Still, the real trick in maximizing their use is knowing which designs and tactics to use so these can work out their magic. So, how does the food industry maximize their sandwich board signs? Here are five quick ways restaurants use A-frame signs to draw passersby in and five design ideas you can incorporate to your sandwich boards.

5 Tips to Maximize Your A-Frame Sign Promotions

Restaurants often use their A-frame signs to list their menus and prices. However, the A-frames differ from the other food signs by being creative and on point with their promotions.

1. Promote Daily Specials and Limited Offers

Use your A-frame to spotlight fun deals like “Buy 1 Pasta, Get 1 Half Off” or “Free Drinks Until 2 PM.” The sign’s easy-to-change graphics also let you update promotions daily without hassle.

2. Announce Events and Live Entertainment

Bars, cafes, and pubs will often use A-frames to build excitement for live music, trivia nights, or sports screenings. Display these signs at night and curious passersby will be more likely to grab a seat and join in on the fun.

3. Promote New Items or Seasonal Menus

The signs can showcase your restaurant’s latest creations with mouthwatering visuals and catchy headlines. Seasonal specials or new dishes on an A-frame will instantly draw attention and spark customers’ curiosity.

4. A-frames as Directional Signs to Lead Customers

If your restaurant has multiple A-frames, you can set these up at nearby corners or busy spots to guide people straight to your door. Include clear arrows and bright visuals to cover your restaurant’s promotions and directions in a single view.

5. Welcoming Signs that Promote Inclusivity

Make guests feel at home by highlighting your restaurant’s welcoming and unique atmosphere through your A-frames. Add friendly touches like “Pets Welcome” or “Family-Friendly Dining” to your signs, complete with cheerful icons to reflect your restaurant’s warm, inclusive vibe.

5 Design Tips for Your A-Frame Signs

The way restaurants use A-frame signs for their promotions is just one way these signs can attract walk-ins. There’s also the design side: creative illustrations and layouts that make your sign stand out even more. These five examples illustrate how helpful streetside signs are for attracting more customers.

1. Showcase Signature Meal Photos and High-Quality Food Images

A picture is worth a thousand words, and vibrant images of your best dishes or drinks are good enough to entice hungry passersby and draw them inside.

2. Display Menu Previews and Prices

Give customers a quick preview of what’s inside by showcasing signature dishes, complete with short descriptions and clear prices, right on your A-frame.

3. Use Humor or Clever Wordplay

You can also show off your restaurant’s playful side with witty lines like “We knead your dough!” or “Nacho average restaurant.” A clever pun can stop people in their tracks, make them smile, and even try out your courses.

4. Match the Design to Your Restaurant’s Theme

Keep your A-frame’s style consistent with your restaurant’s vibe. Rustic themes for bistros, sleek black ambiance for cafes, or colorful patterns for diners. It’s also good to display A-frame signs that scream seasonal specials or music nights, featuring attention-grabbing visuals and clear text.

5. Add a Fun, Shareable Call-to-Action

Encourage engagement with creative prompts like “Tag us if this sign made you hungry” or “share this QR code for deals.” An interactive A-frame sign doesn’t just turn heads; it can also be buzz-worthy on social media if played correctly.

A-frame signs do an excellent job of sparking curiosity, reflecting your restaurant’s vibe, and turning casual onlookers into eager diners. With the right mix of creativity and clarity, these signs can turn your sidewalk into an open, welcoming space that attracts walk-ins who can enjoy your food and ambiance.

Keep your message fresh and your visuals inviting with Signs.com’s high-quality printing, sturdy frames, and replaceable A-frame graphics. These are everything you need to keep your restaurant’s appeal strong and your foot traffic growing every day.

From Sidewalks to Seats: 10 Ways A-Frame Signs Attract Hungry Customers

Reddit’s Take on the Biggest Trade Show Booth Mistakes

Table of Contents 

1. Introduction
2. What are the different ways to advertise using my car? 
3. What are the benefits of car decals?
4. What are the common uses of car decals?
5. Key Takeaways
6. Conclusion

Car advertising is one of the most innovative and effective ways to promote your business 24/7. It turns your vehicle into a mobile billboard, so you can easily reach a wide audience, whether you’re running errands, driving to work, or simply parked outside. While car advertising can come in many forms, car decals always stand out more due to their benefits. Let’s explore what sets car decals apart in this article by Signs.com.

