You can use lawn signs for marketing many types of businesses and concepts. Real estate firms and political campaign organizations both use lawn signs for marketing. Home contractors often use signs to advertise to the neighbors of a customer.

Sign manufacturers have some confusing terms for types of signs. Some of these terms refer to the sign's features. There are also terms that help you understand how to send a graphic to the printer and how to know what size sign is best for different locations.

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MDO wooden sign

MDO stands for medium density overlay and is a type of plywood-like product that is tough, sturdy and wears well, making it a good choice for outdoor signs that need to last.

I recommend: Find out more about MDO wooden signs and their benefits by visiting SignsRus.

Corex, corrugated plastic

Corex is a special kind of corrugated plastic well suited for outdoor signs. It's waterproof and inexpensive to produce and print on. When properly designed, the plastic contains flutes that run vertically between the exterior surfaces, so you can insert sign posts.

I recommend: To see how corex signs work, go to the London Displays website.

Fluted signs

Corex signs are made of fluted plastic. Each flute is a separate small tube running vertically within the sign. You can insert thin metal sign posts into the flutes and then insert the other end of the posts into the ground to create a sturdy, waterproof lawn sign.

I recommend: Cross and Oberlie offers an example of a fluted lawn sign, including an illustration of how the metal posts fit into the flutes.

H frames, U frames

There are several types of metal stakes and frames to hold lawn signs. One of the most popular is an H frame, which uses cross pieces to hold together two vertical posts. A U frame, shaped like three sides of a rectangle, holds signs that fold over at the top. Simple straight metal stakes can also hold up a sign, if you use two or more.

I recommend: Ray's Printing offers illustrations of various types of metal stakes and sign frames.

30 MPH rule

This rule helps you decide the size of the sign needed for different locations. If cars are going by at less than 30 miles per hour (MPH), you can use a smaller sign. You should use larger signs and lettering for locations where the speed limit is greater than 30 MPH.

I recommend: Read a discussion of various tips for using lawn signs, including a discussion of how the road speed impacts the optimal sign size, by going to VictoryStore.com.

JPG, TIFF

If you want to design your own sign or send the sign printer a logo, you will need to know something about graphic file formats. Most printers will accept JPG, also called JPEG, and TIFF formats. Some will accept other types of formats, as well. Check the printer's website to see which ones will work.

I recommend: At Super Cheap Signs, you can check out a glossary of terms relating to sign printing, including many types of graphic file formats.

Whether you're operating a hardware store or retail shop for outfitting homes, or in the business of doing special projects for homeowners, you just might be looking for lawn signs. As a bulk buy for retail or decorating use, lawn signs fill a lot of different roles for homeowners, from the political to humorous.

You can find all kinds of lawn signs online, from quality decorations for long-term use to corrugated signs that are meant for a one-time message. Business managers might look for lawn signs:

1. In bulk, to sell singly in a shop where homeowners browse for hardware and decorative or informational materials.

2. For facilitating homeowner participation in a massive electoral or other political drive, where lawn signs are placed through an understanding with individual homeowners.

3. For special events handling, such as a party, where hired workers place lawn signs as part of the event decorations.

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Get pre-made funny or functional lawn signs for your customers

If you're running a hardware shop, or other retail shop, you may want signs on hand that customers can buy to outfit their homes. Funny lawn signs are a product customers might empty from the shelves if they're in the mood. Functional signs, on the other hand, provide critical support for home improvements and other projects. You can partner with online vendors to get either kind of sign into your shop.

I recommend: Get a range of humorous lawn signs at CafePress.com, including "Husband (or wife) for sale" and other funny slogans. Get No Trespassing, Restricted Area and more for sign distribution from Brimar Industries's Safety Sign.com.

Get quality lawn signs custom made

You can get personalized lawn signs from vendors that specialize in high quality plaques, signs and decorations for a yard. These shops sell equipment you will keep for the life of your property, and custom orders are routine.

I recommend: The Sign Center in Pennsylvania makes certain number of lawn signs for any occasion, in a variety of materials for long-term use. The SeattleLuxe Inc offers metalworking solutions for very classy property identification signs and plaques.

Get bulk discount lawn signs for campaigns or events

If you're needing signs for one-time use, you can get great bargains from shops designed to spit out quantities of discount lawn sign models for pennies on the sign. Use these services to get a set of event signs, including those for the re-election or promotion of a popular local or national candidate.

I recommend: Get deals for business or political yard signs at the Victory Store.com. Design your own sign, choosing from a selection of great materials and design choices featured online. Get more quick political yard sign solutions at Innover Packaging Group, as well as banners, door hangers and more.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Proofread with the printer. Often, it's not enough to just hand in a spec sheet. If you want your sign to read accurately, talk to a printer while the sign-making is in progress for that last confirmation of spelling and other considerations when buying lawn signs.

