Removing Vinyl from Sun Damaged Vehicle

Talk About a Bad Sun Burn

[click to enlarge]

[click to enlarge]

We recently took on a project to remove vinyl from a car that was 100% wrapped. The wrap was on the car for about 4 years and as you can see from the pictures it was severely baked on in many areas due to 24/7 sun exposure and, I believe, poor quality material. After 25 painstaking man hours we finally removed the last bit of vinyl and adhesive from the car. 


Overall, the car cleaned up pretty well, but there was some damage to the paint and permanent spider webbing that was transferred from the sun baked vinyl.  The life span of the vinyl, the graphics and their subsequent removal would have been much better if a quality material had been used in the first place. 

If you are considering having graphics or a wrap installed on your vehicle, come see the professionals at Signarama Murrieta who will not only use the best materials available, but will create a design that will help promote and grow your business.   

[click to enlarge]

www.signarama-murrieta.com

Networking: It's An Overlooked Opportunity | Signarama Murrieta

Networking is by far the most essential skill for building a business or sales career -- and the one most often overlooked. Networking opportunities exist everywhere -- business meetings, professional associations, alumni groups, sports groups, community groups, weddings, parties and any place people come together.

The trick to maintaining a successful internal network is to keep in touch: don't call someone only when you want something. Sure it takes time and effort to keep those connections warm -- but remember Woody Allen's old adage: "Eighty percent of life is showing up." The more often you show up, the more people will get to know you. That will increase your opportunities.

The same concepts apply for internal networking -- set goals for the people you plan to meet with each week, get to know them, exchange ideas, volunteer for special projects. If you are in a senior position, find opportunities to encourage, support, and help others develop themselves. Whether you are new to an organization or a veteran, your activities are the same.

Getting Started

• Your goal should be to attend at least one event per week where you'll have an opportunity to meet potential clients, expand your contacts, and your knowledge.
• Decide which groups you'd like to join and show up regularly. A good rule of thumb is to join fewer groups and attend often rather than to join many groups and show up once in awhile.
• Volunteer with an organization. People will learn how you work -- that you are dependable and contribute innovative ideas -- and you'll begin to develop strong, trusting relationships.

Networking Tips

1. Decide which events to attend, put monthly attendance on your calendar and set a goal for each event.
2. Travel solo. If you go with someone, split up. Meet new people.
3. Prepare insightful questions in advance.
4. Don't spend time talking to people you already know.
5. Move graciously from group to group.
6. Ask, "How can I help you?"

Never stop building your network. Remember to connect with people, and you will see your career and your opportunities expand. Enjoy the process, have a great time and be yourself. Your rewards will be infinite.

Source: Sales strategist Joanne S. Black is America's leading authority on referral selling and the author of "No More Cold Calling™: The Breakthrough System That Will Leave Your Competition in the Dust".

 

Six Powerful Tips To Build Your Sales Business | Signarama Murrieta

1. Don't Forget To Ask For Referrals. When it comes to asking for referrals, timing is everything. Research indicates that the most effective time to ask for referrals is right after you've made the sale or provided a valuable service for your customer. Asking for referrals prior to closing the sale is a big mistake and may even jeopardize the sale itself. Once the sale has been completed, your customer will be on an emotional high and far more receptive to the idea of providing you referrals.

2. Train And Reward Your Advocates. An advocate is a person who's willing to go out of his or her way to recommend you to a friend or associate. Most customers are initially reluctant to provide referrals without some basic training and motivation. Once you're given a prospect, it's a good idea to take the time to role-play with your advocate to demonstrate how to approach and talk to the referral.

A brief role-playing exercise will build your advocate's confidence and keep him or her from over-educating their referrals. During your role-play session, be sure to prepare your advocate to expect some initial resistance. This training will pay big dividends by making your advocate more effective and less likely to become discouraged when faced with rejection. Always take the time to thank your advocate and give him or her feedback on the status of the referrals. I recommend that you call them and then follow up by sending a thank you card, promotional product and/or gift.

3. Strike While The Iron Is Hot.  Prospects, like food in your refrigerator, are perishable and therefore need to be contacted quickly. Each day you let slip by without making initial contact with your referral dramatically reduces the probability of you making the sale. Develop the habit of contacting your referrals within two-business days or sooner. Have a system to keep track of your referrals so they don't end up falling through the cracks. It's critical to have a computerized client contact management system to record your remarks and track future contacts and appointments. Relying on your memory alone is a very poor business decision that will cost you dearly.

4. Set Aside Time For Phone Calling. Make your phone calls in the morning while you and your referrals are both fresh and alert. Treat your prospecting time with the same respect you would give to any other important appointment. This is not the time to check your e-mails, play solitaire on the computer, make personal phone calls or chat with your associates. Avoid the temptation to try and sell your product or service over the phone. Your objective for every phone call is to create interest, gather information and make an appointment. If your prospect asks you a question, get in the habit of going for an appointment, if possible, rather than giving a quick response.

5. Qualify Your Prospect At Maximum Range. Unfortunately, not every prospect will be interested or qualified financially to purchase your products or services. Successful sales reps don't waste time chasing after low-probability prospects and know when it's time to cut their losses and move on.

6. Don't Take Rejection Personally. Selling, like baseball, is a numbers game pure and simple. Rejection is to be anticipated as a natural aspect of the qualification process, so don't take it personally. Learn from rejection by using it as a valuable feedback mechanism. Salespeople who take rejection personally lack perseverance and seldom make the sale.
Source: John Boe presents a wide variety of motivational and sales-oriented keynotes and seminar programs for sales meetings and conventions. He is a nationally recognized sales trainer and business motivational speaker with an impeccable track record in the meeting industry.

5 Ways to Get More Referrals | Signarama Murrieta

If you’re doing good work, have products that people enjoy, and provide a service and experience that exceeds expectation, chances are, your business is benefiting from word of mouth referrals.

While this occasional lead generation windfall may be great, there are things you can do to shine a light on referral generation and generate significantly more referrals.

Below are five foundational approaches that can help you keep referral top of mind. There’s no reason you can’t employ two or three of these approaches at the same time.

