You know what they say. Change is the only constant. It can be hard to keep up with everything. And in the process of life of your businesses signs might fall along the wayside.

Depending on the specifics, a sign can last quite a while. You can benefit from a well-made sign for years to come before you need to replace it.

But damage and age aren’t the only reasons to make changes to your signage. Read on for our guide to things you need to update on your signs as soon as you can.

When is it time to update your signs?

Before we look at the updates you should make, we will help you find out when is the right time to make those changes.

Major changes

Over the years, it is obvious that your business will change. It can be as small as a new office number or as significant as a new address or name. You need to update your signs to reflect these details to make sure you don’t lose out on any potential sales.

New brand identity

More likely than not, your company will grow and evolve. Because of this, your brand’s identity will probably change too. Your signs should reflect this. Consistency is a critical part of effective branding.

Your brand includes the following features:

• Colors
• Logo
• Business name
• Slogan
• Font

More than five years old

Even if nothing else is wrong, you might still want to update your signage. It can be helpful to use some kind of standard, like saying that you will change them after five years. The advertising industry and the general market is continually changing, and you want to stay ahead of the curve.

It will help you to get rid out outdated elements and also help you to keep up with current trends and styles.

After a few years, the sign will look a bit worn down and faded as well.

Not attracting customers

Overall, the primary goal of promotional signage is to gain new business. You want to increase your profits by increasing sales of your products or services. That’s why you have to make some changes if they are no longer serving this purpose.

It can happen if the signage becomes outdated, or perhaps it wasn’t impactful from the start.

Wear and tear

Signs are the face of your business. They are the first thing that most potential customers will see about your company. Therefore, as a direct representation of your business, you must keep it in tip-top shape. Or else it can reflect poorly on your business.

So if your signage has been damaged and even vandalized, it is time to replace it. And this is the perfect opportunity to make any necessary updates.

How should you update your signs?

Replacement

The burning question for most businesses is probably, do you have to replace the entire sign?

If this is necessary, it will clearly require additional expenses, time, and effort. The answer will depend on the type of sign and the updates you need to make. It also depends on the condition of the signage. 

You will probably need to replace it in the following cases completely:

• There has been severe damage to the product. Due to vandalism, weather, or age, parts of the sign might have torn off or broken off. Or the design of it might no longer be visible or legible.
• The updates that you need to make should last long term. They aren’t only for a short term events like a sale.
• You have rebranded your business, so you need to make extensive cosmetic changes.
• Your sign is not the type of sign which has parts that can be replaced. It is all or nothing.

Alternatives

If you are lucky, you don’t need to replace the entire sign. There are a few possible alternatives to this.

Some signs are made with panels that you can replace. For example, sign companies often make monument signs with slots into which you can slide new sections.

Another product that you can easily update is magnetic signs. This might not be the ideal solution, but you can put new magnet strips onto the board over the outdated sections, For example, this is an excellent option for restaurants that regularly change their menu.

One short term solution for making updates on your signage is to use stickers and decals. It won’t last long and probably won’t look as attractive. This can work well for once-off changes like advertising a sale. And it can be a good temporary fix until you can replace the entire sign.

Overall, the most flexible type of sign is digital signs. There are far fewer limits to making changes. You can usually update them with less effort and lower costs. So if you will need to make regular updates, we recommend looking into digital signage.

Without further ado, here are some of the updates you should consider making right away.

1. Outdated elements

What was in style five years ago, usually isn’t anymore today.

That’s why it can be a great idea to check over your designs every few years to see how it is holding up. 

You also need to make sure that elements of your signs haven’t become cliched. Unfortunately, some features like fonts might become so overused that they lose all their impact.

2. New products or services

One of the things that often changes are the products or services that companies offer. It can be an excellent idea to change your signage to reflect this. These updates will be particularly impactful if the new item is high in demand.

Of course, this will also be an essential update for a business like a restaurant that might seasonally change most of their offerings.

3. Trading information

This next update is critical. No one can see into the future. So you might not have foreseen the upcoming changes to your business when you created your signs.

Two of the most common changes are to your trading hours or address. In both these cases, outdated information can directly cost you business. Therefore, you have to update this as soon as possible. 

You can even create some hype for the changes like a new location by announcing them on your signs before they happen.

4. Be friendly and clear

In many ways, people have more access to your business than ever before. And your business should show that you are welcoming to everyone. Or, if you aren’t able to accommodate everyone, that should be clear as well – without being rude.

Check your signs for any unfriendly language or graphics. 

If you cater to families and those with disabilities, say so. If your business (for example, a retirement facility) only serves senior citizens, make sure your signs say so clearly, but in a friendly manner.

5. Your contact information

In the super-competitive world of business, the smallest detail can cost you. One example is having outdated contact information on your signage. Customers are unlikely to follow up if they struggle to reach you.

So you must update your signs if any of your communication channels aren’t in use anymore.

But you should also make changes if you’ve added some new ones. For example, did you create a Facebook page? Does your business have a new online store? 

There are more and more opportunities to communicate with existing and potential clients. And it can lead to a significant increase in business if you give them different ways to engage with you.

6. Rebranding

As we’ve said, one of the key reasons to update your signs is if you have updated your business’ visual brand identity. You need to keep your branding consistent across all your platforms.

Overall, it will make your company and your promotions much more memorable. And your customers will be able to recognize your signs at a glance.

In the end, your signs will usually be more attractive and eye-catching, thanks to the rebrand.

Remember that this needs to include all the aspects of your branding like the color scheme, logo, slogan, etc.

7. More languages

While English is the official language of the United States, it by no means has to be the only one that you use on your signage.

People speak more or less five hundred languages in the country. This is pretty extraordinary. Significantly, the second most spoken language is Spanish.

You might want to consider updating your signage if you cater to more than English-only speaking customers. This can be helpful, especially if most of your customers speak a different language. On top of this, you might want to try this out if your business is popular among tourists.

8. Stay current

Some days it seems that the world is changing at a rapidly increasing pace. It is all you can do to keep up. But it’s crucial for your business that you try to stay on track. This counts for your signs too.

One update you need to make involves smoking and vaping. Your business will probably have the appropriate signs to prevent smoking in certain areas. However, you may need to change them to refer to vaping and e-cigarettes specifically.

9. Correct spelling mistakes

Mistakes happen. The key is to address them by fixing it. In the case of signage, if you don’t, it is almost as if the mistake keeps on happening as every new person sees it. So you should update your signs to get rid of any grammatical or spelling errors.

It can happen to everyone. Even big corporations aren’t immune. Just take a look at these examples if you don’t believe us.

These mistakes can slip in at any stage of the process, brainstorming, design, or fabrication. That’s why you need to proofread the content of the signs every step along the way — next time double or even triple check to prevent issues.

10. The size

An essential part of the design is deciding on its size and dimensions. You have to make sure that it is large enough for people to see and read it.

You need to do some careful planning to get it right. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always work out the way you want it too.

Once the fabricators have made the sign and you have mounted it, you might find that it is just too small. The fault might lie with the font, the graphics, or the sign as a whole. You don’t want to lose out on advertising just because people can’t read it,

Pro tip: Print out the design in the right dimensions on paper. Test whether the size is suitable by holding it where you will place the sign.

11. Lighting

Another crucial thing that you should think about updating is lighting. 

First, the light bulbs might have faded, or some of them might no longer be working. Unfortunately, this will mean that your sign will be less visible. But it can also seriously detract from its overall appeal.

Secondly, you might want to change the type of illumination that you use. In the past, most fabricators made their products with neon tubing. However, now they mostly use LED bulbs. They are more energy-efficient and require less maintenance. So you might want to make the switch.

On the other hand, your signage might not have any illumination at all. In this case, you might want to add some lighting. It will not only help you attract more attention throughout the day and night but can help enhance its appearance too.

12. Highlight events or milestones

Special events and milestones like company anniversaries can offer you brilliant opportunities to promote your business. Therefore, you should consider including them as updates on your signage.

Showing off can help you draw in new customers but also boost your sales among existing ones.

Optimize your signage

The point of all these updates is to get the best out of your signs. You want them to be as effective as possible. They should help you get more business, not lose any. 

That’s why you want to build and maintain a good working relationship with your signage company. Undoubtedly, they can help you keep your signage in tip-top shape.

For more advice on making the best out of a sign, check out these tips and tricks to creating the most effective signs for marketing.

Believe it or not, choosing a font can be the most daunting parts of designing signage. There are thousands to choose from with new ones added every day. However, you should know that not all fonts are equal.

You need to put careful thought into choosing the typography for your signage. Read on to find out about the best professional fonts to use on your signs. To help you avoid mistakes, we’ll also look at ones that you should avoid at all costs.

