Pricing Yard Signs

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...

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...

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?

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...