Yard Sign Power

What? Who is that? Really!?!?

2010-10-27T20:11:00.004-05:00

Ok, so the title is corny but totally appropriate! I have been creating my article content strictly for Super Cheap Signs and while I have really enjoyed doing that, I have missed my own little blog and my readers. So, I am making a commitment to pop in at least 2 times a week and post something interesting whether it happens to be about signs or not! I swear I will not remain a stranger!!!!

If you want a quick glimpse at how I have been spending my writing time, feel free to take a read:

http://www.supercheapsigns.com/blog/

I'll write you all soon and update you on all the doings:-)

SEO Tools and Tips

2010-04-05T11:22:00.013-05:00

Occasionally, I actually cover topics that are not directly related to signs, but still have some bearing on advertising or marketing (don't get the wrong idea though! Signs are critical to marketing and advertising!). For whatever reason, I had this huge urge to cover SEO :-)

In today’s world, gaining popularity in the business sector has become very competitive. So, businessmen are searching for various techniques to establish their name in the market. Among many techniques, SEO for business is quite popular among small and big businesses and corporations. Search engine optimization (or SEO) is the process of improving traffic to a website from search engines. This is made possible by organic search results. Through SEO, search engines can examine the presence of your website by looking at keywords that are included in your web pages. On the basis of that, business websites will be ranked on the search engine list. In this entire process, relevancy of content plays a crucial role.

During search engine optimization, one must consider a very important process- build links by creating external links. These links build points to your website and improve your website’s authority level. The search engines crawl the website and check out whether it is popular or not and if it is popular then the search engine will reward the site with more prominent rankings. Not only this, SEO for business website can bring more potential customers from across the globe.

The following 10 free SEO tools can help draw targeted traffic to your Web site content. You’ll notice that many of the tools in this roundup come from Google. Because Google searches account for about 65 percent of all Internet searches, it makes sense to use Google tools for your SEO efforts.

Top 10 Free Small Business SEO Tools:

1. Google AdWords Keyword Tool: Google’s free tool is designed for marketers who want to find the best keywords for their Google AdWords campaigns. But it’s extremely useful for organic (unpaid) SEO efforts, too. It can give you a sense of how often people use a particular keyword, or variations of it, in Google searches, and how competitive a keyword might be to rank highly for it in Google search queries.

2. WordPress: Search engines love blogs, so if you aren’t currently blogging, give it a try. WordPress is widely seen as the best blogging platform.

3. Google Analytics: If you haven’t set up a Google account and added Google Analytics tracking code to your site or blog, you should. Simply put, it’s a fantastic tool for learning about what attracts visitors to your site -- including the keywords used to find it -- as well as where visitors come from, how many pages they typically visit on your site, how long they stay on your site and tons more.

4. Google Insights for Search: While Google AdWords Keyword Tool shows you the volume of searches conducted using specific keywords, Google Insights for Search gives you a sense of the trends in keyword usage. Specifically, you can compare search volume across chosen time periods (from 2004 to the present), geographic areas, categories and a lot more. Google Insights for Search will show you the keywords that are rising in popularity. This information can help you target the best keywords for new site content, such as blog posts.

5. Google Trends: Google Trends shows you what the hot topics and search terms are on Google right now. It’s not quite as useful as Google Insights for Search for getting the big picture on trends. But it’s ideal for a quick snapshot on the Internet zeitgeist. Plus, you can also go back in time to see what the top hot searches were on a given day, which is cool.

6. Trendistic: Trendistic provides charts to reveal how a given topic has trended in the past 24 hours, 7 days, 30 days, 90 days, or 180 days. Another good tool to guage this is Twitter Search (http://search.twitter.com/). Twitter search doesn't give you any graphs, but it can help you stay up-to-date on the latest buzz.

7. Facebook: Facebook has surpassed Google as the top source for traffic to major Web portals, prompting some analysts to say that social media networks, such as Facebook, could become the Internet’s next search engine.

8. Wordtracker Labs Keyword Questions: Increasingly, people are typing natural-language questions into search engines. But what questions are people typing? Wordtracker’s free tool will tell you, based on the search query data it compiles. You could discover the top questions people have that are relative to your product or service. Then you could write a blog post or add an entirely new page to your site to answer one of those questions.

9. Google Local Business Center: By listing your business with Google’s Local Business Center, you’ll greatly increase your chances of rising to the top of local search results. You can create a separate listing for each of your business’s physical locations. Use important keywords in your listings, and make sure you get happy customers to review your business, too.

10. Google Webmaster Tools: Google’s set of Webmaster tools are relatively easy to use. Once you’ve verified your site, you can get diagnostics to ensure there are no errors preventing search engines from indexing the content -- which is essential to being found in searches. The Webmaster tools also show top search queries used to find your site, the links to your site, and more.

Top 10 SEO Tips:

While intense SEO can involve complex site restructuring with a firm (or consultant) that specializes in this area, there are a few simple steps you can take yourself to increase your search engine ranking. All it requires is a little effort, and some re-thinking of how you approach content on your site.

Here are a few tips by Richard V. Burckhardt, also known as The Web Optimist (Richard has over 10 years experience in search engine optimization, web development and marketing), to help you increase your SEO:

1. If you absolutely MUST use Java script drop down menus, image maps or image links, be sure to put text links somewhere on the page for the spiders to follow.

2. Content is king, so be sure to have good, well-written and unique content that will focus on your primary keyword or keyword phrase.

3. If content is king, then links are queen. Build a network of quality backlinks using your keyword phrase as the link. Remember, if there is no good, logical reason for that site to link to you, you don’t want the link.

4. Don’t be obsessed with PageRank. It is just one isty bitsy part of the ranking algorithm. A site with lower PR can actually outrank one with a higher PR.

5. Be sure you have a unique, keyword focused Title tag on every page of your site. And, if you MUST have the name of your company in it, put it at the end. Unless you are a major brand name that is a household name, your business name will probably get few searches.

6. Fresh content can help improve your rankings. Add new, useful content to your pages on a regular basis. Content freshness adds relevancy to your site in the eyes of the search engines.

7. Be sure links to your site and within your site use your keyword phrase. In other words, if your target is “blue widgets” then link to “blue widgets” instead of a “Click here” link.

8. Focus on search phrases, not single keywords, and put your location in your text (“our Palm Springs store” not “our store”) to help you get found in local searches.

9. Don’t design your web site without considering SEO. Make sure your web designer understands your expectations for organic SEO. Doing a retrofit on your shiny new Flash-based site after it is built won’t cut it. Spiders can crawl text, not Flash or images.

10. Use keywords and keyword phrases appropriately in text links, image ALT attributes and even your domain name.

For a longer list of tips, please visit 55 Quick SEO Tips Even Your Mother Would Love

Gwynn~

Signs and Banners: Marketing Tools?

2010-03-25T15:15:00.005-05:00

Using signs And banners for new business marketing is a good plan. If you think you have to concentrate all your efforts on internet marketing you are wrong. Sure the internet is the way to advertise in this age of the online business world but, as I have said before, the old traditional methods work too.

Signs and banners are an easy to use marketing tool that are great for many different types of businesses. You can find local sign companies that will not only print your banner or signs, but offer design assistance (some for free with your order) so you can ensure a professional banner or sign every time. You can find these forms of advertising in almost any industry or for a number of businesses. Why would they use banners or signs if they didn't work? The fact is,they wouldn't.

Many business have used banners to promote their business during trade shows. Using this advertising strategy will guarantee you some profit, and can boost your reputation. Not only that! Banners have spurred a whirlwind of different types of banner stands that can add dramatically to your set up.

You can get all the attention you want when you use vinyl banners and vinyl signs. A favorite with many people, vinyl banners are the best choice because they are durable, simple to maintain and versatile. Moreover, one of the most vital reasons for using vinyl to make banners is that it can be used on both indoors and outdoors. Due to its durability, vinyl can be mounted, hung, attached, or pasted on most surfaces making it simple to catch attention of the passersby. And the rapid changes in technology have now allowed large vinyl banners to be printed with relative ease and comfort using the spray paint technique. Whatever size vinyl banners may be needed, there is one that can be made for you.

If banners are so effective then, why use yard signs (or bandit signs as they are sometimes called)? Many many reasons, but three come immediately to mind:

1. Business yard signs help brand your company. The public needs repeated exposure to your company in order to maintain it in long-term memory.

2. Displaying yard signs is a symbol of pride. Don’t you take pride in the work and services performed by your company? Like other proud professionals, your company can sign your work too. Use yard signs to proudly promote and advertise the work you do. This is your signature - there for the world to see.

3. Signs are a marketing tool. They act as advertising signs alerting possible clients of your services. A business can benefit from varied forms of advertising. A well-positioned printed sign can recruit many customers.

Advertising is vital to any business, organization, or cause. When you feel strongly about a company you own or an organization you belong to, you want to get the word out. You want others to use your business services, join your organization, or support your cause. And the only way to get the word out to gain the interest of others is to market or advertise whatever it is you are promoting. If you are just getting started with your marketing campaign or you are looking for a simple and cost effective way to advertise, signs and banners are a common avenue to take.

Gwynn~

Drive by Laughter...

2010-03-15T10:30:00.010-05:00

I don't know about you, but I sure could use a laugh to start this day off! It was a nice weekend but just not long enough to prepare me for another Monday morning :-P

So, for the sake of sanity and to relieve the extreme effort needed to reboot the work week, I give you 50 of the funniest road signs!

Hmmmmmm.... which light do I follow?

How do you pronounce that again?
—

How often do they have cows falling off of cliffs?
—

That’s just wrong.... but forewarned and all that.
—

You never know, you might grow wings and fly too.
—

Hey at least they said “Good Luck”.
—

That new “Dry” swimming is rough on the body.
—

Once you decide, you can’t turn around.
—

Well that’s one way to tell you.
—

Nothing more need be said...
—

To enter or not to enter... that is the question.
—

I’m not sure we needed to know that.
—

Not sure we needed to know that either...
—

So I wonder... next week will it be green and say “Sign in use”?
—

Not much to say on this one.
—

Not sure they even know what they mean.
—

This might not be the best place to take your wife....
—

I’ve been looking for a spot to park my house.
—

That’s it, it’s over.
—

There’s more than one way to close a freeway down.
—

I thought that was a secret?
—

Decisions decisions....
—

Man, thank God that sign was there, otherwise I wouldn’t have known.
—

We just had to put up a sign banning signs.
—

Long trip? They have warm beds and three meals a day.
—

Nope.... didn't see that one coming.
—

And we have been fighting to legalize this place for how long?
—

They got the bridge covered... just don't touch the sign!
—

See, signs do teach us important things!
—

So THAT'S what the preacher meant...
—

20 tourists came in - only 10 left.
—

Hey we had to spend some tax dollars just to let you know.
—

They just wanted to reassure you...
—

Who chose this route?
—

Some decisions are hard to make...
—

Well at least they warned you that there was a curve ahead.
—

I’m not sure how something is “Semi-Permanent” or how you “Deactivate” a road, but I’d be careful.
—

So what constitutes traffic, more than one car?
—

Do not adjust your hearing aid or turn up the radio... this is only a temporary silence.
—

Ummmmm?
—

Once if by land... twice if by sea... OHHHH... NVM :-P
—

Just in case you didn’t notice, read the sign... then hide
—

Now if they had just put an arrow pointing backwards, this really would have been confusing.
—

You have to stop by “Weed” first and pick up some supplies.
—

Hey man, thems the breaks!
—

Honey, can you walk and call someone for help? I'll wait in the car.
—

This dry beach is part of that new dry swimming.
—

Quick, which way do we go?
—

It was bound to happen eventually...
—

They mean business...

Gwynn~

Five supergraphics removed from Hollywood Boulevard

2010-03-11T09:44:00.006-06:00

Less than a week ago, Trutanich secured the removal of an eight-story supergraphic on Hollywood Boulevard. The defendant in that case, Kayvan Setareh, spent three days in jail with bail set at $1 million before he agreed to remove the sign in exchange for having his bail reduced to $100,000. He has still admitted no wrongdoing.

I railed against the fact that directly across the street there was another supergraphic that I felt they had blindly ignored - saying I felt it was a gross abuse of power to make a $1 million dollar example of a man while other signs were blatantly obvious. Well... On March 7th (just in time for the Oscars) five more supergraphics were removed from two buildings on Hollywood Boulevard in City Attorney Carmen Trutanich's ongoing battle against the purveyors of the huge ads. I would like to add for clarification purposes that it was the pair of buildings on Hollywood Boulevard that sit directly across from the Kodak Theater, where the Academy Awards were handed out on Sunday (ohhhh how coincidental! Gotta crack down THERE so those blasted signs aren't visible on camera!!!! "WHAT?!?!? 3 more supergraphics two blocks from here? Who CARES man! Get these signs down NOW!") . Perhaps I am the only person who finds this beyond ironic, but seriously.... this crack down still seems highly convenient. It just seems to me that they really didn't want Godzilla sized signs stealing the limelight. In any case.... moving on...

A judge issued arrest warrants Tuesday for the four people accused by Trutanich of putting up the five illegal signs at 6800 Hollywood Blvd. and 6810-6820 Hollywood Blvd. The city's sign law bans the installation of new supergraphics, or vinyl images draped across the side of a building.

Deputy City Atty. Spencer Hart said a lawyer for two of the defendants, Alexander Kouba and France Luanghy, had notified the city that the signs would come down while the criminal case was pending. Hart said the signs posed a threat to public safety because they were installed without permits or city inspections.

Kouba and Luanghy each posted $100,000 bail Thursday. A third defendant, Thomas Curtin, posted $100,000 bail Friday.

Steve Madison, an attorney for Kouba and Luanghy, said the signs were "perfectly legal and safe."

"Given that the city attorney has taken the position that not only are they unlawful but criminal, we thought the prudent thing to do in the meantime would be to take them down," Madison said.

By Saturday morning, all five signs had been removed. Madison said the clients, which include the billboard company known as Community Redevelopment Assn., would keep fighting the charges.
For more information: david.zahniser@latimes.com

On a happier note, not all cities have banned supergraphics :-P and most of the ones that have, have yet to go to such expensive extremes to have them removed. In an earlier post, I broke out a list of where you could find the sign laws in each state for most cities. For your convenience, I will add a link here for you. I urge anyone who wants to use signs, banners (ummm - supergraphics?), etc. to check the state laws and local ordinances before putting anything out. And certainly make sure that the Academy Awards will NOT be hosted across the street :-)

Gwynn~

Sign Crackdown in LA Brings Jail Time & $1 Million Fine!

2010-03-03T14:33:00.012-06:00

Ok - I brought you the Great Sign Debate... I even brought you the scandal over the re-emergence of the sign debate. Now I get the privilege of bringing you the latest news: City Attorney Carmen Trutanich arrested Kayvan Setareh, a 49-year-old businessman from Pacific Palisades, on Friday night for allegedly putting up an illegal DreamWorks supergraphic at Hollywood and Highland. A judge set the bail at a whopping $1 million for Setareh, who was still in jail as of this morning, according to ABC7, which reports that "legal experts believe Trutanich set Setareh's bail at $1 million to make an example of the businessman."

According to the LA Times, officials believe Setareh, who is said to have an ownership interest in the building, put up the supergraphic so television cameras airing this week's 82nd annual Academy Awards would pick up the image (the awards are held at the nearby Kodak Theater).

Meanwhile, more details emerged about Setareh's weekend in jail. After being arrested Friday night, Setareh spent three nights in jail, released only after the city attorney's office crafted a legal agreement that saw Setareh agree to remove the sign in return for a reduction in his bail, which was originally set at $1 million.

The cherry picker arrived at the Hollywood and Highland site by midnight, but a faulty part in the machine temporarily delayed removal of the supergraphic

Early this morning (around 1:00 AM) the removal of the supergraphic was proceeded over by a cherry picker, a crew, and three important figures. And those three men, all key players in this latest sign battle, would be: David Berger, special assistant to the City Attorney, who defended the high bail amount and dismissed speculation that by arresting Kayvan Setareh, the city was making an example of the Hollywood businessman ("It's not true we're making an example of him. He may be the first, but he’s not the last"); Andrew Stein, Setareh's attorney, who said his client just got caught up in the city's sudden sign crackdown (“My client had bad luck. He put up the sign at an inappropriate time for himself…we don’t think he did anything that was against the law”); and Al Gonzalez of Los Angeles-based sign installation company Kingsize, who refused to talk about whether he knew the How to Train Your Dragon movie sign was illegal when he put it up last week (“I can’t discuss this because we’re not involved ”), and who, on the advice of Stein, asked that no head-on photos be taken of himself or his seven-person crew as they removed the sign. Setareh, who'd been released on bail earlier in the day, wasn't around, and likely was resting at his home in Pacific Palisades. Asked to describe his client's mental state following his arrest, Stein replied, "Stunned."

Setareh will be arraigned in late March for three misdemeanors related to the installation of the sign, and if found guilty, could face a total of 18 months in jail, six months for each misdemeanor, according to Berger. Berger, who says Setareh's high bail amount was set in conjunction with the public safety threat posed by the graphic, says the crackdown on illegal signage will continue. "We are aware of other locations." With the criminal charges filed, and more apparently coming, is it "the dawn of a new day" in terms of sign regulation, as the Coalition to Ban Billboard Blight's Dennis Hathaway told the Los Angeles Times today?

This was not the first time that Setareh had become a target for city inspectors. As early as 2001, they filed paperwork ordering him to remove an unpermitted supergraphic from his property on Hollywood Boulevard.

Inspectors went to the building again in January 2007 and found an unpermitted supergraphic measuring 224 feet by 40 feet stretched across the building's north, west and south walls, according to records obtained from the Department of Building and Safety.

The sign was taken down 10 days later. But another went up on the same building in March 2007, according to a timeline created by building inspectors. After the city demanded its removal, the sign went down in June 2007. It was replaced by a third supergraphic in August that stayed for a year, according to records.

Setareh also drew the attention of inspectors at a building he owns at 5858 Hollywood Boulevard. At that location, city prosecutors pressed Setareh to remove four unpermitted supergraphics between November 2006 and July 2007, according to documents.

The irony of this whole situation becomes clearly apparent if you take a look at the building directly across the street. Another illegal supergraphic on a building located directly across the street from the Hollywood and Highland building!

So, they had a cherry picker out late into the wee hours of the morning in order to remove one supergraphic - jailed a man Friday with bail set at $1 million dollars while periodically (unless they were absolutely blind) glancing at the other illegal supergraphic? Doesn't that spell irony to you, dear reader? Perhaps Mr. Setareh was only hit so hard due to the past offenses? But, even if that were so, they have now set a standard. And expecting one man to meet that standard by placing such a harsh penalty while blatantly ignoring other buildings that are in violation of that same standard, is a gross abuse of power and privilege.

Gwynn~

The Great Sign Debate Rages on!

2010-02-24T09:42:00.005-06:00

In March 2009, I brought you the news concerning the great sign debate in Los Angeles. Wednesday, March 18, 2009, a divided Los Angeles Planning Commission failed to overhaul the city's billboard law with some members saying a proposed sign ordinance grants too many exceptions to the outdoor advertising industry. The panel, which needed five votes to send a rewritten sign law to the City Council, deadlocked on a series of 4-3 votes. However, the Los Angeles Planning Commission re-voted Thursday, March 26, 2009 to recommend dramatically reworked restrictions on signs that would ban digital billboards and super graphics -- the vinyl signs stretched across the sides of buildings -- throughout most of the city. The commission voted 6 to 3 to forward the ordinance to the City Council.

The Great Sign Debate, for all intents and purposes, had ended. Well... then again...

As of February 22nd, 2010, Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich (who took office July 1 after promising during last year's election campaign that he would crack down on unpermitted billboards) launched a fresh assault against the outdoor advertising industry, announcing the filing of a lawsuit alleging that supergraphics were unlawfully installed on 12 buildings throughout the city.

The nuisance-abatement suit contends that multistory vinyl ads were placed illegally on the Sherman Oaks Galleria, the Howard Hughes Center in Westchester and other buildings in North Hollywood, Sherman Oaks and elsewhere.

The civil complaint filed Monday accuses outdoor advertising company World Wide Rush LLC and 26 associates, property owners and sign installers of putting up the massive posters in violation of a city council ban that aimed to stem the proliferation of supergraphics and digital billboards. The city's lawsuit names 27 defendants, including World Wide Rush, which already has a billboard case pending before the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The company is seeking to strike down the city's ban on the installation of new supergraphics.

The complaint, which also alleges violations of California's Outdoor Advertising Act and other state laws and local ordinances, argues that supergraphic signs endanger the covered buildings' occupants, distract drivers and hurt the look of streets.

It seeks the signs' removal and damages that could total more than $10 million, as well an injunction prohibiting new signs from being installed.

Chief Assistant City Attorney Jeffrey Isaacs said Tuesday that the lawsuit, which lists 12 Los Angeles locations where illegal signs were allegedly installed, is part of his office's new strategy of aggressive sign law enforcement. Council members said they cast their votes for the blanket ban in hopes of heading off the types of legal challenges that bedeviled previous billboard regulations that carved out exceptions permitting some signs.

In one of those challenges, a federal judge agreed with an argument by World Wide Rush that the exceptions raised free speech concerns because they gave city officials too much leeway in deciding which signs to allow.

Officials are appealing that decision, which led to a contempt proceeding after officials issued citations against the company despite the permanent injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Audrey Collins in 2008 that protected 10 of the 12 locations named in this week's lawsuit. Isaacs said the latest lawsuit does not conflict with Collins' order because the supergraphics were installed after the city approved new ordinances governing outdoor advertising.

The city has been on the defensive for years as it has sought to regulate such advertisements, with an estimated 30 lawsuits challenging its sign laws and billboard inspection fees. Trutanich said he intends to seek fines of up to $5,000 for every day that an illegal supergraphic is on a building. In cases in which a sign is illegally placed next to a freeway, he also intends to seek a $10,000 fine, plus $100 for each day the sign is up. World Wide Rush urged the court to impose a $100,000 fine against the city, plus $10,000 for each day that Trutanich fails to drop the older case. The sign company also called for Collins to hold the city in criminal contempt and to order Trutanich, the L.A. City Council and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa into federal custody.

Now now boys! Maybe what we need here is a time out? I know it worked well when my son got all puffed up and bent out of shape. Of course, he was younger then. These days he knows how to hold his breath and count to ten before losing it. Not that I'm knocking either view point. Really, I swear I'm not. But gentlemen, for the love of peace, grow up and stop hacking at each other like little boys! Federal custody? Seriously? Over SIGNS? OK... I don't see it. But hey, I'm just a writer. With that in mind, I will quietly exit stage right and leave you two to duke it out.

Gwynn~

Small Business Visibility

2010-02-16T10:48:00.004-06:00

Customers can't buy from you if they don't know your business exists. This is an obvious statement, but I have found that many small business owners who are trying to increase their sales don't realize how "invisible" their businesses are.

Small business owners should spend some time investigating just how visible their business is and what they can do to increase their visibility. The following are some things you would want to consider.

Advertising:

How visible is your advertising to your target market? To answer this question, you first need to be able to describe your targeted customers and understand their habits. Then take a look at your advertising methods and compare that with what your customers read, watch, listen to, etc.

The right people need to see your message about your business and understand that you can meet their needs. Conducting a thorough "marketing audit" of your business can help you determine the best advertising methods to implement to be more visible to the right people.

Location:

How visible is your actual physical location to your customers? One way to gauge this is by simply asking customers who do come in whether they had trouble locating the business, and if they did, why.

Another way is to really take an objective look yourself. Is your sign highly visible? How easy is it to read, not only from nearby but from the street? Are you taking advantage of traffic flow?

How attractive is your building or your portion of the building? Is there anything obstructing the view of your business and can you change that? You can also have persons unfamiliar with your business do some "mystery shopping" to see what they have to say about the visibility of your location.

Internet:

How visible is your business to those searching the Internet for your product or services? Don't just put yourself out there and hope for the best. It takes money, time and effort to increase the chances that your business will be found by the right people.

Your Web site's ranking with the search engines is affected by things such as the domain name that you use, your use of pictures, the content of your text, your use of social media such as Face Book and Twitter, the age of your Web site and more.

You need to get professional assistance to be sure your Web site is properly designed and maintained for maximum benefit.

Also, you could have some "mystery shopping" of your Web site done to find ways to improve its visibility and effect on your bottom line. And always be sure to direct potential customers to your Web site through your other promotional methods.

Community:

How visible are you and your business in your community? You can get so busy working on the everyday operation of your business that you don't take the time to get out and do some needed networking.

Are there organizations in your community in which you should become involved? This could be a chamber of commerce or business association but not necessarily.

Are there organizations with goals that you truly care about with which you could become involved? Are they in any way related to your business? How can you make a contribution to the improvement of your community?

The above are a just a few examples of opportunities to improve the visibility of your business and increase sales revenue.

Gwynn~

General laws regarding placement of bandit signs

2010-02-10T12:16:00.004-06:00

Flyposting (the act of placing advertising posters or flyers in illegal places) or placing bandit signs can be illegal types of advertising depending on how you use them. It’s illegal in the sense that posters or snipe signs are placed in NO POSTING areas. These types of signs are temporary advertising methods and are categorized as street spam.

It is illegal to put up signs on private properties, especially without permission from property owners. Posting on public properties without acquiring permits from your local government is also a big NO NO. Often, a specified area is provided for the public whereby all various notices may be placed.

Often, bandit signs are placed by small-scale businesses giving notice of promotions or sales. Political activists also resort to flyposting in order to avoid arrest or discovery of identity. Property rights, littering, and visual appearance have been raised as issues against flyposting. Seen as a nuisance, illegal signs damage properties and distract motorists. Don’t be surprised to find out that even well known companies have had run-ins with the law for placing bandit signs.

If you want to put up temporary signs in your local area, consult your local government about laws you should avoid breaking. Illegal advertisements can cause you prosecution and heavy fines. Make sure your signs do not fall in categories that are prohibited from public adverts. These categories are social, religious, and recreational advertisements. It is best to check before you post the signs anywhere and enter into legal formalities with the law.

Authorities are angered by signs that ruin or dirty city or country views. Snipe signs on lampposts, buildings, trash bins, and railings are illegal. Owners of these illegal signs are given a notice by mail or telephone about the illegality and are given a deadline for removal. Often, they are given 24 hours to ensure the removal of all illegal signs they have placed. To discourage others from imitating these illegal methods of advertising, enforcers often place stickers or notices on top of these signs. At times, the signs are immediately removed upon discovery, most especially on highways or public roads.

Illegal signs on highways and public roads can be distracting and dangerous. Reports of motorists getting into accidents have been documented. The government takes this seriously. The Highways Act 1980 states that it is a crime for people/entities to obstruct highways. Instruction for immediate removal is given. Otherwise, heavy fines are to be expected by the offenders. Local authorities reserve the right to take down and dispose of any illegal signs without further notice.

Check local laws before flyposting of any kind. Spare yourself from costly fines, fixed penalty notice, and even prosecution in court. It is best to do it within the confines of the laws but most people circumnavigate by putting these up on Friday and taking them down by Monday morning.

Gwynn~
Content submitted by Noelle Noble

State Ordinance Regulations for Signage

2010-02-01T11:29:00.014-06:00

Please ensure that you follow local and state guidelines for signage! I have listed each state below. Clicking these links will take you to a page that breaks out the states by city. By clicking on your chosen city, you will be presented with that cities codes. Locate the sign ordinance and ensure that you are within the regulations.

Step 1 - Understand the importance of sign ordinances to community beautification efforts. Local conservation groups and community-improvement organizations try to limit the size of signs, preventing them from becoming a distractive nuisance.

Step 2 - Speak with your city council about regulations restricting the use of signs attached to your buildings. Each community has ordinances that regulate the size, placement and content of signs that may be unique from other communities. In order to obey local laws, you should approach the city council with any unusual signage requests.

Step 3 - Consult with your state's highway department about billboards and logos placed on highway exit signs. While private property owners can place any advertisement they want on a billboard, most highway departments help regulate the size of billboards to avoid distractions to drivers. Highway department officials can also help you re-size your logo to meet exit-sign standards and promote your business effectively.