What are the different ways to advertise using my car? 

Before diving into the benefits of car decals, let’s explore the different methods of car advertising. These are: 

• Car decals – Car decals are semi-permanent vinyl graphics that are placed on any part of the vehicle. These are very versatile and affordable and are best used for long-term promotions.  

• Car magnets – Car magnets are temporary and removable signs that stick to the car’s surface. These are often used for short-term campaigns or if the car is used for both personal and business purposes. 

• Vehicle wraps – Vehicle wraps are vinyl graphics that cover the entire surface of the car. These offer maximum visibility and are more suitable for large vehicle fleets. 

Not sure which type matches your business needs? Check out our comparison article on Vehicle Wraps vs. Vehicle Decals and Car Magnets vs. Car Decals. 

What are the benefits of using car decals? 

Now that you know the different types of car advertising, let’s find out why car decals are the best choice for car advertising.

1. They offer lots of impressions. Unlike traditional forms of advertising, car decals can generate high impressions while you’re on the go. Car decals are eye-catching and easy to spot, so your ad is immediately exposed to a diverse audience, whether you’re stuck in traffic, on busy highways, in a parking lot, or in front of a store. 
2. They are inexpensive. Car decals are a one-time expense. They don’t have any recurring fees and are perfect for small businesses or startups with a limited budget. 
3. They have tax benefits. Advertising your business using car decals can make you eligible for tax benefits. Any amount you spend that goes into placing an advertisement can be written off as a business expense. To make the most of these perks, make sure to keep track of your receipts and expenses and consult an accountant. For more information, read our Tax Benefits of Using Car Decals for Your Business article. 
4. They are easy to install and remove. Car decals do not require a lot of effort to install and remove. If you ever need to apply them to a car’s surface, update, or replace them, you can do it yourself without worrying about damaging the paint or you can seek help from a professional. Check out our article on How to Install Car Decals Like a Champ and How to Remove Car Decals Without Damaging the Paint for comprehensive guides. 
5. They are durable and long-lasting. Car decals are designed for long-term use, compared to car magnets that only last for a short time. They’re semi-permanent and made of durable, UV-, water- and weather-resistant material, making them the ideal choice if you want to promote your business for several years.
6. They give your car a professional appearance. Car decals add a polished and professional look to your vehicle. This grabs the attention of your audience, helps build credibility, and implements consistent branding if you’re using multiple vehicles. 
7. They are customizable. Car decals have various shapes, sizes, and designs, which make them customizable to match any business. You can apply them to your car, truck, or van, use minimalist text, go for bold designs, or add QR codes to link your social media page.

What are the Common Uses of Car Decals? 

Car advertising is not just limited to businesses — they can also be used across various industries and creative purposes. This makes car decals a great option for ads, as they are incredibly versatile and can be used in various ways. Here are some of the common uses of car decals: 

Brand Advertising 

Car decals are often used for brand promotions. Whether you’re a small business, a startup, or a large company, car decals are an excellent way for you to gain more visibility and advertise your services and business hours. 

Event Promotion 

Looking for more attendees or supporters for your event? Car decals are perfect for promoting various events, campaigns, or fundraisers. Make sure to include locations, ticket information, and event dates in your ads to encourage more people to come to your event. 

Seasonal and Holiday Marketing 

Take advantage of the holiday rush and use car decals to advertise special deals, promos, and discounts. Add festive themes in your design to capture the attention of your audience. 

Personalization and Custom Projects 

Car decals are not just great for promotions — they’re also suitable for personal expression. You can use it for showcasing your interests or spreading awareness about advocacies you stand for. 

Fleet Branding 

If you’re handling multiple vehicles like firetrucks, ambulances, police vehicles, or buses, car decals can help make your fleet recognizable through consistent branding. You can do this by ensuring the same logo, contact information, and design is applied to all vehicles so that they’re easy to identify from a distance.  

