Learn how effective branding on cars can transform your vehicle into a mobile billboard. We explore the different types of car branding, from simple logos to full vehicle wraps, to help boost your business.
Navigating the modern business landscape can feel somewhat like a relentless race, trying to keep up with trends and marketing tools and what your competitors are doing, on and on and on. It is a world where every advantage counts, and you need to use every aspect of your business to its full potential. While digital marketing may be shouting on your behalf online, there are some tangible IRL tools that can often get overlooked, passed over for their simplicity or rejected for being seen as old-fashioned. We prefer the term traditional branding and there is a reason why they have worked for so long. What we are talking about is vehicle branding. More than simply a way to get from A to B, or a delivery method, your car, van, moped or truck can double as a 24/7 billboard for your business. At Medash Signs, we have seen first hand just how effective branding on cars can be, effectively turning the daily driving experience into a clever, tried-and-tested marketing strategy, and the sheer number of types of car branding make it a viable option for so many businesses. Let us show you how.
How Branding on Cars Works
At the core of successful marketing is the need to leave a lasting impression, and you want that impression to be positive. Think about it this way: how many times have you been stuck in traffic, only to find yourself reading the graphics on the van in front of you? Now think of which ones you actively remember. They were memorable in some way, be it humour or an amazing image, or a slogan that just sticks in your head. But it is more than being memorable, you want to be seen as a professional and trustworthy business, and vehicle graphics can do this, as they show that you have a physical presence as well as just a website. The best thing about this is that it works whether you are a one person operation or a major enterprise. Whatever your size, branding on cars tells the world that you are taking this seriously and are in it for the long haul, so much so that you have invested in vehicle graphics.
Types Of Car Branding
As with any type of business advertising and signage method, there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to vehicle branding. Instead, it is worth taking the time to research what is on offer and which type of car branding will best suit you and your business needs. Here are the basic types of car branding currently available:
- Simple Graphics and Logos: This is the most common form of vehicle branding. They offer you a clean and professional way to display your company name, logo, and contact details in an easy to read format. We would definitely recommend them as a fantastic starting point for small businesses, offering high-impact, low-cost advertising from the get-go.
- Partial Vehicle Wraps: For those who want more than just a logo, a partial wrap covers a significant portion of the vehicle, often incorporating more complex designs, colours, and images. It creates a bold visual statement without the expense of a full wrap.
- Full Vehicle Wraps: The ultimate in vehicle branding on cars, a full wrap completely covers the car or van in a vinyl film, transforming it into a complete, custom-designed masterpiece. This is ideal for businesses looking to make a huge splash and stand out from the competition.
From a Single Van to a Full Fleet
One of the best things about vehicle graphics is their sheer versatility. The types of car branding doesn’t stop at your average Micra or Mini Cooper. What works on your small Ford Ka can be upscaled and optimised to work just as well on the expansive side of a delivery lorry, should business grow in that direction. Whatever your vehicle type, and whether you have a single car or a whole fleet of vans, the principle remains the same: your vehicle can be upgraded to become a valuable marketing asset, exposing everyone that they come across to your adverts.
For a sole trader, such as an electrician or a builder, a branded van signifies a constant state of professionalism and readiness, conveying more than a newspaper advertisement ever could. Additionally, it fosters trust with both new and prospective clients.
For a business with multiple vehicles, such as a floristry delivery service or a fast food franchise, fleet branding creates a cohesive, powerful brand identity, as well as the trust that the delivery is legitimate and trustworthy.
We have created countless vehicle wraps, logos, graphics and stickers over the years, and can offer you advice and guidance on your own car branding. We can help with all aspects of the process and for all types of vehicles, ensuring consistency across your entire set up – from the actual signage on your shop to the signage on the side of your vans. Imagine seeing a line of your branded vehicles on the motorway: it is a formidable and undeniable display of a successfully scaled business.
Why Branding On Cars In Worth In The Investment
We aren’t going to deny that you can successfully run a business without vehicle branding. But for a relatively small cost, you may be missing out on a whole host of opportunities to do even better.
