Campaign yard signs are an important element in local campaigning. Over time, a single campaign sign can be seen by hundreds or even thousands of people. Multiply that effect by the total number of yard signs promoting a campaign, and you have a powerful way to build candidate name recognition.
Here are some tips in designing campaign yard signs.
Consider designing your campaign sign logo early in the campaign. Go with a block-style font. Script is harder to read. Select your colors early on. Keep in mind that you may want to use this logo in other campaign materials to build a consistent ‘brand’.
Generally, the candidate’s last name should be the largest element on the sign. The office running for should also be included, but can be somewhat smaller.
Do not put too much information on the sign. They are generally read by motorists passing by. At best, you have only a few seconds to relay your message. Phrases ‘Re-Elect’ and ‘Vote For’ are basically redundant.
Consider using at least two colors. This will increase the impact of the sign. Red, white and blue are traditional favorites. Other combos of color such as black and red or blue and yellow can work well, too.
Don’t make your yard signs too small. They will be harder to notice and read, and will give the impression that your campaign itself is ‘small’. A typical yard sign is 12” x 24”, but going for 18” x 24” or larger signs can produce more impact.
There are several types of yard signs that are typically used, each with their own advantages and weaknesses. Selecting a sign type(s) should be determined by your campaign’s specific needs.
In addition to traditional printed yard signs, homemade political yard signs are useful for small to medium-sized campaigns. They are generally larger, and they can be used to promote a specific message or fight back against a negative attack. With more text size available, be sure that even your larger signs are clearly readable from a distance.
When you are ready to put out your signs, put the bulk of them out in a short period of time, such as over a weekend. The impact will be greater than putting them up gradually.
Finally, be sure that your campaign signs match the look and feel of your campaign literature, including your fliers, brochures and campaign website.
Signage is an inexpensive way to advertise. A good yard sign campaign will get a candidate’s name before voters. Name recognition is a strong factor behind many election victories, so you want to make as strong and positive an impression as possible.
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Tags: campaign advertising, campaign promotion, yard signs
Great post! I definitely agree that political yard signs are a very inexpensive way to advertise and reinforce name recognition when it comes to campaigning. Anyhow, thanks for the tips. I’ve recently been creating several political yard signs and your thoughts on logos, name size, and information necessary for the sign were very helpful.
Most these tips come down to one thing: make sure that voters can read your campaign sign.
While this may seems like common sense, a lot of campaigns design a sign that that easily read from across the desk at a print shop or from the eyes to the computer screen not from the perspective of a voter driving down the road.