Step 4 - Make sure you obey signage ordinances that regulate the placement of private signs adjacent to public signs. Your signs cannot block those indicating street names, speed limits and traffic warnings because of public safety concerns.

Step 5 - Avoid violation of city laws that govern the color and design of business signs. While some communities allow business owners freedom to choose their design aesthetics, most cities prohibit bright colors or flashing lights to avoid traffic issues. Likewise, city councils will often prevent business owners from creating signage that is lewd or inappropriate for children.

Step 6 - Learn about the National Scenic Byways Program. Featured on Byways.org, it is devoted to protecting highways and waterways from over development, including excessive signage.

State Ordinances:

Texas
Washington
Oregon
California
Idaho
Nevada Arizona
Utah
Wyoming
Montana
Colorado
New Mexico
Oklahoma
Kansas
Nebraska
S Dakota
N Dakota
Minnesota
Iowa
Missouri
Arkansas
Louisiana
Wisconsin
Illinois
Tennessee
Mississippi
Indiana
Alabama
Kentucky
Michigan
Ohio
West Virginia
Virginia
N Carolina
S Carolina
Georgia
Florida
Pennsylvania
Maryland
Delaware
New Jersey
Connecticut
New York
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Vermont
New Hampshire
Maine
Hawaii
Alaska

If you have information pertaining to any of these ordinances (changes that are not listed, etc.), please email me or post them in a comment below!

Thanks!
Gwynn~

WHAT!?!?! It's not ALL about the internet?

2010-01-27T14:06:00.003-06:00

Well... no... it's not. I mean - the net hasn't been around since the beginning of time has it? Just because the rest of the world is on the Internet promoting their brands, it doesn’t mean they aren’t (or shouldn’t be) continuing to utilize traditional offline marketing strategies!

Before there was Face Book - there were signs! Before there was Twitter, there was Word of Mouth! Before there was Linked In... well, you get the idea. Point being, even though the internet offers companies a whole new world when it comes to advertising, it is important to remember the basics. Believe me, I use the internet for advertising all the time. It just offers too many venues for me to ignore. But where I might find it to be the best thing since sliced bread, other small business owners might actually feel a bit out of their depth or that it might be a bit more work than they can actually commit to. Instead, they need to analyze, evaluate and strategize then determine if the net is the way they want to go for additional advertising and marketing.

First, small business owners need to take stock of what their current marketing initiatives are and analyze their success rate. If your current marketing stratagey is bringing in credible leads, keep doing it, even if it is not on the Internet.
In addition, you should be analyzing your competition. What are they doing that is working? You want to do what they are doing... just do it better!

Next, you need to look at all your current marketing efforts and evaluate how effective they are in terms of return on investment. If you are currently spending a fortune in SEO but not seeing any scalable results, then that is not giving you a return on your investment! You're selling your product for only Pennies more than you paid after that promotion? well... that might not be considered a great return - but if it broadened your customer base and brought in more sales, then it had scalable results. Any effective marketing is a return on your investment and should be included as part of your overall integrated marketing strategy.

The last step is to strategize or plan. This is not a final step because your marketing strategy should be dynamic in order to remain competitive and keep up with the ever-changing market and latest technologies. Without a clear and concise marketing plan, the small business owner can literally get lost on the Internet scrambling to try to find out where to put the most effort.

Gwynn~

Are Banners and Yard Signs Right for Your Business?

2010-01-25T14:37:00.003-06:00

Outdoor advertising with banners and yard signs

There are a number of outdoor advertising venues that numerous businesses and other organizations take advantage of in order to boost their business. The two most commonly used venues are banners and yard signs, and for all practical purposes, they are two of the most cost-effective methods as well. Businesses and other organizations will use banners and yard signs to advertise and/or promote a number of things from products and services to charitable or sporting events.

The advantages of using banners and yard signs

If you’re looking for the most cost-effective or low cost advertising, banners and yard signs definitely have the edge over other forms of outdoor advertising. So why is it that banners and yard signs are some of the most effective forms of advertising? There are a number of reasons but the following are still the most common reasons for this:

Banners and yard signs are like mini-billboards and are the most visible types of fixed outdoor advertising other than roadside billboards. Where marketing campaigns are concerned, banners and yard signs can be customized to promote a number of different things such as:

o The announcement of an upcoming event
o Promoting your business and promoting brand awareness
o Advertising your products or services
o Targeting certain demographic audiences

These are the four most common marketing strategies that banners and yard signs are used for, but there are other uses as well. This sheds light on the two key reasons why banners and yard signs are used by so many businesses and organizations and are such an effective form of advertising – the FUNCTIONALITY and VERSATILITY aspects.

Three reasons for using banners and yard signs to promote your business

Advertising is a way for you to promote your business, specific brand names, your products, or your services. They also inform the consumer of the benefits of using them as well as how your business, brand names, products, or services will solve their problems. Any time a consumer gets connected with your products and/or services and the purchasing of these fixes or solves a problem for that consumer; your advertising is considered effective.

The biggest advantage to using banners and yard signs for outdoor advertising is that they accomplish three important things:

They deliver your message to the consumer – the message is that your products or services will help fix or solve a problem for the consumer.

They provide directional information – this is the “what, where, and when” aspect of advertising with banners and yard signs in that you are telling the consumer what you are offering, where you are offering it, and when it is being offered. Examples of directional information are direction arrows, phone numbers, street addresses, and/or websites.

They make a call to action – key words such as BUY NOW or CALL US TODAY are calls to action in that you are telling the consumer what to do. Keep in mind that the call to action is the primary reason for using banners and yard signs as part of your marketing strategy.

Gwynn~ content submitted by Noelle Noble

Campaign Time!

2010-01-18T10:22:00.019-06:00

There are few political campaign tools that help win votes and build name recognition like yard signs. Whether you're running a smaller local political race or you're a candidate for office in a larger statewide or federal election, yard signs should be an integral part of your campaign plan.

Free yard signs simply don't exist (unless you want to make them yourself, which isn't really advisable). With a little research, though, you can find companies that supply cheap campaign yard signs online that are both professional-looking and effective.

Remember: there are countless printing companies that can provide campaign materials, so it's best to do your homework before settling on a supplier. Production costs, yard sign quality, shipping costs and customer service should all be factors in which business you choose to buy from. Prices are going to vary widely between one company and another, and there are always specials and discounts on price that might be available at different times of the year.

Political signs can play an important role in any election or issue-based campaign. Signs can be used to raise public awareness about a candidate or a cause as well as demonstrate popular support. As such, designing an effective sign is a vital part of any political visibility campaign. This article lists a number of best practices for designing effective political signs.

Not all signs are effective, and some could just as well have spared the candidate his/her money and committee's time. Though designing an effective sign is not rocket science, failure to pay attention to some basics could fail to get your campaign "off the ground".

In order to get the most for your money take a few extra moments to consider the design of the sign before you start getting quotes. Below are 7 tips to creating a successful campaign sign:

1. If you have a shorter name (such as Beth, Ben, etc.) you would want to use a PORTRAIT layout. But if you have a longer name (such as Schwarzenegger :-P) you would need to consider using a LANDSCAPE layout. Sign printers can accommodate both - a PORTRAIT layout for short names, and a LANDSCAPE layout for longer names. Both orientations present the same print area at no penalty in cost or weatherability. Now, if you happen to be a Mr. or Mrs. Smith, or have an otherwise common last name, it would be best to include your first name (JOHN or JANE) in your design to distinguish and avoid confusion with other Smiths who may (or may not be) running.

2. Including the official position you intend to hold after the election is important. Make certain it shows as a recognizable position, and as it would appear on the ballot. Keep your information short and sweet by eliminating extraneous information and specific numbers. Use abbreviations sparingly - preferably not at all. Font size for the office should be equal to surname size.

3. Always choose a dark (high value) color (e.g. black, navy blue, burgundy, red, forest green) for your signs. Never use a low value color (light color) with a low value color. Similarly never use a high value color with another high value color. For example: black lettering on a navy blue background will not show - but white lettering on a red background will stand out well. Lettering and background must always be of contrasting value in order to be readable.

4. Decide if you want one color or two color signs. There has never been a one color design that cannot be improved by adding a second color. A one color sign can say and be everything you need - but using a two color sign gives contrast and helps to draw the eye. Though I would recommend using a 2 color sign, it is important that you keep in mind that two color signs require two films, two screens, two setups, two runs and two cleanups. This costs money. So for a two color sign always expect to pay more per sign.

5. To slogan or not to slogan? A slogan is great for signs placed at stop lights or stop signs, but most drivers are zipping by at 30 plus miles per hour with little time to read what your signs say. If your going to use a slogan, the best way to ensure it gets attention is to keep it simple, short, and to the point.

6. In this age of iconography, most people recognize the appropriateness and symbolism of a school house (SCHOOL BOARD) or a five- pointed star (SHERIFF), a balance scale (JUDGE), a donkey (DEMOCRAT), an elephant (REPUBLICAN), a statue of liberty (LIBERTARIAN), etc. To save precious "word space" on your signs, consider using some iconography!

7. Last, but most important, don't forget your "Authorized and Paid for…" or whatever the exact wording and size and position is as dictated by your local and/or state election boards. It is the candidate's responsibility to find out the regulations and make this known to the printer. If you do not add this disclaimer, you can be fined.

Hopefully these suggestions will aid in your campaign sign creation. For a wider range of ideas, it is helpful to consult galleries on a screen printer's web site. If you have questions, do not hesitate to consult directly with your screen printer - they have the expertise to help.For quick pricing and design options, check out these links!

Cheap Yard Signs for Political Campaigns
Cheap Magnetic Car Signs for Political Campaigns
H-wires for Political Campaign Signs

Gwynn~

Stickin' it to the HOA!

2010-01-13T14:06:00.004-06:00

As we all know, the HOA levies a ton of restrictions against those who purchase a home in their "territory". Among those restrictions is the fact that signage is not allowed in any form. Even yard sale signs, not properly removed within 2 days, can get a homeowner fined. For those who like to show their neighbors and the rest of the world where their political loyalties lay, these restrictions have, in essence, violated their right to free speech by disallowing signage in windows or yards. For those who dare to flout the restrictions by putting out their signs anyway, there are high penalties along with the removal of the signs. The HOA's strict policies have been rather hard to fight in past, but in Indianapolis the HOA might actually have to swallow their restrictions for at least 30 days during election.

A proposal in the Indiana Statehouse would stop homeowners' associations from banning political signs in members' yards and windows near elections. The Senate Election Committee voted 6-1 Monday for the bill to allow people to put up signs starting 30 days before an election regardless of association rules. The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

Supporters say the bill protects political free speech. However, anything that can be supported can also be railed against. Opponents say people who join homeowners associations know the rules before they buy property. They say restrictions on signs are often imposed to make sure an area looks nice. And while I tend to agree that there should be imposed limits (who wants to go every few feet seeing signs like flowers littering the streets?), I also feel that most people would be grateful enough to have the opportunity to show their political support that most will abide properly and remove their signs after the 30 day period has passed.

While Indianapolis is hundreds of miles from where this writer currently abides, it is hoped that if the bill can be passed there, it might make its way elsewhere. And even if this can only be seen as a small step in the right direction - I think we can all agree that finally stickin' it to the HOA makes even baby steps seem like a huge accomplishment!

Gwynn~

Sign Ordinance Changes!

2010-01-11T09:14:00.007-06:00

San Jose City Council to review proposed changes to city's sign ordinance! Not only San Jose either :-) We will be seeing changes in Towanda Borough, Pennsylvania as well!

On Tuesday, for the first time since 1992, the City Council will consider a comprehensive update of San Jose's sign ordinance, including so-called "supergraphic" signs, temporary signs on blank walls in downtown San Jose. The council also will review seven other sign modification recommendations to the ordinance made by the city's planning staff, which has sought the input of businesses and residents in several public meetings over the last year. The council also will consider whether to retain the city's existing billboard ban for both static and electronic/digital billboards; whether to allow freeway signs with a digital/electronic component for large shopping centers; and whether to modify rules for electronic/digital signs for large ground floor spaces in downtown San Jose, among other proposals.

To find out more about the ordinance changes in San Jose, you can contact Tracy Seipel at 408 275-0140 or e-mail: tseipel@mercurynews.com

One down, and one to go!

Towanda Borough, Pennsylvania now allows neon signs in store windows!
The Towanda Borough Council has amended its sign ordinance to allow internally-illuminated signs in showroom windows. However, the signs cannot flash and the words of the sign cannot "move" across the sign. Also, the signs cannot be more than 25 square feet, according to the amendment to the ordinance that was passed.

To find out more about the ordinance changes in Towanda Borough, Pennsylvania, you can contact James Loewenstein at (570) 265-1633; or e-mail: jloewenstein@thedailyreview.com

Thanks for reading! Gwynn~
Information for this article was taken from Mercury News and The Daily Review

Long time no write!

2010-01-06T11:00:00.029-06:00

Well my friends, it has been several months since my last post here and I have missed all of my readers! To make a long story short, time constraints took me away from the words, thoughts, and readers that always made my day brighter. Time constraints are still here but not as pressing as they used to be! Therefore, I am going to do my best to post at least once a week.

Today's topic? Hmmmm..... let's see..... Oh! I know :-) SIGNS! LOL

It is the new year and I say we start it with a laugh, so here is a glimpse of a few of the funnier signs and banners from last year and a few of the funnier signs printed at Super Cheap Signs. Hope you guys get as good a laugh as I did! As always, if you need something to announce that special occasion, business, or just need some cheap advertising, please check out Super Cheap Signs! They now have business cards and door hangers too! Now.... on to the laughter :-)

Gwynn~

Sign not big enough?

2009-09-01T12:29:00.006-05:00

So, you've decided that you need to advertise - to get your name out there or announce something special - but a sign just isn't what you have in mind. You're thinking bigger, brighter or just plain showing off. OR (since we ALL want bigger, better and the opportunity to show off) why not all three? I have the perfect solution!

