WIKI FORUM VIDEOS WORKSHOPS PHOTOS
ABOUT
Planeta.com

search the planet


 

Last Updated


MARKETING

Improving Signage
by Ron Mader

PLANETA FORUM

I owe my soul to each fork in the road, each misleading sign.
- Signage Notebook


PHOTO GALLERY: Signage
SLIDESHOW


Make a good first impression! Visitors expect to find helpful directions -- online and on the ground. Orientation is key.

EFFECTIVE SIGNAGE

Effective signage demonstrates a commitment to improved communication among locals and travelers.

Signage -- signs, posters, bulletin boards, highway markers, restaurant menus, brochure racks -- educates and minimizes confusion.

Individual businesses need to make sure that they promote themselves well and collaborate with local and national government campaigns.

Whether maintaining national parks or establishing information kiosks or visitor centers, the best facilities are proactive. They keep travel information up-to-date and acquire materials from local businesses.

Educate the traveler with locator maps. Do not assume they know where you are!. If you preparing a brochure or website, show the visitor where you operate.

RULES OF GOOD SIGNAGE

Good signage obeys three simple rules:

1) The information is clear.
2) The information is accurate.
3) The information is where the traveler is looking.

Confusing, obsolete or hard-to-find information leads visitors to question the entire enterprise.

Red flags are displaying a good sign where the traveler is NOT looking or displaying ambiguous information where the visitor is looking.

THE VALUE OF CERTIFICATES (DIPLOMAS)

Certificates -- constancias en español -- are valued by students, operators and artisans. In Oaxaca, there is a special constancia for the artisan who has received the most constancias during the year.

DIFFERENT TRAVELERS HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS

It's a simple fact. Travelers have different expectations and desires. They speak different languages. And effective signage needs to address multiple audiences.

What language do the signs need to be written? Ideally, the signs should be multilingual, capable of being understood by foreigners and locals alike.

For example, in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, archaeological sites have markers in Spanish, English and Zapotec languages.

INCORPORATING FEEDBACK

Tip for locals - If a visitor says that a sign is confusing, listen without taking offense. Ask for suggestions. Implement the changes that work best.

TIP -- Problems with graffiti? Place the sign where it is less likely to be vandalized without compromising its visibility.

www.flickr.com

AUTHOR

Ron Mader is the Latin America correspondent for Transitions Abroad and host of the award-winning Planeta.com website.


PUBLISHERS -- This article is available for paid syndication. Those interested in publishing this article should request permission.


QUOTES

I owe my soul to each fork in the road, each misleading sign.
- Poi Dog Pondering, Thanksgiving

And in remembering a road sign, I am remembering a girl when I was young.
- Paul Simon, Obvious child

ABOUT THIS GUIDE

This Planeta guide is part of our professional 'How2' series featuring practical tips on press trips, media releases and media kits. We also coach the tough topics: on greening events and improving signage. It can be easy if you learn a few techniques.


PLANETA FORUM

g Planeta Forum
GUIDELINES

FLICKR

g Signage
g Closed and Empty
g Signs of the times
g What is the value of attention?
g Zion National Park
g World Signs Gallery
g One way or another
b Global storefront
b Sign design in Australia
b Japanese Signs
b World Signs
ONLINE FLICKR

WIKI

g Toward Effective Communication in Responsible Travel and Ecotourism
g World Signs
ONLINE WIKI


MARKETING


Book Book Book Book

PLANETA


EDUCATION

Learning never ends. See if one of our workshops is right for you.

www.flickr.com
 


seminars




events

mtw

GOOGLE
NEWS

 

NEWSGOOGLED
Ecotourism


GOOGLED
Biodiversity

Third Culture Kids
Urban Ecotourism


TRENDS
a9 searches

geocaching

 


NEWSGOOGLED

Grafitti

Graffiti
Marker
Signage

 


Copyright © 1994-2010. All rights reserved by individual authors. Link Guidelines