How many of you guys use project signs? Around here, every contractor but me puts one up while the job is in progress. I’ve never advertised and don’t really need to, but I’ve missed out on some tasty projects ’cause I’m kind of hard to find. Are they worthwhile? I’d also like to see some, so I can steal good ideas. Thanks in advance.
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after reading "Guerilla Marketing" i decided to get my company on my potential customer's radar screens...
with the help of a sign painter, we designed this logo.... and we use it on staionary, print ads, trucks, trailers..... and job signs...
here's ralph ignoring it.... mark thinking it over... and various other locations...
we have 4 of them... and most of the time three are out in circulation... the job we just finished... the one we're up to our ears in.... and one we just spiked..
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Mike, are you gonna' block or strap these joists?
SamT
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neither... they got 3/4 Advantech & 1/2" underlayment ply & ceramic tile.... to stiffen it we put a beam at mid-span....
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Is that diner in Newport?
Tan fat looks just like muscle!
ken... Tommy's Diner on West Main Road..
the leaner is an ozzie....
View ImageMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Mike,
Thanks, looked familiar, but I'm still not sure. We were at the Navy base and going there for breakfast on the weekends.
Ken
Tan fat looks just like muscle!
here's some more instances... scott in front of our trailer, with his Ipe' shower grate..
a cornice job we spent two springs on..
one of our job signs alongside the old truck sign..
people all over the southern RI area recognize this logo..which sort of influences my driving..
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Edited 12/2/2003 6:34:27 PM ET by Mike Smith
Look around you and you can see that the CEOs of 100% of the big businesses believe in 'branding', which means making everyone completely aware of their company and/or product by keeping their name and logo out there in every conceivable place. The halftime show is now the 'Verizon' halftime show or the 'Tostitos' haftime show. There was a moment there when a person could make a few bucks by having a company logo painted on their face for the day. Believe it, it's true. Anyway, advertisers put logos everywhere... bus benches, taxi tops, all around the field at every ballpark, on the players' clothes, everywhere.
So, yeah, I have truck and job signs. I think that once people have seen you around for long enough they start to believe that you must be legit. I live in a small community and it's vital that people know you. Some of the tradesmen here even have their own name on their driver's door if the company name is not already their name.
I'll shoot a digipic of the truck if it's not raining tomorrow.
Edited 12/3/2003 11:02:58 AM ET by davidmeiland
Photos attached:
http://www.bailerhill.com/door.jpg
http://www.bailerhill.com/jobsign.jpg
Edited 12/3/2003 5:47:09 PM ET by davidmeiland
Edited 12/3/2003 5:50:32 PM ET by davidmeiland
dave... very nice and understated
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now.... is it a logo ? other than the name, is there anything that will identify it in the viewer's mind ?
my favorite add on tv is the two guys asking each other if they would do dangerous things... like sky diving.. or scuba diving... both agree that those kinds of things are way too dangerous... then the camera pans back.. and they're both sleeping overnite 100 ft. up the side of a cliff..
fantastic !.. nobody i know can name the company they're advertisingMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
I think the guys are a little bit higher than 100ft. Probably more than 1000. Great ad! My crs dropped the name of the company somewhere.
Our son does tree work and irrigation, I saw a neat , although semi tacky way to advertise that I suggested to him. Cutting off 1" thick cuts on large ( medium for him) trees and have a stencil cut to paint name/logo/phone on them. A variation for those of us using saws other than chainsaws would be a 2x12 cutoff with stencil. If done with good paint should not look cheap.
Mike , Is that company Visa? (100' off the cliff)
Also like your logo & way of advertising.
That's like the "energizer bunny."
The bunny is known by all, but in a marketing study just over 80% of the average joe's that were polled said the bunny represented Duracell batteries.
A friend of mine owns a painting co, and has 1 or 2 jobsite signs stolen per month. Usually by other painters. AFAIK, they work, just don't spend a fortune on 'em.
Mike
Here's my new one(s) ...
small and understated. I've heard plenty of complaints from clients while subbing for other companies to "get that damn billboard outta my yard" ....while working in the upscale area I've seem to fallen into.
Got 3 that are 3' x 2' ... and have recieved compliments from HO's on the sign.
This is attached to my temp fixture .... I have the materials to make what will be the final mount ... I'm planning on using 3/4 copper pipe ... soldered ... to make a mounting frame with 2 legs going down ... the leg's I'll cut off at a sharp angle...
Should make for easy planting into the ground.