A banner is a great way to advertise and is an excellent addition to any social occasion or event. Banner designs can include photographs, artwork, fancy backgrounds, and company logos. In other words, any graphic image that can be captured in a computer file can be printed on a vinyl banner. Banners are resilient and last a long time either indoors or outdoors making them a smart investment. Vinyl banners can withstand tough weather conditions, their colors won’t fade under the heat of the sun, and their material won’t surrender to wind, water or snow. The great advantage of banners is that they are made of flexible and lightweight material. That means a vinyl banner can be rolled up or folded when it is time to take it down or move it to a new location. They are also relatively inexpensive. But most importantly - they get NOTICED! Banners are everywhere - event shows, store fronts, birthdays, graduations - you name it and chances are a banner, at one point or another, has advertised or announced it. If you want to captivate an audience, banners are simply the way to go.

The best place to find a source for vinyl banners is on the internet. A small number of companies specialize in providing low cost, fast-turn-around vinyl banners. One that I am more familiar with is supercheapsigns.com. They offer a variety of sizes to choose from as well as templates to get you started. If you already know what you want on your banner, then you can simply upload the file that contains your information. In a short time you will have a proof that allows you to see what your banner will look like before it is ever printed!

So - if you need to advertise a new business, a new location, a service, an event or a number of other possibilities where a yard sign just won't do - try a banner!

Printing: Back to Basics part 2 - Improving Image Resolution

2009-06-05T11:11:00.008-05:00

One of the most commonly asked questions in relation to graphics software is how to increase the size of an image without getting blurring and jagged edges. New users are often surprised when they resize an image and find that the quality is severely degraded. In print projects, resolution is key. If the images that you include in a print project does not have high enough resolution, they will appear fuzzy, jagged, or blurry. The reason for the degradation is because bit mapped, or raster, image types are limited by their pixel resolution. When you attempt to resize these types of images, your software either has to increase the size of each individual pixel - resulting in a jagged image - or it has to "guess" at the best way to add pixels to the image to make it larger. Most printing companies require a minimum of 300 dpi for all images at the final print size. However, some printers require even higher resolution, so it's always a good idea to check with your printer on their recommended printing resolution. Generally, the higher the resolution of your image, the better the quality the image will be when printed.

So, you have an image you want (or need) to use but it doesn't meet the required dpi? What can you do?

First, you cannot use the common paint application that comes with Windows. Granted, you can do some basic editing of the image with this application, but it will not help you change the actual resolution of the image. In order to change the dpi, you will have to change the ppi (confused by ppi and dpi? click here). There are several software programs out that will allow you to do this but, for our purposes, I will concentrate on Photoshop. The most important thing to understand about resolution is the relationship between an image's resolution (ppi) and an image's print size (actual width and height -dpi). Pixels per inch (ppi) is often (although mistakenly) used interchangeably with dots per inch (dpi). Dots per inch (dpi) is a measurement describing the way an image is printed, scanned, or displayed on your monitor. For instance, you may scan an image at 300 dpi, print a 300 dpi image at 600 dpi, view it on your monitor at 72 dpi, but unless you resample it in Photoshop, the image will always have a resolution of 300 ppi.

Open an image in Photoshop. Go to the Image menu and select Image Size. This is where you can change an image's resolution and print size (width and height). The following Image Size dialog box will appear:

Note that the width and the height of the image as you view it on your monitor is not necessarily representative of the image's actual width and height — the size it would print out at (Print Size). Average monitor resolution is 72 dpi. If you view a 72 ppi image at 100% in Photoshop, chances are that it will appear on your screen in its actual print size. However, this is not true when viewing a 300 ppi image. A 300 ppi image viewed on-screen at 100% will be enormous. Don't get tricked into believing that what you see on your monitor is what you'll get when you print or place the image into another application. The only way to determine what your image's actual print size will be is through the Image Size dialog box.

When the Resample Image box is checked, any changes you make to an image's width or height will not change the image's resolution, and as such, any changes you make to an image's resolution will not affect the image's width and height. Keep in mind, however, when you increase width and height, or resolution, you are adding pixels to your image. These pixels don't actually exist so Photoshop must create them. As such, you will succeed only in degrading the quality of your image.

If you want to increase an image's width and height, or resolution, then uncheck the Resample Image box. Now any changes you make to the image's width and height will change the image's resolution, and vice versa:

If you decrease resolution, the width and height will increase
If you increase resolution, the width and height will decrease
If you increase the width or height, the resolution will decrease
If you decrease the width or height, the resolution will increase

The best way to increase the width and height of a scanned image is to scan the image in at a high resolution (about twice what your final resolution should be), and with the Resample Image box unchecked, decrease the resolution or increase the width and height—both will yield similar results. Once the image width and height is where you want it, you can then check the Resample Image box and type in the resolution you want. At this point, as long as you don't increase resolution, or width and height, your image quality will not suffer.

Printing: Back to Basics

2009-05-19T12:24:00.000-05:00

If you're creating artwork for print, you'll only get decent results if you've got a basic understanding of image resolution. Don't worry, it's actually quite a simple concept - nowhere near as complex as some people seem to think. So stick with me here, I'm going to try to make this as painless as possible...

Resolution:

Resolution is a concept that continues to baffle even graphic artists. In the context of editing photos, resolution is a measurement of the output quality of an image. The most common units to measure resolution include: PPI (pixels per inch), DPI (dots per inch), LPI (lines per inch), and SPI (samples per inch). For our purposes, we will focus on DPI and PPI because that is what you will be dealing with most often when printing photographs.

As you probably know, when you view a photograph on your computer monitor you're actually looking at a grid of tiny dots or 'pixels'. Similarly, when a photograph is reproduced in print, it is made up of thousands of small dots of ink. Resolution refers to the number of these dots (or pixels) which are squeezed into a given area. The smaller the dot, the more dots you can fit into a horizontal inch, and the sharper an image will appear to the human eye (up to a point).
If you zoom into a photograph on your PC monitor you will be able to see the grid of pixels which make up the image.

The resolution of an image is usually measured in dots per inch (dpi) or pixels per inch (ppi). Essentially dpi and ppi refer to the same thing, it's simply the number of dots or pixels which make up an image. For more information on pixels see my earlier post Vector -VS- Bitmap: A basic breakdown.

If you view an image on your computer monitor its resolution will need to be at least 72dpi to appear sharp and clear. A lower resolution will result in large pixels which will be detected by your eye, resulting in a fuzzy or 'pixelated' image. However, if the same image were reproduced on paper using a commercial printing process it would need a resolution of around 300dpi to achieve a sharp result.

A printed image requires a much higher resolution than an on-screen image (4 times greater to be precise). Therefore, just because your image looks sharp and crisp when viewed on-screen, it doesn't mean it will reproduce correctly when printed.

Tune in Friday for how to improve the resolution of an image for printing!

Government Training to Spot Illegally-Posted Signs?

2009-04-27T11:04:00.006-05:00

“Volunteers Wanted: Receive government training to learn how to spot illegally-posted signs in public rights-of-way, and have the authority to remove them. For information, contact the county government.”

In the greater D.C. metro area, such a posting may eventually be seen, though it is still months in the future. County Board members, on April 25, took another step in considering establishment of a corps of volunteers to remove signs in medians and in other public areas that have been posted improperly. However, before this idea can actually be implemented, there are a few things that need to be determined. Among them are:

* Is it actually a crime to remove an illegally-placed signs, and, if so, can the county change the law or does the state have to act?

* Can the local government permit the removal of signs on roads that are owned by the state government, a roster that includes many key thoroughfares in Arlington?

* If someone removes a sign that has been placed legally in a public area, or on private property, would they (or the county government) face a possible civil lawsuit for infringement of free speech?

County Board member Chris Zimmerman said the process should start by having the county government do a better job of pursuing those who post signs illegally, “if only to send them a nasty letter.” Then, the county government needs to figure out if it’s a criminal offense to remove a sign, and if so, whether it can be decriminalized, Zimmerman said.

The issue came to the forefront earlier this year, after a local resident was chastised by a judge after he continued to remove signs he claimed were posted illegally on public property (to read more on that story - and I recommend it- click here) and was charged with petty larceny, the "taking of the property of another without their permission." Since then, a small group has pushed board members to give local residents the ability to take down signs in county-owned rights-of-way. Currently, only county employees, and those who post the signs, have that right.

Chesterfield County (in Virginia) instituted a volunteer program to remove illegal signs from roads and rights of way within the county in June 2007. Since roads in Chesterfield County are maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation, the county had to obtain permission from VDOT to police and remove the illegal signs. Once that agreement was executed, the county quickly created a program through which county residents can volunteer to assist in the cleanup efforts. Safety training is required for all volunteers and they made sure to note that citizens should not remove illegal signs except through this county sponsored program.

In closing, County Board members in the Greater D.C. metro area have some homework to do... but if actions in Chesterfield County, Virgina are any indication of what can be expected, residents will soon have the power to "legally" remove illegal signs from roads and rights of way.

As I see it, where one can do it... others will soon follow.

Gwynn~

Information for this article was found here: Sun Gazette Chesterfield Connections The Washington Post

Tea Party Signs

2009-04-20T13:57:00.009-05:00

Hello my fellow readers and bloggers. I do not generally delve into politics as I really don't have anything nice to say. However, as many of you know, there were 'Tea Parties' staged all over the nation last week and I have been wandering the net to see what most people were protesting.

As in the original Boston Tea Party, it appears that many of the protesters had a few things to say about the state of our financial crisis and the resulting tax increases... as well as the "loans" or bailouts that are meant to save some companies from bankruptcy. There are many who theorize that this event will lead to a growing spiral that might (just might) make congress open their eyes and really look at what the constitution has to say about our rights... and the fact that, right now, some of those rights are being casually stepped on. Then, of course, you have those who believe this 'Tea Party' was nothing more than an anti Obama rally and resulting anger will quickly dissipate and be a thing of the past. No matter which direction you see it from, the truth is that this money is coming out of our pockets. And while I can understand coming together to "bail out" the great U.S. of A, it wasn't the American public that buried us all in debt. Simply my opinion and I'll leave it there.

Getting back to the staged 'Tea Parties'-

As I wandered the wonderful world of internet pages and news, I saw many pictures and articles pertaining to events in different states and the resulting protest signs. Some were, quite frankly, lewd, while others... well... those I'll allow to speak for themselves...

Ahhhhh.... freedom of speech and from the mouths of babes! As much as I enjoyed the numerous signs floating around on the net for this mass protest, I have to say that these were ultimately my favorite. They protest the points simply, through innocent faces, and have more of an impact than all of the lewd signs I have run across. In my humble opinion, the first little girl and her sign make the loudest statement :-)

Gwynn~

Images taken from the Huffington Post

And The Verdict Is.....

2009-04-16T12:30:00.003-05:00

Last October, John Toplikar, a former member of the Olathe City Council and former member of the Kansas House of Representatives, became infamous when Hayden's supporters videotaped the incumbent removing some of Hayden's campaign signs in broad daylight just 10 days before the election. The supporters put the video on YouTube. The incident then gained local and national attention. He was quoted as saying, "Now voters will have to decide whether political signs and the games people play with those signs are more important than the issues." Toplikar, who was cruising to re-election, suddenly lost the support of many voters. The YouTube-broadcast incident called into question Toplikar's integrity and less than two weeks later, Toplikar lost his re-election bid by 42 votes.

On April 14, 2009, former Johnson County Commissioner John Toplikar accepted an agreement from the Olathe city prosecutor and will receive diversion for stealing his opponent's campaign signs in October. Toplikar will serve 12 months probation, and at the end of that time, if he stays out of trouble, the prosecutor will dismiss the misdemeanor theft charge. The diversion agreement was made final Friday, according to court records, after his Olathe Municipal Court hearing was delayed five times while both sides came to an agreement.

So, it appears that sign stealing is now worth a slap on the wrist for politicians! Which, when weighed against , say, a college professor, who only last year faced 90 days in jail and/or a fine of $1000.00 for stealing 8 McCain/Palin yard signs (though admitted only 3 to police), seems like a mockery. Why, you ask, does this 1 year probation sound like a mockery? Diversion is not probation. You don't actually report to anyone. As long as you don't get into trouble during the 12 month period, the charge disappears. In effect, a mockery.

It would seem to me that those who are in the public eye, in such high standing, would be those from whom higher standards would be expected. The fact that he lost the election must have been crushing... the fact that politicians can steal signs without any real punishment, must have been enlightening. I have to wonder what type of signal this sends to other political hopefuls with sign stealing intentions.

Gwynn~

Information for this article was found at:
Northfield News
YouTube
NTV

The Great Sign Debate - Update

2009-03-30T11:56:00.004-05:00

Wednesday, March 18th, a divided Los Angeles Planning Commission failed to overhaul the city's billboard law with some members saying a proposed sign ordinance grants too many exceptions to the outdoor advertising industry. The panel, which needed five votes to send a rewritten sign law to the City Council, deadlocked on a series of 4-3 votes.

The Los Angeles Planning Commission re-voted Thursday, March 26th to recommend dramatically reworked restrictions on signs that would ban digital billboards and super graphics -- the vinyl signs stretched across the sides of buildings -- throughout most of the city.The commission voted 6 to 3 to forward the ordinance to the City Council, which is expected to vote on the measure by June, when a temporary sign moratorium is set to expire. The council hopes to approve the billboard rules before June, when a six-month sign moratorium expires. Planning officials already are reviewing requests from council members and real estate developers for seven billboard districts in such areas as Mid-City, Hollywood and Universal City. The proposed law also would allow certain exceptions to the city's sign rules for development projects that are larger than 100,000 square feet. Voting against the measure were commissioners Michael Woo, Cindy Montanez and Father Spencer Kezios. Last week, they voiced dismay that the plan provided too many exceptions for new signs.

Under the proposal, most new signs in Los Angeles -- including "sale" signs painted on storefront windows and gas station pole signs -- would be significantly smaller than those currently allowed, half the size in some cases. Signs and billboards that already have city permits would not be affected by the measure.

Gwynn~

The Great Sign Debate

2009-03-26T13:49:00.008-05:00

Picture by Kirk McKoy, Los Angeles Times

The great sign debate continues in Los Angeles! Not sure I’m too surprised by that after they extended the moratorium until today (March 26) in December of 08’ then extended it again until May 10^th on February 24, 09’. However, the ICO [Interim Control Ordinance] still expires today and, according to a statement from Councilman Jack Weiss' office in February, if the ICO is allowed to lapse for even one day, "a flurry of illegal signs could be installed and be nearly impossible to remove later." As parts of the battle play out in court, complicated by free-speech questions, billboard companies have rushed to put up as many new signs as they can. The result is a legal and political mess.

