The Best Advertising Space You Already Own and Aren’t Using – And How to Get Started Right Now!

Between the complexities of new media marketing and expensive print, radio and TV advertising, making the right advertising choice for your small business (and staying within budget) is a challenge. Worry no longer. The best advertising for your business is right outside your front door. And even better news? You already own the space!

If your business has a storefront, take a good, hard look at your windows. What do they say about your business to the average consumer walking down the street? What impression are you making? If you’re like most businesses, you’ve been so busy worrying about complex advertising strategies that you’ve neglected the most basic and affordable one: window advertising.

Window advertising is a tried and true way to attract customers and showcase your company’s products and services. This proven marketing strategy helps you maximize your revenue while minimizing advertising costs.

Stop selling, start marketing: generate customers who want to buy from you!
If you’re like most small businesses, the rising cost of traditional advertising has made print, radio and TV ads simply unaffordable. The Yellow Pages, once the premier advertising space for local businesses, is overpriced and no longer effective. And for all the hype, online advertising can be expensive (those pay-per-clicks really add up) and ineffective (it’s true; most of your marketing emails go straight to the spam folder).

Advertising is like sending your best salesman out into the world to tell potential customers all about your business. However, if your customers don’t see or read your ads, that’s a pretty big waste of your best salesman (and your money.) And it doesn’t matter how good a salesman you have – if your salesman doesn’t have anyone to talk to, he’s not going to sell anything.

Fortunately, if you’ve got a storefront, you’ve got a window – and that’s all you need for immediate, effective marketing! What does this mean for you? You can finally stop trying to give your customers the hard sell – your window advertisements will increase visibility and naturally bring customers to you! You can finally stop wasting your money on ineffective, over-priced print ads that don’t generate sales leads. And you can finally stop spending your time worrying about the right advertising strategy. You’ll be too busy helping all your new customers!

More impressions, more money: the marketing science behind window advertising.
The effectiveness of marketing is measured not only in dollars generated, but also in impressions. When you buy an online advertisement, for example, you may pay by ‘cost per impression.’ This means that you pay a fixed price every time a person views your advertisement. The greater the number of impressions, the better, as this indicates that more people are seeing your advertisement. For a storefront window, every person that comes by will see your window advertisement, whether they are driving past on their daily commute or walking down the sidewalk to another store. On a busy street or in a popular shopping mall, that adds up to a lot of impressions very quickly, for not a lot of money! In a strip mall, all the stores look the same. Stand out from the other stores with a fun window graphic and watch as the customers start coming!

Bold graphics, bold design: getting the biggest bang for your buck with window advertising.
Let’s face it; simple signs and ordinary lettering is boring. When was the last time a basic sign caught your eye as you walked down the street? If you have a storefront on a busy street, you need an eye-catching sign to attract foot traffic and to stand out to cars driving by.

Fortunately, thanks to the latest technology, window signs can be anything but boring. Using large format digital printers and computer cutters, graphic sign companies can produce custom, eye-catching and fade-resistant graphic displays. Their window perforations and window vinyl will get you noticed! They can even create the illusion of etched or frosted glass for a fraction of the cost of the real thing.

The technical stuff: how window advertising works.
When choosing a type of window advertising, consider your needs. Are you looking to brand your storefront or simply highlight a seasonal special? Are you advertising a storewide sale or a specific product? The most important decision you will make is the team you choose to design and install your window graphics. No matter the job, be sure to choose the reputable, experienced professionals. When properly applied, a window vinyl can last for years. However, improperly applied graphics or poorly designed graphics can sink your marketing plans and end up costing you big bucks. A professional team will take the time to understand your needs and will ensure the job gets done right the first time.

The helpful, friendly folks at Signs Now Mill Creek know the window advertising business inside and out. Signs Now Mill Creek has significant experience producing economical (and creative!) signs and graphics. Have an idea for a design but not sure how to make it work? Their experienced marketing staff and in-house graphic designer will work with you to turn your idea into reality and create a totally custom job. Everything’s made in-house, and they’ll come install it for you. Below is a list of commonly asked questions about the window graphic advertising process. If you have additional questions, just ask the friendly staff at Signs Now Mill Creek for help.

How do window vinyl get applied and how long will it take?
Window vinyl is computer cut and made to fit on either the outside or inside of your window. The process usually takes around 10 days from concept to completion, although jobs can be completed faster under tight deadlines. “Temporary” window vinyls can be custom made or use pre-cut shapes. These vinyls cling to the window and can easily be removed or repositioned multiple times.

How long will my window advertising last?
The short answer: as long as you want it to! Because window vinyl is an outdoor sign, it is always laminated to protect the sign from the elements. Your window advertising is fade and peel resistant, and designed to last for at least five years.