The way I have it planned .... the sign will be inset .. with the pipe showing ... encircling it. The store bought mount in have now has the sign tacked infront of the mounting frame. I had 3 people ask my electrician one day on trips to his van who was doing the work ... so I figured a temp mounted sign was better than waiting.
# signs ... on vinyl banner ... from Kinko's. ..
about $120.
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
I've been working outta my truck as my van's been getting a make over ...
my mechanic called right before t-giving .. saying his detail painting buddy was coming over to do some little scroll details ... so I should see what he'd charge to letter the whole thing up.
I wanted the yard sign reproduced almost to the letter ... just get rid of the name/address and substitute the number ... bigger.
Still nice and clean ... understated.
Well ..... got back ... and saw the guy liked the design so much ... he decided to dress it up a bit.
Did I mention this guy pin stripes... by hand .. a lost art ... drag racers?
So now I'm deciding just how soon I'm removing the hand lettering I just paid for ... so I can pay someone else to vinyl overlay a computer generated sign!
The guy did a great job ... just totally changed the "style" and "look" I was going for.
It is noticable though .... I'll give him that!
I was to pick up the van today buy got side tracked ... I'll post pics next week and get some other opinions.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
jeff.... the sign does just what you want it too... it is elegant and understated... and very forgettable...driving by (david's) Bailer's job, watching the road..... here is what you see..
out of the corner of your eye..View Image
now , here is yours..
View Image
both elegant, both understated... but they will not register on the subconcious..
sure someone, can roll down the window and write down the numbers... but . they do not seperate you from the pack..
but, hey, whadda i no ?Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Mike, agreed that my signage is low-key and easy to ignore if you don't want to know whose job it is. That's by design. The community here is deliberately very hard on signage--no large store signs, no neon, no billboards anywhere--just as tough as you can get in terms of sign ordinances. The new grocery store does not even *have* a sign because they ran afoul of the ordinance (average size grocery store lettering too large by law) and just quit. My guess is that people would like me less for advertising loudly, and when you do see job signs here they are small (18x24 like mine) and not loud. My primary advert is in the weekly paper, and on the tailgate of my truck--if you get behind me in a Mercedes or BMW or Jag it's going to be a slightly slow ride into town.
I've heard one story from a sub who said that a HO called him from a cell phone, while driving behind him. Oh, and yeah, you got that lettering on the truck, so always let everyone else cut in and never speed!
Dave... i was on the Planning Board for 7 years... and believe me... the sign ####'s ( censor got that n_a_z_i_ thing again )here make your community look like casper milktoast...
they even tried some unconstitutional things like no political signs... hah, hah, hah...screw freedom of speech and association
however... since most of the power player's wives are also real estate agents.. the one thing they didn't mess with is Real Estate signs... so.. mine conforms to the local ordinance..
anyways.. with that background.. i was very low-key.. like you.. then a new guy came to town with a great marketing plan.. great signage... nice logo..
he ate my lunch and everyone else's....that's when i developed my logo and signage... and it worked great... people always stop me and say.. hey.. i see you're working on so and so's place...
and ..i did put my logo on the tailgate this time... and i do TRY to drive courteously with that in mind
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Edited 12/6/2003 12:49:57 PM ET by Mike Smith
When I started my business, I wanted to come up with a way of helping people remember our name. I came up with the name, which is an affluent neighborhood in a nearby town. My twelve year old daughter had me change the final 'Company' to 'Associates' for the initials and the logo. She loves whales. MY computer-ace son took it from there.When all else fails, use duct tape!
daddoo, i think that's a winner... lot's of symbiotic relationships..
at a marketing seminar.. i was told the average consumer needs 7 hits on their radar screen before they recognize something in their conciosu.. then they start thinking very positively about the recognition... like it's an old trusted friend..
job signs.. truck signs .. news ads.. yellow pages... letterhead.. invoices..
flyers.. repeat . repeat . repeat..
BTW... the two guys on the cliff side ?
10 dogbones to the first one to tell me who's ad it is.. talk about a great concept with a zero application....Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
It's a Visa ad.
Need my address?
10 milkbones to you... by e-mail.. don't break a tooth..
hey.... how many times did you watch it before you figgered it was a visa ad ?
or am i just slow ?Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
There must be an echo in this post!
My Yard sign is my truck. It is parked out front of every job I work on."Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Pro-Dek-----one problem with the "Truck as Yard Sign" idea is that it isn't on site except when YOU are on site. I didn't fully recognize the implications of that untill a few weeks ago when we were finishing up one of the last jobs for the season. homeowner happened to mention how MANY people were standing around on the sidewalk one eve. looking at the jobs progress. ( also agood reminder to leave the josite SPOTLESS when you leave for the day.