Offer 100% refund
The idea of a 100% refund is pretty compelling. In reality all you are doing is offering a reward for people who refer. The idea is to tell a customer that they can receive 25% refund for each customer they refer up to 100%. This way you turn giving referrals into a game and get the added benefit of a creative marketing message.

Partner with a non-profit
There are so many not for profit agencies that need and deserve support from businesses. From an organization standpoint, partnering with a local agency is a great thing to do on many levels. One way to take this up a notch is to run a campaign for a new product launch or special promotion in which you donate a percentage of new sales to your chosen partner. This is a great way to incentivise anyone that wants to help your non-profit partner to make referrals to your campaign.

Co-brand your content
If you’ve created a series of tip sheets, how to articles or other useful information to use in your own lead generation efforts – the accountant: 10 little known ways to cut your taxes in half – consider reaching out to strategic partners and offering to let them use your free report. Let them add their logo and contact information and send it to their customers and prospects. In many cases partners will readily accept the offer of educational content that’s already a proven winner.

Buy one get one free
If you are promoting a new product or service, one of the best ways to get the word out is to allow people who buy today to make a gift of an additional product or service to a friend. This is a particularly powerful tactic when promoting a starter or lower cost item that can produce up-sells and future business from those who receive the free version.

Win-win workshops
Many businesses have taken the free report concept mentioned above and turned it into the free 10 ways to avoid XYZ seminar. If you’ve created a compelling, non sales oriented workshop you can get in front of prospects by offering to present this workshop to a strategic partner’s customers. To really ramp this idea up, offer to do the workshop for two non-competing partners. This way they both get to offer great content for their customers and get to meet and greet each other’s customers. They both see it as a marketing opportunity and you get ushered in and referred as the expert. It’s a win for all.

John Jantsch is a marketing and digital technology coach, award winning social media publisher and author of Duct Tape Marketing.

Keeping Your Stand Out Factor | Signarama Murrieta

Everything has become a commodity. Every day we find more and more inexpensive versions of the same things. Companies quickly catch up with what others have done -- and even a good idea quickly becomes commoditized.

So, how do you keep your edge? How do you get remembered? How do you develop your SO -- your Stand Out factor?

Even though we know that new, different and distinct is what gets people's attention, most of our services and products look like what people expect or what has already been done. We are stuck in a pattern of doing what we've always done. Bland. Boring. Blah!

Business and life successes are in the "could be," not in the "what is." The result is that much of the work place, and the workforce as well, is operating with yesterday's approach even though today is different.

Customers and employees become bored. This causes employees to change jobs in the hope of finding more excitement and a way to significantly contribute. They look for organizations that commit to the largest experiences and impact in what they do because it's a lot more fun. And, if the organization could be ordinary or extraordinary, why not work and shop in a place that is extraordinary?

The key to Stand Out thinking is being different -- better. The goal is to know what others do and insist on doing something better. Don't try to fit in; separate yourself because in a crowded marketplace fitting in is failing.

As we are herded into similar thinking, much of our ability to stand out is challenged, diminished or eliminated. Over time we become great at doing what others did.

Find Creative Solutions To Problems, Issues
In today's service economy, our value is in our thinking. Passionate performance happens when we have freedom to imagine, create and innovate.

Learn to reconnect with your creative side. More than 90 percent of five-year-olds are creative, but only five percent of 13-year-olds (and older) are creative. We have trained ourselves out of being creative. Train yourself back into creative thinking by learning how to revisit a problem, issue or opportunity in the following ways:

• Frame it differently. Make it a product, a hobby, an inanimate object, a cartoon, a food, a superhero, etc.
• See it from another perspective: man, woman, child, minority, friend, enemy, teacher, employee, customer, affluent, poor, honest, greedy, etc.
• Morph the problem by changing it to the best, worst, an object, a person, a policy, a fruit, a car, a game, etc.
• Link it to an unrelated item to see the correlations; identify how it is similar, how it is different. This forces the brain to see connections it would normally ignore.
• Use pictures to visualize the problem, issue or opportunity. How does the visual encourage different thinking?
• View the problem as a color -- what does it make you think of, how does the color offer a new perspective?
• Brainstorm using the phrases, "What if?" "How about?" or "Just consider."
• Use word association to generate ideas
• Write a headline, poem, obituary, news report or book title that relates to a business issue, event or other need. This forces a new perspective on the situation.

So, remember the bad B's: bland, boring and blending as a way of going bust. To succeed, Stand Out.

Think, Dream, Invent And Stand Out From The Crowd
Organizations that openly encourage all employees to think, dream and invent, create the possibility of standing out. And standing out is the only way to compete in this information blurred and "over commoditized" economy.

Service that stands out encourages customer loyalty. Workplaces that stand out encourage employee loyalty. At a time where there seems to be so little loyalty by either party, a bold commitment to being remembered is a critical advantage.Standing out is about creating something original, exciting and dynamic.

Stand Out thinking starts with the permission to let yourself invent. This happens in an open and accepting environment. It happens when your workplace is diverse in both background and experience and when all employees are required to openly invent, think and participate in decision-making, and say what is on their minds. This is way to invite the new, the different and the great.

Build a culture of creative thinkers in your organization by the following:

• Allow employees to invent and take calculated risks. Reward excellent failures. Encourage greater thinking. If you are not failing every now and then, chances are you are not doing anything innovative. Visibly applaud creative efforts that focus on value, profits and customer service. Applaud employee reach and innovation.
• Invent a Creativity Zone -- an area of the workplace that is committed to extraordinary thinking.
• Invent the "Creativiteam" -- a team assembled to generate ideas to solve an issue, invent something new, create an event, etc.
• Create an idea journal and add to it each day.

Think unique, valuable, exceptional and exclusive. Think success by focusing on what makes you different and distinct. Then help your employees show up to get it done, step up to do it right and Stand Out to be remembered.

Source: Jay Forte

How to Read Your Prospect Like a Book! | Signarama Murrieta

By John Boe

Top salespeople and the most successful managers recognize the importance of nonverbal communication in the selling process and have learned to "listen with their eyes". They understand that one of the easiest and most effective ways to close sales is to be aware of their prospect's "buy signals".

