Did you know we can often “go blind” to our Houston outdoor signs? Since you see them every day, you might not notice issues with your signage. That’s why we recommend doing regular sign audits! Audits help you evaluate your signs to see if it’s time for repair, replacement, or even just regular maintenance. Doing a sign audit for your location can help you make the best decisions for your business when it comes to your signs. Be sure to audit storefront signs as well as signage like directional and parking lot signage for the best results.
Is it Time to Audit Your Houston Outdoor Signs?
When was the last time you looked at your business signs? We mean truly looked. If it’s been a while, it might be time to do an audit.
In most cases, we recommend doing a signage audit once a year at the very least, though most businesses can benefit from quarterly audits. Setting a schedule and sticking to it can help you identify problems early.
It’s a good idea to look at your signs regularly for potential issues. For example, you might make it a point to inspect your signs for visible damage once a week and conduct a more comprehensive audit every three months or so.
There are also other times when you might want to do an additional full signage audit. For instance, major storms can damage your signs, so it makes sense to perform an audit after a major downpour, hail, or tropical storm. Also, any time you update your branding or business objectives, it’s time to do a sign audit. Remember, your Houston outdoor signs are some of the most cost-effective advertising tools in your marketing arsenal. Don’t let them get put on the back burner.
Why Audit Houston Outdoor Signage?
So, why spend the time doing a Houston outdoor signage audit? Well, it can save you a lot of headache in the long-run.
Think of it this way: If you generally leave before dark, how long might it take you to find out one of the lights burned out on your Houston channel letter signs? Days? Weeks? Months?
An unlit letter at best looks bad, and at worse can be embarrassing. Don’t believe us? Look up images of “burned out sign fails,” and you might see what we’re talking about.
Let’s not forget that things like trees might be blocking your signs from view, making them less effective for advertising your company.
Unless you’re actively looking at your signs on a regular basis, you might not catch these issues.
You can’t rely on passersby or even regular customers to let you know your signs need repair or updates. This is where audits become essential.
Signage audits help look for things like:
- Wear and tear
- Repair needs
- Inconsistent branding
- Poor messaging
- Hard-to-read signs
- Hard-to-see signage
Essentially, anything that makes your signs less effective can be discovered during a sign audit.
How to Conduct an Audit
Now you know why you should conduct regular audits for your Houston outdoor signs, now it’s time to learn how to go about it. Just taking a peek at your signage as you walk in for the day isn’t enough. You need a well thought out process to systematically review your signs.
Schedule Some Time for the Audit
First, take some time out of your day to do your signage audit. Schedule about an hour or so, depending on how thorough you want your audit to be. If you have illuminated signs, you might also want to schedule some time after dark to find any issues with lighting.
For your audit, you’re probably going to be doing more than just looking straight on at your sign. It might include walking around your building or even taking a drive up the busiest street near you. So, make sure you have plenty of time set aside to do a thorough audit.
Get in a Different Mindset
Remember how we said you can be “blind” to signage issues? That’s because you’re so familiar with your building, your property, and your signs. Instead, during your audit it’s time to put on a different hat. Start thinking like a customer instead.
Pretend you need one of your company’s products or services. Does your sign explain what you do? Is it easy to find your location with your sign? If your sign is dirty or worn out, do you even want to step inside?
When you get in a different mindset, you can view your Houston outdoor signage with fresh eyes and hopefully see what your customers see when they’re near your location.
Gather an Audit Team
In addition to getting into a different mindset, getting different perspectives can also come in handy for your sign audit. If possible, gather an audit team for the job. Even just one other person can be helpful, as they may notice things you don’t.
Here’s a great quote to illustrate the point:
“Two heads are better than one, not because either is infallible, but because they are unlikely to go wrong in the same direction.” -C.S. Lewis
Now, you don’t need your entire staff for a sign audit, but gather a few key members of your leadership team to help you review your signs.
Take Notes About Your Houston Outdoor Signs
Notice something off about your signs? Take notes for later! Even better, keep audit records around for your signs.
It’s amazing how much you can learn from previous sign audit notes. For instance, if during the past few audits, your signs have had problems with the lights, it could point to a larger problem that needs repair.
Also, your notes can help you figure out what actions to take after the audit. For example, if you notice a little bit of color fading during your audit, you can call our experts to determine your options, like channel letter refacing or letter repainting for monument signs.
Sample Signage Audit Checklist
Auditing your Houston outdoor signs can be a lot easier with a simple audit checklist. There are many different things you may want to look at, so you might want to customize a checklist for your specific signage. However, here’s a sample we’ve created to help you audit your signs or get started with your own signage audit checklist:
We hope this checklist helps serve as an effective guide as you start conducting regular audits for your business signs!
Making High Quality Business Signs since 1968
When you need quality signage, our team at 4D Signworx is here to help! We’re a local, family owned and operated business dedicated to helping Houston-area businesses. Our team designs, manufactures, and installs signs to help you advertise your business. Since we manufacture signage in our own facility, we can deliver signs faster and at lower price points than many of our competitors who use a middle man! Call us now at (713) 984-2010 to request a free quote!