“In recent weeks, fueled by anger about what public officials have allowed opportunistic billboard companies to get away with, the Great Signage Debate has become L.A.'s version of the AIG bonus scandal, with political posturing to match. Fresh drama is likely to unfold this morning, when the Planning Commission meets in Van Nuys to try to break its recent deadlock, pass a new sign ordinance and send it along to the City Council (Christopher Hawthorn, March 26, 2009).”

Because I recently blogged about this in Moratorium extended on digital signs in L.A., I thought I would share L.A.’s great signage debate by Christopher Hawthorn which was printed in the Los Angeles Times today. It is a more philosophical look at the mess surrounding this debate and the reasons behind it.

Gwynn~

Sign Ordinance Changes in Rockford for Campaign Season

2009-03-24T09:45:00.012-05:00

In Rockford, Illinois, the Rockford Park District has amended the sign ordinance it previously adhered to regarding political sign placement. By law, the Park District must allow political signs on its property; however, several provisions were added to address the many questions that have been raised every campaign season. Some ordinance amendments included:

Signs placed so as to interfere with regularly-scheduled lawn mowing or other maintenance, may be removed by the Rockford Park District staff or designees, as may be reasonably necessary for such mowing or other maintenance.

There may be no more than two signs for any candidate per site.

The signs must be removed within 48 hours following the election, and any signs remaining after that time may be disposed of by Rockford Park District.

All such advertising shall comply with applicable municipal ordinances such as City of Rockford, City of Loves Park and Village of Cherry Valley. Exception being the sign can be no larger than 10 square feet in area on one side.

The current Park District advertising restrictions permit removing signs if they do not comply with these guidelines. The Park District does not allow signs to be placed on any structure or thing such as buildings, existing signs, fences, poles, or trees. The signs cannot interfere with the intended use of the park or enjoyment of a particular park property, such as the playing areas of softball fields, golf courses, soccer fields, or in gardens and landscaped areas such as the Rose Garden and boulevards. Park District staff will notify the candidates campaign headquarters if anything is not in compliance with the ordinance.

Gwynn~

For a PDF copy of this information, click here.
Information for this article was taken from WREX, WFIR, and the Rockford Park Districts 100NewsRelease.
For more information, please contact Tim Dimke at 815-987-8800 or send an email to
timdimke@rockfordparkdistrict.org

It's a sign!

2009-03-17T14:11:00.008-05:00

SO... this is a bit of a change from my general blog posts but, seeing as the sign was just too funny to pass up, I couldn't help myself.

All people tend to engage in a bit of moaning and groaning on occasion... even a little bit of self pity... but when it gets to the point that they can share only the moaning, groaning, and self pity with the world, they have officially engaged in whining.

Wouldn't it be great to have a sign like this posted? Think about it... the whining begins - all you have to do is point to the sign like a librarian on a silence mission and wait. The whiner will either be affronted that you have had the audacity to actually point the sign out (in which case a deep silence will ensue), or the whiner will stop whining. In either case, you are once again granted peace of mind. :-P

Gwynn~

Las Vegas Icon

2009-03-16T14:06:00.004-05:00

The famous "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign has moved one step closer to being placed in the National Register of Historic Places. The state board of museums on Friday nominated the sign for placement on the list managed by the National Park Service.

After a meeting of the state Board for Museums and History in Carson City, paperwork to include the sign can move forward, county spokesman Erik Pappa said. The sign could be included as soon as May.

“This sign has become a very important symbol for our community,” Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid, whose district includes the sign, said in a statement. “Untold thousands have had their photos taken in front of the sign. Placing the sign in the National Register makes eminent sense, especially now during the county’s centennial year.”

In its application, the county argues the neon sign is a cultural icon and a notable example of modern architecture. The county cites the sign's historic significance as an icon of post-World War II entertainment, tourism and advertising industries. It says the sign is "an excellent example of Exaggerated Modern/Googie architecture" and notes that designer Betty Whitehead Willis was a Las Vegas native who had a respected career as a graphic designer. The sign was created in 1959. It reads “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada” on the front and “Come Back Soon” on the back.

Gwynn~

Original story by Cara McCoy
Las Vegas Sun
Fri, Mar 13, 2009

Battle of the Signs

2009-03-13T12:30:00.009-05:00

A church group and an atheist group in Madison, Wisconsin, are taking their rivalry on the road. It appears that both groups are currently using ad space on Madison Transit buses in what I call the "Battle of the Signs". This, however, isn't an entirely new phenomenon. Beginning on February 9th, three Christian groups in London launched advertisements on more than 200 buses in response to a month long campaign that began January 6th by atheists, agnostics and other nonbelievers that saw 800 London buses plastered with a less God-fearing slogan: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

The Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation appears to be following in the footsteps of the Londoners by spending $2,100 on six signs appearing for up to two months inside 50 buses. Each sign has a quotation questioning religion or giving reasons for not believing. The Foundation is concentrating on interior bus advertising because it is more affordable than exterior ads, and permits more meaningful messages.

"Interior bus signs have the benefit of a 'captive audience' of bored passengers, so we hope riders in Madison will find our signs diverting," added Gaylor.

A quote from the late actress Butterfly McQueen, famous for her typecast role as "Prissy" in the movie, "Gone with the Wind," says, "As my ancestors are free from slavery, I am free from the slavery of religion."

A four-line poem by Emily Dickinson is also featured.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has created many adds featuring people such as Richard Dawkins (author of the blockbuster bestseller, The God Delusion), Clarence Darrow, Katharine Hepburn, and a cryptic quote from "Puddinhead Wilson" by Mark Twain as well as Butterfly McQueen and EMily Dickinson.

In response to the ads, Pilgrims Covenant Church in Monroe said this week it purchased space on the outside of 11 Metro Transit buses for an ad quoting Psalm 14, verse 1: "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God."

The church's ads, costing about $5,000, cover a large part of one side of each bus. The Rev. Ralph Ovadal said the foundation has a right to air its opinion, and the church has "the privilege to respond with truth from the word of God."

Madison Metro spokesman Mick Rusch said any ad sales help the bus system.

Similar atheist campaigns have run in Barcelona, Madrid and Washington, D.C. But since its Jan. 6th launch, the London scheme has been credited with inspiring atheist bus campaigns in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany and Italy, where next month posters in Genoa will read, "The bad news is that God does not exist. The good news is that we do not need him."

Campaigns between atheist groups and church organizations have been an ongoing thing since as far back as I can recall. It should not be shocking that they would take this type of war into the public scene. What does shock me is the blatant "in your face" way they are going about it. Being in the sign industry I take pride in the work we do and the accomplishments we can help others achieve with our products. In a situation such as this however, I find I can only hang my head. Perhaps I am simply biased in the belief that a persons religion is their own to determine...

In any case, signs are the name of the game so let the "Battle of the Signs" commence! I bet this sign is bigger anyway and, not only is it much more magical, it's the largest wrap in Vegas :-)

Gwynn~

For more information on the story above, please refer to these links:
The Chicago Tribune
TIME World News
Wisconsin State Journal

Realtor Wars Caught on Camera!

2009-03-11T12:52:00.004-05:00

I was perusing the recent blog posts for yesterday and today, and came across the piece below. As many people know, especially during election time, yard signs tend to grow legs and walk away, get torched, or vandalized in many different ways. Most of the time, there really isn't much that authorities can do to combat this type of behavior because they generally don't have evidence as to who the vandalizing party is. Art Mullen, of South Mills, North Carolina, decided to take extra measures and caught his vandal on camera...

A Fort Mill real estate agent ended up in handcuffs after he was allegedly caught on tape cutting down a competitor's business sign.

"Shows him vandalizing the sign, stomping down the sign, that's when I called the authorities," said realtor Art Mullen.

NewsChannel 36 cameras were there when deputies with the York County Sheriff's Office took real estate agent Daniel LaFranca Jr. into custody Monday afternoon. The deputies were serving a damage of property warrant.

"Were you vandalizing your competitor's signs?" we asked LaFranca as deputies escorted him into a squad car.

"Not at all," LaFranca responded.

However, Mullen says his hidden camera video solved a five-month mystery.

"I've had a lot of my signs go ahead getting cut up, stolen, vandalized and I never really knew who it was," Mullen said. "I was frustrated. So what I did is I had some friends and some colleagues, we set up video surveillance."

Mullen claims the surveillance video shows his former boss, LaFranca, using a box cutter to slash his sign.

"He signed a non-compete clause with my company," LaFranca told us of Mullen.

Mullen says he's done nothing wrong and has had hundreds of signs either stolen or damaged after he stopped working for LaFranca.

"We didn't leave in the best of terms," Mullen said. "I made a lot of money in that company."

LaFranca denies wrongdoing.

"That's not you on video?" we asked LaFranca.

"Not that I know of," he responded.

Mullen says it's the ugly side of business during struggling housing market.

"I think it's a sign of the times," said Mullen.

The York County Sheriff's Office told NewsChannel 36 LaFranca wouldn't face jail time, but if found guilty he could end up paying a fine.

Gwynn~

Original story by MARIO ROLDAN
NewsChannel 36 Posted: Tuesday, Mar. 10, 2009

Do as I say and not as I do?

2009-03-06T10:45:00.004-06:00

Everything from hot air balloon rides and hired painters, to health clubs and real estate opportunities were being advertised on the cardboard, paper and plastic signs. Some had specific dates that had passed long ago and other signs were for companies that no longer existed, according to Rose Ann Lafferty, zoning officer for the township.

More than 1,000 signs that had been littering the townships roadways were cleaned up last week. Mayor Matthew Lyons said they were violating township codes and he ordered they be removed. Lyons said the signs were violating a section of the township's code, which bans any portable signs in all zoning district, signs attached to public utility poles and trees, homemade signs "that are not professional in appearance," and signs that advertise businesses not located in the township.

"These signs were creating blight in the community," Lafferty said. "After the cleanup the response from residents has been fantastic."

Four township employees spent eight hours each taking down the signs from grassy areas and telephone polls, according to Jeff Moore, the township's director of technology and constituent services. He said this was just a cleanup, but "If there are repeat offenders noticed, there will be steps made to take action."

There has been a lot of these type of stories from many different townships over the last several months. It would appear that many towns and counties are cracking down farther on signage. I realize that this has been an issue for a while now but, despite the sign ordnance codes, signs have continued to be a necessary evil when it comes to promoting business. So I pose this question with the hope that you, the readers, can give me an answer that makes some sense:

Why is it that in an economy that is so obviously in need of all the help it can get, are townships pulling down and throwing away necessary advertising? Now wait... because this is a two part question. Why is it that other such signs used in advertising political figures are given a unanimous okay and allowed to clutter the landscape? Which signs do the most good here? The ones that promote a business or service and helps bring money into the economy... or the signs that promote a political figure that, once in office, will conveniently forget all the promises they made about strengthening that same economy? Hmmmmm... something to ponder. Now, don't get me wrong. I understand that there should be limits to this sort of signage all around... otherwise our roadways would look like dumps. And I completely agree that this same signage should be professional in appearance and removed after a period of time. But you never hear of political figures being fined for leaving their signs out for six months after an election is over. Is this just another case of do as I say and not as I do? I don't have the answer to that question but I would hope that, in future, sign ordnance codes will allow for equality in advertising.

Gwynn~

Original story By Jessica Beym.

Operation Clean Sweep!

2009-03-05T10:58:00.004-06:00

Operation "Clean Sweep" (as I like to call it), was enacted on February 28, 2009, by Pete Constant and a group of volunteers partnered with code enforcement to sweep the neighborhoods of San Jose clean of signs.

"No signs are allowed on the city's property or on telephone poles regardless of the message," said Matthews, the code enforcement division manager. After fielding countless complaints about signs in his constituents' neighborhoods, one city councilman recently decided to take matters into his own hands. More than 80 students, parents and members of the surrounding neighborhood associations, scoured the streets to get rid of temporary signage such as "garage sale" signs, "open house" signs, "for sale" signs, etc. The group removed more than 300 signs.

This was the first organized sweep ever conducted by a public-private partnership in San Jose to address a community concern. Though volunteers had never been utilized in such an action, it is apparent that they were up to the task and willing to answer the call. This poses a question: How many more community partnerships might be called for in future? And where? With ordnance codes becoming stricter as time goes by, this author is left to wonder where companies will find themselves standing when it comes to affordable advertising. Though sign ordnances differ with each city, county or state, there has always been a way for wily businesses to skirt the edges and advertise their services and/or products with this type of cheap signage. I have to wonder if this type of community sweep will become a catchy thing for other neighborhoods. If so, I'm afraid that the average small businesses public exposure will become severely limited.

Gwynn~

Original story: San Jose neighbors hit the streets in search of illegal signs
By Tiffany Carney
West San Jose Resident
Posted: 03/03/2009 06:15:34 PM PST

Neighborhoods oppose bright LED signs near homes

2009-03-02T11:36:00.006-06:00

Some neighborhood activists are appalled by LED signs such as this outside ACE Hardware on Highway 100. Many council members, however, think that some places should be allowed to have the signs to get attention along busy streets.

Photo by: Josh Anderson/ For the Tennessean
__________________________________________________________________________________

The possibility that electronic signs will go up in residential areas of Nashville has neighborhood groups feeling anxious again, a year after a Metro Council proposal fell by the wayside. Though the council bill to let churches and schools put up light-emitting diode signs in residential zoning districts was deferred indefinitely last March, it inspired the creation of a task force to study sign issues and recommend changes. The task force, appointed last summer, is now close to finishing its work and submitting legislation to the council. Members of the panel, which will meet at least one more time, said much of their work has focused on LED signs, the kind used by some banks, chain drugstores, auto dealerships and other businesses.

while some folks like Councilman Charlie Tygard still believe churches and schools should be able to post the signs in certain situations, Trish Bolian, a member of the task force, is considerably against such a notion... as are many others.

"We could look like a neon Christmas tree overnight. Who needs to put a sign up that there's a PTA meeting Tuesday at 7?" she said. "There are other ways to communicate."

"An awful lot of citizens believe LED contributes to the so-called visual clutter we'd all like to minimize," said Allen, who lives in the Hillsboro-West End area.