What if I just want temporary advertising?
Looking to highlight a seasonal promotion or special deal? Temporary window vinyls are a cost-effective, eye-catching, creative solution. These designs easily peel on and off the window, and are designed for multiple applications. So feel free to advertise a Valentine’s Day special – with the peace of mind that when the holiday is over, you can easily swap the advertisement out for a spring theme. No mess, no fuss!

Are window graphics see-through?
Some window vinyls can be designed so that you can see through from the inside while the outside observer can only see the marketing graphic. These vinyls are also known as ‘window perfs.’ The one downside to window perfs is that when it is dark outside at night, the perf will not be visible when the interior store light is on. Other vinyls are opaque, and you cannot see through them.

The bottom line: your business simply can’t afford for you NOT to use window advertising!
Your storefront window truly is your company’s ‘window to the world.’ Window advertising is a tried and true way to attract customers and showcase your business’s products and services. You already own or rent the space – so stop wasting money and energy on expensive advertisements and install window graphics today!

Related Articles

• The leading marketing tool you aren’t using – and why you can’t afford NOT to. (signsnowmillcreek.wordpress.com)
• How to Make Your Next Business Expo or Trade Show a Virtual Marketing Extravaganza (signsnowmillcreek.wordpress.com)
• The seven deadly sins of bad graphic design: what you don’t know can hurt your business! (signsnowmillcreek.wordpress.com)
• How to Create Unique Custom Banners for Your Small Business (business.ezinemark.com)

Your Customers Will See You in a Whole New Light!

Image by taberandrew via Flickr

Window lettering is among the most effective marketing tools available to many entrepreneurs. Depending upon your business location, it may be the single most effective way to attract the attention of passersby. Remember, window lettering is right there at eye level, so it should not only be attractive, it should help you invite customers in to look around and see what you have to offer. Signs Now Mill Creek has perfected techniques for using color, shape and placement to achieve the best possible results from window lettering and graphics. Your customers will see you in a whole new light!

Come into Signs Now Mill Creek today to receive a FREE estimate! We have the best signs in Seattle and we’re right between Lynnwood and Everett. Please visit our website at http://www.signsnowmillcreek.com/, or visit our Facebook Fan Page at www.Facebook.com/MillCreekSignsNow.

Window Perf—A Marketing Solution and Memorable Creation

     What exactly is “window perf?” Window perf is a porous material that has somewhat of a ‘peek-a-boo’ character trait.   Since window perf is perforated, the white front and black backing allows you to see an image on the outside, whereas from the inside, the window looks merely tinted.

     Where can you use window perf? Window Perf is an excellent marketing solution for store front windows, and especially vehicle graphics! It is an excellent option for turning your windows into key advertising space.  

     “An Arbitron, Inc., study shows that more than 95% of Americans travel by car each week, creating a mass audience for your advertising. Branding your business is simplified, considering that 1 wrap can generate between 30,000 – 70,000 impressions each day! Vehicle wraps are now being recognized as an extremely cost effective and unique form of outdoor media for all sizes of businesses and company promotions. Vehicle wraps are like giant billboards, only more creative, and they move in the area your company services. They work 24 hours a day, generating awareness for your company and are constantly reaching new and potential customers.”  –Signs Now Corporate Website

     Advertising these days can become expensive very quickly. However, with vehicle graphics, there is only a one-time fee! Although vehicle graphics are initially more expensive than advertising your company in the phone book or on craigslist, it is something that will pay for itself over and over again over time.

     Window Perf is an option for your company, but it can also be used for personal use. Signs Now recently had a Mill Creek officer come in and purchase window perf for her personal vehicle. She wanted to honor the memory of the fallen Lakewood Police Officers.  Support for incidents, such as the Lakewood Police Officers, can be shown in multiple ways, and window perf is one of them. You too can create a lasting memory with vehicle graphics; for today, it is a reminder that we will never forget the memory of the Lakewood Officers.

Seasonal or Temporary Window Graphics/Banners and Signs Now Mill Creek

Around the corner is Halloween, Harvest Parties, Thanksgiving and Christmas! Signs Now is here to help with all of your seasonal needs! Of course, you can certainly go with the more traditional banner signage that involves tying your banners with rope to a secure structure. Or, you can use temporary seasonal banners that can adhere to windows or exterior wall surfaces without the need for ropes. These banners do not need rope because they stick directly to the surface and they are specially formulated with a temporary low stick adhesive. Once you’re done, you can then peel off the banner on your own and they won’t leave behind any residue. As a matter of fact, you can apply and remove the banner on your own without the involvement of installation professionals. Because there are no messy ropes involved, they look clean and clutter free when viewed. They serve as temporary signage for seasonal specials or promotions of short duration. Normally, these banners are used for a period of two weeks to six months.

