A freight truck sporting a large business vehicle wrap from AP Graphics

Of all the businesses that have tried vehicle wrapping, 92% have found it the single most effective form of local advertising.

And it makes sense: imagine seeing a boring ad instantly pass by in your LinkedIn feed versus a striking, memorable vehicle wrap on your daily commute.

Every brand needs a way to rise above its competitors, and business vehicle wraps are an incredible strategy.

In this blog post, we’ll cover how to leverage vehicle wrapping for your own business:

  • The A-Z Basics of Business Vehicle Wraps
  • A Step-by-Step Guide Implementing Vehicle Wraps
  • 7 Unconventional Vehicle Wrap Design Ideas
  • How to Maximize (& Measure) Your Advertising Impact

By the way — if you want a vehicle wrapping that turns heads on every street, you might need AP Graphics. Our team understands exactly how to design and fit a vehicle wrap that catches customers’ attention and boosts your OOH impressions. You can get in touch for a free quote today.

The A-Z Basics of Business Vehicle Wraps

We cover the details of all commercial vehicles wraps in more detail in our other posts, but here’s a quick crash course:

  • Full Vehicle Wraps: This wrap covers the entire vehicle, from bumper to bumper, with a custom design. It’s an ideal choice for businesses seeking maximum brand exposure.
  • Partial Vehicle Wraps: As the name implies, partial vehicle wraps cover only part of the vehicle. This might encompass half the car or key areas like the hood and doors. They offer a cost-effective alternative to full wraps while still providing substantial visibility.
  • Vehicle Decals: These are smaller, more specific designs or logos that you can apply to any part of the vehicle. They’re an excellent choice for businesses looking for a simple, low-cost way to promote their brand on the go.

Today, more than ever, memorable advertising is the only way to stand out.

This is where vehicle wraps come into play.

A professional wrapping can offer:

  • Brand Exposure: Vehicle wraps act as a moving billboard, offering constant exposure to your brand wherever the vehicle travels. This skyrockets brand awareness, reaching a larger audience than stationary signage.
  • Cost-effective Advertising: Unlike other advertising mediums with recurring costs for each ad placement, vehicle wraps require only a one-time expense. This makes them a highly cost-effective option for businesses to promote their brand over a longer period.
  • Vehicle Protection: Apart from their marketing benefits, vehicle wraps also offer a protective layer to the vehicle’s exterior. They safeguard the original paint from scratches, sun damage, and minor dents, helping maintain the vehicle’s resale value.

A Step-by-Step Guide Implementing Vehicle Wraps

Before you embark on your vehicle wrapping journey, there are a few key considerations to bear in mind:

  • Objectives: Clearly define what you hope to achieve with your vehicle wrap. This could be increased brand awareness, a specific product or event promotion, or simply a fresh update to your company vehicles. Your objectives will guide the design and implementation process.
  • Brand Messaging: Your vehicle wrap should directly reflect your brand and its messaging. Consider the key messages you want to communicate and ensure you feature them prominently in the design. This could be your company slogan, a new product launch, or a special announcement.
  • Target Audience: Identify who your target audience is. Are they local or spread out over a larger geographic area? What are their preferences and behaviors? Understanding your audience will help you create a design that resonates with them and choose the most effective locations for your wrapped vehicle to travel.

Remember, a successful wrap integrates your objectives, brand messaging, and understanding of your target audience into one cohesive design.

Here’s what that looks like in the context of the entire, step-by-step process:

  1. Design Conception: Start by brainstorming ideas for the wrap design, accounting for your objectives, brand messaging, and target audience. Use design software or collaborate with a graphic designer to bring your ideas to life.
  2. Design Refinement: Once the initial design is completed, review it critically. Ask others for their input, and consider conducting a small focus group to gain insights from your target audience. Make necessary adjustments to the design based on the feedback received.
  3. Finalizing the Design: After refining the design to your satisfaction, it’s time to finalize it. Ensure that all elements are correctly positioned, the colors match your brand palette, and the text is legible from a distance.
  4. Preparing the Vehicle: Before application, clean the vehicle thoroughly to remove any dust, dirt, or grime that could interfere with the wrap’s adhesion. This step is crucial for a smooth, bubble-free finish.
  5. Wrap Application: Finally, it’s time to apply the wrap. This process requires precision and patience and is best left to professionals. They’ll apply the wrap, smooth out any air bubbles, and trim excess material to ensure a perfect fit.
  6. Quality Check: After the wrap application, conduct a thorough quality check to ensure the wrap is applied correctly without any wrinkles or bubbles and the design appears as intended.

Remember, a successful wrap requires careful planning and attention to detail from the design stage right through to application.