Guide to fonts on signs

Thankfully, there are fundamental principles that can help you make the right decision. 

We often want to gravitate towards the more exotic typefaces. But interesting isn’t always the right choice. There is a reason why companies use some fonts over and over again.

Above all, you should pay attention to the visibility and readability of the sign. Unfortunately, too many people choose typefaces that are almost illegible. It benefits no one if your audience can’t read the sign.

You need to be wary of thin letters, script, and ornamentation.

Remember that research has shown that people only spend about 3 to 7 seconds looking at digital signs or perhaps up to 8 seconds with other signage.

In saying this, you still want the words to look good. Part of this is to avoid using fonts that have been so overused that they’ve become cliche. 

Additionally, you want to use typography that fits into your brand identity. That’s why you don’t want to use fonts widely recognized as “belonging” to a specific company.

Fonts to avoid

Now we’ll get the bad news out of the way first. Here are six examples of typefaces that you should avoid on your sign. They don’t work for a variety of reasons.

Comic Sans

Let’s start with the notorious main culprit for an overused font, Comic Sans. This typeface has gotten quite a bad rap over the years. It’s creator Vincent Connnare designed the font for a children’s software program. From there it spread like wildfire.  That should give you a hint at the problem.

So not only has it become cliched, it is child-like too. Never, ever use it for any critical or formal communication. People won’t take it seriously.

Because of all this, your audience will usually associate Comic Sans with amateur graphic design. It can, by extension, make your business seem less professional.

Papyrus

The celebrity of bad fonts is undoubtedly Papyrus. It’s one of those faces that many of us feel a bit ashamed about having used one time or another. You will find it all over anything to do with Egypt and the Mediterranean. 

And now it has forever been linked to James Cameron’s Avatar. If you use this on your sign, you risk looking unoriginal.

All this aside, Papyrus isn’t very attractive nor pleasant to look at.

Don’t be tempted by the exotic quality of this typeface. Just leave it in the past where it belongs.

Curlz

You can’t get much more whimsical than Curlz. It is beloved by many little girls for its fantastical ornamentations. Bakeries, toy shops, and kindergartens often feel that Curlz can help give them that playful character. But sometimes there is something like too many curls!

Sadly, this “happy” font can look immature and too flashy.

Above all, it doesn’t translate well to signs. The ornamentation can make it more challenging to read, especially if your audience sees it from a distance.

Brush Script

Flowing or script fonts are always popular. But you have to be extremely careful in using these on signs. They are undoubtedly less legible than other typefaces.

However, this isn’t the only problem with Brush Script.

The typeface was in its heyday in the 1960s and 1970s. However, designers in all types of industries used it for decades before and after. That’s why it holds some nostalgic appeal for people.

However, it is better to avoid this piece of the past that people have revisited too often. You would be better off looking at the variety of newer typefaces that are made to have a vintage feel.

Courier

Courier is a widely used serif font. Similarly to Brush Script, it has one of those typefaces that has a vintage feel. It resembles the typesetting for typewriters.

In general, Courier can still work well for other types of media like plain text documents. Compared to some of the alternatives, it is quite legible.

But it doesn’t work for signage. You might be able to read it. However, that doesn’t make it exciting or appealing. Besides, it mostly looks outdated and behind the times.

The best fonts for signs

Now that the bad is out of the way, we can get to the good stuff. Thankfully, there is a cornucopia of different fonts that designers can choose from. No doubt, you can find the ideal one for your business’ sign.

We’re going to look at ten of the top professional fonts to use on different types of signage.

Helvetica

If you know anything about graphic design, you have probably heard about Helvetica. It’s a great all-rounder sans serif font. Overall, it looks neat, professional, and easy to read. It looks attractive too.

Because of this, it is hugely popular. You can use it successfully on all kinds of platforms, including signs.

One downside of its popularity is that it doesn’t look as original or unique as it once did. Nevertheless, it will still make a sound choice for your sign.

Helvetica doesn’t necessarily evoke strong associations or emotions, so it gives you the chance to create meaning with it.

Bodoni

Another excellent font for signs is Bodoni. The typeface is exceptionally stylish. It’s a serif design with contrasting thick and thin lines that creates a wonderful aesthetic.

In the end, it will convey to your audience that your business is sophisticated and modern. Bodoni looks professional as well.

All things considered, it can be a great choice for you if you own a classy restaurant, cafe, or retail store like a boutique.

