By Meghan Belnap

Setting up an effective brand is important for small businesses to succeed, and one major way to accomplish this is with quality signage on-site. An effective sign for your office space gives people a better idea of what your business can do for them. However, conveying the spirit of your company to your consumers is a lot more than just putting words and pictures on a board. Here are a few aspects you need to consider when working out your sign design to promote your business.

Choose the right shape

Many business signs, especially those that include custom logos or fonts, will have unique shapes. The shape of your sign might depend on a few factors. If you work in the tech industry, then sharp angles and straight lines can convey a sense of technological innovation. Businesses that work with more organic materials or plants, however, should incorporate smooth and curving lines to create a natural aesthetic. Consider your product and service and work with a professional designer to properly visualize what shapes capture the essence of what you’re selling.

Consider your signage materials

The material of the sign can be used as part of the message, as well. At the same time, you want a sign that is durable and resists fading or weather damage, especially if the sign will be on the exterior of your building. Office and technological solution companies will want to consider glass-like materials, like perspex or plexiglass, especially for inside the office with name plates and plaques. These materials give a very professional and even futuristic appearance, depending on how you use it. More technical services, however, such as car services or construction, can convey the lasting quality of their work with laser-cut metal signs.

Find the right color

You may have a preferred shade of color that you’d like new customers to associate with your brand or business. However, certain colors can also call to mind specific connotations, so you should consider that when choosing a palette for your office sign. Electric blues are often associated with technological prowess, while bright greens suggest creativity.

Contrast, as well, will be important to making the image stick in your consumers’ minds. While using direct complementary colors can be a bit cliché, such as blue with orange or purple and yellow, you can incorporate other color wheel combinations to create varying effects. The triad or split-complementary schemes can be great for getting that pop in your image, whereas analogous color schemes are great for creating a soothing or relaxing image.

Keep things simple

Your designs don’t need to be overly complex. A sign with complicated shapes or a lot of writing in colors that are hard to read might turn potential customers off instead of drawing them in. A simple logo can become a base for more complicated images later as needed, while still evoking the same associations with your company. Consider logos like the Windows logo, or Google’s Chrome logo. While they can easily add varying colors and details to make the image more elaborate, the simple design immediately brings to mind the company in question without much study.

Although it may seem like a small aspect of your branding, how you build your business sign tells your clients a lot about both you and your organization. The right materials and colors can create appealing designs that look fun and innovative yet remain professional at the same time. Take the time to really consider your design and work with a professional service to get the greatest branding for your company.

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Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She loves being in the outdoors and exploring new opportunities whenever they arise. Meghan finds happiness in researching new topics that help to expand her horizons. You can often find her buried in a good book or out looking for an adventure.