My problem is---I don't always get around to actually putting up the sign. Our jobs only usually last a day or 2. I have 3-4 signs that I payed about $100 each for that I don't fully use!
Sooooo----the question is for you guys that use them religously---how do you handle it? Do you verbally ask for the homeowners OK( when I do it always sounds awkward)---do you just put up the sign without asking. how long before a project? how long do you leave it after a project? Etc.
most people i don't ask... they already know there is going to be a sign..if there is any question.. then i make sure we get permission..
some people tell me to leave the sign up for awhile long after we're gone..
the sign goes up either when we take the deposit or when we get the start payment.. and it stays until we get the final payment
the other thing about the sign... the subs and material suppliers really appreciate it... they can spot it from 1/2 a block away.. and it saves them a lot of time by not having to drive around in circles.
this last job has a 200' narrow, downhill driveway curving thru the trees.... they certainly want to know they're in the right place before committing to that
i had one guy who didn't want that "damn sign ".. we did three jobs for him.. actually 2.2 jobs for him.. he fired us right after we started the 3d job.. loved the first job.. loved the 2d job.. .. decided we were a bunch of crooks right after we started the 3d one..... got paid for work done and moved on.. taking my "damn sign " with us...
moral of that story.... beware of customers who have no appreciation for our problems...Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
that's a good point on finding the job, we have a job WAY off the beaten path and there is a sign at darn near every turn any delivery truck has to make.
The down side... one sign was knocked down and I spent my first day going out there driving around for 45 min when I was lost, Boss didn't know the county road # and wasn't in the office, we had a few converstations "Just turn at the DAMN SIGN!" .....THERE AIN"T NO DAMN SIGN FOR MILES!
Yer Nuts!
That Buck Construction stands out like a sore thumb!
Especially when compared with all the other yard signs.
It's gonna be huge .. I tell ya... huge!
OK ... maybe I'll need the tie-in to the neighborhood mailers... but I got that covered ... Plus ... my damn van's gonna be screwing up their parking for months ... so ....
What ... U want I should drawl a circle around it?
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
easy, big fella..
criticism don't sit well with me neither.. ah'm just relating a little fable.. about how the big bad wolf ate my lunch...
hey... if'n you put corey's SILOUETTE on it.. now that would register on people's radar screens !Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
kinda like this ...
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
I gotta ask this I guess since it's come up a couple of times with us over the years with some of our clients but have you ever had a client tell you they didn't want the sign out on their property?
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ParadigmProjects.com | Paradigm-360.com | Mac4Construction.com
one... see above
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=37365.32Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
One of the reasons I ask is that about a year and a half ago I had a client who even asked me to sign a agreement that the pre-project photos I took of the workspace would never appear in public (and likewise any photos of the completed project) to protect their privacy.
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ParadigmProjects.com | Paradigm-360.com | Mac4Construction.com
We work in an area where it is the epitomy of 'Keeping up with the Jones'. The clients want EVEYONE to know that they are fixing up the homestead, and who is doing the work. That sign is then a must! There is a small circle of remodelers who charge more than they are worth, and are raking it in because of the "See who I can Afford" syndrome some of these Yuppies have. My selling point is more about being slower, and therefore more thorough, and also not being a Jewish Carpenter. I do everything but the mechanicals.
We have towns in New Jersey that have illegalized (?) site signs, so as to not detract from the feeling of quaintness. They also do not allow trucks or trailers to be left on-site overnight if past the front point of the main structure. One remodeler here has circumvented that law by buying his own dumpster, which can be in front of the house.
I think that site signs can backfire on you at times. We have one site where we are on our third project for the same client; three completely separate jobs. We just celebrated our second anniversary. I removed my sign after a couple of area residents asking, "Are you guys Still Here??" I dont want to be known as being too slow.
P.S. To be prudent, I have a clause in my contract that allows me to post a site sign, and leave an on-site trailer/office and port-a- john, and that the owner will supplier Continued electricity to them. We had a client turn off the breaker feeding the trailer. That disarmed the alarm system, and caused all my caulking and glue to freeze over a weekend.When all else fails, use duct tape!
"My selling point is more about being slower, and therefore more thorough, and also not being a Jewish Carpenter.:
Daddoo,
Pardon my ignorance, but just what exactly is a "Jewish Carpenter?"
And please don't just post a pic of Andy Clifford. LOL.