Boomerang script

In the list of the worst fonts, we gave playful and script fonts quite a bad rap. But this doesn’t apply to all of them. Some of the most exciting and engaging fonts combine both of these like Boomerang Script.

You can buy it in a bundle that comes with uppercase, lowercase, and hand brush style characters.

Boomerang can help you to make your business look fun and creative above anything else.

We think that this font will be ideal for a burger shack or any other hangout spot.

Some people might be put off by the fact that they will have to buy the font bundle. However, if it suits your brand identity and vision, it should be worth it.

Gatsby

Bodoni is by no means the only choice if you are looking for a sign to show your customers that your business is stylish and elegant. Gatsby can be a brilliant alternative too.

Unlike Bodoni, it is a sans serif font. Gatsby’s characters are elongated and thin. Altogether, it looks very tasteful and professional. It’s an excellent option if you want a typeface that looks vintage but not outdated.

You need to note that Gatsby only has uppercase letters. But this means that it stands out even more.

In general, it’s perfect if you are designing a sign for a luxury retail store.

You can download it in a bundle with single weight and four additional styles normal, outline, retro, and distorted.

Indigo

Next up, we are going to look at another sans serif font. Indigo stands out from the previous options on the list for its bold characters. It’s a combination of the ‘Indigo Regular’ and the outline version ‘Indigo Outline.’

The mix makes its letters chunky and thick. Thanks to its curvy shape, Indigo looks edgy and casual, but by no means amateurish.

You can use it on your signs to let them know that your business is contemporary and fun.

Indigo is quite versatile. And it’s one of those fonts that look just as fabulous in lowercase as in uppercase.

Luna

The next typeface is a fantastic alternative to more overused stencil fonts. You can buy the font in a bundle that comes with a version without the stencil-like effect or the stylish version that comes with these elements. 

Luna is a slab serif typeface which means that the designers created it with thick block-like serifs. Its letters are quite angular and straight.

We think that this font will work brilliantly for a camping, or hiking store or something similar. Your audience will interpret the sign as saying that your business caters for people who love adventures like experiences the outdoors.

It is the right mixture of rugged with a bit of polish that will make your sign stand out from the crowd.

Futura

Opinions differ widely on the use of this font. Some designers feel that it looks too stiff and that it’s no longer original.

But others still adore its minimalist style.

Paul Renner created the font and released it in 1927. In the spirit of Bauhaus, he based the design on geometric shapes like circles, triangles, and squares. It’s a credit to its creator that Futura looks progressive and contemporary today.

All in all, you can use this typeface on your sign to tell your audience that your business is efficient and forward-thinking.

Modeka

Another option if you are looking for a minimalist font is Modeka. The letters of this typeface are clearcut and also geometric.

However, where the geometry of Futura is more understated, that of Modeka makes a bold statement.

By using this font, you will let everyone know that your business is creative, unique, and certainly edgy.

Best of all, you can get it for free.

Garamond

Garamond is a very popular font for bodies of text like textbooks, magazines, and websites. However, you can use it just as successfully for your signs too. It’s a serif font with a timeless aesthetic.

There are several versions of Garamond. For signage, it can be a good idea if you choose the bold version of this font to make sure it is clearly legible.

The font has quite a long and rich history that dates back to the original versions that were designed by the 16th-century Parisian engraver named Claude Garamond.

By using the typeface on your signs, you can suggest to your customers that your business is reliable and trustworthy.

Buttermilk Farmhouse

Buttermilk Farmhouse is another wonderfully whimsical font. It is a hand-drawn calligraphy script. You can get it in a bundle with multiple versions which each put a unique twist on its aesthetic.

Undoubtedly, rustic chic is in vogue. Whether it is home decor or sign design, people go nuts for this style. So if that is the look you are going for Buttermilk Farmhouse might be the font for you.

The homely textured style still looks soft and delicate. With this charming font, you can let your customers know that your business is relaxed but yet stylish. That is why this typeface is excellent for a cafe. But it works wonderfully for something like a farmer’s market as well.

Say it right

The most important idea in signage is that it is not just about what you say, but how you say it. Experts know how important it is to choose the right professional font to use on your sign. 

You need to make sure that its meaning and association enhances your image and identity instead of clashing with it.

Remember to always ask your sign making company for their opinion and advice.

The font you use is one of the crucial elements and terms in design. But if you want to create signage there is far more you need to know. Take a look at our article on sign terminology: negative space, optimal distance, typography & more.