Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Jason Hedges on September 24, 2006, 10:45:38 pm

Title: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: Jason Hedges on September 24, 2006, 10:45:38 pm
Hi all,

Thinking about having my van signwritten. Took some photos of it and had a play with lettering and paint shop pro. Ignore quality and colour differences, just want your ideas on wording and layout please.

I want to keep it simple and to the point and easily read from distance.

Best quote for what I've shown here fully fitted is £200.

(http://www.dirt-busters.co.uk/vanlettering2.jpg)

(http://www.dirt-busters.co.uk/vanbacknewlettering.jpg)

Any comments / suggestions appreciated!

Kind regards,
Jason.
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: www.crawleycarpetc on September 24, 2006, 10:50:15 pm
To keep it simple i would cut your bullet points and have your phone number in place, nice and big so people driving along can catch it!

regards Rob.
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: Jason Hedges on September 24, 2006, 10:59:33 pm
Hi Rob,

Thanks for reply.

This is a picture of previous livery but with 0800 number which did not work, even had address to show I was local. Think now that local numbers are more effective.

(http://www.dirt-busters.co.uk/oldvanlettering.jpg)

Thought bullet points would give a few details.

All the best,
Jason.
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: www.crawleycarpetc on September 24, 2006, 11:04:51 pm
Hi Jason,

I honestly think the one with 0800 number is better ( just my opinion ) after all if you are driving along and you see your van what do you think? Lets have a read!? No you think s#it i need a carpet cleaner whats that number.

In my opinion people read bullet points in newspapers etc not on the side of vans. But good luck with whatever you decide.

Rob.
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: Jason Hedges on September 24, 2006, 11:15:01 pm
Thanks again Rob,

I did get a bit of work from the old livery but a lot of people (friends and neigbours) thought I was a national franchise. Nothing wrong with that of course but thought I would be more expensive.

Could do the same but with local and mobile numbers bigger on side.

Thanks for feedback.

All the best,
Jason.
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: www.crawleycarpetc on September 24, 2006, 11:17:15 pm
Dirt busters is a franchise isn't it?
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: *paul_moss on September 24, 2006, 11:24:30 pm
Jas
looks good,the only thing I would add is to just brighten it up a bit maybe a mix of colours add a bit of red,it does make it stand out.
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: Jason Hedges on September 24, 2006, 11:30:06 pm
I'm not a franchise, there are other dirtbusters around but no franchises as far as I know!

All the best,
Jason. 
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: Jason Hedges on September 24, 2006, 11:37:56 pm
Hi Paul,

Thanks for the comment, hope all is well and you're nice and busy!

Sold that host machine on and is gonna cost nearly £500 to repair ;D!

Did a multi coloured version of picture. Think it looks like a childrens entertainer though. Perhaps just another single colour would look better!

Here it is:

(http://www.dirt-busters.co.uk/colourvanlettering.jpg)

All the best,
Jason.
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: Neil Grainger on September 25, 2006, 07:39:26 am
Jason

this works for me very well, some say over the top but get about 4-5 enquires a week just from people seeing the van.

Its an advert after all so use the space to fill it up.
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: terrymaloy on September 25, 2006, 09:09:49 am
Hi Jason,

Ever thought of adding a BIG PHOTO ? Doesnt cost a great deal more and I can assure you, you're van WILL get noticed.

I 've sent you an e mail what mine looks like done recently for £220

I'd post it on here but cant get the hang of it !!

Cheers,
Terry
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: Adam Young on September 25, 2006, 10:40:04 am
Hi Terry,

When you reply go to additional options on the bottom left of the page click browse it'll let you select youre desired photo. Open it the location will be listed in the attach box then post if the photo comes up in you're post blank with a red X box the file is probably too large,

Best,

Adam.
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: Jason Hedges on September 25, 2006, 10:55:00 am
Hi Neil,

Thanks for the post.

Nice looking van, good wording as well. I'm not surprised you get good response rates from it! Given me a few ideas.

Hi Terry,

Thanks for the email!

Very nice as well.

All the best,
Jason.

Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: Adam Young on September 25, 2006, 10:59:59 am
Hi Neil,

Can you post me as well please, I'm getting my van signed up next week.

Thanks. Adam.

techniclean@hotmail.co.uk
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: benny d on September 25, 2006, 02:43:52 pm
Why not have "Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning" as the main top wording, as that is what you are trying to sell. Then put "Dirtbusters" underneath that?

Surley it is your profession that you are trying to get attraction to, and then the name of the company. Thats what I have done, and this I believe is the correct way to do it.
Regs
Ben
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: craigp on September 25, 2006, 03:02:27 pm
absolutely correct Benny.

company name is not important, its the message.

i would go further and just have 'Professional Carpet Cleaning'

as upholstery is only a small percent of my work anyway.

no need to say 'insured' surly that goes without saying, Tescos or any other company dont advertise there insured do they.

same goes for Domestic/ commercial, as if you turn commercial down. people will
assume you do both, why would'nt you?

i would also lose the 'no job to small'  as not writing it does not stop em unfortunaly >:(

i rather say the reverse, dont phone with little poxy jobs, lol. ;D
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: Neil Grainger on September 25, 2006, 04:50:50 pm
Your right, name does not matter, but what your are try to get is peoples attention.