Jon
Edited 12/7/2003 3:32:54 PM ET by WorkshopJon
I guess the term 'Jewish Carpenter' is going out of style in these PC times. Nowadays they are called Work Brokers. They act as General Contractors, but sub out the entire job, and don't actually do anything themselves. Alot of Architects in our area are putting a clause in their specs stating a minimum percentage of work that the General Contractor must do.When all else fails, use duct tape!
And please don't just post a pic of Andy Clifford. LOL.
damn I was gonna go searching for the pic andy posted of himself on the can reading FHB.
so how'd ya get that pic of my kids anyways?
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
they only look alike to their fathers....
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Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Edited 12/7/2003 10:20:11 PM ET by Mike Smith
No pictures because I got rid of all my signs due to the phone number and address change and felt the need for a new logo.
My original logo was a hand drawn picture of a shoe like the nursery rhym cept it had windows, doors, an addittion off the heel and wood shakes and a widows watch uptop.
My new logo is going to be on a black sign/card with a tipi glowing yellowish from a fire inside reflected on a lake at night.
Letters will be the same yellowish as the firelit tipi that says my name and phone and "Fine Renovations" around it.
I think they'll know which house I live ; )
BE well
andy
My life is my practice!
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Andy,
The GC who built my garage/workshop placed one of those small throwaway signs on my lawn (~12" x 24" which are supported by a "U"-shaped 1/4" wire) on the day the project was completed. He did a good enough job that I let it sit for a week and a half to show my appreciation (before it went in the trash). About two weeks later he called me to say thanks, because he landed two more jobs because I let it sit there.
Probably cost him less than a buck. Two $10K - $20K jobs....Pretty cheap advertising. Then again, If he did a bad job it wouldn't have lasted a day, and if he did a really baad job, it would still be out there.
BTW, is that roof on yet???????
Jon
I like it ..
Mike'll tell ya it should be a circle!
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
Yes by all means use a web address that is long. That way when the person copyist it down they have a good chance to transpose letters. Maybe even running into your truck on the street when they are trying to copy it down while driving down the road. Then when they try to access it they have a good chance of miss keying it in also.
wow ...
U pissed 'cause ya don't have a sign, or what?
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
Sounds like a definate case of sign envy. :-)
Dave
http://WWW.MYWEBADDRESSISLONGERTHANYOURWEBADDRESS.COM
Followed by
http://www.nyahnyahnyahnyahnyah.com
While I agree with the general concept of what you are saying this is to common words and even if someone does misspell it then can easily check it and get the correct spelling.
Now there is an ad on radio for a business and they give the phone number and web address. It is "Sea Bis".com.
Now I have no idea if that first part is C, CEE, SEA, SEE, and even ZEE.
And I don't know if the last part BIS or BIZ.
BTW, I wonder what happend to his post.
thoughts on signs
can be a positive part of job, is almost free publicity
I didnt for years, then we had a very visual job on a main road, had my wife make up a sign ( she is very artistic) used glitter paint etc. Had calls that I know came becasue of that sign within days ( we now have them made at a sign shop and they do our truck lettering, too)
neighbors will walk up and ask what you are doing and gives you a chance to hand them a card or brochure
signs need to look professional or they dont work,
a logo helps too'Ive had people say they like my logo (even when just sitting in a parking lot) and art catches the eye. On that note thought a person nsmae artistickly done would work
my subs are not allowed to put a sign bigger then mine or blocking mine
yes they can backfire too. We will allow people to do clean -up, painting etc to help cut costs. We had one job wher the owner idea of clean up was not the same as ours, just dumping everything in the driveway, looked so bad , that we talked to him about us doing the clean up, and he didnt want us too we took our sign down, and had to clean up things to keep it safe for us and neighbors, should have been a clue, guy jipped me out of 3k
another where the owner picked a color so hideous that people would come over and ask if it was just a primer and were we responisble
doenst look good sitting in front of a bar or tavern, mine does not ( my opinion anyway)
doesnt look godd on a filthy truck either, or they wonder if work matches truck
so lots of washing this time of year with all the slush/mud
do loose one or two signs a year a 90 a pop
our web name was/is too long and is often mistyped or misentered. we are debating a new web "address" now, dont have it on our signs now
our signs have attachable mini signs such as , remodel, windows, addition, sunroom,new home......these fit on the metal frame below the main sign
make main sign easy to read , not too clutered
I like pro-dek's, obvious what he does, clean , simple, eye-catching
Mine might not be the best,am sure it would get critiqued, and I would upload it to here if I knew how
Edited 1/20/2004 5:29:41 PM ET by hammertime
Edited 1/20/2004 5:35:24 PM ET by hammertime