Car decals offer endless possibilities for businesses, individuals, and organizations alike. Find out more when you read our piece What Industries Use Car Decals as an Advertising Tool?

Key Takeaways 

• Car advertising is a cost-effective way of promoting your brand. 

• Car decals offer long-term benefits compared to other forms of car advertising. 

• Car decals are incredibly versatile and used across various industries. 

• Decals are easy to install and remove and can be customized to match your needs.
  

Conclusion 

Car decals are one of the most efficient tools that you can use for car advertising. They enhance brand visibility, are easy to use and customize, and won’t break the bank. Whether you’re looking to bring in more customers to your business, promote an event, or announce seasonal promos, car decals are a reliable choice for conveying your message and making your ad stand out.  

Ready to create your custom car decals and get started? Check out these Tips From Design Experts at Signs.com to make the most out of your car decals today. 

Related Articles

• The Benefits of Car Advertising
• What’s the Difference Between Car Magnets and Car Decals?
• How to Use Car Decals As Ads?
• Custom Car Decals: Tips from Design Experts at Signs.com
• Shift Your Marketing Into Gear: Full Vehicle Wraps vs. Vehicle Decals
• Revamp Your Ride: How to Install a Car Decal Like a Champ

The Benefits of Car Advertising

Car magnets are a cost-effective way to promote a business—they are much more affordable than vehicle wraps and decals. Because they’re removable, you purchase them only once. Does your business need more exposure? Drive around with your car magnets installed, and you are bound to be noticed by thousands of other drivers and passersby.

If you think it sounds too good to be true and you’re waiting for the catch, you’re not alone. A quick Google search of “Do car magnets cause paint damage?” brings up almost six million results.

So, do they?

Proper Way to Use Car Magnets

To set the record straight—no, car magnets do not damage paint if installed and cared for correctly.

Car magnets work the same way as any other magnet. Stick them slowly and carefully on a clean, dry, and flat metallic surface, and they’re guaranteed to stay put. Since a car magnet is thicker than a car decal, avoid applying it over bevels, creases, and grooves to prevent air pockets. Use a squeegee to ensure that every square inch comes in contact with the vehicle’s body—the slightest gap will cause the magnet to lift and fly off once the wind gets under it. Rounding the corners of the car magnet also helps it stay on longer since sharp points are prone to lifting.

Scratches and dings are usually caused by dirt and debris stuck between the magnet and the vehicle. To avoid these, check both the car’s surface and the magnet itself before installing. To reposition an installed car magnet, peel it off carefully instead of dragging it across the body.

Car magnets should also be removed and cleaned at least once a week—more so during summer or if the car is regularly exposed to intense heat and UV rays. Otherwise, the magnet will get stuck, and you’ll have difficulty peeling it off without damaging the car’s exterior. Removing the car magnet regularly also prevents the exterior paint from unevenly fading. Check your car magnets after heavy rain or snowfall as well because there’s a chance that water might have seeped in.

If the vehicle recently underwent a paint or waxing job, observe the curing period before installing the car magnet. The average curing time is 90 days for car paint, 60 days for clear coat, and only two days for wax.

There is also a proper way to store car magnets when not used. Keep them laid flat in a clean and dry place to avoid molds and cracks. Store each magnet separately, or at least keep the magnetic sides from not facing each other.

When installing a car magnet, keep these guidelines in mind to make the most out of your marketing materials without compromising your vehicle’s overall look.

Are you ready to incorporate car magnets into your promotional efforts? We offer free design services to help you get started. Check out our custom car magnets here.

Do Car Magnets Damage Paint?

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has found that only 29% of high school students participated in 60 minute, daily physical activity, proving that this trend of inactivity is plaguing the younger generation, or the age group known as Generation Z. Technology is one of the primary factors to a decrease in activity among children, which means the need to put down devices and go outside is at an all time high. Taking the time to create a marketing plan for your camp will not only benefit your camp, it also has the potential to change a child’s life forever as they live the one of a kind experience that is a summer camp. Your camp could be the catalyst in helping children increase in physical activity and social interaction, so it’s imperative that you can effectively persuade children to attend your camp.

