15 Sep How to Create a Fair Banner That Gets Your Business Noticed
Whether you’re exhibiting at a trade fair, attending a local event or promoting your business at a community day, there’s one challenge every business faces: how do you get noticed in a busy crowd?
A well-designed fair banner can help.
From trade shows and agricultural fairs to school events, sporting competitions and local exhibitions, banners are a simple way to put your brand directly in front of potential customers.
But simply putting your logo on a banner isn’t enough. Your design needs to catch attention quickly, communicate your message clearly and be suitable for the environment where it will be displayed.
So, how do you create a fair banner that actually works?
Keep your fair banner simple
When people are walking past your stand or display, you may only have a few seconds to grab their attention.
That means your fair banner shouldn’t be overloaded with information.
Start with the essentials:
- Your company logo
- A short, clear message
- Your main product or service
- Website or contact details
- A strong call to action where appropriate
Think about the one thing you want someone to remember after seeing your banner. That’s the message that should stand out.
A simple design with plenty of space can often be much more effective than trying to squeeze every piece of information onto your banner.
Make your branding instantly recognisable
Your banner is an extension of your business, so it should look like it belongs to your brand.
Use your existing brand colours, fonts and imagery wherever possible. Consistent branding helps people recognise your business, particularly if you’re exhibiting alongside lots of other companies.
If your business already has a strong visual identity, don’t be tempted to completely redesign it for an event. Instead, use your existing branding and make your key message the focus.
Choose the right fair banner size
Size matters when you’re deciding on a fair banner.
A small banner might be suitable for a table display, while a larger banner can help your business stand out across a busy exhibition hall or outdoor event.
Think about where the banner will be positioned and how far away people will be when viewing it.
Will it be behind a table? Attached to a gazebo? Positioned at the entrance to an event? Or displayed outdoors where people will be passing from a distance?
Answering these questions will help you choose a size and format that works for your particular event.
Consider where your banner will be displayed
Not every event is the same.
An indoor trade exhibition has very different requirements from an outdoor fair. If your fair banner is going to be displayed outside, you’ll need to consider factors such as wind and weather.
The material you choose should therefore suit the environment. For example, different graphic materials are designed for different indoor and outdoor applications. 3M’s UK graphics and signage resources provide useful information about selecting graphic solutions for outdoor environments.
For particularly exposed outdoor locations, mesh banners can also be worth considering because their perforated construction allows air to pass through the material.
The important thing is to choose your banner based on where and how it will be used, rather than simply choosing the cheapest option.
Don’t forget your call to action
Your banner shouldn’t just tell people who you are. Ideally, it should encourage them to do something.
Depending on your business, that could be:
Visit our website
Scan to find out more
Book a consultation
Visit us at Stand 24
Ask us about our services
A clear call to action gives people a reason to engage with your business rather than simply walking past.
5 fair banner mistakes to avoid
Before sending your artwork to print, check that you haven’t fallen into one of these common traps:
- Too much text – People aren’t going to stop and read a paragraph from across an event.
- Tiny contact details – Your website and phone number need to be readable from a reasonable distance.
- Poor contrast – Your text needs to stand out clearly against the background.
- Too many fonts – Stick to one or two fonts to keep your design professional.
- No clear message – Someone should understand what your business does almost immediately.
Get your business noticed with a professional fair banner
The right fair banner can do more than fill an empty space at your event. It can introduce your business, reinforce your branding and help potential customers remember you after the event has finished.
At Griffin Designs, we supply a range of banners and display systems for businesses, exhibitions and events, including reusable vinyl banners, full-print banners, roller banners and other display solutions.
Whether you’re preparing for a local fair, trade exhibition or corporate event, choosing the right banner and getting your design right can make a big difference.
Planning your next event? Get in touch with Griffin Designs to find the right banner or display system for your business.