Are you aware that your body language reveals your deepest feelings and hidden thoughts to total strangers? It might surprise you to know that research indicates over 70% of our communication is done nonverbally. In fact, studies show that nonverbal communication has a much greater impact and reliability than the spoken word. Therefore, if your prospect's words are incongruent with their body language gestures, you would be wise to rely on their body language as a more accurate reflection of their true feelings. Body language is a mixture of movement, posture, and tone of voice. The good news about this subject is that your subconscious mind already understands the meaning of every gesture, posture, and voice inflection. The bad news is, without the proper training you are unable to consciously apply this information.

Gain the Competitive Edge
Get started on the right foot. Research shows that we decide in the first few moments whether we like someone or not. Yes, we also judge a book by its cover too. There is absolutely no substitute for a positive first impression. Create a favorable first impression and build rapport quickly by using open body language. In addition to smiling and making good eye contact, you should show the palms of your hands, keep your arms unfolded, and your legs uncrossed.

Create harmony by "matching and mirroring" your prospect's body language gestures. Matching and mirroring is unconscious mimicry. It is a way of subconsciously telling another that you like them and agree with them. The next time you are at a social event, notice how many people are subconsciously matching one another. Likewise, when people disagree, they subconsciously mismatch their body language gestures. The psychological principle behind matching and mirroring is that people want to do business with salespeople that they believe are similar to them.

You can build trust and rapport by deliberately, but subtly, matching your prospect's body language in the first ten minutes of the appointment. For example, if you notice that your prospect is crossing their arms, subtly cross your arms to match them. After you believe you have developed trust and rapport, verify it by seeing if your prospect will match you. Uncross your arms and see if your prospect will match and mirror you as you move into a more open posture. If you notice your prospect subconsciously matching your body language gestures, congratulations, this indicates that you have developed trust and rapport. Conversely, if you notice your prospect mismatching your body language gestures, you know trust and rapport has not been established and you need to continue matching and mirroring them.

Body Language Basics
Be mindful to evaluate the flow of "gesture clusters" rather than isolated gestures taken out of context. Listed below are some important body language gestures that you need to become familiar with.

Body Postures:
There are two basic categories of body postures; Open/Closed and Forward/Back. In an open and receptive body posture, arms are unfolded, legs uncrossed, and palms are exposed. In a closed body posture, arms are folded, legs are crossed and the entire body is usually turned away.

• Leaning back and closed = Lack of interest.
• Leaning back and open = Contemplation and cautious interest.
• Leaning forward and closed = Potential aggressive behavior.
• Leaning forward and open = Interest and agreement. If appropriate, this would be a good time to ask for the order.

Head Gestures:
There are four basic head positions.

• Head neutral = Neutral and open attitude.
• Tilted back = Superior attitude.
• Tilted down = Negative and judgmental attitude.
• Tilted to one side = Interest.

Facial Gestures:

• Facial gestures reveal deceit, doubt, deliberation, and critical judgment.
• Eye rub = Deceit, "see no evil."
• Eye roll = Dismissive gesture that indicates superiority.
• Looking over top of glasses = Scrutiny and a critical attitude.
• Nose rub = Dislike of the subject.
• Hand or fingers blocking mouth = Deceit, "speak no evil."
• Chin stroking = Making a decision.
• Thumb under chin with index finger pointing vertically along the cheek = Negative attitude and critical judgment.

Are you missing your prospect's buy signals? As a professional salesperson you must continuously monitor your prospect's body language and adjust your presentation accordingly. By understanding your prospect's body language gestures you will minimize perceived sales pressure and know when it's appropriate to close the sale!

John Boe presents a wide variety of motivational and sales-oriented keynotes and seminar programs for sales meetings and conventions. John is a nationally recognized sales trainer and business motivational speaker with an impeccable track record in the meeting industry. To have John speak at your next event, visit www.johnboe.com or call 937-299-9001.

 

Energize Your Business With A Business Plan Makeover | Signarama Murrieta

If you haven't revisited your business plan, you could be missing a great opportunity to re-energize your business. Here’s a few tips to create a realistic plan that can adapt to market changes of the new year.

1. Don’t think of it as a one-time thing. Your business plan should be a living document, so start thinking of it that way. "Calling it a ‘plan’ implies it’s something you did 10 months ago and never use," says Tim Berry, author of The Plan-As-You-Go Business Plan (Entrepreneur Press, 2008). Instead, use the more active phrase "business planning," he says. "Business planning is like steering and driving. It requires having a destination and making course corrections."

2. Identify your top priorities. Everything in the plan should be assessed in relation to meeting your top goals. "Good business planning helps you sift through everything to make sure the most important things are getting done," Berry says.

3. Don’t get lost in minutiae. Many template business plans include descriptions of management team members. Do you need that? Not likely. "People are led to believe that a business plan has some sort of prescribed format and components," Berry says. "It should include only what you need to manage your company. It should be written in simple, easy-to-manage terms about strategy, steps, who’s doing what when, and who’s going to manage it."

4. Measure your progress. Ask yourself how you’ll know if you’re on track. "You want to be able to track progress against your plan—that means metrics," Berry says. Don’t just include annual metrics. Break them down by month, day, or whatever unit will be most helpful for evaluating your company’s progress.

5. Expect to make changes. "We’re all human, and we need the discipline of a review schedule so we actually do it," advises Berry. "My company is 21 years old, and we have a managers’ meeting every third Thursday of the month where we review our plan versus our actual results and revise as needed." When might changes be in order? If you happily find that one marketing program is outperforming your expectations, consider shifting resources to it from an under performing program.

www.signarama-murrieta.com

Are You Open For Business | Signarama Murrieta

 By H. Miller

That is the question your potential customers are asking themselves everyday as they pass by your business. Do you know why they are asking that question? Because they do not see an indicator, such as an open sign, letting them know you are open.

People don't like to stop and get out their car to see if a business is open. They prefer to know before they stop. Otherwise, they will be inconvenienced and we all know no one likes to be inconvenienced. Make it easy for your potential customers to know you are open and ready to assist them.

Put yourself in their shoes. How many stores have you passed up because you were unsure if they were open or not? Your customers are doing the same thing. They are passing by your business and patronizing someone else's.

Why would you let money slip through you fingers? By simply placing an open sign in your window, you will increase walk in's and sales. Something so simple will have a major affect on your business.

