If you really want your school to make an impression on your community, you know it takes great academics, teachers, and administrators. But it also takes a great sign. Exterior school signs are a must to identify your campus. Those with a changeable message or electronic moving message (LED) areas are even more useful. They not only identify your facility, but also increase communication with students, parents and your community.

Announcing events, promoting fundraisers and recognizing achievements are only a few examples of the benefits of exterior school signs with message areas. While many schools lack the necessary funds to buy or lease these valuable signs, many schools have found a way push their signs into the 21st century at absolutely no cost to them.

Take Apollo Beach Elementary School in Florida, for example. Apollo Beach Elementary was one of the schools that put up a new LED electronic message center sign for free. They were got donations from local businesses to cover the cost of the sign. The companies donated funds for the new sign in exchange for the school featuring their company name on the base of the sign.

And the best part of the deal -- everyone benefitted. The school received a brand new sign to help increase communication with everyone who passes by the school each day. And the community recognizes the businesses as generous supporters of the school -- which is good for their business.

You can get a free sign for your school too! All you have to do is simply follow these three easy steps:

(1) Determine who would be the best person or group to approach local businesses. In some cases, this might be the headmaster or superintendent. But it could be members of student organizations, such as student council, Key Club, Beta Club, or the National Honor Society. Or it could be students from the athletic department, such as cheerleaders or specific team members.

In some schools, it's the PTA/PTO or booster clubs that are best positioned to contact the businesses (in fact, some of them may own those businesses). And still other schools use a combination of the three.

After you've determined who will approach the businesses, it's time for the second step.

(2) Identify which businesses in your community are most likely to sponsor a school sign. The types of businesses that have been known to sponsor sign projects for other schools include:

* Insurance Agencies
* Real Estate Agencies
* Service Organizations (Junior League, MADD, etc.)
* Automotive Dealers
* Service Businesses
* Dentists
* Pediatricians
* Restaurants

However, this is by no means an exhaustive list. There are plenty of retail stores and other businesses in your community you should contact.

These first two steps are vital to your success. But neither of them are as important as the third step.

(3) You have to know what to say before you talk to these businesses. Here are some ways to prepare:

* Develop a sample script to follow when you contact the businesses. A script will give you confidence and it will show the business that you've done your homework.
* Obtain a quote from a reputable sign company, preferably one that specializes in school signs and provides a lifetime warranty. When the business sees you're in this for the long haul, they're more likely to become a sponsor.
* Be sure to tell them the benefits that the sign will bring to the school, the community, and to their business.
* Before you contact the business, send them a letter or postcard (everyone reads postcards) and following up with a phone call. Ask if you can stop by to tell them about the school and what they will be sponsoring. Tell them their name will remain on the sign permanently.

Does this method work? Absolutely! Wentzville Schools followed these steps and received donations in the range of $15,000 from builders in their area for new school signs. You too can work with your local businesses and let your community know about the good things that are happening at your school! Businesses will want to be a part of your success and vision.