Having worn, outdated, or dirty signage could be sending the wrong message about your brand. Social distancing signage is here to stay. And while your business needs to provide clear safety instructions, customers are tired of seeing the same generic signs everywhere they go. What’s even worse are the handwritten signs and peeling tape spread along the floor.
There is good news, vaccines are arriving and spring is just around the corner. So, now is the perfect time to refresh and replace your COVID-19 signage. But beyond that, it’s time to rethink how you do safety signage altogether! Your social distancing graphics can—and should—be used as a tool to reinforce your brand messages and boost your marketing efforts.
To help, we've outlined four ways to maximize your marketing with social distancing signage.
1. Stay on Brand
Today, everyone is familiar with the guidelines for social distancing in public. For most people, signs mainly serve as reminders to ensure customers follow safety practices within your building. It's easy to order generic signs just about anywhere. But, consider how changing the generic signs to something that more closely aligns with your brand might enhance your business.
We recommend you tell the story of your business by designing your social distancing signage to match your branding and décor. To do this, incorporate elements of your brand identity, such as colors, fonts, shapes, and images. Using a brand mascot or character makes signs unique to your business. Do you have a unique brand voice? Incorporate that into your graphics by having fun with words. Including your brand increases awareness and creates a more pleasant experience for customers while reinforcing safety standards.
2. Use Your Products
Your social distancing signage isn’t only good for branding—it can also help promote what your business has to offer! Try incorporating product messaging and imagery into your signs in place of the usual social distancing symbols and language.
For example, a car dealership can promote the vehicles you sell by encouraging customers to stand a “Camry” or a “Jetta” length apart. Alternatively, if you run a burger joint, you could redesign your floor graphics to feature a different delicious-looking burger every six feet. Using this clever advertising strategy provides opportunities for cross-selling and upselling. Particularly when it’s used near the point of sale or where customers will be waiting in line.
3. Be Creative
We know, the average health and safety signage isn't exactly “fun,” but that doesn’t mean it can’t be! Social distancing signage shouldn't have one standard look for every business. Your business has the opportunity to mix it up and be creative.
There are tons of ways to “wow” customers with your creativity. First aligning your graphics with your brand already makes you stand out. But second, using your signage to incorporate holidays, major events, or the seasons gives you a greater opportunity for creativity and interaction. Finally, signs are also a great way to provide useful information. Gyms might include a quick health fact on every graphic, while a wine shop might theme its social distancing signs around different wines.
Don't limit your creativity to just the graphics and text. Also, consider shapes and locations. Stop signs and circles are easy, but what about the image of a cactus for "No Seating" graphics or a race car for your "Starting Line". The more creative you are with your signage, the more you’ll surprise your customers. This leads to a more memorable visit and leaves them with a positive impression of your brand. Plus, creative signs are more eye-catching, meaning people are more likely to pay attention and adhere to what they say.
4. Create Connections and Leads
Keep in mind, safety signage doesn’t have to be a static experience that only enforces behaviors inside your business. Graphics are a powerful lead generation tool that encourages customers to engage after they’ve visited your physical location. Social distancing signage can direct customers to like or follow you on social media, sign up for a newsletter or discounts, or download an app are ways to continue engagement once customers leave your business.
One easy way to achieve this is by adding QR codes to your signs. QR codes send your customers to a webpage with a quick scan, where they continue the experience that started in your store. Adding interactive opportunities to your graphics draw customers’ attention to your signage and provide an added incentive for them. In the end, this helps you build long-term relationships with your audience across multiple platforms.
Create Signage That Works for Your Brand
Social distancing signage doesn’t have to be standard. In fact, you can turn something necessary for public health and safety into a functional, unique opportunity for business marketing and branding!
Lastly, signage that is changed regularly and looks fresh gets more attention. So, if it’s time for your business to update your graphics, partner with AlphaGraphics Kanas City to replace your worn or outdated signs with something brand new. We can help you create customized designs that get noticed and bolster your marketing efforts, so you can put your best foot forward.
About AlphaGraphics Kansas City
Located in the creative Crossroads Arts District, AlphaGraphics Kansas City is a certified Women-Owned business that specializes in helping Kansas City businesses solve marketing problems. The printing company’s production specialties include G7 Certified digital color and large format printing.
For further information about AlphaGraphics Kansas City and our capabilities, contact the AGKC team at
816-842-4200 or visit their website, AlphaGraphics KC.
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