Factors to Consider When Getting a Magnetic Sign
Often when people go out to get a magnetic sign, they have very little idea about what they should be looking for and taking into consideration when making their purchase. I've written this article to serve as a guide to help consumers to maximize their return on investment when it comes to signage. The three major factors to consider when getting a magnetic sign are positioning, shape, and color. Read on and we'll explore each of these elements and what role they play in picking your sign.
Positioning
Where are you going to put the magnet? This is important as it also determines the size of the sign that you'll need. Often the first position that comes to consumer's mind is either the driver or passenger side door. Door signs are the most common variety of magnetic signs, and they typically come in at about 12" x 24" in size, as this is small enough to fit on most vehicle doors, but large enough to prominently carry your company's name and contact information. Although a popular choice, there are alternatives to door magnets; bumper magnets are often more easily visible to nearby traffic. Think about it, when you're driving, you're usually looking ahead of you, rather than to either of your sides; so you're much more likely to see a bumper magnet on the back of the car in front of you than you are to see the door magnets on the cars to your left or right. Bumper magnets are often smaller than door magnets, generally sizing in at around 3"x24" or so. Both options have their advantages and drawbacks, so carefully consider your specific needs before making a decision.
Shape
When purchasing a sign, be absolutely certain to get one with rounded corners. There are a couple of reasons for this, both related to maintaining the longevity of your investment. Reason number one is that rounded corners will prevent the sign from detaching from the vehicle when you're traveling at high speeds or during particularly windy weather conditions. The second reason is that squared corners will quickly begin to peel, or "dog ear", both marring the visual appearance and increasing the likelihood of the sign peeling off.
Color
The question you should ask yourself is whether you want the sign to blend in with the rest of your car or not. Oftentimes having the color of sign match the rest of your vehicle can create the more sleek, professional appearance afforded by permanent lettering while maintaining the versatility of a magnetic sign. Alternatively, a sign of a different color than the vehicle you're affixing it to is much more likely to attract attention as our eyes are naturally drawn to things that don't match their surroundings. Again, consider your needs and ask yourself whether you would prefer the subdued appearance of matching colors or the eye-grabbing persona of a deliberately mismatched sign.
by Greg Vandagriff, Editor of UtahMagneticSigns.com