It amazes me how many small business owners choose not to invest in an open sign yet they wonder why business is slow and not doing as good as it should be. The answer is simple. No one knows you are open.

An open sign will bring your more business then radio, newspaper and even word of mouth. An open sign is considered on site advertising, and there is nothing better then on site advertising. Invest in an open sign today and watch your bottom line go up.

www.signarama-murrieta.com

Inspiration Versus Motivation--What's More Important | Signarama Murrieta

By Rick Melero

My life is thriving in balance with purpose. Is yours? Do you find yourself fighting to stay motivated? Are you putting things off . . . wasting time . . . lost without a purpose? If you said yes to any of these, there is still hope. But first, you must understand the difference between motivation and inspiration.

How would you like to be that person that is always motivated . . . always getting things done . . . always enjoying life . . . always fulfilled? If so, here are some time-tested principles that, if you apply them, will take you to that next level.

Motivation vs. Inspiration
Many people believe that motivation is the "engine" that drives you to success. Most people seeking motivation attend seminars to hear others as they share success stories and strategies. These events cause us to feel good and challenge us to get moving. However, when you face the real world, it often seems as if motivation just burns out on the extra mile. Have you ever felt that way too?

That is because "motivation," as Napoleon Hill says "is like fuel to a vehicle." So what exactly is the "engine" that drives you to success? If motivation is just an external portion that helps build momentum, where does the power lie?

Now inspiration, on the other hand, is internal and comes from realizing your purpose. The problem with most people is that their purpose is unclear and much smaller than was intended. Inspiration is truly the motor itself.

The reason many people lose motivation and quit before ever reaching the next level is because their purpose is smaller than themselves. However, what would happen if your purpose were bigger than you? I'm glad you asked . . .

Imagine you want to build a home. Just the thought of all the work involved makes you lose your motivation, but as you begin to think, you realize that in this "home" you will live with your spouse, raise your children, and have your grandchildren visit. You are now inspired and compelled to fulfill the vision of building your "home" no matter what the cost. This is your inspiration. Don't you deserve a life of inspiration?

Define Your Purpose
"Why?" is the first question you must ask yourself on both a personal and business level. If your "home" wanted to discover why it was built, who would it ask: the neighbor, the mailman, or its builder? I think you get the picture. So visualize your purpose by writing it down. Once your "why" is bigger than your "how," you will get inspired and the "hows" will automatically begin aligning themselves.

Break Through
You can't fight what you don't know exists. Answer this question: "What is holding me back from fulfilling my purpose?" The most popular answer is fear. Whatever your answer is, realize that you must conquer your obstacles or they will conquer you. If, while building your "home," you find there are problems with the foundation, you must do what it takes to strengthen what holds it all together. When you get weary, don't worry--it's normal. Remember that the foundation is the reason "why" you are paying the price.

Assemble Your Team
As you press toward the next level you will find that you can't do it on your own. Take the time to pick the right people who will empower you to keep moving forward in your journey. For example, a few things you might need to build your "home" are a developer, an architect, and a construction crew. What kind of team do you need to build your vision? How about a team that balances out all your weaknesses? That way, when you run across problems that seem impossible, you can seek answers from those who have them.

Grow in Balance
True success can be measured by how balanced your life is. Balance can be like the fence that protects your "home." It is vital to grow in every area of your life to experience the type of fulfillment that comes to those who grow in discipline. Decide to live balanced today and reap the benefits.

Enjoy the Journey
When you are taking action, every day takes you one step closer to fulfilling your purpose. Just like you would get excited about your "home" taking shape with each new day, so too should you enjoy traveling your path to success. So get excited! Every day you are one step closer to fulfilling your vision.

Remember . . .
Even though your "home" that took so much work is very valuable, nothing compares to the lives that will be shaped by and in it. So empower others to do the same by passing on these tools that enabled you to build your own.

Source: http://www.ideamarketers.com

Important Points In Developing Your Leadership Skills | Signarama Murrieta

By Josef Striker

Leaders aren't born, they're made. That's what people should keep in mind and if you are in a position where you need to act as a leader but you feel that you don't have the required skills, you really don't need to worry. You can learn certain skills that will help you become effective in being a leader.

Being successful in managing people requires very much more than just assigning tasks to your team. It requires you to be able to motivate and inspire them to do the best in what they do and let them feel that doing those things isn't a hassle but a privilege. You should keep in mind that people function a lot better if they respect and feel good in following their superior's commands or request. In order to do that, you need to learn certain things that you need to be, things that you need to know and things that you have to do. This article will be showcasing important factors on how to improve your managing style.

Self Assess
The first step in developing your managing skill is learning what people think about you and your managing style. In this stage you can let them answer a survey or have an open forum so that everyone can share what they think. An important part on this stage is not to be too defensive, listen to them and don't take anything they say personally. Keep in mind that only through knowing your strengths and weaknesses are you able to fully plan how to develop your skills. Take this opportunity to acquire personal growth and leadership development.

Listen to your members
Another important factor is learning how to listen to your members. You need to hear what they say, what are their worries, what troubles do they have in the task assigned to them. Give them suggestions and alternatives or even re-assign them to another task.

Create a Connection
When people like you they tend to like doing things for you. They make it an effort that you are satisfied in the work they do. This makes them very effective in their job. As opposed to people who hate their superior and just do the job for the sake of doing it. Therefore, you need to learn how to build a connection with them. You can talk to them if you feel they have problems and also do team building activities. Become close to your team; however remember to put a certain gap to maintain their respect.

Proper Communication
Another thing in improving your leadership skills is learning how to properly address them, how to assign tasks and reprimand them. You need to keep in mind that they are people, they have feelings that's why in assigning tasks to your members, don't make it sound like your commanding them.

Make it sound that he or she is the best for this job. This will make the member feel that he or she is really important thus doing his/her best to meet your expectations. To reprimand a subordinate, you need to learn to be constructive, don't just give him all his bad points, and learn to appreciate some of the things that your member did. Be calm and avoid raising your voice and just remind him to do avoid the same goof up next time. Through this, instead of harboring hate to you, he will develop a sense of duty and do his best in the next tasks assigned to him.

