Ways to Use Your Business Premises as a Marketing Tool
When businesses think about marketing, the focus is often on websites, social media, email campaigns and digital advertising.
But there is another valuable marketing asset that is right in front of you every day: your business premises.
Your building, windows, walls, vehicles and signage all provide opportunities to put your brand in front of people. With a little thought, your premises can become an extension of your wider marketing strategy.
Here are some ways to make better use of your business premises as a marketing tool.
1. Make a strong first impression with exterior signage
Your exterior signage is often the first interaction someone has with your business.
Whether you’re based on a busy high street, in an industrial estate or within an office development, clear and professional signage can help people find you while immediately communicating who you are.
Good business signage should be:
- Easy to see
- Easy to read
- Consistent with your branding
- Appropriate for the building and surrounding environment
- Designed to work at the distance it will be viewed from
2. Turn your windows into advertising space
Windows can provide some of the largest areas of visible space on a business premises, yet they are often overlooked.
Window graphics can be used to promote products, communicate offers, showcase your brand or simply make your premises more visually distinctive.
Depending on your requirements, graphics can cover part or all of a window, or use more subtle treatments such as frosted vinyl.
For businesses in high-footfall locations, window graphics can effectively turn your premises into a form of advertising that works throughout the day.
3. Use your walls to tell your brand story
Once someone walks through your doors, your branding shouldn’t disappear.
Internal walls provide an opportunity to reinforce your identity and communicate what your business stands for.
Wall graphics can be used to showcase:
- Company history
- Brand values
- Key messages
- Customer stories
- Photography
- Company milestones
- Inspirational quotes
- Products and services
A blank wall can become a feature that adds personality to your workplace while giving customers and employees a better understanding of your brand.
4. Make your reception area work harder
Rather than treating it simply as a functional space, consider how the area contributes to the overall customer experience.
A branded reception can incorporate your logo, colours, graphics, messaging and imagery to create an environment that immediately feels connected to your brand.
This doesn’t necessarily mean covering every surface in your logo. Strong reception branding can be much more subtle, using design and materials to create an environment that feels professional and distinctive.
5. Use wayfinding as part of your branding
Wayfinding signage can direct visitors around your premises while still contributing to the overall look and feel of your brand.
Room names, directional signs, floor numbers and other navigation graphics can all be designed around your existing brand identity.
This is particularly useful for larger offices, schools, healthcare facilities, retail environments and public buildings where visitors may need guidance.
6. Turn your vehicles into moving advertising
If your business operates vans, cars or a larger fleet, you already have another marketing opportunity at your disposal.
Vehicle graphics and wraps can turn company vehicles into mobile advertising, putting your brand in front of people wherever your team travels.
A well-designed vehicle can communicate your:
- Brand name
- Logo
- Contact details
- Website
- Services
- Social media
- Key messaging
The important thing is to keep the design simple enough to understand quickly.
Your vehicle might be parked outside a customer’s property, travelling through town or sitting in traffic. In all of those situations, you only have a short amount of time to make an impression.
7. Make your building work after hours
Your business premises can continue promoting your brand even when you’re closed.
Illuminated signage, window graphics and external branding can all help maintain visibility outside normal opening hours.
This can be particularly valuable for businesses located in busy areas, where people may pass your premises in the evening or early morning.
Lighting can also make your building easier to identify, improving visibility and creating a more professional appearance.
Ready to make more of your business premises?
Whether you’re opening a new location, refreshing your existing branding or simply looking for ways to make better use of the space you already have, there are plenty of opportunities to put your premises to work.
Get in touch with Alexander Boyd Displays to discuss your next signage or branding project.