Introduction
Every business has its own theory regarding what drives the most form of attention from customers. Some of the ways to attract passersby’s attention are through amazing offers, deals, or promotions. But this is not enough to draw in a big chunk of the footfall passing by your establishment.
Also, you need something large, vibrant, colorful, and genuinely eye-catching to make your passersby take notice of your product or service offering. With a large, bright sign for open, this is achievable.
When it comes to colorful or bright signage, neon lights are the first things to think of. They are no doubt a wonderful way of attracting customers to your business.
After all, they have strong aesthetics and can light up any window with remarkable ease. While neon signs have been the go-to form of advertising for businesses, the LED market has also become incredibly popular.
So what’s the difference between the two? In this article, we show you the main differences between these two forms of advertisement so you can make a well-informed decision when purchasing.
NEON SIGNS
Neon lighting is made of glass tubes that get to be heated over an open flame, before being bent to form the desired shape. After the heating, the tubes are then filled with an inert gas like argon or neon. Xenon is also widely used to make neon signs. They emit light when energy is released with the tubes since they are electrically charged.
While neon signs require an expert to manufacture, they are still much less complex compared to LEDs, which are usually machine-produced on a large scale. LEDs exist in hundreds different types, variations, and makes, and all these have varying quality levels that tend to inform their life expectancy. Tubes also have a fairly good life expectancy provided they are filled and manufactured properly.
Neon signs may have been overtaken by LED signs but they still remain a popular option for businesses that want to advertise. They are visually attractive and have proper protection and safety features. People who need advertising that gives them maximum impact will usually turn to neon.
LED SIGNS
LED lights are completely different from neon lights in the way they are made. LED is an abbreviation for light-emitting diode, and these are the components used for creating a steady source of light. These lights are strung together tightly to make the light they produce to overlap, and this is what creates that steady source of light.
While neon lights have protective safety features, LEDs are more robust and have polymer jackets that protect the individual diodes. When LEDs get damaged, fixing them is more difficult as they have to be repaired to the base. Neon signs, on the other hand, are easier to fix since all you need to do is to get a new glass tube.
The main difference between these two forms of advertising comes in the way that they are used. With a neon sign, you display it just the same way it is. The look of the tube’s warm glow of light is easy and pleasant to the eyes. Since LEDs light up as opposed to glowing, looking at them is quite harsh on the eyes.
Usually, LEDs will need some kind of diffusers to avoid hurting the eyes since they are very bright. This means you can look at a sign for open for as long as you like and not strain your eyes.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO?
Electricity Consumption
One of the key business expenses is electricity use. Therefore, saving some money on your electricity bills is something you cannot just wish away. The LED lights by Green Light Technology uses just 1.2 watts of electricity per hour. If you compare this with roughly 20 watts per hour that neon signage uses, you realize that you will get great cost savings with LEDs. Therefore, while LEDs might cost somewhat more on the upfront costs, it will save you a lot of money down the line.
Versatility
Traditional neon signs are not versatile. They remain fixed off or on with no capability to customize the visual experience.
With LED signs, you have more versatility and creativity. This is because these lights are composed of tens of thousands of individual lights that you can program independently to be ‘active’. LEDs can change light and flash or fade. Also, the fact that there are different varieties of LED bulbs gives you room to be creative with designs without regard to the space you are trying to illuminate. On the other hand, tubes are not easily bendable and just blink on and off. LED lights obviously turn more heads.
Brightness
LED signs give you a consistent brightness that makes them easy to see even from a distance. Traditional neon signs can sometimes be difficult to make out from afar especially at night. You can dim LED lights just as much as you want it, whether for nighttime or day time display. This feature allows you to control the energy consumption of your LED signs. The personalized LED lights from Green Light Innovations are more energy-efficient and also brighter. The ability to configure brightness allows for the flexibility of display.
Branding Matches
LEDs have a nearly unlimited range of colors. Thanks to this, it is easier for business owners to express brand image more precisely, something that’s key in maintaining brand identity.
Conclusion
The choice between LED and neon signs for advertising comes down to what you want to achieve with your advertising and the type of look that appeal most to you. LEDs are the brighter ones and more cost-effective. They are also easy to install and have nearly no maintenance costs. LEDs also are more visible even from far and will display your message better.
Contact GreenLight Innovations for brighter signs that give you the maximum impact at greenlight-innovations.com. We will be on standby to talk to you about the different LED options you have, including a sign for open.