Local businesses get most of their business from their immediate communities. While Google Local is taking off, you may also want to capitalise on those people who don't spend as much time online - those who are moving about the community, driving around and those that you simply get in touch with. We're going to discuss how you can market to them.

Car signage is a highly effective way to promote your business within your local community and wherever you drive around. There are many different types of vehicle branding, including:

• Car magnets, such as those used by estate agents.
• Decals that include a sign on each of the front doors and at the back.
• Partial wraps, which is a nice design and great graphics that cover 1/4 to 3/4 of the vehicle.
• Full wraps, which cover the entire car.
• Colour change wrap, which is a full wrap without any branding.

These types of signage are appropriate for any local business owner wishing to find a cost-effective marketing method. Vehicle branding has been proven to be effective. You can spend the same amount of money you would spend on one small newspaper add on vehicle branding that will last for years. Let's face it - nobody responds to an ad the first time they see it. Research has proven that an ad is often only effective after the 6th time someone sees it. When people in your captive area see your vehicle with branding on it, they will take notice, which means it has a high impact. It also brings about a professional image, as you look serious and credible.

However, when you drive out of your city or town, it is still visible. Someone else may notice it and if they need your services they will call.

 

What Makes Vehicle Branding So Effective?

A branded vehicle is eye-catching, provided you don't just put your phone number on the door, hoping people will notice. Your vehicle branding should be an extension of your main brand and it should stand out. Your branding will depend on the type of industry you are in and the purpose of your branding. A logo on the door is sufficient for telling your vehicle apart from others in a parking lot or on a construction site. However, if you're using it as a means of promoting your business, you need to be bold and brave and you need to go as big as possible. You want people to see what you're doing and you need to be visible from a reasonable distance. You want people to turn their heads to look at what you're advertising.

Your vehicle branding should be different and unique, even humoristic and your website should be included. Traffic can be boring, so give people a reason to laugh.

 

Vehicle Branding Factors

Choose an experienced branding company that sells quality vinyl that will last. Reputable companies use cast vinyl that follows the curves of the car, and it does not crack, tear or fade.  A UV coat will ensure that the sun does not fade your ink as fast, which means that your signage will last longer. You can get branding done at a fifth of the usual price, but your branding will only last a fifth of the time and it will look terrible.

A full vehicle wrap will actually protect your car's paint from damage, as it is not exposed to the sun. Most scratches will only be vinyl deep, and will not go all the way through to your paint. If the vinyl is applied correctly, it will not damage the car when it is wrapped, or when it is removed. It can actually help protect a new car, so that it is in perfect condition when it is sold a few years later. Should the car be in an accident, the affected section can be replaced, as the artwork is generally on file - if not, it can be recreated.

If the cost of the full wrap is a concern, especially in white, black or silver cars, you could speak to your designer about incorporating the colour of your car into your design. It looks as eye-catching, but it can save on the costs.

We would like to encourage you to implement the guidelines in this article straight away. If you are not sure how to get started or how it best applies to your business, please contact us and we will be happy to share some further thoughts with you.

Corporate gifts are certainly on the rise again, despite the recent shift that the tax man disallows large corporate gifts. In the past, companies used to give costly gifts and wrote it off as tax refundable. More recently, companies have started opting for somewhat less expensive gifts that still make an impact. So when you're choosing corporate gifts, opt for something meaningful and memorable. Choose something that will remind the client of your company long after they have forgotten your name and face, but be sure that it has your company's name and number on it.

Typical gifts given by companies these days, include:

• Pens - everyone needs a pen!
• Mugs are great as practical gifts.
• Mousepads are still given, but not as popular anymore.
• Memory sticks are useful and the price is at an all time low.
• Lanyards are popular at conferences as they are handy for keys.
• Shopping bags are still popular and useful across a number of industries.
• Water bottles or towels are fantastic for sports events or related industries.
• Car lighter charger adapters are great for reps.

What Makes an Appropriate Gift?

It's hard enough to buy your elderly mother a Mother's Day gift, so how on earth do you choose an appropriate gift for strangers? First of all, knowing your target market like the palm of your hand makes it easier. Here's how you can make choosing the appropriate corporate gift easier.

 

Your Gifting Budget

The size of your event and your budget per head will help us decipher the cost-range that we're looking at. Determine your budget from the onset, as this will help you save time and money when you're choosing your corporate gifts.

 

Practical Gifts

Practicality matters. There are all kinds of novelty gifts on the market, but we'd recommend that you stick with something more practical; something that will stay on the person's desk or on their person. Rather hand out something useful. Look at what's on your desk that you use all the time, and use that as a guideline for choosing the right gift for your clients.

 

Event-Specific Gifts

Event-specific gifts are particularly handy, for instance golf-related gifts for golf days, or branded water bottles or wrist wallets for running events. Ideally, you should speak to your branding company about the type of event you are attending, and let them recommend some suitable options.

When choosing corporate gifts for a once-off event, you can go for something smaller and more generic. However, when the gift is to form part of a larger campaign, you should consider using the campaign colours and artwork in the gift in order to bring it all together. By better informing your branding company, they can advise you on the best options for your specific needs.

How to Avoid Common Corporate Gift Mistakes

Despite their best intentions, clients often make mistakes when choosing and ordering corporate gifts. Speak to your branding company upfront to avoid these common mistakes.

Don't be cheap

Don't make the mistake of being too cheap. Branding is an important investment into your company's future. If you don't want to overspend, give the branding company a budget to work with, and they will give you several options to choose from. Having worked with hundreds of companies on their branding campaigns, branding experts know exactly which corporate gifts to recommend that will make the most impact. From the various options, you will be able to find the perfect fit.

Don't over order

When ordering corporate gifts, you don't need to order thousands at a time. We have had clients with a database of 3000 contacts hand out only 200-300 pens before their phone numbers changed and the pens became redundant. Rather order small amounts at a time and be sure you get value for your money. Instead, increase your budget, order fewer items of better quality and be sure you hand them all out. That way your clients will be more appreciative and you will not sit with redundant stock.

There's no denying the value of a well-chosen, practical and good-quality corporate gift. Statistics have shown that:

• Promotional products generate greater recall than any other medium;
• 6% of recipients recall the company or brand advertised on a promotional product;
• Recipients often keep promotional products for more than 2 years;
• On average a promotional product is used once a day.

 

For more personal gifts to a small group of clients, choose a high-quality feel-good gift, such as a knife set with a subtle logo on it. These gifts are obviously inappropriate if you want to gift a large group of people, as it becomes very expensive. Therefore, it is important to target a specific group and to know them well.

We would like to encourage you to implement the guidelines in this article straight away. If you are not sure how to get started or how it best applies to your business, please contact us and we will be happy to share some further thoughts with you.