Signs are the most basic and standard way that any business advertises. Sure, they are likely to put an add in a newspaper, and these days most business will probably be quick to get on Facebook, but the tried and true method of sticking a sign up outside their business will never go out of style. Why? Simple - in today's busy world, many people don't have the time to go scouring searching for businesses, they will be drawn into a store by what they see in the windows, and by the sign.
Knowing that business owners understand the importance of signs, and recognizing the fact that most people are too busy to spend hours searching for businesses, you need to make sure that your sign business is more than just a blip on the radar. You need to make it a landmark on the map. To make your business well known, you have to know your business well.
First things first you need to know to whom you are selling. This means research. Find out the interests of your target market. Sure you want business owners who need signs, but how old are they? Mostly male or female? How can you draw them in? When you know your customers well you can better think like them and tailor your advertising and your products accordingly.
Next you need to get on the internet. Advertising is everywhere. You'll likely find that personal recommendations or positive reviews of your company on a web site bring in more business than anything else. Once you have a web site, you should put up a satisfied customers page, complete with testimonials from happy customers. Social media such as Facebook or Twitter also opens the door for people to start talking about your business; positive dialogue often generates more business.
While the internet is a great place to get talking, nothing replaces good old-fashioned human contact. Talk with everyone you can about your business. Communicate with your customers, past, current, and future. Talk to your employees and connect with your competitors. The only way you can find out if you are providing quality service is by asking.
Getting your business on the map in the right way also requires that you provide good customer service. When your customer service is up to snuff, people will be talking about your business for the right reasons, giving it a good, solid landmark on the business map.
