One of the most powerful ways to set off lettering is the shade. Once I caught on to this technique there was no turning back. Can't remember a single sign made not using some form of a drop shade of some kind. Many of the signs completed have very dramatic background for the letter to rest. Sometimes I even route out the drop shade and place the lettering inside the shade. That's what I did on a sign for Dan Davis law firm.
The point is, the easy way to make lettering appear more important is the background shade.