Make sure that your decals and wraps are working at their very best for your business, with our top seven tips for vehicle signage.
In our previous blog post, we wrote a complete guide to everything you need to know before opting for vehicle signage to promote your business. Here are our top tips on how to make sure your vehicle wraps and decals are working for you.
Vehicle Signage Tip 1: Ensure your wraps match your current brand assets
As with the creation of any new asset for your business, you want to make sure that they all work together cohesively with other visuals within your company. This can be as simple as having the correct code for your exact colour shade and matching fonts across all your signage.
That isn’t to say that your vehicle signage has to be an exact replica of your other signs, but for the purpose of brand recall and recognition, you want them to at least look like they identifiably go together. One of the best ways to achieve this is to get all of your signage, vehicular or otherwise, made by the same sign makers, that way you know that all of the particulars of your signage choices will be on file and made in the same way.
It’s also worth noting that you want to ensure consistency if you change any of your branding, such as your logos or social media handles. A lack of cohesion can be confusing and come across as unprofessional, and potentially even generating suspicion in a particularly cynical potential customer. Any time you switch things up, don’t forget to update your vehicle graphics.
Vehicle Signage Tip 2: Use signage as a chance to explore creatively
The great thing about vehicle wraps and car signage is that they don’t have to be permanent. Vehicle signage can be reworked, removed and updated relatively quickly, making it the perfect way for you to try out new ideas or promote time-sensitive campaigns.
Some companies use their vehicle signage as a chance to trial different colour ways or imagery, while others use multiple design options across a fleet of vehicles, to differentiate between delivery areas, vehicle types or product lines.
Vehicle Signage Tip 3: Don’t be afraid to use humour
Everyone remembers a good joke, it’s a scientific fact, and you can use this to your advantage in your vehicle signage. As the vehicle is away from your main store and can be removed if needed, it can be the perfect vector for having a bit of fun with your branding, and a humorous play on words could be just the thing to make you stand out from your competitors.
If it suits your branding, humour is a great way to give the impression that you don’t take yourself too seriously. Of course, there will be industries where this isn’t appropriate – but with previously sedate sectors such as life insurance now using puns and dark humour in their advertising, it is up to you to know what your customers will accept and appreciate.
Vehicle Signage Tip 4: Keep it simple
The main rule for any effective sign design is that it is readable and easy to understand in a few seconds, or the time it takes to glance at. While some signage is lucky enough to get a passive audience (the back of vans and lorries for example. In traffic, the person sitting behind them is going to have a good amount of time to stare at that spot, so they can be a great place to advertise, especially if you put on there something memorable, useful or interesting), most signs work best when they are kept simple. In the same way that you wouldn’t use multiple colours or fonts, keep the text and imagery down to a minimum – with your key message and purpose distilled as much as possible.
It is even easier to do so in the age of the internet: people no longer need to remember lengthy addresses or telephone numbers, a memorable name, slogan or image is enough to jog their memory when searching for your company online later.
Vehicle Signage Tip 5: Know the limitations of vehicle signage
While there’s massive scope for creativity when it comes to the graphic design of your vehicle wraps, there are a few rules about where the signage can be applied. Government rules stipulate which parts of a vehicle must not be covered (in summary it’s pretty much any of the forward windows, some bumper space and railings) as well as which types of vehicles cannot be covered, or some signage that vehicles must have, all of which may interfere with your design choice.
Vehicle Signage Tip 6: Think about the vehicle
Furthering on from legal limitations, it can help to think about the types of signs that will work best on each type of vehicle: A large Luton van will need vastly different design features to that of a small hatchback, for example.
The only course of action would be to assess the vehicle in question before you start planning your design. Look at the specifics: where is the car viewable from – both by other drivers and pedestrians? Will windows be covered? Will the door positions alter the design if they open/close? The latter question is especially pertinent if you will have text going across an opening, as there are ample examples online for when other words are created by opening or closing the door!
Start by drawing out the layout of the available space, from all sides before choosing what to put where. This will help you make use of every part of the vehicle, from every view, and ensure that you get the most out of your signage as possible.
Vehicle Signage Tip 7: Appeal to your target audience:
We know how exciting it can be to get creative with signage, and the desire to put your personality all over your designs can be a strong one. But while you do want to portray the ethos and imagery of your brand, you also want the signage to appeal to any potential customer, some of which may not have the same design preferences that you have.
No sign will be to absolutely everyone’s taste, and it is a tough task bridging the gap between inoffensive but dull and memorable but potentially divisive/off-putting, which is why creating signage is something that should not be rushed. Here at Medash Signs, we have decades of experience, not only in the technical aspect of making signs, but also knowledge about what works and what, generally, does not. Our experts are on hand to help you out with your vehicle signage, from the concept stage, all the way through to installation and beyond.
Extra Tip: Don’t have your own vehicle? Consider sponsoring one!
If you’re sold on the idea of vehicle advertising, but don’t have access to (or the need for) your own car/truck/cruise ship, there’s always the option of advertising on or sponsoring someone else’s. From bus or taxi wraps, to sports coaches, and racing cars, there’s so much choice out there for getting your brand in front of a diverse range of people, and media buyers can help your branding get out on the open road.
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Vehicle signage is the most cost effective way to brand your company cars and transport vehicles, as well as a helpful way to boost brand awareness. Our experts are on hand to offer assistance in making sure your graphics suit your purpose and company perfectly, right from the design stage, all the way through to installation and beyond. Get in touch today and start making your company vehicle work for you.