The Real Cost of Truck Wraps

We all know that budgets can be difficult to create and even more difficult to operate a business by. Hidden expenses nearly always find a way to increase our spending and render our calculations inaccurate. With Truck graphics, this fact looms large for every fleet manager and business owner alike. Traditional vinyl truck wraps can be expensive to install, and even more costly to change.

The info graphic below takes a closer look at the real cost of Truck Wraps and gives an easy to understand comparison to the cost of Frame and Banner Graphic options:

[click on info graphic to enlarge]

For more information on how Frame & Banner Graphics can save your company thousands of dollars click here

This Simple Tip Will Save You Thousands On Truck Graphics

Whether you understand the marketing power of Fleet Graphics or you simply put your company name on your trucks, I think we all would love to save some money in this area. Depending on the size of your fleet, even a small savings per truck can add up to huge revenue added to your bottom line. If you purchase box truck graphics, trailer graphics, vinyl truck wraps or truck decals, the following tip will help you.

In this quick 30 second video, you will learn one simple tip that could save you thousands on your Truck Graphics. I don't mean thousands on your fleet, I mean thousands per truck! Check it out and you can thank me later.

For more money saving ideas for your fleet, visit our website www.ez-change.com

Is the condition of your Fleet costing you customers?

What do consumers see when they look at your company trucks?

That's the million dollar question isn't it. What kind of message is your truck fleet conveying to potential customers? If you don't think that question is important, than you haven't looked at the research.

The American Trucking Association conducted a study which showed us that 98% of consumers said Truckside Advertising had "more impact than billboards". Wow! That's an amazing statistic considering that US companies spent 4.4 billion dollars on outdoor advertising in 2013 according to the Wall Street Journal.

What you should take from the 2 facts above is that outdoor messaging makes a huge impact on consumers. That impact will only increase considering that Americans are spending more and more time commuting to and from work. In the chart below you can see the increase in Outdoor Ad Revenue over the last 5 years.

The reason for the steady increase is that consumers pay attention to advertising while they are in their cars. The more time Americans spend in the car, the more exposure they have to outdoor advertising. What that means for you is, the more exposure they have to fleet messaging as well.

First Impressions

Often times, your trucks are the first impression a consumer might get of your company. If someone has never searched for your product or service, then the only information about your company they may have is the impression your trucks leave on them. As you know, first impressions can be very powerful. 

An article in Psychology Today explains the impact of first impressions like this:

 "The exaggerated impact of first impressions is related to the halo effect, that phenomenon whereby the perception of positive qualities in one thing or part gives rise to the perception of similar qualities in related things or in the whole."

You can imagine, the same Halo effect holds true in a negative way. How likely are you to draw a favorable opinion of a moving company, if your only contact with them is an old dirty truck with dings and dent? Regardless of their actual performance, it's reasonable to conclude that you would not trust them with your valuables.

The good news is that we can greatly affect consumer impressions of our business with the condition of our fleet. Potential customers are far more likely to use our products or services, if they have a favorable opinion of our brand from the onset. In fact, a study by National Family Opinion on truckside advertising reported 3 important findings about the impact trucks can have on consumers.

52% of respondents reported 

an increased awareness of a campaign as a result of truckside ads.

56% of respondents said that 

when they see an ad on the side of a truck, they perceive that company to be a successful one. 

67% of respondents believed that 

a product advertised on the side of a truck was bought and used by their neighbors. 

Those findings only reinforce the idea that the condition and messaging of your company's fleet is a vital component of your brand. The amount of influence those factors have on consumers is only made greater when you consider the number of impressions your fleet will make daily.

A typical Truck Graphic will generate between 30,000 and 70,000 impressions daily. That adds up to more than 11 million impressions per year. Now multiply that by the number of trucks in your fleet, and you're looking at astronomical figures.

I hope by now you understand how the appearance and condition of your fleet reflects on a consumer's perception of your business. The goal of this article is to shed some light on just how big of an impact it can really make. Looking at your fleet as an extension of your brand, will help you create and maintain a positive impression. There is no other medium that can reach as many people for as little cost. 

So my question to you is: What kind of impression is the condition of your fleet leaving on potential customers?

For great fleet graphic design tips, download our Free E-Book:

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Should I Use Truck Wraps or Frame and Banner Graphics For My Fleet?

Lately, I have received several questions regarding the pros and cons of Adhesive Truck Wraps (Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Vinyl) verses Frame and Banner Systems. As the popularity of fleet advertising grows, the question of how to produce the most cost effective ads becomes an essential one. To get an accurate answer to this question, you must look at several different factors that play into your decision making process. As with most things, there are pros and cons to both products depending on what you are using them for. 

Today, I will lay out 2 basic uses for both products, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each. 

Shopping for Frame and Banner Fleet Graphics? My Advice Is: Try It Before You Buy It.

Have you ever ordered something from from a website that appeared to be exactly what you needed, but when it came, the product fell short of expectations?

I think it's safe to say that it's happened to all of us. In this day and age of exploding e-commerce, the opportunity to actually touch a product before we buy it, is becoming a thing of the past.

So how can you be sure that the Frame and Banner Graphic System that you choose is the right one for your needs?

If you are considering multiple products, how can you be sure that you are comparing Apples to Apples?

Are Your Fleet Graphics Reaching Their Full Potential

If your fleet is branded with fleet graphics of any sort, then you are on the right track. A company with a fleet of trucks can make an impression on tens of thousands of consumers per day. Missing out on that opportunity is like throwing money right out the window.

