Pole banners are a two-sided, vertical sign display meant to attach to street poles and be shown to vehicles passing by. Pole banners are a fantastic way to get everyone in town talking about whatever you would like advertised, and are great for local festive gatherings, benefits, and fundraisers. But to gain the full advantage of using custom pole banners, one must pay mind to a few basic design principles to utilize them to their fullest.
What are Pole Banners?
Custom two-sided pole banners are a type of banner display designed to attach to street and light poles. Pole banners from Banners.com can be attached two different ways, with a standard bracket system, or with our sturdier wind deflecting hardware. Pole banners feature two sides, one for each side of the pole, allowing for endless possibilities to compare and contrast whatever you would like to share.
Top Reasons to Use Pole Banners
Being able to attach your banner to a pole and reach new heights gives plenty of reason to use pole banners. But what are some of the lesser-known reasons to use them, and what are the key advantages compared to a standard banner or other signage?
The biggest advantage that pole banners present is their ability to reach new heights previously unavailable to other signage options. With their ability to scale poles scattered throughout the city, pole banners can tower above all the rest of the noise and get messages straight to people passing by.
The other advantage of using pole banners is their two-sided design. The dual-sided approach gives extra ability to customize and contrast messages with colors, images, or text. A cold, icy look on one side could contrast well with a fiery, red-hot look on the other. Motifs like these can attract a person to initially look at your pole banner, so read on for tips on how to best execute those.
Top 10 Pole Banner Design Tips and Tricks
1. Big, Colorful, and Beautiful
The first thing to keep in mind when designing a pole banner is how long most drivers will get a chance to view your design. For most drivers, this will be about three to four seconds. That is pretty quick, so your message needs to be big, bold, and beautiful. Try to use eye-popping and attention-grabbing colors like hot pink backgrounds or neon green text. This will draw the eyes of many viewers and spread your message further than a banner with bland and boring colors ever could.
2. Location, Location, Location
Where you place your pole banner can be just as impactful as its design. Generally, you want to place your pole banners in spots that have high traffic and low speed limits. This is because the faster vehicles are going, the less time they will have to view your custom pole banner. Shopping centers are fantastic spots for custom pole banners because of all the people passing between shops and taking in the scenery.
3. Banner Height Is Important
When you decide to hang up your custom pole banner, there is a very important element to keep in mind. Some poles can be rather tall, and you may be tempted to place it as high as you can, but it's best to test out various heights by driving by and looking for yourself.
4. Use 1/3 Text, 2/3 Visuals
When designing the layout of your custom pole banner, determine the right balance of text and visuals. It is recommended to use no more than 1/3 of the banner for text, keeping your message succinct and easy to understand at a glance. On pole banners, avoid full sentences, since shorter phrases like "SPRING FESTIVAL '22" are easier to read at a glance or from a distance.
When choosing fonts, a powerful way to grab attention is to use multiple fonts, but try not to use more than two at a time to keep it readable. Using multiple font sizes also helps text stand out; choose sizes according to each piece of text's importance to establish a clear hierarchy. It is recommended that pole banners use the remaining 2/3 of the banner for eye-catching visuals, with the composition guiding the viewer's eye naturally from the visual elements toward the logo and text.
5. Complementary and Contrasting Colors
Be sure to use two or three colors in a complementary or contrasting manner on each banner. Consider designing pole banners for a city's main street for Halloween. Black would be an obvious choice, complemented by a blaze orange for a traditional Halloween look. On the other side of the pole banner, purple, also linked with Halloween, could be contrasted with neon green text to draw more eyes and make the message stand out.
6. Visually Direct Eye Flow
A clever use of colors and images can have your readers' eyes flowing through your design just how you want. Consider composing your banner so the first details noticed lead naturally toward a focal point, then on to your logo and text, so the message remains in the viewer's mind well after they've passed by.
7. Find the Right Printing Service
This may be a tempting place to save money, but it may be one of the most determining factors in how your finished banner will look. There are many local printing services, or you can trust an expert commercial printing service like Banners.com and receive a quality banner print in the mail. Learn more about submitting an artwork file for printing at Banners.com.
8. Choose a Focal Point
The best way to make sure you are communicating your pole banner's message as efficiently as possible is to choose its focal point. Every pole banner should have an area of interest or point of contrast that draws attention, which then makes it easier to direct the viewer's attention throughout the rest of the banner. Commonly used focal points include attention-grabbing words or photographs with big expressions.
9. Right Colors for the Right Industry
Some colors work better with certain industries than others. Take construction, for example. Yellow works very well with anything related to construction, likely due to the large amount of construction equipment and vehicles that are yellow. So, a large majority of construction signage is colored yellow and black.
10. Proper Pole Banner Installation
If anything can turn a potential customer off to your pole banner, it would be if the pole banner was installed incorrectly. Watch the video below to see how to properly install your custom pole banner from start to finish.
To properly install your custom pole banner, you will need the included bracket system, a drill, a ladder, the pole banner itself, and steel cutters. Start by putting together the pole banner bracket system. On the brackets, there are two arrows, and these should face away from each other. Take one of the rods and insert it into the hole, then take the pin that comes with the bracket system and fit it through the holder and the rod, followed by the metal ring around the pin.
Now place it around the pole. Take the top bracket and wrap it around your desired pole, then fasten the bracket to the pole using a drill and the steel bands provided. Slide your banner onto the top bracket system on the pole, then slide the bottom bracket system into the pole pocket on the bottom of the banner and secure it with the remaining steel bracket. Make sure the rubber tips are still at the ends of the pole banner rods.
Now secure the pole banner to the brackets using zip ties, fitting them through the pole banner grommet and the bracket's metal rings. Once installed, trim off the excess steel banding from the brackets using steel cutters.
Pole Banner Product Comparison
| Feature |
Pole Banners |
Standard Bracket System |
Wind Deflecting Bracket System |
Standard Size Banners |
| Best For |
Custom two-sided pole displays |
Banners up to 24", short-term use |
Larger banners, long-term outdoor wind exposure |
General purpose signage in common sizes |
| Material |
13 oz. or 18 oz. vinyl, double-sided |
Standard adjustable mounting hardware |
Wind-flexing mounting hardware |
13 oz. vinyl |
| Mounting |
Standard or wind-deflecting brackets |
Attaches directly to pole banners |
Attaches directly to pole banners |
Grommets, hems, or pole pockets |
| Shop |
Pole Banners |
Standard Hardware |
Wind Deflecting Hardware |
Standard Size Banners |
Conclusion
Take your pole banner design and bring it to a local printing service, or send it to us here at Banners.com. Easily place your custom pole banner order and upload your own artwork using one of our supported file types. Or you could contact us directly and speak with one of our friendly customer service representatives who can help you start or complete your banner's design.