Creating a plan that can entice children to attend a camp may seem like an impossible feat when kids today are glued to handheld screens and technology. In actuality, attracting campgoers only requires creativity and a willingness to go the extra mile. To make your planning easy, we’ve gathered the best marketing techniques that will specifically help you as a summer camp director or owner. We’re here to take the stress of planning away, bringing you peace of mind knowing that you can build your camp’s reputation and attendance without having to break the bank.

Knowing Your Target Audience

When creating a marketing plan, you must first pinpoint your target audience. For summer camps, you will have two main groups to advertise to: the children and the parents. Two different audiences means that you will have to create separate marketing strategies for each. Don’t worry, we’ll walk you through how you can target each group to help them see why a summer camp is something they should strongly consider. In essence, you will be creating a push/pull marketing plan, which will allow you to reach both audiences simultaneously. Your tactics to children will be more push marketing while drawing parents back to your camp or new parents through word of mouth referrals will be more of a pull marketing strategy. Knowing how to market to children and their parents will give you the most effective marketing campaign and greatest chance at success.

Captivating attention of the younger generation involves advertising to their likes and needs. To do so, focus your advertisements on the fun-filled activities your camp has to offer and the ‘feel good’ atmosphere of the camp. Incentives are the best way to persuade kids and teenagers. Potential campers need to know the ‘why’ behind attending your camp, so advertising the highlights of what you have to offer is the best route to take. It’s important to note that the Federal Trade Commission has established guidelines for marketing to children, which includes the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. Of particular note of these guidelines, it’s important to consider the following when planning a marketing campaign geared towards children:

• Websites and online advertising that collect information from children under 13 years of age must be under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Information collected must be provided to parents, among other COPPA guidelines. A privacy policy must be stated on your website, as well as receiving parents’ consent before obtaining personal information from children. There are also guidelines for advertising on social media, but nothing that is contrary to the COPPA guidelines.

Put yourself into their shoes, think of what they want to see and what would bring them to your camp. Marketing that is geared towards children and teens must motivate them to act, which in many cases is talking to their parents to support or fund their desire to attend your camp. Having a call to action, usually a link to a website, will help you to mesh advertising towards both the young and the old. We’ll go into more detail on how you can use call to actions and a website later on in this post.

Planning advertisements that are geared towards the parents can follow the same strategy of those for children. Focus on incentives that parents will be inclined to follow, such as deals, skill development, and unique opportunities for children to grow as individuals. Marketing to parents should give them the answer to, “Why should I sign my child up for this camp?”. Your marketing should help them realize that the summer camp will be more beneficial to their children then the presumed summer nothingness and endless screen time that dominates most kids’ summer vacations.

Advertising Within A Community

Knowing the audiences is the first step in creating your plan. Now it’s time to look at the various marketing channels you can use to create a versatile, well-rounded marketing plan. The community your camp operates in, or the communities that are in the area of your camp are the prime spots to begin your advertising campaign. The logic behind community advertising is that you’re targeting local families who have direct access to your camp, giving you the exposure you need to build locally before you decide to expand to a broader geographic area. These local kids will have lower costs to attend your camp and therefore presumably a higher per capita attendance rate than those who come from afar. Parents of such kids may also be more at ease sending their children “away” to a summer camp that is really very accessible given an emergency. There are many ways in which you can put your name in the spotlight, so there is no shortage of opportunities to market your camp to these local kids and parents.

Signage Solutions

Implementing signage into your advertising campaign is the oldest trick in the book. This timeless approach to advertising will give you limitless possibilities for indoor and outdoor marketing. Custom signs and banners can be used to advertise camp locations, sign-up periods, and dates of the camp. If you’re hosting your camp at a school or community center, you can hang vinyl banners or place yard signs on the property to advertise your camp. As mentioned, use opportunities to give crucial sign-up information, deadlines and links to websites. Signs can also be implemented to direct viewers to specific landing pages on your website to increase the chances of signups and increased attendance (which we will go into more detail later on). For booths and kiosks at local events, A-Frame signs, or teardrop and feather banners all work great to draw the attention of potential event attendees. Incorporate on-the-spot camp enrollment using tablets, smartphones, and computers. Square, a mobile business solution, will help you process transactions right away, making on the spot sign-ups a breeze for potential campers and parents.