These leadership skills are really very simple, yet if applied this can make very great improvements not only on how you do things as a superior but the whole effectiveness of the team will actually improve.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josef_Striker

Sell Directly To Facebook Users | Signarama Murrieta

A recent survey finds that Facebook merchant pages rank as the top social tool for brands. Retailers recognize the value of grabbing a piece of the Facebook pie, setting up merchant pages on Facebook and aggressively working to collect fans.

And according to a recent poll by search engine marketer Performics, 34% of consumers say they first heard or learned about a product via a social network.

But the ultimate goal for merchants is to tap into Facebook’s 400 million users and see direct results that affect the bottom line and to monetize their social media presence. This has been easier said than done, however.

Facebook is a great place for discovery, branding, promotion and consumer communications, but until now there has been no way to sell directly to Facebook users. The old “walled garden” solution that required Facebook users to leave the network and go to destination Websites simply did not work.

But you can now sell directly from Facebook by turning a fan page into a storefront. Here are five tips on how to do this.

•     Offer a fan incentive scheme that will grow business by growing the number of consumers who like your page. Nurture those loyal followers into an army of evangelists for brands by offering them discounts.
•     Use free e-commerce tools available on Facebook to easily adapt a fan page to become a salesroom. Chicago-based beauty company Orglamix doubled its number of Facebook fans immediately after installing an e-commerce app that took minutes to set up. Though Facebook currently does not offer an ecommerce platform, there are several free apps available on its developers tools page.
•     Ensure that whatever e-commerce system you use enables your company to take advantage of the Facebook network effect. It should have mechanisms that allow people to find items via a brand, storefront and product search and should offer Facebook-wide shopping carts.
•     Be early to market. Make sure to evaluate what competitors are doing on Facebook and make sure to beat them to market–or at the very least, clearly differentiate the storefront based on promotions, information, community, product assortment, etc.
•     Avoid automated responses. Take the opportunity to engage with customers and encourage them to spread the word virally about your Facebook storefront. Don't use your fan page solely as an auto feed of your Website's content.

A retail Website that lives inside Facebook is more than just a way to increase sales; it’s a way to build loyalty and a large fan base. Facebook is a new world of e-commerce with a captive audience. Inspire and enable your fans to spread your word, and then reap the rewards.

Christian Taylor is founder/CEO of e-commerce systems provider Payvment.com.

Outdoor Signs Help to Grow Your Business | Signarama - Murrieta

By Jim Braun

[click to enlarge]

Custom outdoor signs are important marketing tools for growing your business. An effective sign will not only alert potential customers about your business, it will generate interest in your products and services. Quality outdoor signage is essential to generating traffic and boosting sales.

Public awareness and advertising are essential to the success of your business. In order to make money, you need to entice customers to come inside and spend money. There are a variety of methods you can use to inform the public about your service or products and let them know where you are located. One of the most cost-effective ways to reach hundreds of potential customers each day is through the use of outdoor signage.

Outdoor signage is one of the most important investments a business owner can make in marketing and advertising the company. Many times, this may be the first interaction your potential customers have with your business. Keep in mind the following characteristics as you design and plan an effective outdoor sign for your business.

Clear Message:
The message on your sign needs to be concise enough that people passing by in cars or by foot can read it. Keep your words and phrases short and the meaning clear. Use your sign to direct or inform customers. Ideally, your message should spark the interest of your target audience and entice them to stop in.

Use Images:
Images can be used to easily communicate what services or products your business offers. For example, a toy store may have an image of a stuffed animal or toy train to inform people passing by that they can buy toys at that store.

Make it Simple:
Do not crowd your sign with numerous images and lengthy phrases. Use just enough text and images to effectively communicate your message. Keep in mind that it needs to be understood quickly as people do not generally stop to look at signs.

Entice Shoppers:
Your sign is like a silent salesperson luring potential buyers into your business. It can be used to highlight sales and promotions that generate interest and draw crowds.

Capture Attention:
Choose contrasting colors that will stand out and be readily seen by people passing by. A sign will do you no good if it is not readable. Lighting can be used to illuminate the sign for better visibility.

Quality Materials:
Making sure that your custom sign looks good year after year is essential. Using high-quality materials that will not fade or disintegrate over time is crucial to the life of your investment. Be sure to choose materials that are easily maintained, able to withstand high winds, and radical temperatures.
If you have had the same sign for some years, consider updating it. A brand new sign with modern images and a concise message aimed at your target market can attract new customers and generate a renewed interest in your business.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6209177

A Frame Signs | Signarama Murrieta

by Brooke Sherratt

[click to enlarge]

A frame signs or sidewalk signs are essential for the growth of any retail, commercial, or food service business. For many small businesses, it is essential to garner attention by placing sandwich boards and a frame signs out in front of the establishment, like on the sidewalk, or right outside an entrance. This gives the friendly impression that all are welcome inside your store or cafe. A sidewalk sign also promotes a daily special, an upcoming event, or even advertises a popular brand that a passerby may not have realized was sold there otherwise. Unlike seeing an advertisement in the newspaper, or hearing a sponsored commercial on the radio, these shoppers are already there; so catching them as they walk by can be highly effective and beneficial to gaining more profits. Whether you own a beauty salon, coffee shop, deli, retail shop, or boutique, an a frame sign placed by the open door, will surely lead people in to check it out. The faster a walk-in client or impulse shopper sees a special or promotional offering, the better your chances are of making that sale.

A frame signs are designed with two sides, allowing you to catch passersby from either direction as they walk by your establishment. Double-sided sidewalk signs give you twice the exposure that traditional storefront signs offer. A frame signs have proven to be very successful in drawing in impulse shoppers and other passersby into your business establishments and retail stores. Additionally, these versatile sign frames can be used outside of clubs, restaurants, theaters and bars. As free-standing sidewalk signs, a frame signs can easily be placed in high traffic areas including lobbies and foyers as well. To casual shoppers passing by, and even cars driving through the parking lot, your a-frame signs create a bridge between the sidewalk and the entrance door.

There are several styles of a frame signs to choose from: Polyethylene signs are very popular a frame signs because they are built to handle outdoor environments. Polyethylene plastic is cost-effective as well as durable and will not rust, crack, splinter or peel. Many polyethylene signs feature a write on surface that you are able to draw your graphics on and change as frequently as you'd like. Others include rigid sintra boards to hold your posters in place. With these models, you can either attach vinyl letters, or signs onto the a frame boards.
   