Cost effectiveness:
If you are still unsure about the efficacy of branding on vehicles, then let us break it down for you in a more prosaic way: the return of interest on money spent. When compared to traditional advertising, such as print or radio, branding on cars offers a phenomenal return on investment. You pay just once for the design and application, which can stay in place for years, being seen by thousands of potential customers every single day, even when simply parked up. It truly is the marketing tool that never sleeps!
Local reach:
If you run a business that primarily relies on local clientele, then vehicle branding is literally made for you. As they whizz about the local area; visiting clients; picking up supplies; dropping off deliveries; or even just when you are off on your lunch break, they are working hard showcasing your brand to the local market, the exact type of people who are most likely to use your services.
Extra potential customers:
Then there is the extended benefit of the places that your vehicle may go. If you can cover a larger client base, do national deliveries or simply want to expand, then the fact that your vehicle will go outside of your usual remit can also be a boon. By exposing a whole new audience to your brand, you can increase your potential customers for nothing more than the cost of extra petrol.
Brand identity & professionalism:
Aside from gaining new customers there is also the benefit of sending the right message: that you are a serious, established company that has the money to spend on branding. And this is even before you think about what the signage physically says! First impressions count and branding on cars allows you to make an impression at all. Reassure your customers and stand out from the crowd, literally and figuratively, with any number of types of car branding.
Did You Know…?
We’ve touched on it above, but we really want to drive home how many eyes this type of branding can get in front of. Research has shown that a single branded vehicle can generate tens of thousands of impressions every single day? This makes it one of the single most cost-effective ways to advertise your business, while also keeping you in complete control of how your company is perceived and what appears where. Yes, there are billboards or print ads that can get equal views, but vehicle branding far outperforms this when you take into consideration the cost per impression, as they are vastly more expensive and will run in one location and for a limited time. It makes sense that if you have a vehicle that gets out and about regularly, that you should turn it into a high performing business asset with branding.
The Question Of Durability & Maintenance
We get that any type of extra branding is an investment, and you want to get your money’s worth. A common question we get is “how long will my vehicle graphics last?” The answer is a simple one: with proper care and high quality vinyl, there is no reason why your branding can’t last several years without fading or peeling.
The materials we use for our vehicle branding are specifically designed to withstand the changeable, sometimes extreme, British weather, from glorious sunshine (whose UV rays can cause fading) to heavy rain (which can cause issues with the adhesion, appearance, and long-term durability).
How long your vehicle graphics last will mostly depend on how you maintain them, but this is a fairly easy thing to do. Gentle, regular washing with mild soap to remove contaminants and airborne pollutants, is really all that is needed to keep them looking pristine.
In fact, the vinyl wrap themselves can even work at protecting your original paintwork, as they are effectively an extra layer between the outside world and your car, shielding it from minor scratches, dinks and chips.
FAQ For Car Branding
Q: Will car branding damage my vehicle’s paintwork? A: No, when applied and removed correctly by professionals, vinyl graphics will not damage your vehicle’s paint. The adhesive is specially designed to be non-damaging and can even protect the original paint from minor scuffs and sun exposure.
Q: How long does it take to get a vehicle branded? A: The time frame can vary depending on the complexity of the job. A simple set of graphics might only take a few hours, while a full vehicle wrap can take 1-2 days. We always provide a clear timeline during the quoting process.
Q: Can vehicle graphics be removed? A: Yes, absolutely. Vehicle graphics and wraps can be professionally removed without causing damage to the paint underneath, making it a perfect solution for leased vehicles or when you need to update your Branding On Cars.
Ready To Turn Your Vehicle Into A Powerful Marketing Tool?
At Medash Signs, we can take all of the hassle out of vehicle branding. As a sign-making business based in Kent, we understand the local market and are always on hand to help you get your business on the road to success, quite literally, when it comes to branding on cars.
Our experienced team can guide you through every step of the process from initial design concepts, to the final application and beyond, ensuring that your brand looks immaculate from day one.
Get in touch to begin a discussion about your company’s needs and you’ll quickly discover for yourself just how powerful branding on cars can be in helping your business get the attention it deserves.