What Makes a Political Yard Sign Effective?

The effectiveness of the best political signs, no matter how great they may look, depends on two things: timing and aim.

• Timing – Building name recognition isn’t easy and it takes time, so unless there is a strategic or financial reason for postponing the placement of election signs, they should be displayed as soon as legally possible. Each city, town, and district often has different regulations, so do some research to find out the earliest possible date to start promoting your campaign with political signs.
• Aim – Set achievable goals and aim well with your campaign. Know the outline of your district and stick to it. Look for high-traffic areas and storefronts where you could possibly display your campaign signs and banners. Be prepared for your political election yard signs to go missing due to weather, vandalism, etc. Have the infrastructure in place (volunteers, backup signage, etc.) to restore your election yard signs if and when they disappear.

The 3 Most Important Elements of Political Sign Design

When designing your own political campaign sign, focus on the content, material, color, graphics, and size. Time is of the essence—in just a few words, your political sign must define 1) who the candidate is and 2) the office for which they are running, in an attractive manner that compels the viewer to take action and vote.  At Marquis Signs, we’re here to show you how to create cheap political signs that look amazing, make a point, and get your candidate elected.

1. 1. Content–You will only have four to seven seconds of your viewer’s attention before they lose interest, so the key to writing great political sign content is to stand out quickly. Focus on just a few words (i.e. “Re-Elect Jones” or “Smith for Congressman”); any more than three will likely cause your message to get lost in the sea of other campaign advertisements. Short, memorable phrases like “Vote for Brown,” “Work for Change,” or even just the candidate’s name and website work best. Above all else, your political election sign should highlight the name of the candidate and the office they are seeking.
   2. Color–Voters simply will not notice understated signs. What makes a viewer look twice is contrasting colors that are easy on the eye. Having dark text on a light background, or light text on a dark background adds depth and improves readability. Contrast doesn’t necessarily mean garish neon colors, however. Your design can be elegant and bold at the same time. The best color combinations for political signs are red & white, blue & white, green & white, black & white, black & yellow, or red, white, & blue. If possible, match your political campaign signs to your other marketing efforts, (pamphlets, buttons, commercials, etc.), as part of campaigning involves creating a memorable, consistent “brand” that voters will remember.
   3. Graphics–The graphic elements of your political election signs include the layout of the message, colors, lettering, and shapes. Think about what colors symbolize to voters. For instance, blue is often associated with the Democratic party, whereas red is the common choice for Republicans. If you’re making campaign signs for a candidate who will appeal to more-conservative voters, is blue the best choice? Probably not. Research the demographic you want to attract and find out what colors, symbols and lettering will appeal to them. Not taking the time to think this through is a costly mistake—not only will your signs be ineffective, your candidate may not be successful.

Designing effective political signs doesn’t have to be a challenge. You now have all of the tools to market yourself and your campaign in a way that is both time- and cost-efficient. Whether you’re running for the student council or the U.S. Presidency, the simple fact is this: political campaign signs work, if you know how to use them.