[click to enlarge]

A frame signs designed with snap frames are perfect for displaying graphic posters, such as your vibrant images and colorful advertisements. The quick clip snap frames enable fast poster changes without having to move the sign, and the frames clip down to hold your promotional posters on the sandwich boards, in place.

Sidewalk signs with water or sand filled plastic bases are ideal to place outdoors as a direct result of their stability. A frame signs are offered in many different styles. Some include wheels that allow the signs to be moved with ease. Others are built with rugged springs that enable the signs to bend and sway without breaking in windy conditions. Many of these pavement signs include snap frames to hold your advertisements in place as well.

Impulse shoppers, in most cases, will not be shopping for any particular item. If enticed by an outdoor sign displaying something very eye-catching, these shoppers will venture into the store out of curiosity, and most likely purchase whatever strikes their fancy. Businesses need to understand that impulse shoppers are out there and therefore, should be merchandising their displays to target this audience.

Keep in mind, if the impulse shopper is happy with their purchase, they will be back and maybe even become a loyal customer. With sandwich boards and a frame signs, you can be furthering your business and creating a prosperous future for yourself, retail store or food service establishment. For continued business success, it is important to take time to understand the behaviors and patterns of your customers. Since we were able to see, our eyes have been attracted to dynamic graphics and images. If you put the time into using the right displays to get people excited about your offerings, increased sales are sure to follow.

Article Source: Brooke Sherratt

Sign Product Information from Signarama Murrieta

Aluminum
Our aluminum substrates are .040 thick. All of our aluminum is coated with a high quality, baked on high gloss enamel. This is a good choice for small to medium size indoor and outdoor signage.

Aluma-Lite
Aluma-lite is a special order product. We do not have it as an option for you to select on our site. However for those of you looking for larger signs, it is truly the best choice for a large, rigid sign. It is lightweight yet strong. It will not warp, rot, or rust. Aluma-lite is a strong aluminum to plastic CPA core trade panel. Its unique corrugated core does not swell, wick water or corrode from the inside, making it perfect for outdoors even without edge sealing. This is an excellent choice for outdoor large sign applications. For more information you may contact us.

Vinyl
We offer either standard or premium vinyl for our non-reflective vinyl products. We have a wide selection of colors which can be viewed online. We can also special order unique colors upon your request (additional charges will apply).

Vinyl Choices
Both of these products are considered to be excellent choices for indoor or outdoor applications.

• The Premium vinyl is 2 mil. thick and has a life expectancy of 7 to 10 years.
• The Standard vinyl is 2.5 mil. thick and has a life expectancy of 5 to 7 years.

(Note: This is only a rating and should not be mistaken for a warranty.)

These are the specifications from the manufacturer that the vinyls have been tested and under normal conditions, the material should not peel, crack, delaminate, or fade for the period of time listed. We have found in most cases, the vinyl will considerably outlast these time periods.

www.signarama-murrieta.com

Yard Signs Help Contractors Grow Their Business | Signarama Murrieta

Many people depend on contractors to help them handle day to day activities. From yard work and maintenance to home improvements and appliance repair hiring a contractor can be the best way to get a job done correctly. With the busy day to day life that many people lead it is very helpful to be able to hire an individual to do a great job. Yard signs are a good way for contractors to showcase their name within their community during and after the project.

Whatever you call them: political signs, yard signs, screen printed signs, bandit signs, plastic signs or "signs stuck on wires that stick in the ground" signs, corrugated plastic signs offer durability and are a great advertising value.

Landscaping companies make their living by cutting yards, planting flowers and making their customer’s yards look beautiful. One of the best ways for them to let potential nearby customers know that they are responsible for the beautiful yard is to use yard signs with their specific company information on it. People like to see examples of contractor’s work, and yard signs make that possible.

Many contractors also do professional landscaping for companies and sometimes companies like to use designs that are based on certain themes or other ideas. Contractors should always use yard signs for jobs such as this so that they can showcase their versatility as well as their overall talent.

Building contractors can also use yard signs to showcase the buildings that they have constructed. This is especially true for those who are building special homes or other places where consumers are known to frequent. Some contractors specialize in certain building materials or type of architecture so it is important that they showcase these talents. Many people get ideas by looking at buildings for inspiration so it important for builders to proudly display signs that showcase their great work.

So whether you are a landscaper, sprinkler specialist, plumber, home improvements or other type of service specialist, considering advertising your business by adding an onsite yard lawn during and after your next contract. Let passersby know who you are and most importantly, let them see your work.

Custom Business Signs - Give Your Business a Visual Identity | Signarama Murrieta

By Kara Klein

We live in a highly competitive age. With the economy drooping like eyelids on New Year's day, people are scrambling to find employment and do business wherever they can. One industry that is doing well is the advertising industry - people are investing what money they have in getting themselves noticed in this day of uncertainty. A smart way of using your advertising budget is by creating an original, eye grabbing custom business sign. Custom business signs can actually make a brand of your business by giving it visual markers that people will remember. With the right use of graphics, typeface, and colors, you can create an image for your business that will infiltrate people's memories and make your business the first one they think of when they need your service.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of competition out there. And since everyone is using their budgets on advertising for the same reasons, a lot of professionals are also designing amazing custom business signs. But that's okay! Your business sign's goal is to get people to notice and remember you. Once they're in the door, your outstanding service will bring them back!

Yes, Your Custom Business Sign Can Stand Out Amidst the Competition
Take one industry that's not doing as well as advertising right now - real estate. Not only are homes not selling, there are a ton of real estate companies out there. Sign companies do a lot of business with real estate agents, as they need multiple custom signs for their business. We can tell you the custom sign designs for just about every real estate business in the area! And they all are pretty good.

Think for yourself - name three real estate companies and visualize their business signs. You probably imagined their signs before you even thought of their names!

Even with the vast number of real estate companies out there, each company has a unique sign that represents their company alone. From bright blue signs with white lettering, to black and gold custom signs, to red, white and blue custom signs, the colors these companies have chosen for their signs definitely stand out. Not only are their colors instantly recognizable, but they have graphics that make them one-of-a-kind as well. Hot air balloons. A giant rock. A letter 'C'. These have all become iconic images associated with the custom business signs of certain real estate companies.

