How to Utilize Signage to Boost a Political Campaign

While it’s normal to think of themes like branding and advertising as exclusive to products or services, these concepts are also vital in many other areas of our world. One great example: Political campaigns, where many of the same concepts used to market products or services can be applied to making candidates or causes more visible and attractive to voters.

If you’re involved in marketing and branding for a political campaign, the use of signage will be one of the key elements you consider. What are your best product options today, and how do you mix and match between them for ideal candidate visibility and results? Let’s answer these and related questions here.

Top Political Campaign Signage Options

There are a few different sign types or options you might consider for your campaign, including:

Yard signs: One of the single most recognizable formats for campaign marketing is the use of custom yard signs, which can be placed in supporters’ front yards or other strategic locations. These kinds of signs not only put your candidate’s name and face in front of voters, but also serve as valuable walking billboards when people see them out and about. Furthermore, when they can be seen on many yards within a given area, this will give prospective voters the impression that your candidate has significant local support.
Car magnets: Car magnets are another tried and true option for campaign marketing, as they offer many of the same advantages as yard signs (e.g., they’re walking billboards that increase name recognition). One key benefit car magnets have over yard signs, however, is that they can be removed when not needed or wanted, which is important for some voters.
Window decals: Window decals are a great way to show support for a candidate without being too obtrusive, as they can be placed in a car’s back window where they’re still highly visible but not as in-your-face as a car magnet might be. Decals are also less likely to cause damage to a car’s paint job, which is an important consideration for some voters.
Event graphics: Events are another huge part of political campaigns, and utilizing event graphics is a great way to make sure your candidate’s name and face are seen by everyone in attendance. This might include items like banners, tablecloths, or even custom T-shirts worn by volunteers. For instance, a common form of event signage is wayfinding graphics, which help direct people to where they need to go within a large event space.

Importance of Quality Materials

Both for any indoor signage and especially all your outdoor signage options, it’s important to use high-quality materials that can withstand the elements and look great for the duration of your campaign. This means avoiding cheap yard sign material or car magnets that will fade or peel over time.

For outdoor signage in particular, you’ll also want to make sure your graphics are printed on weatherproof material like vinyl or aluminum so that they can withstand sun, rain, and wind without issue. Otherwise, you might find yourself having to replace your signs more frequently than you’d like, which can be a waste of both time and money.

Design Recommendations for Political Signage

Here are some simple tips we offer to those who are selecting, designing or laying out any kind of signage for a political campaign:

Know your budget ahead of time: One of the most important things to know before starting your signage project is how much you’re able to spend. This will help narrow down your options and ensure you don’t overspend on materials or production. Political campaigns will often have shifting budgets that depend on fundraising efforts, so it’s important to be aware of this and plan accordingly.
Keep it simple: When it comes to signage, less is often more. You want to make sure your candidate’s name is prominently featured, but try to avoid cluttered designs or too much text, as this can be off-putting to voters. In general, you want your signage to be eye-catching and easy to read from a distance.
Choose colors carefully: The colors you use in your signage can say a lot about your campaign, so choose wisely! For example, red is often seen as aggressive or angry, while blue often signifies trustworthiness and stability. Of course, these are just generalizations, so it’s important to consider the overall tone and message you want your campaign to convey before settling on a color scheme.
Include a call to action: Many political campaigns utilize signage as a way to encourage people to take action, whether that’s voting, donating, or volunteering. If you’re including a call to action on your signage, make sure it’s clear and concise so that people know exactly what you want them to do.
Use easy-to-read fonts and colors: Just like with the overall design of your signage, you’ll want to make sure the text is easy to read from a distance. This means using simple, sans-serif fonts in high-contrast colors (e.g., black on white or white on blue).
Use motivational strategies: Whether in your call-to-action or elsewhere on your signage, try to utilize motivational strategies that will encourage people to take the desired action. This might include making a specific offer (e.g., “Donate $20 and receive a free T-shirt”), using social proof (“Over 1,000 people have already donated!”), or even just offering a sense of urgency (“Donate now to help us reach our fundraising goal!”).
Test your signage before printing: Once you’ve designed your signage, it’s important to test it out to make sure it looks and works the way you want. If possible, print out a small batch of signs to put up around your neighborhood or office to see how they look in person. This will also give you a chance to make sure the colors are correct and that the text is legible from a distance.
Get feedback from others: Once you’ve designed your signage, it’s a good idea to get feedback from others before printing a large batch. This could be friends, family, or even strangers (if you’re feeling brave!).
Know local regulations: If there are any local regulations on signage, be sure to comply with them! This includes things like size restrictions, where you’re allowed to put up your signs, and how long they can stay up.

By keeping many of these simple tips in mind, you can be sure that your political signage will be effective in helping to raise awareness for your candidate or cause.