While it is apparent that these signs can draw in passing motorists, it is even more so that such signs may begin to go the way of the Dodo in Nashville. It is still unclear as to what changes will go into effect, but the task force intends to find a way for the Metro Codes Administration to fully enforce compliance with the existing sign laws but Sonny West, Metro's zoning administrator, said it's difficult for the undermanned Codes staff to force business owners to obey the law at all times.

Gwynn~

For more information on this story, please click here.

Vector -VS- Bitmap: A basic breakdown

2009-02-27T09:06:00.003-06:00

When creating signs with images or logos, designers prefer what is known as a vectored graphic. There are two major types of 2D graphics. These are Vector and Bitmap images.

Bitmap-based images are comprised of pixels in a grid. Each pixel or “bit” in the image contains information about the color to be displayed. Bitmap images have a fixed resolution and cannot be resized without losing image quality. Common bitmap-based formats are JPEG, GIF, TIFF, PNG, PICT, and BMP. Resolution refers to the number of pixels in an image and is usually stated as dpi (dots per inch) or ppi (pixels per inch). Bitmap images are displayed on your computer screen at screen resolution: approximately 100 ppi.

Key Points About Bitmap Images:
• pixels in a grid
• resolution dependent
• resizing reduces quality
• easily converted
• restricted to rectangle
• minimal support for transparency

Common bitmap formats include:
• BMP
• GIF
• JPEG, JPG
• PNG
• PICT (Macintosh)
• PCX
• TIFF
• PSD (Adobe Photoshop)

Vector graphics are made up of many individual, scalable objects. Each of these objects can be defined by mathematical statements rather than pixels and has individual properties assigned to it such as color, fill, and outline. Vector graphics are resolution independent because they can be output to the highest quality at any scale. Changing the attributes of a vector object does not effect the object itself. You can freely change any number of object attributes without destroying the basic object. Because they’re scalable, vector-based images are resolution independent. You can increase and decrease the size of vector images to any degree and your lines will remain crisp and sharp, both on screen and in print. Fonts are a type of vector object.

Key Points About Vector Images
• scalable
• resolution independent
• no background
• cartoon-like
• inappropriate for photo-realistic images
• metafiles contain both raster and vector data

Common vector formats include:
• AI (Adobe Illustrator)
• CDR (CorelDRAW)
• CMX (Corel Exchange)
• CGM Computer Graphics Metafile
• DXF AutoCAD
• WMF Windows Metafile

Moratorium extended on digital signs in L.A.

2009-02-26T13:45:00.005-06:00

On December 17, 2008 Los Angeles enacted a ban on digital billboards and supergraphics. Today I found out that they extended the ban on Tuesday for 45 more days, pledging to adopt tougher penalties for illegal signs. It appears that the ban will continue to be in effect until at least late March in order to give the city more time to update the city’s sign ordinance. The original moratorium, which was set to expire on March 26, was approved in December following a citizen uproar over a flurry of new digital billboards and supergraphics, especially on the Westside, Hollywood and parts of the San Fernando Valley as well as years of court challenges and political maneuvering that have undermined existing billboard regulations. Council members said city staff needed more time to craft regulations that could withstand court challenges from the sign industry, which has been successful in the past in blocking stricter regulation.

Since the moratorium was passed, several new billboards and supergraphics have appeared, some of which have been taken down after protests from residents and city officials. Last week, the city Planning Commission delayed a vote on a new ordinance for a month to give neighborhood groups, merchants and the sign industry more time to comment. That prompted the council to extend the moratorium until May 10.

"The ICO [Interim Control Ordinance] will expire on March 26, 2009, but the legislative process to approve changes to the City’s sign ordinances may not be completed by March 26. If the ICO is allowed to lapse for even one day, "a flurry of illegal signs could be installed and be nearly impossible to remove later," stressed a statement from Councilman Jack Weiss' office. According to the Los Angeles daily news, there should be twenty inspectors working full time on the inventory. Councilman Bill Rosendahl said that once the inventory is complete, a new sign ordinance should be passed that imposes heavy fines on companies that erect illegal or non-permitted billboards.

Councilman Jack Weiss said the report is overdue.

"Make no mistake: This city is suffering under an onslaught - not just from billboards, but the supergraphics that are wrapping themselves around tall buildings," Weiss said. "The architecture of this city is devolving into advertising."

Councilman Dennis Zine suggested considering use of the Community Redevelopment Agency to pressure landlords in redevelopment areas - particularly in downtown and Hollywood - to refuse to allow their buildings to be used for the massive signs. Council President Eric Garcetti, whose district includes Hollywood, said he has worked to close loopholes in development agreements that allowed the signs to proliferate.

A number of developers and business representatives urged the council not to adopt the moratorium, especially on the vinyl super-graphics that stretch across sides of buildings, arguing that the income from those ads was critical to their bottom line. In 2002, officials approved a ban on outdoor advertising and sought to inspect and create an inventory of all the billboards in the city. At the time, the department of building and safety estimated there were 10,000 billboards in Los Angeles – with an undetermined number of them lacking permits and illegal.

Clear Channel Outdoor and CBS Outdoor, two of the largest billboard companies in the city, filed suit, arguing that the restrictions were in part an infringement on their 1st Amendment rights. In 2006, they reached a settlement with Delgadillo – later approved by the council and Villaraigosa – that allowed 840 of their billboards to be “modernized” and upgraded to digital displays. The city thus far has issued permits allowing 95 billboards to be converted to digital displays. Those settlements have since been criticized as a giveaway to the billboard companies and for undercutting the city’s attempt to restrict digital billboards proposed by other outdoor advertising companies.

It appears that the council will have another fight on it's hands soon. Clear Channel Outdoor warned the council before the vote that it might take legal action to block the ban. Given the litigious history of the billboard companies in Los Angeles – the city faces more than 25 lawsuits filed by outdoor advertising companies challenging restrictions on the signs – city officials said they expected a court challenge.

You can find more information on this story by clicking these links:
LA Times
Laist
The Digital Outsider
Add Tech

Thanks for reading!
Gwynn~

Mullet Place Street: Signs the mullet lives on

2009-02-24T14:29:00.005-06:00

The hairstyle is short on the top and long in the back, and in Green Bay the mullet has it's very own street signs — at least when the signs haven't been stolen.

Mullet Place may not be named for the kind of hair design that became popular a few decades ago, but fans apparently like to grab the signs anyway because they disappear several times a year.

"We've gone through a lot of Mullet Place signs," said Chris Pirlot of the city Public Works Department. "My only guess is that people are still in love with the '70s and '80s when the mullet haircut was prominent. I don't know."

At times, every sign on the two-block street has been gone, frustrating some residents.

"When you tell somebody directions how to get to your place, you've got to tell them it's the third road on the left, because there's no sign to tell them how to get to Mullet Place," said Richard Fleischfresser.

The city has attempted to stop the thievery by mounting the signs beyond anyone's reach, about 20 feet from the ground.

Pirlot said it costs $100 each to replace the signs.

Stealing one can cost a lot more. Police say anyone caught taking a street sign can be fined $361 for theft plus $676 for criminal damage to property.

That’s a lot for a mullet! I dug and dug with the hope of finding a picture of this most coveted sign, but alas… it was a loss.

Gwynn~

Information from: WLUK-TV, http://www.fox11online.com

Madison plans to update their 27-year-old sign code

2009-02-17T14:25:00.003-06:00

According to the Wisconsin State Journal, the town of Madison will be reviewing, revising and updating their sign code. It has taken them 12 years to arrive at this decision. The city has been working on the revision since 1997, when former Mayor Sue Bauman created a special staff team to address a problem with the number of ground signs allowed on zoning lots. The update has taken years due to changes in staff, UDC membership and other priorities such as the new Downtown plan and overhaul of the zoning code, officials said. Though this process has taken 12 years to get underway, it appears that they are really adamant about making the changes happen.

The update seeks to strike a balance between First Amendment rights, fast-changing technology, creativity and visual pollution. The attempt to allow more creativity will help, Woods said. "If it's a good looking sign, we'll approve it." However, there will still be strong restrictions on electronic message boards and the code for billboard signs will remain the same. It appears that, when it comes to electronic message boards, there seems to be mixed opinions. While some seem to think the signs are a tremendous tool for businesses, there have been many who disagree.

"Signs should be about identification, not advertising," Barnett said, noting that some members of the UDC would like to prohibit message boards. "The boards are also visually distracting," he said.

"I personally don't see the need for them," said UDC chairman Bruce Woods, a landscape architect. “Some flash advertisements for things like six rolls of toilet paper for 99 cents. Do we really need to know that?"

Despite the controversy over electronic signage, I am glad to see that some cities are willing to re-address the sign codes. For many cities and states the sign codes are down right difficult to comprehend, not to mention highly restrictive. And yet others have banned the use of certain types of signage all together. Where the sign codes in this little town may mean nothing to many others, in the sign industry we can see it as a small step into the light. Hopefully, where one might lead, others will be willing to follow.

Gwynn~

For more information on this story, click here. Original story by Dean Mosiman of the Wisconsin State Journal.

More Hacked Signs

2009-02-10T13:16:00.006-06:00

On January 29th of this year, I posted concerning a hacker who changed the message on a digital road sign. Well, it appears someone else decided that i-hacked.com (post: Inside Programmable Road Signs on Tuesday, 20 January 2009) had a great idea. In Lubbock , TX. a copy cat changed a digital sign at the loop and spur of 327 to read "OMG the British are coming." Then flashed to, "They are watching you." Originally the sign told motorists that the Frankford exit was the next right. While some motorists found the sign to be humorous, TxDOT says this could be a third degree felony, for which the punishment is 2-10 years of imprisonment or up to a $10,000.00 fine.

On Tuesday during the morning rush hour near Collinsville, Ill., a hacker changed a sign to read, “Daily lane closures due to zombies.”

A day earlier in Hamilton County, Ind., an electronic board in a construction zone warned drivers of “Raptors ahead — Caution.”

And signs in Austin, Texas, recently flashed: “Zombies in area! Run.” "NAZI ZOMBIES! RUN!!!" And "Zombies Ahead."

For several hours Monday, a message board along a road-widening project in Chico, a college town about 90 miles north of Sacramento, read "CHUCK NORRIS FOR PRESIDENT."

A member of the Jalopnik team (who also posted a step-by-step instructions about how to hack these signs) posted this: "We told you yesterday not to play with the electronic road signs. Still, we're proud of you guys — mostly because it's the first time we've seen the zombie meme making it to the mainstream media. And the Today Show no less. Yay."

You can follow this link to see an assortment of signs these steps have created - jalopnik.com

I still stand by my earlier ascertains that this type of thing is merely humorous and not life threatening to the drivers who read it. However, considering I don't carry $10,000.00 worth of change around with me, I won't be out staking my claim on a digital sign any time soon. For more information on these stories:

Click here to visit News Channel 11, KCBD.

Click here to visit news channel WIBC.

Click here to read about the Chuck Norris sign.

Gwynn~

Huntington Beach sign spinners

2009-02-06T11:00:00.006-06:00

According to the LA Times, Huntington Beach has stuck to it's guns when it comes to sign spinners.

Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Carlos Soto, left, and Ricardo Marin spin signs in Costa Mesa. Huntington Beach officials say the practice is too distracting to drivers, and one city councilman calls the ads “a form of visual blight.”

The recent economic decline caused the Huntington Beach Planning Commission to revisit the ban they had previously placed on sign spinners. while the planning commission supported allowing the sign spinners, City Council members weren't convinced. It appears that the drop in sales and the decline of employment wasn't enough to convince Surf City officials that sign spinning might be a boon right now. According to Surf City officials, "the twirlers, many equipped with flashy moves or costumes, are just too distracting to drivers". And Councilman Don Hansen, whom described sign twirlers as "a form of visual blight," claimed that "The signs are just getting larger and almost more obnoxious. I hope we're not leveraging our hope of economic growth on the backs of the sign-twirling industry," Hansen said. "I don't think that's our way out; I don't think that's the job that most folks are pinning their hopes on."

Whether hopes are pinned on such jobs are not, it would seem that it simply isn't in the cards for Huntington Beach residents and neither is this cheap form of advertising. Personally, I would think that anything with the remote possibility of helping the community survive - the city thrive and flourish- should become a tolerated possibility. In these trying and lean times every dollar counts. If that means staring at gorillas on street corners or watching Lady Liberty wave, I'd say it's a small price to pay.

Gwynn~

For the whole story visit the LA Times.
Original story by Susannah Rosenblatt
February 6, 2009

Funny Signs in England

2009-02-04T13:23:00.009-06:00

What if you had to live in a town called Crapstone? or Pratts Bottom? OR, worse yet, Penistone? What if you lived on Butt Hole Road? How would you answer the question of, "What's your address"? Would you blush as the words left your lips? Mumble it out and hope the listener understood? Wish with all your might that you lived somewhere else but proudly proclaim the name? Well, in England they seem to have a wealth of such town names and luridly funny street names, as well as a healthy mix of opinions. But, being that I am centered around the sign industry, it is the actual signs themselves that leave me breathless with mirth.

Though the residents have varied and tactful responses to Sarah Lyall, a reporter with The New York Times, I can only imagine (and cringe at) their embarrassment. Had it been I that was questioned, I would have quickly slunk off to a hidden corner and remained there till I was sure all had gone home. However, it appears that, despite any embarrassment, residents of such towns enjoy the humorous aspect and the double entendres of the names. I suppose it makes more sense if you picture a pub in England where the old timers sit around drinking a beer or two while reminiscing about good old days in Spanker Lane or Wetwang. How pleasantly quaint! Just the thought causes my lips to quirk in a smile.

The fact is, no matter how you envision such obtuse and politically incorrect verbiage, you have to admit that it certainly gives people something to talk about! What better way to spend the day than taking a hike down Butt Hole Road, Fanny Avenue, Willey Lane, Titty Ho or Asshouse Lane with a few of your closest friends? Or spending the day taking in the sites of Crapstone? Come on now... you know you want to laugh... go ahead... we won't tell!

