Business Development Articles Industry Alert Hot Shots Photo Gallery Message Boards Visit Our Advertisers: CADlink Technology Clarke Systems Estimate Software International Sign Assoc. Matrix Payment Systems American RENOLIT Corp SGIA Specialty Graphics Imaging Assoc Supply 55, Inc.

2) A fantastic low cost super sales promotion tool you can create today is the full color postcard. We all have digital cameras by now, and hopefully you have saved images of your finished signs onto a cd, or they are safely stored on your computer. Now, get these images busy by placing three or four small “snapshot” images of the signs you really enjoy producing…onto 500 large format color postcards. Have some large 5.5”x8.5” color postcards made for you that shows your targeted prospect exactly what you can do for him or her to enhance their business right now. The local office supply store can do this for you, if they have a “high end” color digital copier. Create your art files in Photoshop, two up to a page, and burn these files to a cd. Take the cd to the office supply store and have them “color copy” your files onto some 8.5”x11” white card stock. Have the reverse side information printed in black. Have them cut the cards in half and you will have a super marketing tool to mail out for about twenty-five cents to fifty cents apiece. This simple tool will get your phone ringing if you mail to the businesses that really need the sign work that you are promoting.

3) Become “visible” to your community. Get out and go to the Chamber of Commerce meetings. Go to the “Fourth of July” picnics. Rent a small table or booth at the community functions in your area to show photos of your work and to “meet and greet” new prospects and old customers alike. Visibility will get you more business than you can handle.

4) Schools. School will be out soon, but they are in the process of getting ready for the next school year right now. Go see the administrators at the local high school. Maybe they need new informational signs, gymnasium lettering, sports related lettering…the list is endless. Schools are a great source of highly repetitive sign orders.

5) Vehicles. To sell great vehicle lettering jobs, your own truck must be the best example of your vehicle lettering skill. Take some time to either “spruce up” your truck, or develop a brand new look for the “summer sales rush” that will be coming soon. In addition to selling more vehicle lettering jobs, do not overlook opportunities to sell boat and watercraft lettering and decals. Now is the time to solicit your services to boat dealers in your market. I have a long-time friend in the sign business that does boat graphics exclusively from a home shop and takes home a couple of hundred thousand dollars every year. Not bad work…and you can do it too.

These five ideas will keep you buzzing all summer long. When Labor Day rolls around in September, you will need a day of rest. Now, get out there and “Sell Some Signs”.

Mark Roberts www.signprice.com