These tricks of good advertising aren't limited to the national companies, either. A local real estate company has made its mark with its distinguished custom real estate sign. The sign, featuring an aqua colored graphic of the shape of South Carolina, combined with text in the same color on a white background, has successfully set itself apart from many others in the field. First of all, the state graphic lets clients and potential clients know that the business is local - which is important to a lot of people. Secondly, the aqua color of the imaging invites an association with the water - also relevant, since this company is on the coast. So even though this company's business sign isn't as recognizable nationally as the others may be, it gets a lot of local attention, which is the goal of the business owners.

So even if you're worried that your business sign will get lost among all of the others, if you design a strong sign, it will still get you noticed. And then the hard part of keeping your business is up to you!

Use Your Custom Business Sign in Multiple Places for Multiple Name Recognition
Let's stay with the example of real estate agents. Are the only custom signs you 24 Hour Expresssee belonging to real estate companies the ones in people's front yards? Speaking for myself, I know that I see real estate signs everywhere from yard signs to magnetic car signs to business cards and collared shirts, their images are almost impossible to ignore. So once you design your custom business sign, don't limit its exposure to the buying public! Invest in a full marketing campaign and display your custom business sign wherever you anticipate high traffic, and soon your sign will be as memorable as the local real estate company's.

Give Your Business a Good Custom Sign, and Give Your Business a Brand
Don't be dissuaded by the competition. If you believe in your business, the first step is to let others know why you believe in it. And the best way to let them know is by ordering and displaying a truly distinct custom business sign.

Graphic Design - Design Tips from Signarama Murrieta

Contrary to popular belief, graphic design is not all about artistic skill. A variety of external factors, including everything from personal taste to raw talent, play a big role in how your design will turn out. Recognizing the importance of these outside influences on the success of the design process, we set out to develop a web site chock full of tools that would allow our customers to confidently create their own designs.

While anyone can dabble in the craft, some people are just better at it than others. If you're one of those less fortunate, not-so-artistic types, not to worry. By following the guidelines we've set forth below, you should have no trouble designing a respectable sign, banner or vehicle layout, no matter your per-existing artistic ability.

Choose colors that will not blend together and opt for combinations that are easy on the eyes. While red on black is not a very readable choice, if that is what you want, fine. Keep in mind, however, that by choosing tone-on-tone variations you are sacrificing readability. If your potential customers can't easily read your sign, chances are they'll ignore it. Over the long haul, that can result in a significant loss of business. In most cases, the farther away you can read your advertisement the better. Some good color selections are yellow with black, yellow with green, white with any dark color (i.e. blue with white, red with white, etc.). The key is to choose colors that sharply contrast each other so as to leap off the design. If you're still set on using dark combinations, like red on black, consider outlining the edge of your letters in white. This technique allows for separation between the colors and will attract your audience's eye much better.

Choose a shape that fits your design's intended concept. For example, if you are designing a sign with long rows of text, then opt for a long rectangular sign to accommodate your lettering. Do not attempt to squeeze it all in on a square sign. Doing so will force you to use smaller letters and will result in a lot of wasted space. The same rule of thumb applies if your intended design requires several short rows of text, one on top of the other. In this instance, opt for a sign shaped to fit your lettering.

Do not get carried away with information overload. Give your audience only the details they need and no more. The more you try to squeeze into your design, the more it detracts from the sign's effectiveness. General rule of thumb: If it needs to be said say it; if not, leave it off.

Fill as much of the sign's area as possible. This doesn't mean you should get carried away and start adding text or graphics to every square inch of the design. Fill as much of the space in with your text as you can (remember, large letters can be read from a farther distance) then get creative with the remaining free space to make it as attractive and eye-appealing as possible.

Graphics, colors, borders, shadows, etc., all add their own flavor to your design. Be bold and experiment with a few of these techniques to see what you come up with; you might be pleasantly surprised with the results. We have the ability to create any or all of these enhancements if you wish to incorporate them into your design.

Alignment is extremely important in a design's overall visual appeal. We have tools that can center-, left- or right-align all of your text for you. If the design is meant to be aligned, make sure that it is. If not, make it obvious that the design was purposely misaligned. You don't want your advertisement to appear amateurish. If your design's elements are not in proper alignment, it will show. Our final piece of do-it-yourself design advice is to examine other designs. Search for some existing designs you like for inspiration. To that end, we add new design templates to our database on a regular basis. Feel free to modify or copy them as you see fit.

If, having reviewed all these design tips, you are still feeling uncomfortable about the prospect of designing your own sign, you can send your request to our customer service staff. They will be happy to work within your specifications to create a design you will be thrilled with.

www.signarama-murrieta.com

The Importance of Vehicle Magnets | Signarama- Murrieta

The Importance of Business Vehicle Magnets
By Viktoria Carella

Business vehicle magnets have a variety of functions. Their main function in many cases is advertisement but they can also serve other needs. Vehicle magnets are convenient because they are easy to design, relatively inexpensive when compared to other advertisement methods, and are simple to install and remove. Many businesses elect to use them on their vehicles because they do not cause any damage and can be simply removed or changed when they are no longer needed.

Business vehicle magnets are very important as far as advertising goes because they are like a walking billboard. Companies can put all types of information on them on order to entice clients. Ice cream companies can put the various flavors on the sides of the trucks in order to let individuals know about the great flavors they have to offer. Some people's mouth will water just looking at the pictures and they will have to have some of the ice cream. The great results are one of the main reasons why companies use signs for advertisement. It only takes a few carefully chosen words or graphics to speak to the public.

Vehicle magnets are also an indirect way for companies to give potential clients information about their products or services. Some companies also use vehicle signs to give a public announcement. It is not uncommon to see perhaps an insurance company vehicle with the phrase "click it or ticket." This refers to the importance of wearing a seat belt while in a vehicle especially when driving. These are all small ways to utilize magnets in order to make a big difference.

Small companies need ways to get their name out in the open so it is important that they advertise on vehicles. Small restaurants need to be able to compete with national chains in order to bring in dedicated customers. A few business vehicle magnets can help inform the public about a great new restaurant and even about a new catering company. On the other hand business vehicle magnets can also be used to find new employees. Some companies when they need new employees also advertise for great candidates on their business vehicles. This is a great concept because there is always someone somewhere looking for a great job.