For more information on lurid and politically incorrect street names and towns, Ed Hurst, a co-author with Rob Bailey, of “Rude Britain: The 100 Rudest Place Names in Britain” and “Rude UK: 100 Newly Exposed British Back Passages, Streets, and Towns,” gives you more than you could possibly imagine. In "Rude Britain", Rob Bailey and Ed Hurst take readers on a delightful stroll up Lickers Lane to Honey Knob Hill, peek into Beaver Close and enjoy a well-deserved sit down in the delightful Dorset hamlet of Shitterton. Then, after a year touring around the bestselling "Rude World", Rob and Ed have decided to return to dear old Blighty. The result is a triumphant homecoming tour that has uncovered 100 more delightfully rude British place names to treasure, from the hidden charms of Slack Bottom and Fanny Street to an unforgettable glimpse of Cocking. Filled with photographs of actual road signs and the fascinating etymological origins of every featured place name, this delightfully rude book is laugh-out-loud funny though the authors are keen to stress that it is all perfectly innocent (amazon.co.uk, 2008).

Gwynn~

Further information on this story can be found in The New York Times By SARAH LYALL. Published: January 22, 2009 .

Zombies Ahead!

2009-01-29T10:39:00.006-06:00

Here in Austin, Texas, the moto is "Keep Austin Weird". We pride ourselves on standing out :-)
But one person in particular stood out so much that his/her words were put in lights. On January 19th a portable traffic sign at Lamar Boulevard and West 15th Street, near the University of Texas at Austin, was hacked into. This hacker happily announced to the driving public that there were "Zombies Ahead".

On his drive in to work Chris Lippincott, director of media relations for the Texas Department of Transportation, got his first look at the warning sign. His reply? "It was clever, kind of cute, but not what it was intended for." I like to think he got a pretty good chuckle as well.

According to the blog i-hacked.com (post: Inside Programmable Road Signs on Tuesday, 20 January 2009), some commercial road signs, including those manufactured by IMAGO's ADDCO division, can be easily altered because their instrument panels are frequently left unlocked and their default passwords are not changed. AND they supply a play by play as to exactly how these signs can be hacked and how to reset the default password. Oops! Watch out zombies! Something worse might be coming!

ADDCO Chief Operating Officer Brian Nicholson told FOXNews.com that the company intends to send out notices to their customers regarding the potentially dangerous security flaw. As of yet, Austin officials do not know the identity of the hacker but I firmly believe that the hacker is none other than the person who placed the post on i-hacked. Add one and one... you will generally get two.

As an Austinite, I simply find it funny. Sure, hackers could pull some potentially catastrophic trick with these things but, in the interest of "Keeping Austin Weird", alerting drivers of the danger of Zombies Ahead is a small drop in the bucket.

For more information about this story, you can visit FOXNews.com and the link for i-Hacked.

Gwynn~

Blog Tag!

2009-01-26T09:25:00.002-06:00

Tagged by Warren Whitlock: http://twitterhandbook.com/blog/

Okay... so here's the rules:

Link your original tagger. (Check)
List these rules on your blog. (check)
Share 7 facts about yourself in the post - some random, some weird. (Check)
Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names and the links to their blogs. (check)
Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs and/or Twitter. (check)

Now that I'm it, I suppose it's time for the random facts!

1. My mother named me Gwendolyn Dawn just so she could call me Wendy. Everyone knows its Wendy... :-)

2. I have 4 birds and they have this annoying habit of chatting while I'm trying to watch TV. All other times they're as quiet as mice. I think they just love the TV. Then again, they may be trying to intimidate the TV. Who knows?

3. I have lived in approximately 43 states. At this point, moving anywhere is a thought that causes me to shiver in fear.

4. My fingers are double jointed. I can twist them, pull them all the way to the back of my hand, and touch my nose while sticking out my tongue. Oh, wait... that didn't really apply did it?

5. Disney movies make me cry. What a sap, right? In my defense all I can say is they are really touching most of the time! Does that qualify as a good excuse?

6. I love Twitter! It rocks! I suppose that makes me a twitterholic, but I can think of worse things to be addicted to.

7. I attend school 3/4 time, work full time, and tread the path of the single parent. I can whip up mac-n-cheese in 7 minutes flat! Clean the house in a single bound! And finish my homework at the speed of light! Okay... speed of light might be stretching it a bit... but not by much :-)

And now the real fun begins! I get to tag 7 people who are, as of yet, unaware that I am on the prowl *rubbing hands together and smiling slyly*

And the nominees are (drum roll please!):

Venture Level: This is a great blog by Romil Patel! He covers a wealth of information for Advertising, Entrepreneurial Connections, Marketing, Presentations, and Promotions.

The Marketing Spot : This is a great blog for small business marketing ideas and advice by Jay Ehret (and guest bloggers). Every small business owner can benefit from this blog!

Jim Kukral: Jim is a veteran online marketer, web-entrepreneur, speaker and award-winning blogger who focuses on creative marketing ideas and strategies.

Chris Brogan: Chris Brogan has been blogging for several years. His blog is full of information pertaining to all aspects of business, blogging, and social networking.

What Works for Business: Daniel Kehrer shares his view of several different aspects of business including Marketing solutions, retail, and so mush more. I highly recommend this blog!

Click to Client: All I can say is wow! This blog is a terrific place to gain information on social networking and what it can do for you. It also humbly reminds us that social networking cannot succeed unless we are committed to it!

The Franchise King: Joel Libava has been termed the franchise king. And thought his is a name that portends huge responsibility, he takes it well. Joel enjoys the chance to help others realize the dream of being a business owner.

Now I am off to let them all know they have been tagged and are now "it"!

Update: All the wonderful bloggers on my list have now been tagged via blog!

Thanks for playing blog tag and I look forward to seeing you again!

Gwynn~

The Importance of Marketing: Part IV

2009-01-22T12:32:00.004-06:00

Low Cost Marketing Strategies

Welcome to the third part of my cheap marketing strategies tips! Today we're going to discuss contests and freebies. I can already hear the groans! Freebies? Are you kidding me? Don't you realize we're in a recession?!?!?!? Well, yes, as a matter of fact I do realize that and I also know that every penny counts - especially right now. However, freebies don't have to be expensive. Think about it... the price of a cup of coffee every day for one week = a $10 gift card to Starbucks. If this free incentive is applied towards a certain purchased amount of your product, you have already gained that $10.00 back!

An ebook also makes a great freebie. And no, it doesn't have to be 100 pages long! Just something that benefits others in some way. Offer a how to ebook... a small business marketing tips ebook... 10 ways to save money in an uncertain economy... the possibilities are endless. You can save money by creating the ebook yourself. Sure it takes a bit of research on your part and even a little of your time, but people like FREE and your time is well spent.

What about a lunch/dinner for 2 on us type of contest? You can pre-buy a gift card to a decent restaurant (not McDonald's! Try Chilies) and offer those who make a purchase from your company a chance to win. Get creative! There are a thousand ways you can increase your sales with very little money.

Gwynn~

The Importance of Marketing: Part III

2009-01-20T10:45:00.006-06:00

Low Cost Marketing Strategies

Small businesses must be extra imaginative with their marketing efforts in order to attract customers and get them to open their wallets. Even more challenging is that most entrepreneurs have shallow pockets and shoppers are being more selective as a result of the sluggish economy and volatile stock market. This means that businesses have to get more creative while trying to save a few dollars themselves. So far we have covered WOMM and email marketing as cheap and effective ways to market your business. Another cheap but effective way to market your company is business cards.

Business cards are the most basic and versatile of all marketing tools. Always use them and hand out two at a time, but make sure they are effective. Just like the name of your business, consider choices and design your business card. Does it clearly state what business you are in and what you do? Is it clear and legible?Think of these as inexpensive billboard for your company. Your business cards have your company name, contact information etc., on them. Make sure to include your email and web address. There is a neat feature about business cards, they are two sided. Use the reverse side to list your products, services or even a special offer. Always carry them with you and pass them out. Even if your business is Internet based, you should still have them. If people don't have your web address in their hands, how will they get to your site? Believe it or not, there are web sites you can go to for free business cards. All you pay is shipping! You can also print your own cards from your PC, but professional printing is recommended, and for what they can do, business cards are very cheap. Listed below are a few places where you can get very cheap but quality business cards.

Vista Prints

Free Printable Business Cards

Giggle Print

Bizcard.com

DCP-Print.com

Gwynn~

Check out Blogs Directory

The Importance of Marketing: Part II

2009-01-19T13:07:00.001-06:00

Low Cost Marketing Strategies

The bread and butter of any company (as stated previously) are its customers. A sure way to keep them coming back (and sending people your way) is to offer customer rewards. When customers feel appreciated, they will keep coming back. We know you appreciate your customers... but do they know that? Try implementing a loyalty program that offers returning customers a discount of some kind and offer first time customers a reward for using you over the competition. I don't mean gift baskets either! Those are great, but what do customers want more than anything? They want to get what they want and save some money! Offer first time customer incentives like $10.00 off their order, or 5% off orders over a predetermined amount.

Create a newsletter with money saving tips, tricks and offers. Spotlight the best selling items and offer incentives to buy; 1/2 price shipping on a specified date, 15% off, etc. E-mail this newsletter to those customers who opted to receive e-mail from your company. Simple right? But you would be surprised at how many companies do not utilize e-mail to its fullest potential. E-mail marketing is flexible, cost effective, easy to measure, and high impact. You can easily drive traffic to your website and reach a large geographic audience. This type of marketing is great for keeping in touch with customers and creating new prospects. It can be used to announce new products, discounts, and a plethora of additional information. It's free, it's easy, and you already have the contacts!

Gwynn~

The Importance of Marketing

2009-01-16T15:39:00.002-06:00

Low Cost Marketing Strategies

Marketing is critical to the success of any business, whether a new business, small business, or a business that has long since established its identity. The simple fact is that without marketing, your business is losing the one thing that keeps it going: its customers. Many businesses (especially small businesses) often frown at the amount of money it takes to get the company name out and falling from customer lips. But, despite the old adage that "it takes money to make money", these days there are several marketing advantages that don't have to cost an arm and a leg. As always, yard signs are a cheap advantage over the competition, but there are other alternatives as well. If you are currently working on a marketing budget, there are a few quick and cheap ways to pump up your visibility.

The first marketing strategy I would like to visit is Word-of-Mouth-Marketing (WOMM).
What is word of mouth marketing, you ask? Well, the phrase alone should speak for its self but...

Word-of-Mouth-Marketing is simply the passing of information from person to person via e-mail, conversation, phone, etc. With the internet now playing a huge roll in social and business networking, Word-of-mouth marketing has grown to encompass such sites as MySpace, FaceBook, Digg, Delicious... and the list goes on. With the increasing use of the Internet as a research and communications platform, word of mouth has become an even more powerful and useful resource for consumers and marketers. Think about it. Word-of-Mouth-Marketing doesn't depend on the economical situation, fluctuation, or even what your competators are doing. Better yet, it doesn't have to cost you anything except a bit of dedication, time, and patience. If you think of Word-of-Mouth-Marketing as a long term goal, you'll have a pretty clear indication of how far it can get you. Cultivated properly, you can increase your prospects, your customer base, and your profits simply because of your reputation and knowledge.

Take a moment and ask yourself this: Are you utilizing the vast tools offered by the internet? Have you created a business blog that informs the public about your company and what you do? Published articles about your company that share the daily going ons? How to video's? The vast array of possibilities are virtually endless. Create and expand your social and business network by joining different online communities. Most of these communities allow you to join and create your profile for no cost and give you a free blog spot. Sharing what goes on everyday in your office (or having your employees share) not only opens new avenues of communication, but allows customers (or potential customers) to see that you're just everyday folks...just like them.

You don't have to be a marketing guru to reach your customers and you don't have to spend thousands of dollars either. Stay tuned for more money saving marketing strategies....

Gwynn~

What a Pickle!

2009-01-15T10:07:00.011-06:00

Attention sign-spinners and mascots: Franklin city leaders are not amused by your wacky roadside antics.

Picture by: JOSH ANDERSON / FOR THE TENNESSEAN
Noshville employee Benjamin Reed, dressed as the Noshville Pickle, waves at passing cars outside of the new Noshville location off Carothers Parkway in Franklin in December.

In Franklin Tennessee there appears to be some debate about the constitutional right of a pickle to stand in front of Noshville Deli off Carothers Parkway "spinning" a sign. For those of you unfamiliar with "sign spinning" it is a new advertising trend where companies hire people to spin signs (signs are held or mounted on a pole that can be twisted or turned in a circle) while dancing, waving, etc. on a busy corner or in front of a business. I'm sure you have all seen them... those people dressed in mascot costumes dancing on the side of the road with a sign waving at you to get your attention. Sign laws in Franklin do not permit sign holders to stand in a public right of way, even if it happens to be on their "legal" property.

MGM business events hires people to spin signs all over the Nashville area. And while Mike Mello intended to take this concept national, it appears that he may be spinning his thumbs instead. He said city officials threatened his team with fines this year and said they consider the spinning signs the same as a moving sign — which Franklin does not permit. Mike Mello, owner of MGM Business Events, says, "It's unconstitutional. If we're on private land, why can't we spin a sign? What's next — we can't wear a shirt with Nike on it? I'm really frustrated with this particular city."

Assistant City Administrator, Vernon Gerth, intends to see that the sign laws are more clearly defined in an attempt to "provide an ordinance that provides for an equitable display of signage by all of our businesses". According to Gerth, current sign ordinances "do not adequately define and regulate the different types" of temporary signs. In basic English this means that the sign laws in Franklin, Tennessee are about to get stricter. How does this tie in with the sign pickle? Obviously Mr. Pickle is considered a temporary or moving sign and, by Franklin sign laws, temporary and moving signs are taboo. It appears that Mr. Pickle is breaking the law by standing in front of Noshville Deli! In an attempt to comply with the temporary sign ordinance, Glen Smith (the restaurant's director of operations), escorted Mr. Pickle from the sidewalk in front of his establishment.

All I have to say about this sign quandary is: watch out Vlasic Pickles! Make sure the stork returns home because if he's caught standing in front of a business or the side of the road in Franklin, he'll become a criminal. Oh, and Mr. Peanut... hobble on home... you are not welcome in Franklin, Tennessee. I know, I know... you're both accredited with international acclaim but, with all due respect, you're both mascots that move. By law you are now considered temporary moving signage.

