Did you know that, according to Finances Online, there are over 1 million restaurants in the US? Additionally, they employ more than 15 million workers, and the number of people who work in the restaurant industry is expected to be greater than 16 million by the year 2026.
If you run one of the many restaurants in the US, you might be looking for ways to stand out. If you don’t know how to get started, this can be stressful.
Fortunately, with restaurant signage, you can get potential customers interested in your restaurant and help them remember you after they’ve left so they come back for more.
In this article, we’ll review design tips and ideas for signs for restaurants. Finally, you can have a stunning restaurant sign that helps you get more customers than ever. Read on to learn more.
Restaurant Signage Design Tips
When it comes to restaurant sign design, one of our tips is to use QR codes. These have made quite a comeback recently, especially at restaurants. They’re a safe and easy way for your customers to get access to your menu.
To use QR codes properly, create one that links directly to your menu. Then, put it in different places. You can place it on small signs at tables so people eating at them can look at the menu without touching it.
Additionally, you can put the QR code on your exterior window decals or your restaurant signs outdoors.
Reinforce the Identity of Your Brand
When designing your commercial restaurant signs, you should reinforce the identity of your brand. Remember to include your logo and use the same color combinations and fonts you’re using for your social media posts and on your website.
This way, when people see your restaurant signs, they’ll come to associate them with your brand.
Over time, they’ll start to remember your brand better, which will help with remembering your restaurant.
Include Additional Language and Visual Tools
When you create your signs, this is an opportunity to give passersby more information than only your restaurant name. By including additional language and visual tools, you can engage potential customers even more with additional information.
For example, say you specialize in juices and smoothies. In this case, you can put icons onto your window decals to show this.
Here’s another example. If you run a pizzeria where you specialize in selling organic pizzas, you can create a poster you put outside where you showcase your specialty pies and artisanal ingredients.
Including a slogan or tagline can also help. Instead of having a sign that only says the name of your restaurant, you can include your tagline or slogan underneath it.
This way, customers won’t know just your restaurant’s name but also what you have to offer. For example, instead of “George’s Pizzeria,” the sign would say something like, “George’s Pizza: Offering Organic Pies and Local Beer Options.”
Restaurant Signage Ideas
While it’s a good idea to post consistently on social media for any business, sometimes it’s smart to get the word out using an old-fashioned sign. Vinyl banners can be a great choice. Hang one in the front window of your restaurant.
With it, you can market new menu items, promotional meal deals, or expanded delivery options.
Use Signs to Attract New Customers
Out of the restaurant sign ideas we’ll explore, one of them is to use signs to attract new customers. You might already have more permanent signs, but by creating new signs, posters, or vinyl banners, you can grab the attention of potential customers.
When you use these options, people who are walking or driving by your restaurant have the chance to notice. Many of these people will be potential new customers.
Another option is to create a sidewalk sign. However, make sure you check local regulations and rules regarding exterior signage before putting one out.
When you’re creating this type of sign, make sure you include the right information on it so that people who haven’t been to your restaurant before will be interested.
This is where an enticing offer can help. You can offer free delivery, a discount on a meal, or some other type of offer to new customers.
Safety Protocol Signs
Another type of sign that many restaurants are using now is safety protocol signs. If there are any new regulations or rules, you can use both outdoor and indoor signage to inform your customers about these changes so everyone is following them.
Outside your restaurant’s front door, you can place reminders to customers to sanitize their hands and wear a mask before they come in.
You can also use QR codes on your outdoor signs or window decal, making it possible for customers to see the rules this way before stepping inside.
Once your customers are inside, you can utilize floor decals so you can promote social distancing.
Interested in Learning More About Restaurant Signage?
Now that you’ve reviewed our design tips and ideas for restaurant signage, you might want to learn more. Maybe you want to learn about other types of signs, such as restaurant menu signs, menu boards, large format signs, or even wall graphics/decals.
Whatever information you need, we can help. At AlphaGraphics, we’re experts when it comes to restaurant signage.
We also provide signage solutions. To learn more about these solutions, request a quote now.