here is the problem

Many businesses located in the back of malls don’t get the visibility of signage that those in front do. They get less exposure to high road and pedestrian traffic, fewer new customers coming through the door, and a higher risk of their business surviving. This can be especially so in that very critical first year of establishing a small business.

here is a solution

There are many ways to overcome this loss of traffic and the associated risk. They are inexpensive and, in many cases, can attract more attention than having fixed signage in high-traffic areas.

1. Talk to your landlord and municipality. Find an area on the outside of the building that is exposed to a lot of car or foot traffic and install a full-length outdoor banner to attract that attention.

2. Display your outdoor banner on a durable mount outside your business next to high-traffic areas. Move the banner inside every night. Brackets are hard to come by, but the ones used for volleyball nets work great.

here is the cost

Depending on the size of the banner, the cost varies, but is still more affordable in today’s economy and the competition in that market. A highly visible, durable outdoor banner (grommets every 2 1/2 feet and hemmed on all four sides), 2 feet tall by 4 feet wide, can be printed with your business message on one side and shipped to your location by mail. less than $40. Given the heavy-duty material used and with proper care, these outdoor banners can last anywhere from 6 months to a year.

Here is the return on your investment

Let’s be conservative when calculating the return on investment for this purchase. We will estimate the performance at an average of $5 per day over a 6-month period. What that says is that having the banner visible in high-traffic areas brings an average of $5 extra into your business each day it’s open. Depending on the products or services you sell and your location, this figure could be much higher. If the banner can be used for 6 months and your business is open 5 days a week, that converts to 105 business days at $5 per day or $525 total as a result of the banner placement. After subtracting the original investment of $40 from the increased sales of $525, he is left with $485. When you divide the original investment of $40 by the net return of $485, your return on investment is 1,212.5%.

let’s summarize

There are many ways for your small business to survive during a tough economy. They require thought, planning and calculation, but they will keep their doors open. If your business location isn’t the best for exposure, strategically placed outdoor banners next to high-traffic areas may be your answer.