Website Marketing Club

Beware of the Cheap Banner, it Might Just Be Cheap

Oct 16, 2009 Advertising

Ads for really cheap vinyl banners are all over the ‘net. I mean, who wouldn’t be interested in a 4′x8′ vinyl banner for less than $70. You know what they say about things being too good to be true. Be sure to closely examine just what you are getting…

What it’s made of

Let’s look at what material is being used. Any banner that is to be used outdoors must be made of vinyl scrim if you want it to last more than a few hours. Anyone who is using any type of paper material for outdoors is just ripping you off.

Weight

This spec is the one most likely to be hidden from you in an online ad. Chances are that if the advertisement doesn’t specify what the banner weight is , they are hiding something.

Try to avoid any banners that are less than 13 ounces. The industry has determined that this is the minimum weight for outdoor durability. These ads probably offer an upgrade for additional money.

Hemming

Finishing the banner with a hem is very important. By folding under an inch of material and securing it by either sewing, welding or using banner tape, you get a banner that is significantly stronger and more durable. My preference is banner tape since it causes no damage to the graphic.

Many printers like sewing as it is very fast to do, but it has several drawbacks in my opinion. The primary one is that sewing makes the edges pucker, which can distort the image on the banner.

Also, sewing machine can scuff the graphic as they sew. If they don’t include hemming in the price, expect to pay another $20+ to get your banner hemmed.

Banner grommets

You need some way to hang the banner, don’t you? Brass grommets are cheap and at a minimum, should be placed in all four corners of the banner. A high quality printer will also place one every 2-3 feet along each side. If they bill extra for this, add another $12 or so to the price.

Conclusion

Vinyl banners are a super tool to promote your business or events. Banners offer the best return-on-investment of all advertising. Be careful when you see those ads for cheap banners, that might be just what you get.

Looking to find the best deal on Oregon Banner Printing, then visit oregonbannerprinting.com to find the best advice on banner printing for you.

Tags: Advertising, banner printing, banners, marketing, outdoor banners, small business advertising, small business marketing, vinyl banners