One way to advertise your services and help get more business is by branding your van. Here are our top tips for making your van stand out to attract new customers.
Benefits of van branding
The space on your van is essentially free advertising space. If you can make yours stand out on the road, then you can promote your business 24/7, wherever you’re driving or parked up. 3M estimates that in traffic-prone areas, vehicles are seen by up to 3,000 potential customers every hour! Customers will notice a well-designed, eye-catching van over a plain white one.
Van branding is particularly useful when you’re working on a job. Local potential customers will see you around their area and know how to contact you. Even if they don’t need your services at that moment, your company is more likely to come to mind when they do.
Good branding is likely to reassure potential customers that you’re a credible, trustworthy business with a professional image.
In some cases, van branding can also help to lower insurance premiums – that’s because branding makes your vehicle more noticeable. Plus, if your van branding is reflective, it may help to reduce collisions in the dark. A vinyl wrap can also offer some protection from small scratches and dents. Van branding will last years and years if looked after well, so it’s a great long-term advertising investment.
Van branding options
The main thing to remember is that your branding should be consistent with your branding elsewhere. It should also be easy to read and understand from a few metres away. Make sure to include your company’s logo, name and contact details so customers know how to find you. It’s great if you can also include the key services you offer. There are a few ways to brand your van:
1. Magnetic signs
Magnetic signs are one of the cheapest and easiest options to go for. They’re held strongly in place by magnets inside the van, which also makes them simple to remove. Perfect if you want to change the position of your sign or if you’re using the van outside of business hours.
2. Vinyl wraps
Vinyl wraps are the most striking and memorable type of van branding. They’re a creative way of changing your van colour without painting it, plus they add some protection from dents and are simple to remove. While they’re a more expensive option, they will easily last 8 years – which is really cost effective.
Get the most out a vinyl wrap with the help of a designer. Even though it raises the cost, a designer can create a bespoke wrap design for your vehicle type which will maximise your investment. They’ll be able to advise on font size and placement of all those necessary details, so it’s easy for a customer to read from far away. To bring the cost down, you could go for a partial wrap.
3. Individual stickers or lettering
Vinyl stickers and signage are a low-cost way of branding your van. They can be used on any part of your vehicle, such as the bonnet or rear, where it may be difficult to use a magnetic sign. However, you may need to purchase more than one sticker to include all the information you need.
For more tips and tricks to make the most out of your van, check out our Trade Advice Centre:
