Outdoor signs are one of the most effective and powerful ways to advertise your business. They are versatile, cost-effective, reusable, and offer maximum ROI. With that said, designing a great banner that helps win your intended audience’s attention and gets them to convert is no easy feat. Several potential pitfalls include tiny banners with cluttered text, poor quality graphics, no call-to-action, and more. To help you avoid these situations, we’ve compiled a list of the standard banner printing mistakes and how to fix them.

Mistake #1: Using Your Brand Name as the Headline

Using your brand name as the headline is a common mistake and doesn’t help you win new customers. If people aren’t already familiar with the brand name, the banner will mean little. Instead, using product names or services helps hook the audience’s attention. They are more likely to relate to the product or service.

Mistake #2: Typos and Grammatical Errors

Spellings errors, typos, and grammatical errors are embarrassing design mistakes. The first thing people notice is that you have made a glaring mistake on your banner. It sticks out and creates an unprofessional impression of your brand. Make sure to proofread your message at least two to three times, run it through spellcheck software before you send the banner for printing. It can also be helpful to have multiple people look over the design to catch errors.

Mistake #3: Missing Contact Information

The primary intention of any outdoor banner stand is lead generation. You can pull in customers only when you provide them with your contact information. Contact information can include a phone number, email ID, or social media handle. You can also include QR codes that customers can scan to reach your site. Alternatively, a powerful call-to-action like “give us a call to get your free gift” is another way to generate leads and turn them into future customers.

Mistake #4: Complicated or Lengthy Messages

Keep in mind that people who pass by your banner have only a few seconds to grasp its information. Keep the message short. Avoid jargon and keep the message catchy and straightforward so that the audience can understand it at first glance.

Mistake #5: Improper Visual Balance

Often, businesses make the mistake of including only text or too many images in their banners. Too much empty space makes your banner look dull, while overcrowding makes it look clumsy. You need to strike the right balance between text and images. Including two to three high-definition pictures with appropriate text and balanced colors is the key to printing a stunning banner. Whether you’re printing real estate sign posts or outdoor banners for a trade show, make sure to keep these points in mind to avoid committing these design mistakes.