Attending local events will also boost your influence within a community. Treat events as prime marketing opportunities, creating displays at fairs or community sponsored events that will attract potential attendees to your booth and ultimately your summer camp. Retractable banners and foam board (or gatorboard!) signs are excellent for indoor fairs, while mesh banners make for great outdoor advertising.

If your camp has a fixed location that you wish to advertise at, you can implement aluminum or wooden signs for a more permanent display. No matter what your display needs are, there’s a sign that will satisfy that need. Offline signage still can have a tremendous impact in an increasingly digital world!

Partnering With Schools

With camp attendees being of school age, joining forces with elementary, middle, and high schools is a logical and advantageous marketing move. Building a bond and even a formal partnership with schools will allow you to reach a mass of students in one fell swoop. Schools can be places where posters, signs, and promotional material such as postcards are handed out to students or easily seen in hallways and classrooms. Teachers can be enlisted to promote summer camps, while giving you the outlet to offer student discounts. Partnering with schools is a win-win for both your camp and the school. Schools can initiate fundraising campaigns that can help students pay for attending the camp, while having a portion of funds help finance school operations. This method also takes advantage of the fact that students are essentially a captive audience as they must attend school and therefore see your promotional efforts. Needless to say, if you’re summer camp isn’t beneficial to children in some way schools aren’t going to approve of such advertising for this very reason.

Work with school officials to have an assembly or go classroom to classroom showing promotional material of your camp to the students. Show videos and pictures of your camp, your website, and bring in testimonials of past attendees. You can also have past attendees and current students themselves be part of your efforts! There’s no doubt that this will motivate students to talk to their parents about the camp. Provide handouts for students to bring home, which will double as a reminder as well as a way to invite parents to check out the camp as well. These handouts must contain information on your camp, including costs, important dates and deadlines, as well as a sign-up form to send in.

If you’re running a church or Bible camp you may need to obtain approval from non-religious schools to advertise on their campus. It would be wise to contact the school’s administration to verify the necessary procedures to advertise a religious oriented camp. Some states may also have laws that regulate advertising on campuses, so check with local government agencies or school officials to know what’s allowed and what’s not.

Collaborating With Businesses

Joining forces with local businesses will give your camp the ability to expand your name recognition within a community. Businesses that are well established locally and cater to either the kids who may attend or the parents of those kids are the ideal partners in marketing your summer camp because they have an existing relationship of trust and the attention of your target audience. So how do you best work with businesses to maximize a partnership? A joint-venture or cross-promoting with a business will benefit both parties, giving you the exposure you need, while helping businesses improve or solidify their reputation locally. Let’s face it, a business wants to look good in the eyes of the community too, so helping a summer camp gives them that opportunity. It’s best to partner with businesses that have like-minded ideals that your summer camp portrays. As noted above this is particularly true, and even required at times, for religious based camps.

Ideally choose a local business with a sterling reputation and a long history of successful operation. No matter the size of the business, there are benefits for partnering with a summer camp. If your camp does not have a non-profit identity, then it may be more difficult to convince businesses to work with you. If this is the case, negotiate with businesses to advertise within your camp in exchange for monetary or product compensation. For instance, if a business can provide food, clothing, or equipment used at your camp, you can help advertise their product when promoting your own camp. Brand exposure for those business would increase as they partner with your summer camp. At the very least businesses should have parents who are more aware of their product and/or service and potentially future customers in kids who attend camps and use their products.

Similar to partnering with schools, if you’re hosting a religious camp, businesses may be hesitant in partnering if they do not hold the same beliefs of your camp. To overcome this obstacle, search for businesses that either have the same values as your camp professes, or look for the businesses which have partnered with similar organizations in the past. In any case, finding the right business to sponsor or partner with your camp will require planning and evaluating your goals of your summer camp.

