Do They See You?

[Mark]

I have run into a interesting dilemna.

Let me give you the background and then the issue.

Background

I have many levels of advertising/marketing, from social websites to an LED sign at each one of my locations (5), all but 2 are in different towns and markets so they all have different strategies except they all have LED signs. They have become a very valuable part of the "campaign", if you will.

I staggered purchase/install out over a 3 year period and have seen great results in all but one location (it's my toughest location, hit hard right now but my fixed exp are so low that it's still profitable).

 

Issue

The LED sign virtually is ineffective. It's like no one notices it.

In an effort to change things up I got a sign permit ($20mo.) to put a banner out front and it blew up!

I mean 40+ more cars a week and a great customer base. MIND BOGGLING..

But hey the "sign nazi's " (sorry that's what I call them, they are horrible to deal with in any town) said I could purchase the permit monthly

and all is good.

Except I've got LED this sign... hmmmm..

Of course, I go back to renew the banner permit and they tell me "since you have an LED sign you can't continually get the permit, this will be your last one". So I ride it out and take it down...car count and sales bottom out.. even my regulars.. MIND BOGGLING..

So in an effort to change it up, I call the city and ask if I turn my LED sign off, can I put the 2 sided banner back up. They say yes and we're off again!

For some reason this is dramatically affects my business, even my best customers only show up when the banner is out front.

 

What would you do?

[xrac]

I have run into a interesting dilemna.

Let me give you the background and then the issue.

Background

I have many levels of advertising/marketing, from social websites to an LED sign at each one of my locations (5), all but 2 are in different towns and markets so they all have different strategies except they all have LED signs. They have become a very valuable part of the "campaign", if you will.

I staggered purchase/install out over a 3 year period and have seen great results in all but one location (it's my toughest location, hit hard right now but my fixed exp are so low that it's still profitable).

 

Issue

The LED sign virtually is ineffective. It's like no one notices it.

In an effort to change things up I got a sign permit ($20mo.) to put a banner out front and it blew up!

I mean 40+ more cars a week and a great customer base. MIND BOGGLING..

But hey the "sign nazi's " (sorry that's what I call them, they are horrible to deal with in any town) said I could purchase the permit monthly

and all is good.

Except I've got LED this sign... hmmmm..

Of course, I go back to renew the banner permit and they tell me "since you have an LED sign you can't continually get the permit, this will be your last one". So I ride it out and take it down...car count and sales bottom out.. even my regulars.. MIND BOGGLING..

So in an effort to change it up, I call the city and ask if I turn my LED sign off, can I put the 2 sided banner back up. They say yes and we're off again!

For some reason this is dramatically affects my business, even my best customers only show up when the banner is out front.

 

What would you do?

 

Forget the LED keep the banner. What do you have on the banner?

[Joe Marconi]

I know signage is important, but never saw a sign make that kind of difference. If the banner works, keep it.

 

Signage is a big issue in my area too. When I was building my new location the town had so many restrictions. The town has no clue about business.

 

Even the placement of the signs makes a difference.

 

Is it possible to load the signs onto the site?

[DewayneP]

I know if I pass a changing (ones with a scrolling message, etc..) LED sign it has to be timed so you can read everything on the sign in the time it takes to pass by it. Maybe the banner is easier to read and less intrusive?

[Mark]

Forget the LED keep the banner. What do you have on the banner?

 

Well I've got a couple of different banners that price point a couple of services and one that say's "We Do All Repairs" .

What's become apparent as well is it doesn't really matter what's on the banner..

I have always known change is good and people generally see what specifically has changed they just notices something changed. But I've been doing this a long time and I've never seen it to this level.

I've got alot invested in the LED sign and I've been contemplating seeing if the city (who don't mind collecting my taxes but don't want me to do anything signage wise that make my business more noticeable) will let me put the LED

down to eye level.

It's a weird one...

[Mark]

I know signage is important, but never saw a sign make that kind of difference. If the banner works, keep it.

 

Signage is a big issue in my area too. When I was building my new location the town had so many restrictions. The town has no clue about business.

 

Even the placement of the signs makes a difference.

 

Is it possible to load the signs onto the site?

 

Sorry I didn't catch your reply until after I'd written the last one.

I'm going to see if they will let move the LED sign down to where the banner is.

I've got a huge investment with the LED sign and sure hate to see it wasted.

[Mark]

I know if I pass a changing (ones with a scrolling message, etc..) LED sign it has to be timed so you can read everything on the sign in the time it takes to pass by it. Maybe the banner is easier to read and less intrusive?

 

You can only change it every 13 seconds and it can't scroll, flash or anything of that nature.

I'm beginning to think that "change" and "being eye level" are what's getting their attention.