Peolpe look at my Van because I think that its ott, but thats the point of Van marketing. It draws your attention to it.

People in the street are not always looking for the service being advertised but this triggers their attention. Neighbours are nosey so will come and ask because they have had their attention grabbed by the over the top van graphics.

I freely admit that its OTT but it works. Its the 100% star that grabs their attention, once I have that they read the rest to find out what you do. Has to be a trigger on the van to get them to read the rest because Van marketing is chance marketing without targetting anyone type of market.

We all drive past 1000's of people a week and sit in traffice a lot so you can get people to read whats on it so why not put as much info on it as possible.
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: craigp on September 25, 2006, 05:16:50 pm
hi neil, i see your point and can see how it works, i saw a fast track van the other day, i was at the lights his turning was green and i watched a man on the corner waiting to cross, you should of seen his head track that van till it was out of sight! his has a star on it to, his says 20 times more powerfull bumph.

i can just see one problem with yours, 'competitive rates' why would you want to say that?

customers expect  you to be cheap now.
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: Steve Chapman on September 25, 2006, 05:34:29 pm
Have to disgaree on the company name thing, you want people to remember your company so when they go home they will look it up and phone you!

Most will not be able to remember from van alone!!!

Otherwise you could be any old carpet cleaner. ::)

And a picture speaks a thousand words,   most remember mine from the picture of a doctor on it and gets people talking!

a logo of some kind is good, people very often don't read lines and lines of writing on vans, so less is more imho,

regards
steve
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: craigp on September 25, 2006, 06:05:30 pm
yes a unique identitiy is good for rememberability once they have used you, but thats nothing to do with reasons they will call in the first place.
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: Kinver_Clean on September 25, 2006, 06:27:27 pm
I think a piccy is effective. My Yell ad went up by a considerable amount when I put a photo on it- I think the same for a van.
I have not had my van written as I do a lot of work for other companies who dont want my name pushed. (not sub contract-I set the prices) The van is getting old now for signing anyway, its a tossup whether to go for a new one or retire gracefully.
If I do get a new one it will be signed.
It also makes you drive more considerately.

Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: Neil Grainger on September 25, 2006, 06:48:58 pm
Craig

Competitive does not mean cheap in my mind, Never come accross anyone focusing on the price that has picked out the van and called.

I sell myself from the quotes, I explain all the pro's and con's about CC but price is only a problem to people that want it for next to nothing anyway and none of us want these customers anyway.

Cheers

Neil

Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: craigp on September 25, 2006, 08:10:38 pm
ive just learnt its best not to say some things as if a customer wants to use you they will anyway, i used to say on leaflets 'we move furniture no extra cost' want a prat i know, well if i never wrote it i had the job anyway, only now i had to move there bloody furniture, and they excpect me too alright!

now that i dont say this customers say to me on the phone, "oh i can move most things but would you mind helping me with a large table we have?"

i say " well we dont mind helping you move a few things" like im doing them a favour now ;)
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: the red carpet on September 27, 2006, 07:54:13 pm
Anyone seen the new Alltec demo van? now that is ott.

And ott is good in my opinion, it creates interest, my new van will be a headturner when i get it done i know that.

As for a message im gonna go with

"DO YOUR CARPETS NEED CLEANING??" 

or

"COULD YOUR CARPETS DO WITH A CLEAN??"

This in my mind, attracts attention, and most people will be thinking, oh yeah they do actually.

If your van stands out the same people will see it over and over, and eventually that question will bug the hell out of them and they will give in (thats the theory anyway)

Other things i think that are worth doing with vans are, the buisness card holders you get, or a leaflet box on the side, some people might not be interested enough to stop and take down your number at that time but might just grab a leaflet or card to read latter.

I also like the idea of directing people to a recorded message or website where they can get more info without feeling threatened, a large percentage of the jobs i get from my leaflets say they have looked at my site first.
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: Adam Young on September 27, 2006, 09:02:15 pm
Hi All,

Red, my thoughts too.

My vans getting signed next week on the back above the doors I pose the Question in bright red.NEED YOU'RE CARPETS AND UPHOLSTERY CLEANED???The same at the top of the front windscreen. I'd get it on the sides, but it's only a Berlingo so limited for space.

My local Guy's excellent and can supply anywhere. www.cca-signs.co.uk

Regards, Adam.
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: Eureka Ventures on September 27, 2006, 11:08:03 pm
Adam

Should read 'need YOUR carpets...'

Freddie
Title: Re: Van signwriting Any thoughts!
Post by: Adam Young on September 28, 2006, 12:04:49 am
Thanks for spotting the Typo Freddy, thankfully its only in this post!

Regards,

Adam