Are you a business who depends on customers and vendors locating you?  Visible and attractive address signage is an extremely important element for businesses, commercial parks, and residential areas.  Although modern GPS technology has increased people’s ability to navigate to the right general location, address signage is still needed.

Address signage like all signs gives an immediate impression to people passing by and visiting your location.  And in residential areas attention to signage details can increase curb appeal for the entire neighborhood.  Here are some things to consider when choosing how to display your building or house numbers.

1. Are there any sign restrictions or regulations to consider?

Some communities, landlord agreements, and neighborhood associations restrict signage including address signs.  You will want to make sure you understand the rules upfront before launching into design.   If your location is in an area where street appearances are regulated you will likely be required to submit an application for approval or a permit.

Furthermore, is your address sign friendly to disabled persons?  Does your design plan include signs next to doors with braile and at a height easily viewable by persons in wheel chairs?   See article on ADA Signs.

2. What is your budget?

Knowing your budget upfront is extremely important.  There are a lot of different signage options available with modern materials and technology.  Knowing your budget upfront will help narrow down the best options available for your sign project and save time on sign design.

3. What are your signage goals?

You may just want a simple sign that is visible from the street and that simple fits with the neighborhood. Or you may be a property manager looking for an ascetic way to display suite addresses that align with the brand image your tenants want to project. If you are catering to professional organizations like attorneys, financial advisors, etc. then you a more upscale design.

4. What options are available to best promote your business?

Some options for address signs include window graphics, pole signs, door signs, hanging signs, LED Signs, and sandblasted signs.

5. What is the look of the neighborhood?

This is usually largely influenced by landlords, property managers, and municipalities.  Getting your business noticed should not be at the expense of aggravating your neighbors or the community.  Violations in signage regulations could also result in unnecessary fines and extra cost to replace. 

If there is flexibility, incorporating your sign design into your brand image is a great way to continue to communicate your image to your customers.  If you are a no-frills organization then a simple window graphic or building sign with plain colored letters may be sufficient.  However, if you are trying to project integrity, quality, and high value then you may choose a more ornate design.  For example, a sandblasted sign with custom colors and a border will give a stronger impression of your brand then a stock sign with no differentiation.  

6. What size of address sign?

When ordering a custom sign for displaying your address it is important to choose the right size of the numbers.  You will want to make sure your sign is readable from a distance for your customers to see clearly. 

7. What color options do you choose for your address sign?

Colors are an important decision when it comes to your signage decisions. Color’s project different meanings and can be used to project an emotion associated with a brand image.

Additionally, combinations of colors increase visibility and readibility.  Choosing the wrong color combination can cause your intended message to be missed or overlooked.

8. What materials are available for your address sign?

There are many choices of sign materials. Consider the environmental factors and exposures of the location.  Make sure you are choosing materials that will standup to weather over time.

9. What type of layouts are available for your address sign?

Sign layout includes decisions related to margins, keyword emphasis, borders, corners, reducing unnecessary verbiage, and colors.

10. Does your address sign design work?

There are several design options to choose between fonts, size, color, layout, and materials. All of which can help you project your brand image to your visitors.  Not all sign and graphic design choices work together to create a positive and ascetically pleasing image.  Form and function are key elements in any sign design.

Has your business recently moved?  Here is a link to checklist from the SBA for business who are planning on moving.