Use businesses you partner with as heralds for your summer camp. Recruit them to post signage in stores and areas where there is heavy foot traffic, have them include your promotional flyers or coupons in orders or product purchases.  Doing so can not only increase attendance of your camp but also benefit them in a number of ways.

Online Marketing

The influence of online marketing and media is impossible to avoid, especially with its ability to reach your target audience instantly and effectively. Harnessing the power of the internet can be done in a variety of ways, including blogging, social media, and online targeting. Increasing your social media presence will help you convert online traffic into actual sign-ups for your summer camp. With so many tactics to use in the digital marketing field, we’ll help you narrow down the online tools that will help you increase camp attendance most effectively.

Optimize Your Website

Making your website the hub of marketing activity is your highest priority. All of your in-person, offline and community marketing should drive traffic to your website to help provide more information and another opportunity to sign up their children. When visitors come to your website they should be able to easily navigate your content and find what they are looking for (which is most likely information on your summer camp and how to sign up). First and foremost, the landing page of your website should instantly grab attention. Captivating images, limited time discounts, and other call to action items will give visitors reason to stay on your site and navigate to other pages.

The goal of your website is to convert visitors, both children and adults, into committed campgoers. Use your website as a platform to post testimonials from past camp attendees, especially interviews of those who have experienced your camp first-hand. Dedicate a page for social media integration. This page can have pictures, comments, and other media contributed by campgoers. This user generated content can be submitted to the camp’s social media page, screened by an administrator, and then posted for all of your followers to see. Photos, videos, and other experiences can help entice both parents and children to sign-up for your camp.

Implementing Social Media

It’s been proven that Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are the go-to social media outlets for your target parents. Studies have shown that these platforms are where parents spend the most time on social media, so focusing your efforts on these social hotspots will help you reach more parents. Knowing how to maximize the productivity of your social media efforts will widen your influence. With so many different platforms to use, it’s important to know how some of the more popular ones fit into the grand marketing scheme.

• Facebook – Whether you have a Facebook page already created or not, you must implement a plan for your page. Marketing on Facebook goes beyond sharing your page with other users and getting ‘liked’. Facebook is an ideal platform for interacting with users and informing the general public about what you offer as a summer camp. Also, every camp should encourage sharing of your page and posts by your followers to further expand your reach on social media. Facebook can also work as a substitute for an independent website if you are unable to create one. You can also include sponsored Facebook posts that advertise throughout the platform.

• Twitter – Marketing with Twitter should be concise, yet descriptive. Twitter is a platform that revolves around a constant stream of information being consumed by users, so regularly updating with links to videos, testimonials, and deals will be highly effective. Use hashtags that are relevant in your local geographic area to connect yourself with other local businesses and groups, which will help to build a network of partners to spread your message. Twitter also allows you to create sponsored advertisements that appear in users’ feeds along with existing content. Because Twitter has a smaller audience for your target demographic (Twitter demographics lean way more towards millennials and less so to established families with kids and their parents), use the platform as a secondary medium behind Facebook.

• Instagram – It’s clear that Instagram marketing is centered on images and video clips. Visually communicating your summer camp is dependent on quality photographs and videos, meaning that you will need to staff a camp photographer or learn how to use your phone’s camera to its full potential. In any case, photos and videos should capture the emotion of your camp. For example, if you’re running a Bible camp, photos of campers participating in faith-building exercises and activities will resonate with viewers more so than a picture of the food you offer. Savvy Mom-instagram-users will be the perfect user to help spread pictures and moments from camp on this social media platform.

The goal for your posts should be to invite users to act, so include links to your website and other social media profiles in the posts you create. Instagram does not currently allow you to include clickable links in posts. In order to post a link, Instagram users can have links available in the bio portion of their profile. When doing so, have photo posts direct viewers to your profile page, where they can click the link found in your bio. Though we’d suggest that this is bound to change sooner rather than later so continue to adapt your Instagram strategy as the platform changes in their own attempts to monetize.

