Vehicle wraps are a powerful tool to have in your marketing arsenal. A single wrapped vehicle for your business can generate up to 70,000 impressions every day. Plus, over half of American consumers surveyed said that they have reached out to a business after seeing its wraps on the road.
Commercial van wraps are popular too. Businesses as substantial as Amazon Prime to small-sized delivery businesses choose to invest in vehicle wrapping, and there are so many reasons as to why – one of which being that it turns your vehicle into a mobile billboard, allowing you to advertise to your customers in a creative way.
However, wrapping vehicles effectively requires expertise. You need a signage partner that can knowledgeably guide you on the design, messaging, and more to optimize its impact. In this blog, we will explore some of the common mistakes that businesses make with their business van wraps so that you can avoid them!
Let’s Review Common Mistakes in Vehicle Wrapping
Poor Design Choices
Overcrowded designs, unflattering color schemes, and too much text are some of the most common design mistakes that business owners make. You may have seen this problem before on food truck wraps near you; they display their entire menu, the prices, images of food items, and more, making the wrap overwhelming and hard to read.
Minimize visual clutter to maximize impact. Drivers will typically look at a wrap for no more than two seconds, which is why your design needs to be comprehensive at a glance. Display only your key information and save the rest for a menu card or to be displayed on your website.
Ignoring the Vehicle’s Contours
Preparing two-dimensional designs on a computer screen is relatively easy. However, vehicles are three-dimensional objects with complex body lines and contours. Another common design mistake is not accounting for this unique shape, which leads to distorted text and images.
Work with an expert designer for your designs. They know how to use the vehicle’s contours and windows creatively and make the curves a part of the overall design. They can also show you the final design on a digital template, giving you the chance to see how it will look on your vehicle.
Low-Quality Materials
It’s a common misconception that all vinyl wraps are the same. High-quality wraps and adhesives are immediately noticeable for their vibrant colors and premium finish. They also offer greater longevity and consistent performance.
Low-quality vinyl is cheaper upfront, which may seem enticing, but don’t expect them to last as long. These sheets are often more fragile, prone to warping, and unlikely to have the same level of UV-protection as those from companies like 3M and Oracal.
Work with a signage company that prioritizes quality to ensure your wraps are printed on the right kind of vinyl.
Brand Inconsistencies
A significant mistake is not aligning the wrap’s design with your business’s branding. Using off-brand colors or different colors on different vehicles creates a disjointed experience for customers. People may even confuse your business with another business!
Begin by sharing your branding guidelines with your design team. This includes the logo, brand requirements, colors, fonts, and more. Double-check that the design created matches your branding requirements before you finalize it.
Overlooking Vehicle Functionality
Design elements that obscure vision and obstruct function should be considered, such as door handles. For example, a food truck wrap may extend too far over the windows, introducing blind spots for the driver. This can impact safe vehicle operation or even put you at risk of a traffic ticket.
Define key zones of the vehicle that cannot have any designs on them. For a food truck wrap, leave the windshield and rear windows unwrapped to make the truck easier to drive.
Missing Your Audience’s Perspective
Where do you expect your audience to see the vehicle? How fast will it be traveling when they see it? What kind of offer will appeal to them? What’s the most convenient way for them to take advantage of any offers you display?
The vehicle’s wrap will struggle to engage potential customers if you don’t consider these questions and craft your wrap accordingly.
For example, a delivery van is almost always on the move, so it’s imperative that the messages are short, and the graphics are easy to recognize in motion. A food truck wrap near you, on the other hand, will most likely be seen when the vehicle is stationary, so you can use smaller text on it, as people can get close to read them.
Failing to Plan for Replacements
Not updating wraps routinely is a common mistake. If the business has rebranded or if a promotion has ended, these out-of-date wraps may harm the business’s image or cause customer confusion.
Have a clear idea of how long you plan to keep your wraps. Vinyl lettering, which displays the business’s logo and name, can be used for many years, while others, such as ones that include promotional messages, should be updated once the promotion has ended. Food truck wraps should be updated routinely to accurately reflect your menu.
Installing Vehicle Wraps for Success
A business’s van wraps are some of the most cost-effective signs. When designed and used correctly, they can drive unmatched return on your investment. Fortunately, there are a few simple things to achieve this goal.
Start by identifying and working with a professional sign company near you. A full-service signage partner will handle all aspects of wrapping, from design to installation. A local team will also understand local preferences and will be able to advise you on marketing best practices.
Work closely with their designers for your wraps. Ask them to provide multiple design options from which you can choose. If you are applying commercial van wraps across a large fleet, it’s important that the design be scalable to a variety of vehicles.
Try and use advertising messages that will last the test of time. For example, while a seasonal sale will become outdated after a few months, a “Free Assessment” or introductory service for new customers will be applicable year-round.
Also, schedule a quick training session with employees who will be operating the vehicles. The sign company can share best practices on maintenance, using automatic car washes, and avoiding sun damage.
Work with the Top Professional Team for Your Wraps
Book a free consultation to discuss your needs with our experienced signage team today! We offer an all-encompassing experience for customers, as we handle design, printing, installation, and maintenance.