Lawn signs are a great way to advertise things like garage sales and home sales, but more and more businesses and individuals are using them to broadcast the birth of a child, birthday celebrations and to show their support for a political candidate or issue. Realtors advertise their services with a for sale yard sign, and contractors use them to let passersby know who is constructing a house, repairing a roof or replacing windows.

There are many styles and types of lawn signs made from a variety of materials. You can either rent already made discount lawn signs or create personalized lawn signs that best fit your needs. Here are some additional things to consider when choosing among lawn signs types and styles:

1. Utilize custom yard signs to promote business services with designs that are both eye-catching and heavy duty.

2. Plant a political yard sign to show your neighbors which candidate you endorse for an upcoming election.

3. Use a humorous lawn sign to advertise parties or birthdays, or for seasonal events.

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Work with a personalized lawn sign to advertise your business and the services you provide

Personalized lawn signs come in a variety of eye-catching shapes and designs. You can customize corrugated plastic lawn signs with screen-printed images or photographs in bold colors that are sure to draw the attention of those who see them, while lawn signs made from heavy duty wire can stand up to the elements with style.

I recommend: Review the selection of customizable yard signs for sale at Big Daddy's Signs. This site features both corrugated and heavy duty wire signs. Visit Custom-Printed-Promotional.com to learn about the various types of personalized lawn signs the company can create to help you promote your business.

Order political lawn sign to promote candidates and causes

For those seeking election or promoting a cause, political yard signs are a great way to get your message across. There are many kinds of political yard signs, from those that promote a political campaign to those that are offer messages about voting and political opinions. These designs come in various sizes and can be customized with screen-printed photographs and images.

I recommend: Learn about the various kinds of political yard signs available from Cross & Oberlie. This site offers signs in various materials, including corrugated cardboard and cheap fold-over signs. They also carry a number of sizes so you can choose one that best fits your needs. Check out BuildASign.com to learn how you can create customizable political lawn signs from your computer.

Use humorous lawn signs as yard sale signs or to advertise parties or birthdays

There are many styles and types of funny lawn signs, from those that are inflatable to those come in standard shapes and sizes. Party planners can use lawn signs to advertise events like birthday parties. Use a yard sale sign to promote garage or home sales and draw traffic.

I recommend: Check out FunnyYardCardRental.com and Gifts for Geezers to learn about funny lawn signs that will draw attention to parties and other events. Learn about the 3D and inflatable lawn signs available from VIP Lawn Signs and U.S. Balloon. Find a funny discount lawn sign by searching through the Flamingoed lawn greetings directory.

Lawn signs pricing and costs vary depending on the type of material you use to make the sign, the size of the sign, the style of the sign, and other factors. Some vendors sell pre-made lawn signs, while others specialize in custom ones.

Whether you want funny lawn signs or political yard signs, you can find a variance in the price based on the printer or company selling the signs. Some companies specialize in humorous lawn signs, while others focus on custom yard signs. When you look into lawn sign pricing, consider the following options:

1. Determine whether you need to pay for a custom lawn sign.

2. Consider the price variance caused by the material used to make the sign.

3. Compare your options for pricing, including double-sided lawn signs versus single-sided ones.

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Get price estimates for a personalized lawn sign

While custom products can cost more than standard products, it may be worth the additional cost. Depending on the printer, it may cost more to use unlimited colors or photo-quality graphics. Expect to pay between $9 and $27 per sign. Also keep in mind that printers may also charge a layout or graphic design fee, sometimes called a setup fee, and they may require a minimum number of signs to get the lowest price.

I recommend: Find out what options you can use to get personalized lawn signs from VistaPrint, which start around $10. The cost of the signs depend on options like the size and the type of graphics you want to use. BuildASign.com offers a guide on marketing your brand and logo with custom lawn signs. It also provides 18-by-24 inch lawn signs in unlimited colors starting at $27.

Look for discount lawn signs based on the type of material used to make the sign

The material used to make the signs often influences the price. There are many discount vendors who sell a variety of materials at lower prices. Prices for regular one-color lawn signs can begin as low as a dollar and go into the $30 range for those with more advanced options.

I recommend: Find out the common materials used to make political yard signs at Cross and Oberlie. It compares three popular options for lawn signs. Heritage Advertising, a manufacturer of discount lawn signs, provides pricing for its products based on the type of material. Get prices for corrugated coroplast, cardboard, and plastic signs at the company's website.

Compare costs for double-sided lawn signs

A double-sided lawn sign allows you to advertise to both directions of traffic. In some cases, it may be more cost-effective to order double-sided signs than personalized signs or single-sided ones. Double-sided signs can range from about $7 per sign for 50 signs to about $1.50 per sign for orders of 2,500 signs.

I recommend: Got-Promotional-Products.com provides specifications for its double-sided signs that cover such aspects as the type of color used on the signs. CampaignBiz highlights the features of double-sided lawn signs, including glued edges and wire frames.