Best 6 Ways to Use Your Fleet Vehicles as Advertising

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You already know that word-of-mouth advertising is one of the most affordable and effective forms of promotion you can get. You also know that wrapping your fleet vehicles is smart business because neighbors will notice the logo, possibly jot down the number, and give you a call when they need HVAC service.

Vehicle wrapping is said to have started in 1993 with PepsiCo. They painted their bright red and blue logo on Seattle city buses and a trend was started. Today, it is commonplace to wrap vehicles as well as use personal vehicles and city transportation for advertising.

According to OAAA, in most cities, a wrapped vehicle can result in 30,000 to 70,000 impressions each day. That is a lot of advertising potential in something you have to provide to run your business anyway.

There are some things HVAC companies can do that will allow their vehicles to serve as a mobile advertisement. In addition to the obvious solution of having fleet vehicles wrapped, there are some other things you’ll want to pay attention to.

Cleanliness of Vehicle
It is extremely important that vehicles are maintained and look sleek and fresh. This means fixing any spot that might be peeling after years of being outdoors, repairing nicks and dings, and making sure all lights are in working order. Potential customers will evaluate the dependability of your company based on how your vehicle looks.

Keep in mind that the interior of the vehicle should be kept to a certain standard. If the customer sees empty takeout wrappers filling the dashboard, that can present a very unprofessional appearance.

Mechanical Maintenance
In addition to maintaining the appearance of fleet vehicles, ensure that the mechanical end of things is top notch. No one wants oil stains on their driveway after one of your vehicles comes out on a service call. At the same time, if a vehicle breaks down on the side of the road, every person who drives past sees your company name on the side of the service van. Even worse, break downs can cause technicians to get to appointments late. Maintain a regular service schedule to maintain your overall reputation.

Go Bold on the Phone Number
Sure, you have a phone number on your vehicles, but how easy is it to remember and how viewable is it while the vehicle is in motion? First, you may want to invest in a number that allows for an easy word to remember, such as 555-HEAT. Second, make the phone number bigger, darker, and bolder. Take the time to drive behind and beside one of your fleet vehicles and see how noticeable the name and number are. Ask yourself if you were seeing the van for the first time if you would know what the business was and how to get in touch.

Professional Appearance of Technicians
Think about who is behind the wheel of your fleet vehicles. Do you help your technicians maintain professional looking uniforms that are clean and well kept? There are uniform servicing companies that will take care of providing, cleaning and maintaining uniforms. Since your technicians are your front line that customers and potential customers see, invest in their appearance.

Don’t Just Wrap, Invest in Advertising
Don’t just go to the first vinyl company you find. Instead, work with a company that has a lot of corporate clients and perhaps even a PR person in house. Ideally, the right vinyl wrapping company will provide a consultation about your brand image, what colors work best with your vehicles and choices of images and designs. It’s worth paying a little more for something that will be this visible to the community around you.

A professional with years of experience will understand that you shouldn’t use a dark graphic on a dark vehicle for example, or it may not be as visible. You should also be able to ask questions about durability and get clear cut answers.

People Love Free Stuff
Consider adding something about free estimates or consultations. People like the assurance of knowing they can call your company and get an estimate without having to pay a service call (unless, of course, you are servicing the unit as well). Who knows, you might even decide to show up with one of your fleet vehicles to community events and pass out some free T-shirts with your company branding on them. This is another form of advertising that can help spread the word about your company.

Be on the lookout for other ways to get your company fleet in front of potential customers (essentially any home owner in your service area). Vehicles are just one efficient way to advertise to a lot of people in a short amount of time.

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Posted In: ACCA Now, Vehicles & Fleets