Above All : Branding Tips & Tricks

When it comes to advertising, everyone wants their promotional efforts to go viral. To do this, though, you can’t simply follow what has worked for others in the past: you need to lead the charge and be a trendsetter with your advertising. How does one do that, exactly? Actually, it’s not as hard as you might think. This post explores some specific steps for you to follow so that you can take the leap from following trends to starting them yourself. See for yourself how these tips can impact not only your advertising but your company’s overall success! Know who you are as a company. Before your advertising efforts can be effective, much less trendsetting, you need to have a clear identity as a company. Sound intimidating? Don’t worry, it’s really quite simple, taking the time to think about this will help immensely in terms of establishing your branding. Your company’s identity should be simple to define. Think of it this way: if you were asked to describe your company in a sentence or two, what would you say? For instance, if you have a greeting card business, you might say “I’m a greeting card publisher who produces witty greeting cards featuring whimsical art, which are all printed in the USA”. Naturally there is more to your company than that, but this is your company’s core identity. This is likely how people will find you and what they will look to you for. Being very clear on your identity in and of itself won’t make you a trendsetter, but it’s a vital part of the process and cannot be overlooked. Having a clearly defined company identity will make becoming a trendsetter far easier! Continue reading →

When it comes to increasing business, let your mantra be this: “signage sells”. Signage can increase awareness, spread the word about your business, products, and/or services, and attract new customers. Basically, banner signs are a brilliant way to broadcast your message to the world. If you’re new to banners, or are perhaps considering trying a new type of banner sign, this post is perfect for you. Here, we’ll explore six creative types of banners that are a little bit different and bound to attract attention. Whether you’re just looking into a banner for the first time or just want to add to your suite of signage options, these creative banner types will provide some inspiring new options for advertisement. UFO Screen™: Buy UFO Screen™ One of the newest innovations in the Above All Advertising collection is our trademarked UFO Screen™banner. With an eye-catching design, this banner is form-fitted around a unique structure which allows for simple setup and lightweight, easy transport. Truthfully, the format allows it to act not only as a sign but as a full brand experience. Its unique shape will entice customers to visit, whether it’s at a trade show or an event. Once they walk in, it’s almost like an oasis from the crowds, allowing customers to immerse themselves in your company culture. It provides the perfect opportunity to show people who you are by provoking curiosity and receptivity. Continue reading →

When it comes to promoting your business, there’s a lot of emphasis put on the idea of thinking big. This is a good thing: ideas and inspiration for promoting your business should never be stunted. However, when it comes to creating physical signage for promotion, sometimes thinking small in terms of the physical scale of your display units can be a fantastic idea. Why go small? There are a number of different reasons why you might want to consider smaller signage options. For one, your space may be limited, either due to physical restraints or due to zoning laws or community rules. Second, sometimes a well placed smaller sign can create intrigue and interest in the appropriate setting, allowing a potential customer to interact on a more intimate level with your company. Whether it’s for personal or logistical reasons, small signs can prove an asset to your company. These six effective small sign styles give you a lot of bang for your buck. Continue reading →

Whether you realize it or not, your marketing efforts are a huge contributor to your company’s success. Marketing is the process by which you introduce and promote your company’s product or service to potential customers. It can cover a broad range of promotional items and techniques. For instance, on a simple and tactile level, marketing might include the sign you have outside of your business door. On a more elaborate level, marketing includes email campaigns, advertising, and even things like trade show displays. Perhaps because of its broad and wide-reaching definition, marketing can seem forbidding to many business owners. But by brushing up on just a few marketing basics as detailed below, you’ll be able to make proactive steps toward marketing your company in the most effective way possible. Continue reading →

How do you use your display walls?  If you simply use them as a backdrop at trade shows, then when the show is over, you pack them up and forget about them, you’re doing yourself a great disservice. Display walls are an extremely effective way to promote your business, convey professionalism, and spotlight products and services in all sorts of business settings, from a retail space to outdoor events to even on the road. Here, we’ll discuss ten ways to use display walls for promotion. From a new perspective on everyday use to creative ways to make the most of your walls, these ideas are bound to inspire some creative promotion opportunities for your business. Continue reading →

Trade shows can provide excellent opportunities for networking, advertising, and increasing sales for just about any type of company. Of course, to get the most out of your trade show, you’ve got to make sure that your booth is enticing and professional. When it comes to creating a dynamic and engaging trade show display, you should consider incorporating a trade show wall. Wall displays are available in a number of different sizes and shapes, and can truly transform your booth into an elegant and professional satellite location for your business. But which type of trade show wall is right for you and your company? With so many options available, it can be hard to know which one to choose. The good news is that there is no wrong answer. However, by asking yourself these questions, it may help you zero in on the option that is just right for your company. Continue reading →

If your company has a marketing plan, then you’re ahead of the game: this is a powerful yet often overlooked planning tool which can help your company reach its goals. However, to really take your marketing plan one step further, you should make sure to incorporate signage in your efforts. But wait: let’s back up. Before we talk about how to incorporate signage into your marketing plan, it may be helpful to offer a refresher on what a marketing plan actually is. A marketing plan is like your company’s blueprint for upcoming advertising efforts. It’s like a sort of outline or rough sketch of what your advertising efforts are going to be for a specific period of time, usually on a quarterly or yearly basis. The marketing plan details how the company intends to reach either financial or other company goals by employing various marketing efforts. These might include trade shows, social media outreach, advertising materials, and the subject of this post, signage. Continue reading →

Take a moment to really think about this question. How does your business use promotional items? For many a business, customized or branded items or promotional aids are relegated for use at trade shows or special events. This is, of course, a good thing: promotional items are proven to help boost sales and nab interest at special events. But the fact is, special events are only a small part of doing business. Promotional items can truly be employed all year long, and can be used to attract and retain customers on a daily basis. This begs the question: how can you use promotional items as part of your everyday marketing efforts? Here are just six easy ways to use promotional items for marketing your business on a day to day basis. These open-ended ideas can be applied to many different types of businesses. Continue reading →

(Source: Flickr) Trade shows can be a huge part of gaining and retaining new customers for your business. After all, trade shows provide the chance to promote your business to hundreds (or even thousands) of new customers in one fell swoop. They also provide a forum for introducing new products to the market and offer the opportunity to network with like-minded companies and producers. However, trade shows typically require a large investment. You’ll have to pay for your space, buy a display, and spend the time and manpower involved in exhibiting. As such, you want to make sure that your investment pays off. The best way to make sure that trade shows will prove worthwhile for your business is to create a standout display. After all, trade shows can be hectic and crowded, so you have to be smart to make yourself stand out. Here, we’ll detail some invaluable tips that can help you create a dynamic, engaging trade show display. Continue reading →

Source: Flickr Just about all business owners know that customized signage is important. But as unbelievable as it may sound, few of them have really stopped to think about why customized signage is so important. When you don’t consider your goals when creating customized signage, you may not be choosing the most effective signage for your company. By considering why you need customized signage, you’ll give yourself an opportunity to make the best and most appropriate decisions with the type and design of your signs. This means that you’ll be effectively marketing your company, which will increase business and overall sales! Continue reading →