On average an adult will spend almost four years of life in their car. It doesn’t matter whether you’re driving to work, going to the grocery store, or just visiting friends; we are always in them.
While we are in our vehicles, we are also surrounded by other vehicles. This situation then creates a prime opportunity to effortlessly advertise your business. Branding your vehicle is a good investment. Mistakes regarding the design and development of the application, however, can wipe out all of your investments.
This article is a breakdown of some practical dos and don’ts to consider before you brand your vehicle.
DO Hire a Professional Designer
Before anything can be applied to your vehicle you first need a design concept. If you want your brand to be remembered for excellence then a professional graphic designer knows how to deliver just that.
Experienced graphic designers understand what is needed to effectively catch a person’s attention on the road. Your vehicle must address the following three questions:
- Who are you?
- How can you help me?
- How can I contact you?
Besides understanding the importance of a company’s brand and sticking to a brand’s identity. They will also take into account the type of vehicle you have, creating a concept tailored to fit your exact needs.
DON’T Forget these Design Rules
If you are fairly proficient in design programs like Adobe Photoshop and CorelDRAW and are planning to create your own design, here are some design rules to apply:
- Keep your message short
Too many words are distracting and cannot be read on the open road - Use attending grabbing colours
Don’t make the design too busy so your message becomes lost in the chaos - You should only use images of the highest quality
Anyone seeing your vehicle will associate the quality of your business with the quality of those images - Be practical when choosing a font
A script font looks elegant but a simple font doesn’t turn into a blur as you drive by - Ensure you use proper spelling and grammar
“Your” vs. “you’re” dinner, have two different meanings
In the first case, you are presented with a meal, while in the second case, you are the meal…
DO Invest in High-Quality Vinyl
Not all vinyl available on the market meets the same standards. Vinyl can vary in both cost and quality. There are different types of vinyl suitable for different applications. Choosing the wrong vinyl can cause poor adhesion to the vehicle’s surface, bubbling, wrinkles, and overstretching. If this happens, graphics will be distorted and colours will fade quickly.
Vinyl of higher quality will weather the elements better, last longer, show less wear and tear and overall look better. Choosing the right vinyl for your vehicle is therefore vital.
DON’T Be Tempted by Cheap Materials
Other brands might appear and feel similar, but they may not last as long and can fade or discolour over time. The worst thing about low-quality vinyl is that it can damage your paint when it is removed. Make sure that the vinyl you choose is good quality.
The use of cheap materials usually indicates cutting corners, and this will make your business appear unprofessional.
DO Use a Reputable Installation Professional
If you want the job done right, hire someone who knows what they’re doing.
Just like it requires a professional to give a car a beautiful paint job, it takes a professional to do a quality vinyl wrap as well. Just having a squeegee and knowing which side of the vinyl is sticky is not good enough.
Wrapping a vehicle professionally should be performed in a dust-free environment, preferably indoors. Cleaning and preparing the surface of your vehicle may require two or more steps. Trimming vinyl involves the use of razor-sharp blades. If done correctly, a professional will not damage your car’s original paint, while an amateur may leave scratches and cut marks.
DON’T Forget to Ask Questions
Because you are entrusting a company with your valuable business asset. It’s wise to select a company with years of experience and a high rating. Don’t feel forced to use the first person you call for a quote or a family member trying to pick up a new trade.
We suggest asking these questions before choosing the company for the job:
- Request copies of the certification for those who will install the wrap
- Ask about their cleaning procedures and that will be included in the final quote
- Find out where the wrap will be installed
- Ask about what warranty they offer and how you will receive proof thereof
- Find out about what security measures they have in place while your vehicle is on their premises
- Check what liability insurance they have to protect you if things go wrong
Be wary of any company that is not willing to answer these questions and provide you with copies of what you request.
DO Respect The Time That These Specialists Put In
It won’t be done by Tuesday afternoon if you decide to brand your company vehicle on Monday morning. Technically, you could do it, but be prepared to compromise on design, application, and overall quality.
Adding a wrap to a vehicle is a much bigger challenge than you think. It takes attention and focus to ensure that a horizontal line does not distort as vinyl wraps across the curves of a vehicle’s body. When an unreasonable deadline is set for the completion of a job, this is virtually impossible. A ‘rest period’ of between 12-14 hours follows the application of the vinyl.
During this time all vinyl on the vehicle will be heated again and allowed to fully adhere to the surface. It takes an average of 5-7 working days to transform an initial design concept into a fully wrapped vehicle.
DON’T Rush The Job
All good things come to those who wait. This cannot be truer in terms of vehicle branding. A rushed job will not be detailed well, bubbles are likely to show up and the overall finish will look unprofessional. It is possible to fix a bad car wrap, but it is still a job that should have been done correctly the first time. Not only will these types of mistakes be costly, but they can also permanently harm your brand
And That’s a Wrap
Branding your vehicle is a worthwhile investment for your business. Transforming your otherwise unnoticeable white van into a moving billboard and exposing your brand to a whole new group of potential customers.
To ensure your vehicle branding is successful, follow these dos and don’ts.
| DO: | Don’t: |
| ● User a professional designer
● Invest in High-Quality Vinyl ● Choose a Reputable Installation Professional ● Prepare for the job to take more than a day to finish |
● Complicate overly complicate your design with text and images
● Be tempted to accept cheap materials ● Use a company that isn’t willing to answer questions regarding quality control ● Rush the specialists who turn your idea into a money-making reality |
Last but not least, remember you’re driving an advertisement for your business, so drive well and keep it clean. Your vehicle represents you and your company. Your driving and maintenance of it will affect how potential customers view your company.
The potential your vehicle offers to expose your brand and grow your company is undeniable. Stick to these suggestions and get your vehicle branded now.
Signkor is s dedicated signage specialist having extensive experience in both design and application of car vinyl wraps.
Contact Signkor for advice on great vehicle branding. If you are interested in working together, call +27 (0) 11 434 2140 or send us an email.
