Signage Education | Vehicle Wrap Facts: Part 3 – Wrap Design Components

So you have been looking around at car wraps and vehicle graphics and think that this may be the right move for your business. What factors should you consider when contemplating a design for your wrap?

First, like any other marketing tool, a wrap should be brand consistent and part of your integrated advertising strategy. Your wrap should be an extension of your brand image, be color and logo consistent, and echo the messages of your other marketing tools like your web page, print collateral and others. If you don’t have an existing marketing or advertising program and you are starting with the wrap, you may also want to consider the other types of marketing you are likely to do in the future so your wrap design will be flexible enough to translate to other media.

Second, how do you use your vehicle. Is it primarily on the go or is it stationary for long periods of time. Consider a radio station, for example. Their vehicles are used for remote location broadcasts and special events where the van or truck is parked prominently near their broadcasting booth. This vehicle can carry a more complex visual package than the courier vehicle that spends most of its time in motion. It’s designed specifically to attract attention and draw people in whereas a delivery vehicle should have a clean design with a few concise text lines and a easily recognizable visual or logo that quickly conveys the service the business provides.

Third, how much of the vehicle do you want to cover. Many business owners don’t want to drive a screaming advertisement down the block and would prefer something more discreet. Others have limited budgets so they need to get the most out of their spend so they target the highest visibility areas, such as the back window or tailgate on most service vehicles.

And finally, sometimes more is just more. Most business vehicles spend most of their time in motion at around 35-55 MPH. Think about that. What is your target market likely to see on your vehicle and what do you want them to remember? Sometimes it is about getting your name out there. Other times it can be generating buzz with an intriguing image. And still for others it is about catching attention and getting the prospect to call.  Keep that in mind when you consider what information and how much information you want to put on your vehicle. The best rule of thumb is to ensure that who you are, what you do, and how to reach you are covered with as few words as possible. Images that convey your business’ service are better than a laundry list on the side panel because the brain will get the image concept faster than it can read all of the things you do. 

Our best recommendation is to look around and see which wraps you notice and ask your clients what they notice and then consult with a sign professional who specializes in vehicle graphics.

For more information on vehicle wraps, contact us at info@richmondsignscapes.com or download our free vehicle wrap tip sheet. We’ll be happy to answer any questions.