Common mistakes can kill your small business, but most of them can be easily corrected or avoided.
Today’s bad example: Bad signs
Way too many businesses have poorly designed or unnoticeable signs. People form their impression of you from your signs.
New customers need to see your location sign to find you. Your remote signs and billboards represent your business to everyone who drives by.
Here’s an example. Which independent florist makes a better impression?
Susie:
or Dorothy:
To make it even worse, these signs are right next to each other! Do NOT make this mistake in your business!
I will admit that I am guilty on this one, with an old outdated business sign from back in the day when the State of Oklahoma mandated tiny, ugly signs for liquor stores. Customers mention that they had trouble finding us. That is a dead giveaway that the sign is inadequate! I will get a new sign ordered this month, and I will update this post with my new sign.
Solutions
How do you correct the mistake of bad signs? First, make a strong brand, then make sure your signs fit in and further your brand. Use that brand to help a graphic designer develop the right signs for you. Set aside money every week from your business to pay for it.
Your Assignment
Together, we are going to try to help each other out of these most common, deadly mistakes. You can use real world examples, real small businesses. Write it up, take a picture, or shoot a short video. Take care not to embarrass the offenders! Key point: include suggestions on how to do it right!
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Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.
This is a really helpful post. I love real-life examples like this.
– Anita
You hit one of my pet peeves! Every time I see signs like this is just cringe. What are these people thinking? I know they want to *save money* by buying cheap signs or hand lettering them. But it sends the wrong message. If someone can’t invest in at least a decent sign how can I as a customer trust in their work? Much less trust that they will be in business in a month, 6 months, a year when I need them. uuughhh.
Sandra, I think it is especially tempting to do this in a small town. “Everybody knows where I am!”
It’s also especially bad in a small town, because we all know you. That sign really influences our thinking about your business.
I called a local sign company yesterday to start the process of replacing my own signs. I’ll be back with updates!