The short answer is… “it depends.”
There’s no one-size fits all solution to vehicle signage, but there are a few things to consider if you want your signage to generate enquiries. For example:
- Are you a new or established business?
- Are your vehicles modern or looking old and tired?
- Do you have strict branding guidelines or are you willing to give some creative license to the designer?
- What is your budget allowance?
Here, we break down what to consider before talking to a vehicle signage specialist to get the best result for your designs.
New vs Established Businesses
New businesses often splash out on extra bells and whistles to grab the most attention on the road. On the other hand, established businesses tend to stick with their established brand guidelines to reinforce brand awareness. Effective signage should have enough creative flair to make your business, product or service appealing — it should also follow important design principles like clear, uncluttered messaging and clever use of logos, and branding elements.
Modern vs Outdated Vehicles
Late model vehicles generally provide better canvases for signage and tend to draw more leads than old, tired looking vehicles — especially for fleets. However, your fleet doesn’t have to be top-of-the-line to make an impact. Most companies use mid-budget late-model vehicles that make your signage stand out for the right reasons. While some older vehicles can turn heads, we recommend sticking with newer models.
Branding & Design
While consistent branding is an important part of vehicle signage, creative license is crucial to the success of a ‘lead generating’ vehicle signage project or campaign. However, adhering to strict branding guidelines can sometimes cause limitations when trying to create the best wow factor — especially for large organisations with multiple stakeholders and marketing departments. Choose a designer you trust to respect your branding while adding enough creative flair to create a head-turning design.
Budget
Understanding your budget is a vital piece of the puzzle and dictates the coverage and the ‘wow’ factor that can be achieved. That said, a large budget is not the be all and end all. A good supplier will recommend options to maximise vehicle’s street appeal while sticking to a smaller budget with clever use of production and install methods.
So, how do you choose the right vehicle signage supplier?
To get the best results for your project, choose a supplier with in-house design capabilities. After all, you need signage that suits your vehicle and some graphic designers won’t understand the nuances of vehicle design.
By dealing with a signage specialist, you’ll save time and money and prevent design issues occurring down the track.
We also recommend choosing a supplier that understands marketing principles and the psychology behind what works and what doesn’t work for vehicles.
Effective designs will feature minimalist designs and a clear call to action like a QR code, something that your average graphic designer won’t include — plus, QR codes are a great way to help you measure the success of your new signage.