7 Unconventional Vehicle Wrap Design Ideas

Wrapping your business vehicles will already set you apart. In our experience, we’ve found the most success finds you when you go above and beyond with your wrap designs.

Here’s some inspiration:

  1. Optical Illusions: Leverage 3D graphics to create spectacular optical illusions that make your vehicle wrap a head-turner. This can be a great way to create a buzz and make your brand memorable.
  2. Monochrome: Consider using a monochrome palette for an ultra-modern, sophisticated look. A black-and-white design can be striking and elegant, making a strong impression.
  3. Hand-drawn Artwork: Incorporate hand-drawn artwork or handwriting to give your wrap a unique and personalized touch. This is especially effective for artisanal, craft, or boutique businesses.
  4. Retro: Stand out from the crowd by going retro. A vintage-inspired design can evoke nostalgia and appeal to customers who appreciate a nod to the past.
  5. Bold Typography: Large, bold typography can make a powerful statement. Use your brand’s font or choose a distinct typeface that complements your brand personality.
  6. Neon Accents: Add neon accents to your design for a vibrant, futuristic feel. Neon colors can grab attention even from a distance and give your wrap a modern edge.
  7. Interactive Design: Consider an interactive design that encourages people to interact with your vehicle. This could involve QR codes, social media icons, or even augmented reality elements.

How to Maximize (& Measure) Your Advertising Impact

To maximize the advertising effectiveness

of vehicle wraps, there are a few key strategies to consider:

  1. Strategic Messaging: The message on your vehicle wrap should be clear, concise, and compelling. It should immediately grab the viewer’s attention and succinctly communicate what your business is all about. Avoid cluttering the design with too much text or complicated messaging.
  2. Consistent Branding: Ensure your vehicle wrap design aligns with your brand identity. This includes using consistent colors, fonts, and imagery across all marketing materials. A cohesive brand image can boost recognition and trust among your target audience.
  3. Tracking & Analysis: Implement methods to track the effectiveness of your vehicle wrap advertising. This could involve using a unique phone number or website URL on the wrap or asking customers how they heard about your business. Analyzing this data can provide valuable insights into the reach and impact of your vehicle wrap advertising.

6 Tools and Metrics to Assess ROI

Use these tools to evaluate the return on investment (ROI) of your vehicle wrap marketing:

  1. Unique Call Tracking: Use a unique phone number on your vehicle wrap. Services like CallRail can track these calls, providing data on the number of calls, caller location, and call duration.
  2. Custom URLs: A unique website URL or landing page can measure the amount of traffic generated by your vehicle wrap. Google Analytics can monitor this traffic, providing insights into user behavior and conversion rates.
  3. Survey or Feedback Form: Including a question on customer surveys or feedback forms asking how they heard about your business can help quantify the impact of your vehicle wrap.
  4. Social Media Monitoring: Monitor mentions, hashtags, or interactions on social media that are unique to the vehicle wrap campaign.
  5. Sales Data: Monitor sales before and after the vehicle wrap implementation. A significant increase could indicate a positive ROI.
  6. Cost Per Impression (CPI): Vehicle wraps offer a low CPI compared to other forms of advertising. Calculate the CPI to understand the cost-benefit ratio of your vehicle wrap.

By using these tools and metrics, you can gain valuable insights into the effectiveness of your vehicle wrap advertising and make informed decisions on future marketing investments.

Turn Your Business Vehicles Into Brand-Builders With AP Graphics

Here are some key takeaways:

  • Understand Wrap Types and Benefits: Explore full, partial, and decal vehicle wraps for varying levels of brand exposure and cost-effectiveness, along with their protective benefits for the vehicle.
  • Plan and Implement Wraps Effectively: Start with clear objectives and brand messaging, refine your design with feedback, and ensure professional application for a high-quality finish.
  • Embrace Creative Design Strategies: Consider using optical illusions, monochrome themes, hand-drawn artwork, retro styles, bold typography, neon accents, or interactive elements for standout vehicle wraps.
  • Maximize and Measure Advertising Impact: Use strategic messaging and consistent branding, and assess the ROI of your vehicle wraps through unique call tracking, custom URLs, and monitoring sales data and social media engagement.

Whether your fleet is large or small, vehicle wraps are an unparalleled opportunity to promote your brand to a diverse audience as your business vehicles fly through the streets.

Getting the services of experienced professionals like AP Graphics is an investment in your brand’s visibility and recognition. You’re not just getting a vehicle wrap — you’re securing a partner who is as committed to your brand’s success as you are. Get a free quote today to see where vehicle wraps can take your business.