Email Marketing Lists

Creating a free, subscription-based email list campaign is one of the best ways to communicate with your followers. Users can simply sign up on your website, which will add them to the distribution list. You can use third party services, like Hello Bar and SumoMe on your site to enable static or pop-up invitations to sign up for your email list. Emails make distributing content on your website and social media pages easier. To send out your emails, services such as MailChimp and Benchmark will store your email subscribers, where you can then craft email content and send out news, updates and promotions to this list your website has aggregated.

What’s great about email lists is that they have ability to tailor content to specific groups of people (known as segmenting in the marketing world). Segmenting will allow you to send distinct emails to adults, past campers, future campers, and businesses that have partnered with you. Emails can be sent to those who recently joined your list, or can be sent periodically throughout the year for touch points to help keep relationships active. By using emails to target specific people or target in certain instances (like during holidays or sale periods), you can tailor unique, applicable content. Distributing content via email will reduce costs of producing printed marketing material. Emails are also perfect for registering returning campers, making it easier to organize that process.

If you’re afraid that your email will be discarded, there’s a solution to that too. Titles used for emails will impact the probability they will be opened. If you’re targeting adults with an email, a title along the lines of Cut Down On Summer Camp Costs would be effective, whereas the same title would not motivate kids and teenagers to open an email. Find ways to motivate email opening by including call to action phrases like, “Sign up now to save on camp fees,” or, “Click for a once in a lifetime experience!” Call to action phrases target the emotions of a viewer, so the more engaging your phrases are, the more they will convert into camp sign ups.

AdWords and Online Targeting

Those ads that pop up on the as part of websites you visit and the search results on Google can also be used to help market your summer camp. AdWords gives you the freedom to market to specific demographics and geographic areas, which is perfect for a summer camp looking to increase exposure. Setting up an AdWords campaign is straightforward, making it a hassle-free experience advertising online. The only drawback to running an Adwords campaign is that each click on an ad will cost you money. This means that it could be very costly if this tactic is not used with prudence and some expert help is involved. While it is a very powerful method it is one that needs to be carefully managed for any kind of camp on a tight advertising budget.

Along with AdWords, a variety of social media websites have adopted a similar advertising technique that uses ads that are displayed or presented on their social platforms. Online targeting grants access to advertising to specific demographics and geographics like adwords, as well as implementing keywords that trigger ads to appear throughout the page.

As noted above, at the very least both Facebook and Twitter allow camps to target ads (see below) based off certain demographics to those using these social media platforms. With Gen Z using these platforms all the time this is a great way to reach potential campers.

Online targeting and AdWords can go hand in hand with your social media pages and website. Use ads to direct patrons to your website, which you can set up specific landing pages that offer unique discounts depending on which ad they clicked. Design ads that use call to actions, just as you would use for landing pages.

Set Up Camp

Modern advertising allows for a diverse array of channels to reach target audiences. When considering your own camp’s needs for advertising, take into consideration how each marketing method can be used to your advantage. Incorporating signage in joint ventures with local business will allow you to reach members of the community quickly and inexpensively. Online advertising gives you limitless reach in terms of amount of people see the ads, as well as giving you control over who sees the ads (demographics, geographics, specific parameters). Give your camp the best opportunity to increase awareness and ultimately camp attendance by expanding your influence online and in the community using the techniques we’ve outlined in this article.

How To Successfully Market Your Summer Camp

I think we can all agree that banners are pretty cool. Well, maybe not if you’re comparing them to really cool things like the music of Miles Davis or a Warren Miller ski film. But from a marketing perspective banners are pretty cool: they’re inexpensive, eye-catching and portable. A small business owner’s dream come true. What’s better than a banner out in front of your business? A banner in the sky, of course.

Small Planes, Big Banners

People have been advertising with banners towed by small planes since the 1930s, and the industry is still going strong. The concept is simple: a brightly colored, small propeller plane flies over a specific area, towing a banner with an advertising message. The little planes fly fairly low—at an altitude of between 500 and 1000 feet. The distinct droning noise causes people to look up to see the plane—and the banner.