Alternatively, you can use traditional banners that require you to secure the banner in place using ropes.

Lots of options! Contact us for further details!

Bring Your Windows to Life with Frosty or Dusty Glass!

You can bring any window to life by adding etched glass vinyl to give the appearance of an authentic etched glass look.  By reverse cutting any lettering that you use to market your business and then applying the etched vinyl to the inside of the window will give the impression of authenticity!  Add distinction and elegance to your glass entry door!

Etched glass vinyl comes in silver or gold.  Use dusted crystal or frosted crystal vinyl for a dusty or frosty look.  Add sparkles, too!

Among a variety of other things, the guys at Frost Doughnuts picked some dusted vinyl from us for their place!

Who are we? The Mill Creek 425 Original so Click This Link to Find Out More!

Long Term Window Perf Graphics for Your Glass

Long term window perf is a perforated material that you can see out of.  So if you’re inside your site, you can still look out your window and see the outside world!  Anyone standing outside your sight will see the graphic design that has been printed on top of the perf.  It’s like a one-way window that you can see out of, but not into.  It is very, very cool stuff!

The material is best applied by an experienced installer because it is a tricky material to apply.  Once installed it is difficult to remove and so the removal process is best left to an experienced person.  Because of the strong adhesive the application is intended for long term use and therefore you should ensure that your printed design is something that you intend to keep longer than six months.

Because you can see out of the material you won’t lose the use of your window and so you can be less selective in your window choice.  The perf also marginally reduces sunlight from entering through your window and so if you have a window that has too much sunlight, then this is a great way to reduce the sunlight while creating advertising exposure for your site.

Window perf is best viewed from the outside when the outside light is brighter than the light inside your site.  During winter months it begins to get dark in the Seattle region around 5 PM and that means the light inside your site will be brighter than outside and that makes it virtually impossible for someone to see the design from the outside.  However, during the summer months the days are much longer and this is not an issue.

Window perf is a very good choice when city laws or ordinances prohibit the use of traditional banners.

There is a different material available called temporary window vinyl which is a short term application though you cannot see out of it when standing inside your site.  See another post within this blog for further information.

Who are we? The Mill Creek 425 Original so Click This Link to Find Out More!

Temporary Window Banner Graphics for Your Glass

A window banner is a temporary decal that you can adhere directly to a window.  The design, size and shape of the window banner is custom made for any window that you might have in mind. You leave the banner stuck to your window for a few days to a few months.  Then, when you’re done, you easily peel it off yourself and it leaves no residue! How cool is that!  The window banner is best used on an obscure window that you do not look out of frequently because the material is opaque and once it’s up then you won’t be able to see out of the window.  However, it is fabulous for short durations of time such as promos or seasonal advertising.  It is also great to use in areas that prohibit the use of traditional banners by city law or ordinance.

There is a different material available called window perf which is a long term application and you can see out of it when standing inside your site.  See another post within this blog for further information.

Who are we? The Mill Creek 425 Original so Click This Link to Find Out More!

Crayons and Felt Pens

I was driving around doing some errands today when I noticed a furniture store.  I wasn’t shopping for furniture though I parked my vehicle directly in front of the furniture store by happenstance.  As I prepared to get out of my car I looked up and noticed their store front windows covered in window paint.  Paint!  Yuk!

The window paint proclaimed that inside their outlet is discontinued items and one-off pieces of furniture on sale.  The graphics were painted on the window in large font and spread across 75 feet of store front on windows that were 5 feet tall in height.

I thought to myself are we in the 70’s???

A 6 year old child could do better work with crayons and felt pens.  Here is a company that is trying to capture attention and maybe admittedly in my case they did.  But, it was the next thought that entered my mind that turned me off.  That thought was that the window paint is ugly and perhaps you have ugly furniture inside, too.

You see, people think in discrete steps although by appearances it may seem like people think in one fluid motion.  But really, they don’t.  In one phase the crayon graphics caught my attention, but in the very next phase of thought they lost me!  And lost me badly!

I know that furniture stores are not doing so well in this economy and are trying very hard admist this recession to generate business.  But it is especially during times like these that you want to project yourself with professionalism and confidence because you can bet that your competitors aren’t doing that.  Done right, then that separates you from your competition.  It serves to drive a message to the consumer that even during times like these your brand is rock solid.  It reinforces your brand.

But, in this particular case, they felt they could accomplish their sales with window paint crayons and instead achieved client repulsion!  Get with the times!  This is the new millenium and in this day and age we have professional digital graphics!

There are all kinds of digital window graphics that are both short term and long term that can achieve a much better effect!

The point is that if you’ve done something in step one to capture attention, then don’t lose them in step two!