Gwynn~

Based upon "Franklin sign laws have businesses in a pickle
Placard-spinners, characters irk leaders" By Kevin Walters • THE TENNESSEAN • January 14, 2009

Thinking Outside the Box

2009-01-06T14:11:00.006-06:00

In the wonderful world of marketing it helps to think outside of the box. After all, just about everything you can conceive of has been tried in one form or another and to avoid the same old thing, we have to get creative. We have to take what we know works and figure out how to present it in a NEW way. This is a never ending battle and one of the reasons corporations spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on marketing strategies. While browsing the web and researching sign strategy, I ran across an article that nearly knocked me out of my seat. Not only was this "outside the box", it was bold, daring and (believe it or not) a community service.

Dan O'Connor, a real estate investor who spends his spare time developing cutting edge systems to help other real estate investors, decided to launch a fairly peculiar marketing strategy not too long ago. He termed this "Operation Bandit Sign Traffic". As everyone who is familiar with bandit signs (yard signs) knows, it has become illegal to place signs at most intersections. But what if the signs were placed at the intersections in a way that completely looped around the laws? Is there actually a way to do that without getting into trouble or fined? Obviously so. Mr. O'Connor jumped through the loops when he hired homeless people who were panhandling the intersections to hold his signs. Basically, he put the homeless people to work and gained an advertising advantage all in one surprising sweep. Not only that, but the media got involved when Mr. O'Connor called to inform them of his intention to employ the homeless as a community service project for the day.

It appears that Mr. O'Connor's bold strategy was a huge success. He was able to net $37,000 in profit in 10 days, attract 5 qualified tenant buyers, get his company name on peoples lips, gainfully employ a large population of homeless people in a day AND gain recognition through the media. Flabbergasted, I stared at the screen of my computer, blinked a few times to ensure my eyes were working properly, then silently congratulated his ability to think THAT far outside of the box. I can honestly say that, in all my years of reading and researching marketing ideas and strategies, I would never have dreamed of anything like this. Just goes to show what thinking outside of the box can accomplish!

If you are interested in reading more about "Operation Bandit Sign Traffic", click here.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Gwynn

Pricing Yard Signs

2008-12-30T08:05:00.007-06:00

So... you've been looking to buy yard signs but the pricing seems to be all over the place. What gives?!?

Real Estate sign pricing (business lawn & yard sign pricing) can be a daunting challenge. With all the different pricing on the internet, the truth is, you never know if you have gotten a good price on real estate or business signs unless you do hours and hours of research, keeping track of business sign companies who called you back, those who did not call, who sent you email from which business sign company... how much were the signs...it goes on and on.

Real Estate/Business Yard Sign pricing varies, sometimes wildly, from one sign company to the next..why? Pricing for business signs seems to vary from one sign company to the next because each business sign company offers a different type of product or service. It sometimes may be a matter of how a sign company prints the signs as to how they price them. Quality varies, along with pricing for different types of materials used to create the signage. Corrugated Plastic coroplast, for instance, comes in different sizes and thicknesses and is sometimes mistaken for a less sturdy type of plastic or paper when business agents are pricing signs. Corrugated Plastic is typically sold in a 4ml thickness. Coroplast is the most rigid of yard sign materials. Coroplast is an outdoor material and is made from corrugated plastic, which gives it strength and rigidity.

Fold over yard signs are typically made of paper with a gloss finish or a type of plastic coating, which means they are not as sturdy as corrugated plastic, and they usually cost less. All weather Cardboard Yard Signs are printed on an outdoor 24pt. cardboard that is plastic coated to protect it against the elements. The design is printed double-sided, folded along the top, and sealed smoothly along the sides with glue. The yard sign is formed like a pocket so it slides over wire stakes.

Poly bag yard signs are made from tough thick sun-blocking film known as high density polyethylene. These plastic yard signs use a weatherproof, no-show through material; the finished sign is a co-extruded multilayer polyethylene containing ethylene to make it stronger and extend the life of the sign.

When pricing yard signs remember to take into account the type of material you wish to use and the amount of signs you need because this will affect the pricing you receive. Many companies offer discounted pricing the more signs you purchase no matter which material you choose. And though pricing signs can seem daunting, just remember that the effort and time spent are well worth it. In the end you will have a great advertising tool for a relatively small investment.

The Future of Yard Signs...

2008-12-23T10:42:00.007-06:00

Hello all! I read a blog today concerning the future of yard signs by James Kimmons and thought I would share the information. Click here to read his blog. James Kimmons is in the real estate business and, as we all know, real estate requires a very large presence because of the competitive nature of home selling. In his blog, James discusses what he calls "virtual footprints" and compares them to yard signs. I would like to point out that I think James has a very good point. What we see most these days is web presence... the more web presence, better the chances are you will be seen. It is very important to establish your company or service on the web as well as on the street, radio, TV or whichever media you choose. The fact of the matter is that (as stated in a previous blog) advertising is everywhere. The larger your circle, the more clients you will have... theoretically speaking. And while I agree with James' assertion that virtual footprints will become the yard sign of the future, I must also state that when it comes to advertising and making your name known, one should use everything they can... even if that is a humble yard sign standing on the side of the road.

James' post originated from an article by Mel Aclaro titled How is online changing traditional real estate marketing? Both blogs make for excellent reading.

Thanks for stopping by!

How One Sign Company Stays at the Top...

2008-12-17T09:12:00.013-06:00

On December 9th I included information pertaining to SuperCheapSigns.com which is mainly an internet based sign business with occasional walk in customers. Recently they have added a sign editor to their site allowing new and existing customers to create and view their sign content before ever submitting an order. There have been many changes implemented over the past year as they believe in offering the best quality at the lowest price. In an effort to maintain quality standards for their customers, they have become one of the top sign companies on the internet.

Jon Holmquist, the owner, is proud of this accomplishment... and well he should be! For the most part, Jon relies on repeat business and word of mouth rightly believing that customer satisfaction speaks louder than anything else. No mass marketing strategies there! And though some would think this detrimental to continued success in an economy that seems to be sliding downhill, the company is rolling along as strong as ever. When asked how he has managed to keep his company among the top sign suppliers, Jon had this to say:

"Obviously we attract a certain customer... that's right - cheap. They want what they need at the lowest price they can get it for. They spend a lot of time comparing prices before buying. We've noticed a trend of even more customers asking for a better price, or new customers just "shopping around". This was validated by our online statistics which told us three things: more visitors, lower conversion rates and lower average orders. This all started in November 2007 and in an effort to adapt or respond, we decided to rethink our pricing. First, we hired an accounting firm (VCFO) to review our books (my wife was our bookkeeper and we weren't ready for a full time controller). After a lot of help we were finally able to see exactly what our costs were. We were surprised to find that we were losing money on small orders and possibly overcharging on large volume orders. So, we adjusted. We tweaked what needed tweaked, lowered prices, implemented cost saving strategies, and really listened to what our customers had to say. We were always aware of the feedback we received (and grateful for it) and we did our best to maintain positive feedback... but when we started to implement more ways to help the customers get what they wanted, exactly as they wanted it (like the design tool we now use), and at a price too good to beat, customer satisfaction went through the roof. The key to success lies in the customers hands. They can make you or they can break you... that is the plain and unvarnished truth in any industry. And when you are willing to listen... really listen... to what the customers are saying and adjust to their needs, the impact is astounding."

To this bloggers mind, that is probably the best advice any company can receive. Regardless of your marketing strategy, it is imperative to be receptive to the wants and needs of your customers... but always make sure you take the active role as well. Just being receptive won't keep you at the top; you have to be willing to go the extra mile and give the customers what they want.

Yard Signs: Street Spam?

2008-12-16T13:10:00.000-06:00

Over the past few years yard signs have earned the reputation of "street spam". Yet, for just a moment, let us consider the following...

How many small businesses have received additional business (customers) by advertising with yard signs? How many new businesses have gained some recognition with the use of yard signs? And what about politics? Do these signs not affect the greater population during election time? Thus, can this really be considered "spam"? As a firm believer in marketing and marketing strategies that build customer base, I believe that yard signs have earned their place in the business world. Granted, if you come across a corner that has 10 - 20 signs cluttered together, this would most certainly be considered "spam". After all... too much of something can always be a bad thing. But used in moderation these signs have awesome potential at a low price.

Another thing to consider is this: No matter what station you watch on TV you will no doubt be bombarded with commercials. Commercials are also advertisement. You can get hit with up to 5 commercials in a 2 minute period of time. Shouldn't this be considered "spam" as well? Both are advertisement gimmicks designed to inform potential and existing customers of upcoming sales, new business, and as always... to sell sell sell their products or services! So... where is the difference here? One gets you in the comfort of your home, car or at the computer and the other gets you as you drive around. And let's not forget radio where you can listen to 2 - 3 minutes of advertisements every 5 - 10 minutes.

My point being that no matter where you go today, no matter what you are doing, you will be surrounded by advertisements for one thing or another. Why is it considered "spam" if it's on the side of the road but not when it's on TV or radio? Where is the differentiating line? Just something to think about...

Legal Issues

2008-12-09T12:18:00.000-06:00

Previously, I posted regarding yard signs and their effectiveness. I also spoke about the different laws in different states regarding the placement of yard signs. I would like to expand on that for just a moment...

Zoning codes and laws regulating sign placement are typically developed and enforced by cities and counties, not by the state government. Most cities have sign ordinances that restrict the size and placement of signs on public and private property. The specifics of the rules and regulations vary by municipality and region. The sign shop you use will probably not be able to advise you of the rules for you city. To avoid warnings and fines you should familiarize your self with the sign ordinances in your area. For example, here is a summary of State of Texas House Bill 212 (HB212) .

Additional revisions to this proposed ordinance were made in response to HB 212, which was enacted during the last legislative session, effective September 1, 2003. The final language in HB 212:
1. Does not explicitly address public safety/aesthetic regulation of political signs.
2. Explicitly states that a city may not prohibit signs from being placed, unless it exceeds the limits described in Section (d) of the same bill. Subsection (d) provides that the limitation on municipal regulation doesn't apply to a sign that:
A. Has an effective area grater than 36 feet
B. Is more than eight feet high
C. Is illuminated or has any moving elements

HB 212 also states that a municipal charter provision or ordinance (for a sign that contains a primarily political message) may not prohibit
the sign from being placed but is silent when it comes to regulating signs with regard to reasonable time, and setback restrictions by ordinance.

Current ordinance puts reasonable time limits on the placement of political election signs (up to 30 days after the election).

Unfortunately, the specific language of your city's sign ordinance may not be easy to find. Sometimes the law is available on-line, but often it is only available in written form from the police department or city offices. Anyone interested in erecting a sign should check with the City Zoning Office to see if a permit is needed to ensure that the sign meets City code. something else to keep in mind is that these ordinances have been in a constant state of change since they were implemented so it is important to check back regulary.

Click here for local ordinances from American Legal
Click here for local ordinances from Municode.com

Here is a sample of sign ordinanence laws from around the U.S.

Albuquerque NM

Austin TX

Dallas TX

Frisco TX

Pacifica CA

Palm City FL

Information for this blog was provided (in exact content and verbage) from CompareSignPrices.com a site that not only keeps you up-to-date on sign information, but helps you find signs at super cheap prices. CompareSignsPrices.com sponsors SuperCheapSigns.com which happens to be one of the lowest priced sign companies you can find. I highly recommend both of these companies for anyone looking to price or buy signs.

Thanks for reading!
See who's stopping by!

The Power of Yard Signs

2008-12-08T13:36:00.002-06:00

According to Tim Broder, "Yard signs are the most obvious, yet underutilized selling tool in the Realtor's arsenal." This is true not only for realtor's, but for anyone trying to sell, advertise, or market a product or service. Yard signs bring visibility and, despite some common concerns, yard signs can be attractive. Of course, cost comes into play the more artistic the sign but keep in mind that the sign (or signs) are selling YOU... your service... your product... your candidate. It's worth a little extra to make a lasting impression!

How many times can you remember driving through the neighborhood and seeing a bright yellow or white yard sale sign? Roofing sign? Get rich quick signs? And ohhh... let's not forget the ever present singles.net signs! The fact is signs are everywhere. But are they really being utilized to their full potential? Do they really work? Really? Well... let's see what others have to say:

Signs are considered to be the most effective tools in advertising history for any business. They always work as a dedicating factor for the success and profit of the business. You can let people know about your sale or about your corporation easily through a yard sign - Elizabeth Miranda, VP Franchising Public Relations.

Political yard signs are one of the most noticeable attributes of a political campaign in the United States. Lawn signs are considered a vital component of any local campaign. They are a cheap and effective method of making a candidate known in the election district. - CandidateSigns.com

There are a ton of other testimonials at sites like SuperCheapSigns.com.

The absolute fact of the matter is these signs work. That's why you see them posted everywhere. But there are a few things to keep in mind when ordering signs:

Remember, color combinations with high contrast between the background and letters are easier to read and can be seen from greater viewing distances. These color combos are the most readable and successful color combinations in order of viewing efficiency.

A. Yellow on Black
B. White on Blue
C. Yellow on Blue
D. Green on White
E. Blue on Yellow
F. White on Green
G. White on Burgundy
H. Burgundy on Yellow
I. Burgundy on White
J. Yellow on Burgundy
K. Red on White
L. Yellow on Red
M. Red on Yellow
N. White on Red

Some states have laws regarding yard signs... others don't. Make sure that you are aware of which laws are in affect in your state before placing signs. Some states will simply have you remove the signs, others might have the signs removed and then fine you for placing the signs. Laws are different for each state... always double check.

Determine your needs before placing an order! Calling a sign shop or walking into a sign shop with no idea what you want to say does not help you at all. The staff there can be the best staff in the world but they can't see your vision or read your mind. Most sign shops have designers that can help you bring your vision to life... but they still need to know what you want to say to your potential customers.

Be clear and concise about what you want placed on your sign. There are many variations to choose from and most sign companies offer templates that can be customized to better meet your needs.

Do your homework! Yeah.... I know.... homework is blah... but it was always necessary and still is. We have the world at our fingertips these days with the internet. Read reviews and customer comments... check pricing with different companies to get the best price for your needs. Many sign companies run various weekly specials
that allow you to get more sign for your buck.

Remember, no matter what business you are in or what you're trying to sell or communicate, yard signs can help you reach a larger audience. Utilize the power of yard signs and watch your business grow!