Aerial Advertising is Effective

Though the number of people reached with an airplane banner is limited, the retention rate of viewers is much higher than that of television, radio or print ads. It makes sense—you’re inundated with television commercials all day, so you tend to tune those out. But how often do you see a small prop plane, cruising right overhead? When you’re sitting in a traffic jam and a cute little plane towing a banner flies by, you take notice.

Arnold Aerial Advertising notes the following statistics from a consumer survey on its site:

• 88% of people remembered seeing the airplane aerial banner go by after 30 minutes
• 79% could remember the product or service being advertised
• 67% retained at least half the message from the aerial ad

Advertising with an airplane banner is a unique way to reach customers; though the cost is reasonably inexpensive, it doesn’t occur to many business owners, so companies that do use this method of advertising get noticed even more readily. In fact, some aerial advertising campaigns have a 20% response rate.

The best place for aerial advertising is outdoor events with a large number of people. Tailgate parties at major sports events, outdoor concerts and festivals are all popular places to advertise with a banner in the sky.

Beaches are another popular advertising venue—people are relaxing and having a good time and can hear the airplane coming before they even see it. By the time it flies by, everyone is looking skyward, reading the advertising message.

In some cities, traffic jams are a daily occurrence and another great place for aerial advertising. Drivers are bored and frustrated and often actually welcome the distraction of a small plane with an interesting message.

Little Planes, Big Impact

Aerial advertising is used for all kinds of purposes: advertising for large corporations, spreading political messages, asking the public for help and spreading a personal message. I spoke to Michael Arnold, of Arnold Aerial Advertising, who told me several great stories from his years of experience.

Alabama Governor Bob Riley was preparing to watch his home team play at the Rose Bowl when he was startled (and embarrassed) to see a small plane with this message. A casino owner had hired Arnold Aerial because Governor Riley was planning on closing all the casinos. Riley was so upset by the situation that he held a press conference right after the game.

In 2006, four pilots with Brothers to the Rescue, a humanitarian organization, were shot down and killed in international airspace outside of Cuba. The sister of one of the men hired Arnold’s company to fly this banner over the World Series game. ESPN broadcast the banner, giving the message a huge nationwide audience.

Arnold Aerial Advertising flew several banners for a man who was convinced that the end of the world would occur in October, 2011, with the day of judgement beginning on May 21st. The world didn’t end, but the guy did get his message out there!

On November 29, 2008, 20-year-old Brandon Evans was shot and killed in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Though police had several leads, they didn’t have enough for any arrests. Brandon’s mother, Christine, refused to let her son’s murder be forgotten. In addition to starting a website and blog, she hired Arnold Aerial Advertising to fly over San Francisco on the third anniversary of his death. The murder has yet to be solved. More information can be found here.

Corporations make up 75% of Arnold’s business:

While corporations may pay the bills, marriage proposals are still fun, says Arnold:

Restrictions

After 9/11, the FAA placed several new restrictions on flights, which impacted the aerial advertising industry. Planes are no longer allowed to fly over stadiums during an event with more than 30,000 people (though they can fly overhead an hour before and an hour after the event).

Both New York City and Washington D.C. have flight restrictions in place. Planes cannot fly within 15 miles of Washington D.C., and can’t fly over New York City. However, the planes are allowed to fly down both the Hudson and East rivers.

A “No Fly” zone is in effect whenever the President of the United States, or the Vice President is visiting any city in the country. The FAA posts “No Fly” zones to alert pilots of the special situation, though sometimes mistakes happen.

Michael Arnold told me about a harrowing situation when his company was flying an advertisement over Colorado Springs. The pilot was alerted that he was in a “No Fly” zone and forced to quickly land. It turned out the Vice President Biden was in the city, but the FAA had forgotten to post the “No Fly” alert. The FAA knew exactly where the plane was from and that it was safe, so the pilot wasn’t in any trouble, but the Secret Service didn’t have much of a sense of humor about the incident.

Banners on the Ground, Banners in the Sky

For everyday exposure, your small business needs a high-quality vinyl banner in front of your shop. But for a special campaign to really get people talking, take your banner up in the air.

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