Vehicle magnets can help companies deliver products, services or messages to the public. Let us help you design a set business vehicle magnets allowing you to turn your vehicle (or fleet) into a mobile billboard.

www.signarama-murrieta.com

Vinyl Removal Instructions | Signarama Murrieta

In most instances, it is possible to remove vinyl lettering with no residual damage to the applied surface. While this is typically the case, different substrate materials can react in different ways, so if you're unsure of the resulting reaction, it's important to test an inconspicuous area of your surface before applying the following techniques to the entire area. The upside is that most surfaces, including vehicles, respond well to the vinyl removal technique outlined below, with no resulting damage to the surface.

When working with decals that have been in place for a significant length of time, there is the slight possibility that the paint around the decal will appear discolored or faded upon removal. Usually this only occurs in cases where the decal has been exposed to the sun for extreme periods of time. This significant sun exposure will result in a tan line effect on the surface, whereby the unexposed area under the decals will appear nice and shiny next to the faded, exposed surface.

In the case of an old wooden sign, where the paint is already chipped and peeling, it is important to keep in mind that the paint will most likely peel off with the vinyl letters when you remove them.

The following step-by-step instructions provide a good basic plan for removing old vinyl decals, stripes and letters.

• Heat the surface of the decal with a heat gun. Then take a plastic removal squeegee and scrape vinyl from the surface. (Note: if the vinyl is old and brittle, it will most likely come off in small pieces. If the vinyl is not that old you may be able to pull it off in bigger chunks.)
• Once you have peeled all of the vinyl off, you will have to clean the adhesive off the surface with a product designed to remove adhesive without damaging the paint. We sell a Adhesive remover fluid that works well for this purpose.
• Clean the surface with soap and water then check to make sure there are no remaining pieces of vinyl or adhesive stuck to it.
• At this point, you are done. If you intend to apply new vinyl to the surface, be sure to clean it thoroughly, then wipe it down with alcohol to insure that none of the adhesive remover is left on the surface

www.signarama-murrieta.com

Digital Signage for Religious Places of Worship | Signarama Murrieta

By Richard N Williams

[click to enlarge]

Perhaps there is no more important message to get across than the word of God, which is perhaps why more and more religious organizations and buildings are installing digital signage, not just inside the prayer rooms but also outside the place of worship.

Using LCD and plasma TV screens as ecclesiastical message board systems, is the perfect method of attracting new worshippers and spreading the religious messages to the local population which is why more and more religious organizations are turning to digital signage systems.

For conventional indoor use, most standard commercial LCD and plasma TVs will do a fine job of relaying the spiritual message to the congregation. To spread the message to a wider audience, a different form of digital signage needs to be established outside of the church, temple, mosque or synagogue, conventional LCD and plasma TVs are not suitable for outdoor use.

To ensure the protection of the digital signage system, not just from unsavory characters but also from the rain, direct sunlight, snow, ice and everything else our weather systems throw at us, then an LCD enclosure is the perfect solution.

LCD enclosures are more than just protective cabinets for TV screens, they are designed to ensure they are not only resistant to water, weather and extreme temperatures but also can cope with an attack from the most persistent of vandals or determined of thieves. Solid steel construction, security locks and internal environmental systems ensure that the digital signage is not just protected but encased in the perfect working environment fro modern TV devices like LCD or plasmas.

LCD enclosures are the perfect method for spreading religious messages. They don't have the bulky look of industrial devices and are quite sleek and attractive units it won't look out of place in the front of any religious building.

Contact us today and let us help you design a Digital Signage System.

Richard N Williams is a technical author and a specialist in the digital signage industry helping to develop outdoor digital signage and protection for plasmas.

www.signarama-murrieta.com

Trade Show Display - The Versatility of Panel Display Systems | Signarama Murrieta

The Versatility of Panel Display Systems

Add caption

Display panel systems are one of the most versatile exhibition display systems. But what did you know that they are also ideal for use in offices, schools and colleges or for your place of work to help project your message. There are no loose components and no need for tools or special expertise; just unfold and clip the set of display boards together.

Folding panel kits are great for:

• Education establishments, schools and colleges
• Exhibitions and trade shows
• Presentations and conferences
• Office screens and room dividers
• Shopping center Point of Purchase Displays

School Display Boards
Folding Panel kits are quick and easy to assemble and are a popular choice for schools, universities and colleges. Panel Display Boards are quick and easy to assemble and are a popular choice for end of term displays, careers information and Admission / College recruitment fairs.

Modular Exhibition Display Stands
Folding panel display kits offer one of the most cost effective and easy ways of exhibiting with the added benefit of being easy to transport. Panel folding kits are a lightweight yet robust display and can be set up in seconds, thus making the folding display board perfect for use on a small exhibition stand.

Foldable panel kits are very easy to collapse and then be reassembled by just one person. Folding Panel Kits come in a wide variety of colors, so you can choose a color that fits your company brand and color scheme.

Portable Presentation Display Panels
Sign-A-Rama - Murrieta offers a range of presentation display panels for informative displays in shopping centers, presentations and conferences. Visual aids add impact to your message and folding panel kits are the ideal panel system for this purpose. Available in a range of styles, sizes and colors, our double-sided table top display boards ensure you're getting maximum attention and maximum value from your panel systems. The portable kits accept graphics by simply adding Velcro attachments to the back of your posters or graphics.

Office Screens and Room Dividers
Display boards are also a great solution as office dividers and screens. If you are looking to create a booth, separate an area for display purposes or have a display board as a screen to divide a room, tall display panel kits are a cost effective and user friendly solution.

For that extra impact in the showroom or office, jumbo display stands are perfect for displaying huge posters or charts. These large display boards can also be added to with extra panels to create a large back drop.

Sign-A-Rama - Murrieta's panel display systems are constructed of strong extruded aluminum frames and durable Velcro receptive fabric panels, these versatile displays feature a 360-degree folding hinge, allowing you to re-configure the display into various shapes and sizes. Contact us today and choose between custom configurations or standard 8' and 10' back wall options.