg for the reminder. Guess I need to get to work on the new car wrap design

good signing

the sign guy

living and working in Ramsey, MN

 

My other sign quote is cheaper, again

I love to negotiate too, but let’s be fair……

All Sign Quotes are the same

or are they?

Last year a prospective client asked for a quote on individual lit channel letters. Cool, we do those. We quoted the letters per their specification with a bit of flair added for good measure. All within the client request.

Individual letters on a raceway with a tagline box.

A few days later I called to follow up on the quote and to see how we can make changes or even negotiate. To my surprise I was told that they went with a cheaper sign quote. You know, this stuff happens. I get it, price is king.

Well here’s the rest of the story. I was in the neighborhood doing a survey for another client when what do you suppose I saw? Yup, the cheaper sign. Here is what that looked like………..

Now, I’m not one to complain. Really, I’m not. But does this look the same to you? It doesn’t to me either. Now there could have been several reasons why they went with this obviously different sign, and I’ll try to list some………

• They didn’t like me
• They were lied to
• They didn’t notice the difference
• They just saw price
• I failed to ask the right questions
• I failed to find out what they really wanted vs what they asked for
• They didn’t care

You know, any of these or multiples of these could have been the reason. I can deal with that, learn and improve. So, why bring this up and write about it. Because one of the reasons was deception by the other sign company. I write this to help those that are in Minnesota shopping for a lit sign, to be careful. Not every sign quote is equal.

Good signing

the sign guy is always trying to find ways to help

www.signsbyrsg.com

763-753-7571

Do it Yourself Truck graphics

A picture is worth a thousand words…………

"and I helped!"

It never ceases to amaze me what people are willing to sacrifice in order to save a buck. I am a business owner too, and I appreciate the need to save money, but some places you need to spend the extra…..

Here’s what was lost……..

• appearance of quality
• feeling of stability
• feeling of safety

I get it….You need to spend money wisely. Even at the low cost of these graphics, you’ve spent too much. However, these graphics, now that’s a deal.

the sign guy

You can drop your vehicle off at our location for a free estimate, it’s cheaper than you think.

Ramsey, MN sign company

EMC – FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about EMCs:

1. What are EMCs? EMC stands for; Electronic message center. They are computerized, programmable signs. They can store and displaying dozens of messages from different formats and at differing intervals.
2. How are message centers used?Message centers are used by business owners that want the flexibility to control their own messages and be able to change those messages to meet their needs and the needs of their customers.
   • Large Corporations have used such devices for years, at places like Times Square and in sports arenas
   • State Highway Departments, like the Minnesota DOT have also realized the value of electronic message centers, and are using them to inform and direct traffic, thereby easing traffic congestion and increasing traffic safety.
   • Local Banks have for years used the now timeless, time and temperature displays.
   • Small Businesses have begun to realize the advertising power of these dynamic displays. Although they have been cost prohibitive in the past, due to changing technology, have become affordable for just about any business.
   • Have you heard of Las Vegas?
3. We have a sign; why does my business need a message center?    What!!? Are you really asking that question? You have a sign displaying 1 message over and over again. With a digital sign, you can change the message multiple times a day, advertising the tangible products increasing sales on those products. Does your sign tell everything about your business?
   Plus they’re cool!! Motorists often spot electronic message centers quickly because the copy changes, It’s always lit and many business owners provide other information like the time and temperature or community events.AND they make you MO” MONEY!! Studies have shown that when you can advertise specific products or services, you will increase revenue overall.
4. Is an electronic message center a cost-effective advertising medium?Yes.
   Compare the figures below:
   • Newspaper advertising – the cost on average is about $7.39 for 1000 exposures within a 10-mile radius of the business location.
   • Television advertising – The cost on average is approximately $6.26 per 1000 exposures.
   • Radio advertising – The cost is about $5.47 per 1000 exposures.
   • New LED electronic message center display – The cost is less than $0.15 per 1000 exposures. How? Assume, for example, that you spend $30,000.00 on this type of system, and that its useful life is about ten years. The amortized daily cost of the message center would equal about $2.74. Add to this the daily cost of electricity for this new LED unit (approximately $0.20), thus giving your business a daily message center expense total of $8.82. With a daily traffic count of 20,000 vehicles passing your business, you would have a cost of less than $0.45 per thousand exposures (counting drivers only)

   You probably didn’t read all of that so I’ll sum it up; Digital signs working 24/7 are seen by your customers driving in front of your store.

5. What level of return on investment can I expect?The SBA suggests that you would see an increase in revenue (MO” MONEY) of 15%-35% immediately upon implementation of a properly sized sign.If your small business is generating $1000 a day now, you would see at least $150/day more after the EMC is installed.

   That means, the average sign could be paid for within 6mos to a year and you still have years and years to continue to make that extra money.

6. How much can I expect to spend on an electronic message center?Before we answer that, ask yourself how much money are you wasting on ineffective advertising, and can you divert that marketing budget toward an electronic sign?You can also purchase these with installment payments through any one of several leasing companies.

   You really want to know how much………. depends. I know that’s not the answer you want, but it is true. However, I know you want some ballpark pricing. I will do that if you promise to remember that these prices are averages and not quotes of any particular sign.

   small sign – $10,000 – $15,000
   medium sign – more than that
   large sign – even more still

   some of the variables are; size, color, resolution, single or double sided, method of communication and special features.

7. What about safety? Aren’t EMCs a distraction for drivers?Yes, they’re safe. Think about it, a person driving searching for a particular business, but due to restrictive sign codes cannot see the business sign. Suddenly notices it, makes a dramatic lane change ramming into a guy on a Harley then slams on his brakes causing a chain reaction of death and mayhem.or this same driver searching for a particular business in a business district with a reasonable sign code, notices the company he’s looking for from a distance. He signals his intent to turn and safely enters the parking lot of said business.
8. What about face changes? Can I change the face or copy of my sign? Simple answer, yes. Not so simple answer, depends on the restrictive overreaching local government administration and their desire to limit the success of businesses in their community and their limited knowledge of the safety studies available about dynamic signage.

The sign guy is working on an electronic message center in St. Paul.

www.signsbyrsg.com

763-753-7571

Minnesota business signs

If a genie popped out of a bottle and would grant you any one of the following for your business, what would you wish………

1. Greatest product
2. Greatest margins
3. Greatest marketing
4. Greatest management

Most of you would say to have either the greatest product or the greatest margin. Those are good. Let me ask you this……..What is the #1 Restaurant in the world? McDonald’s – the company known for having the best hamburgers, right?

Let’s face it, only one company gets to be #1. All of us should strive to be that, but only 1 gets it. Another thing, every business is telling all their prospective clients that they’re #1. Just listen to car commercials.

My suggestion is this; Marketing is the most important element needed for EVERY company. If you have the best product, yet have no customers, what good is it? Please understand, you must have a good product.

Minnesota Business Marketing

So, how do you market a business? That’s a great question. Take a business marketing class and let me know all the ways to market your company.

What I can tell you is this……Are all of the people driving in front of your store able to see you & know what you’re selling? If not, then It may be time to upgrade your sign package.

Look at this photo and tell me what you think….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What does this picture tell you? That anytime you can put up a sign, do it. Do you think McD’s is wasting money or making money?

good signing

The sign guy

Signs by RSG – A Family Trade Since 1915 – practicing in Ramsey Minnesota for 9 years

(763)753-7571 fax (763)753-0102 www.signsbyrsg.com
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)