Political yard signs give candidates a practical way to build name recognition, show community support, and keep their campaigns visible throughout election season. However, an effective sign campaign requires more planning than placing a candidate’s name and office on a piece of artwork.
The timing of the order, readability of the design, number of signs purchased, and distribution plan can all affect the result. A mistake made during the ordering process may lead to production delays, difficulty reading signs, or an order that does not meet the campaign’s actual needs.
Before ordering custom political yard signs, watch for these five common mistakes.
1. Waiting Too Long to Place the Order
Campaign schedules move quickly, making it easy to postpone ordering signs while other priorities receive attention. Waiting until signs are immediately needed can create unnecessary pressure during artwork approval, production, shipping, and distribution.
Political yard signs may need to be reviewed by several people before production begins. Names, offices, colors, logos, disclaimers, and other details must be checked carefully. Changes made after the initial proof can add more time to the approval process.
Once the signs arrive, campaign staff and volunteers still need time to organize them, contact supporters, plan routes, and install signs throughout the community.
Start the ordering process by working backward from the date when the signs should begin appearing. Allow time for:
- Finalizing the campaign design
- Reviewing artwork and sign specifications
- Approving the proof
- Manufacturing and shipping
- Sorting and distributing the signs
- Installing signs at approved locations
Contacting the manufacturer early also gives the campaign more time to discuss available sizes, printing options, quantities, and wire frames before making a final decision.
2. Putting Too Much Information on the Sign
A political yard sign is not a campaign brochure. Drivers and pedestrians may only have a few seconds to see and understand the message.
Including a candidate’s name, office, slogan, website, social media information, election date, endorsements, and several campaign messages can make the design difficult to read. When every detail competes for attention, the most important information may be overlooked.
Most political yard signs should emphasize the candidate’s name and the office being sought. A short slogan or website may be included when there is enough room, but it should not distract from the primary message.
Before approving the design, ask what someone should remember after seeing the sign for only a moment. If the answer is unclear, the artwork may need to be simplified.
A focused sign design usually includes:
- The candidate’s name
- The office or position
- A short campaign message, when appropriate
- Any legally required disclaimer
Additional campaign information can be shared through mailers, handouts, websites, and social media rather than being crowded onto the yard sign.
3. Choosing Colors and Type That Are Difficult to Read
A sign may look clear on a computer screen but become difficult to read when printed and viewed from the road. Small type, thin lettering, complicated fonts, and colors with limited contrast can reduce visibility.
Campaign colors should help the candidate stand out while keeping the message readable. Light lettering placed over a light background or dark lettering over a dark background may blend together from a distance. Decorative typefaces can also make names and messages harder to recognize quickly.
Bold lettering and clear color contrast generally work best for outdoor campaign signs. The candidate’s name should receive the greatest visual emphasis, followed by the office or campaign message.
Custom poly bag yard signs can be printed with up to six spot colors using line art and water-based inks. Understanding these printing specifications before submitting artwork can help the campaign prepare a design suited to the production process.
It is also important to view the design at its intended size. Proof that fills a computer screen may not accurately show how the sign will appear from a passing vehicle. Reduce the proof on screen or print a sample at a smaller scale to evaluate whether the main message remains easy to recognize.
4. Ordering Without a Distribution Plan
Campaigns sometimes choose a quantity based on a general estimate without first deciding where the signs will go. This can result in too few signs for important areas or more signs than the campaign has the volunteers and approved locations to place.
Before requesting a quote, create a basic distribution plan. Consider how many signs will be provided to supporters, volunteers, businesses, campaign offices, events, and neighborhood teams. The campaign should also keep extra signs available to replace damaged or missing signs and meet requests that arrive later.
Custom Poly Packaging offers political yard signs in five standard sizes:
- 24 by 16 inches
- 26 by 16 inches
- 26 by 20 inches
- 30 by 20 inches
- 37.5 by 20 inches
Custom sizes may also be available upon request. The minimum order is 500 signs, so the campaign should consider how that quantity will be divided and distributed before selecting the size and placing the order.
Sign placement rules can differ between communities and properties. Campaigns should confirm applicable requirements and receive permission from property owners before installing signs. Planning approved locations in advance helps the campaign use its order effectively once the signs arrive.
5. Approving the Order Without Checking Every Detail
A final review should cover more than spelling. The campaign needs to confirm that the artwork, size, quantity, printing, wire frames, and delivery information are all correct.
Candidate names and office titles deserve special attention. Even a small spelling error can make an entire sign order unusable. Campaigns should also verify whether election rules require an authorization or funding disclaimer to appear on the sign. These requirements can vary, so the campaign should confirm the rules that apply to its race and location.
Before approving production, review:
- Candidate name and spelling
- Office or position
- Campaign slogan and website
- Required disclaimers
- Sign dimensions
- Total quantity
- Print colors
- Printing on both sides
- Wire frame quantity
- Shipping address and requested delivery date
Ask more than one person to check the final proof. Someone who has not worked closely on the design may notice an error that the original designer or campaign manager missed.
What Makes Poly Bag Signs a Practical Campaign Option?
Custom poly bag yard signs are printed plastic signs designed to slide over wire frames. Their lightweight construction makes them easy to store, transport, distribute, and install across a large campaign area.
Each sign can be printed on both sides, allowing the campaign message to remain visible from either direction. Custom artwork can include the candidate’s name, campaign colors, logo, office, message, and other approved information.
Poly bag signs can be especially useful when a campaign needs a large quantity of affordable signs for temporary outdoor placement. Volunteers can carry and distribute multiple signs without the bulk associated with heavier materials, while the wire frames allow for straightforward installation.
Prepare Before Requesting a Political Yard Sign Quote
Having the right information ready can make the ordering process easier. Before contacting a manufacturer, determine:
- The desired sign size
- The estimated quantity
- The number of wire frames needed
- The number of print colors
- Whether both sides will use the same artwork
- The preferred delivery date
- Whether the artwork is complete
- Where and how the signs will be distributed
Providing these details gives the manufacturer a clearer understanding of the campaign’s needs and reduces the chance of unexpected changes later.
Order Custom Political Yard Signs for Your Campaign
Political yard signs should make a candidate’s name easy to see and remember. Planning the order early, keeping the design focused, selecting readable colors, estimating quantities carefully, and reviewing every detail can help the campaign avoid costly mistakes.
We manufacture custom poly bag yard signs in several standard sizes with custom printing on both sides. If your campaign needs help selecting the right size, quantity, colors, or specifications, contact our team to discuss your political yard sign order.
