By Eva Reinoso Tejada :::
This year is shaping up to be an intense political year. With midterms happening in November, and primaries in June, we will hear from our candidates soon and often. One of the go-to tools of communication for candidates are yard signs. These printed beauties usually put the name of the candidate on the map. If you missed the Facebook post or the TV ad, which you can intentionally dodge, you cannot escape the sign on the cross streets that you have to drive by every day. With that said, if you are ready to campaign, don’t miss this precious opportunity (or break the bank) with a poorly designed sign. Here is what to do:
1. Content must be short. Must haves: the name of the candidate and the office he(she) is running for. The shorter the better. Attention span is between 4 and 7 seconds, don’t waste them. The goal is that the viewer recognizes the name when they see the sign, and when they are in front of the ballot.
2. Color must be bold. High contrast is key. A dark colored background with white letters makes a strong statement. Additional colors mean more money at the time of printing, so keep it to a max of 2 or 3. Don’t forget that white is a color that can be used in the design, and it doesn’t count as a print color because it is usually the color of the material we are printing on. For example, this sign is a two-color print, where the white of the board is cleverly used to enrich the design.
3. Design must be intentional. Fonts that are bold and sanserif (without extra adornment) are easier to read and more impactful. Colors have meanings. Study the audience you are trying to reach and design accordingly. Keep it simple and clean for maximum results.
4. Consistency is the law of the land. Branding must be uniform throughout all the printed products the campaign is using, including mailers, labels, t-shirts, campaign props, vehicle magnets and wraps, etc. Then, it should also match the colors and logos used in the digital world (web, social). This is how people get to recall things, thru brand consistency.
5. The sooner the better. Place the signs as soon as you are allowed to. The longer they stay there, the more impressions you will get. Get ready to lose some to weather or vandalism and be swift at replacing them.
Keep these tips in mind for your current or future political campaigns and remember that yard signs are an effective and affordable way to create awareness about your race or cause. We are here to help you succeed. You can check out our political products catalog, browse our website for all political products or you can reach out at 303-308-9444 or by emailing frontdesk@imageimpressions.com if you can’t find what you need.