Once you realize the marketing potential of your fleet, it's time to think about the most effective way to maximize it. I've talked in the past about 2 ways to look at fleet graphics: Business Cards or Billboards. You have to look at your truck graphics and ask yourself; what kind of impression are they leaving. Are they attracting attention? Is your message memorable? Is the message up to date?

If you think of your fleet as business cards, then the content of your message won't matter much. Assuming your basic business information doesn't change, your potential customers will always see the same message. Or will they? Is a business card really memorable? Does it attract attention? Odds are, the answer to all of those questions is no.

However, if you think of your fleet as rolling billboards, then there are certain elements you will need in order to maximize their effectiveness.

The following are 3 simple rules to follow that will increase your Fleet's chances of success:

1. Keep It Simple

The #1 rule of billboard (and fleet graphic) design is Keep It Simple. You have to keep in mind that people will have an average of 5 seconds to see your truck's message. You must resist the urge to tell your whole story with one graphic. Narrow your message down to one simple idea that people will comprehend and recall. This one rule alone will increase your fleets effectiveness enormously.


2. Make It Stand Out

What grabs peoples attention while driving? Well there are 3 basic elements that help attract someones eyes quickly. First is Contrast. You must use contrasting colors in your design to make your message stand out. Second is Images. Using hi-rez images in your design will make your message infinitely more compelling. Third is Font. Using simple but attractive font in your copy will help people recognize and understand your message quickly.


3. Keep It Fresh

What's the point of having a billboard with a message that's 5 years old. Consumers won't react as well to the same to message they have seen over and over again for years. Part of what attracts peoples attention while driving is seeing something new. Think about that for a minute, have you ever strained to see a roadside billboard that you've driven by hundreds of times?  No, its that new billboard that grabbed your attention and made you do a double take.

I know keeping your fleet graphics fresh can be a challenge considering the expense involved with changing traditional fleet wraps. Understandably, many companies end up sticking with the same message for 5 years or more for budgetary reasons. Fortunately today there are frame and banner solutions that make graphic changes easy and incredibly affordable. Utilizing a Frame and Banner system can help you apply all of these rules and give your fleet the best chance for success.

96% of targeted audience noticed truckside advertising according to a study conducted by the American Trucking Association. 

Wow, what a statistic. Potential customers will notice truck graphics, but you must first get their attention. Once you have their attention, they need to comprehend your message quickly. Finally, you need to keep their attention to make a lasting impact. Applying the 3 rules mentioned above, will give your fleet the best chance of reaching it's full potential.


For more help crafting fleet advertising, you can download our Free E-book:

 


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5 Steps To Create The Perfect Advertising Message

3 Easy Ways Truck Graphics Can Promote Your Business.

by Jeffery Fox (@jefferydavidfox)


In today's crowded market place, it has never been more important to standout from your competition. Doing so has, in many ways, become increasingly difficult. With an avalanche of digital and mobile technology demanding our attention, billboard advertising remains a highly effective yet expensive form of attracting 
potential customers. Without a doubt, every size business would love to have the advertising budgets to carry out billboard campaigns. In reality, most small to medium size businesses have no such luxuries.

The good news is that recent advancement in Fleet Graphics technology has made it possible to turn ordinary truck fleets into rolling billboards. Many small businesses have discovered the awesome power and versatility of using their existing trucks to promote and advertise their brands.

Here are 3 easy ways to use your existing trucks to promote your business:

1. Park Your Truck in Strategic Places.

What is the point of creating an awesome marketing message if no one sees it? The most valuable aspect of a "Billboard on Wheels" is, the ability to move it around. Even the most effective highway billboard is limited in exposure to the people who drive past it in a given day. With your new Mobile Billboard, you can bring your message directly to the people. For example: a local restaurant client of ours turned their 14 foot box truck into a billboard, advertising their happy hour specials. They knew their target customers worked in small business district 2.3 miles away. Every afternoon they would park their truck on the street where all of the business people could see it while leaving work. Before the end of the 2nd week, they had increased their Happy Hour revenue by 42%. They also realized an overall revenue increase of more that 28% due to happy hour customers returning for lunch. I would say that was pretty effective!

2. Use your Trucks for Special Events.

Does your company promote your brand through Special Events? Many small businesses use community events such as Local Fairs, Holiday Festivals, and Charity Fundraisers to spread the word about their product or service. Having the ability to display your truck billboard with a specific "offer", will greatly increase your interest with potential customers. Having your own large billboard on site will attract a lot more eyes than a folding table and some balloons.

3. Park your Truck Outside of your Business.

How amazing would it be to have a giant billboard in front of your business alerting potential customers of your exact location? I don't believe there is a single city that would grant you a permit to build such a billboard. However, you can "billboard" your truck and park it front of your business to add thousands of new impressions weekly. If people can't find you, they can't do business with you. Solve that problem once and for all with your "billboard truck".

There is one final point about trucks and advertising that I would like to leave with you. The one feature that makes a Billboard so valuable, is the ability to create and change advertisements as needed. It would make little sense to spend large sums of money for a billboard containing only your logo, that you could never change. Although outdoor advertising is great at attracting attention, an effective billboard has to be compelling and relevant. You must be able to quickly and inexpensively adjust your message to make the most of your exposure. Until recently, that was not possible using only Pressure Sensitive Vinyl (Truck Wraps) on your fleet. The expense involved with installing and removing truck wraps, made the idea of changing your marketing message nearly impossible. Luckily, today's expanding graphic options (mainly Frame and Banner), and the low cost associated with them, make using your fleet as a viable advertising medium a reality. 

The only question that remains is; when will you "billboard your fleet"?

If you would like to learn more about how our EZ-Change Fleet Graphics can help your business attract more customers, Click below and we will send Free Sample.