Plumbing van wraps are far from a new invention, but they remain relevant today due to their effectiveness as a marketing tool.
They provide plumbing businesses with cost-effective mobile advertising, increased brand visibility, and a professional appearance.
In this article, we’ll look at the different types of plumbing wraps and the benefits of using them, and we’ll guide you on how to choose the best wraps for your fleet. We’ve also included some examples for inspiration at the end.
Let’s get into it.
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What Are Plumbing Van Wraps?
Plumbing van wraps are graphics that cover all or part of a plumbing work vehicle. They are commonly made of vinyl and are used to advertise a plumbing business and its services.
A van wrap is a form of mobile outdoor advertising that many people can see while the work vehicle is on the road or parked at a job site. You increase brand awareness by branding your work vehicles with your plumbing company name and contact details.
Why Do Plumbing Businesses Use Vehicle Wraps?
Vehicle wraps are an excellent way to increase your business’s visibility and help you reach prospective customers in your service area.
Furthermore, they’re considerably more cost-effective than traditional advertising methods like TV and radio. For example, wrapping a truck could cost around $5,500 as a one-off fee, while a 30-second TV ad placement costs about $350,000.
Here are some other key reasons why plumbers opt to wrap their work vehicles:
It helps plumbers advertise their services to local business owners and homeowners.
Truck wraps involve a one-off fee (excluding maintenance or repair) and offer constant promotion wherever the vehicle may be.
They have a high return on investment (ROI) when done well.
It’s important to note that a plumbing vehicle wrap should form part of a more comprehensive, holistic branding and marketing approach. You should ensure your brand matches your business and the values you uphold.
Ryan Kettering, owner of Prolific Brand Design, says, “The easiest way to build a good brand is just [to] be more of you.”
He uses ‘logical creativity’ to help business owners develop a brand that fully matches their personality.
“I use objective reasoning [...] and come to these conclusions for people through a very clear, objective set of rules and guidelines.”
Kettering mentioned helping power-washing business SP Wash rebrand to Sky Power Wash and how the simple name and logo change improved its revenue.
“They doubled their revenue in one year without any additional spending in marketing.”
So, before committing to a truck wrap, ensure you’ve got your brand identity down.
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What Are the Benefits of Truck Wrap Advertising for Plumbers?
Plumbing truck wraps offer many benefits, including:
Branding on the go
Cost-effective marketing
Versatile advertising
Enhanced professionalism
Let’s explore these benefits in more detail.
Branding on the go
A car wrap transforms your work vehicle into a mobile billboard that helps your plumbing business build brand recognition. The more times prospective customers see your branding on the road, the more likely they are to remember your business, especially if your design leaves a lasting impression.
Furthermore, studies show that people tend to develop a preference for things they encounter frequently, something that’s commonly referred to as repeat exposure. The problem with repeat exposure in advertising, though, is that it’s often disruptive (e.g., interrupting your social media scroll) leading to ad fatigue.
Putting a high-quality, eye-catching vehicle wrap design on your commercial vehicles and driving them around your service area gives you the benefits of repeat exposure without disrupting your prospective customers.
Cost-effective marketing
Traditional advertising and marketing strategies can be expensive. In comparison, vehicle wraps are a cost-effective advertising method.
Additionally, while some marketing strategies require repeated outlay over time, fleet wraps are a one-off investment. You’ll only need to pay again if you change your branding or the graphics become damaged.
Car wraps also boast a high ROI and a low cost-per-impression. According to the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, vehicle wraps cost four cents or less per thousand impressions. A newspaper ad will cost $19.70 for the same number of impressions.
Versatile advertising
Vehicle wrap advertising is a quick, effective alternative to traditional and digital marketing methods. Whereas some strategies can take months to bring results, you can start seeing the effects of your truck wrap almost as soon as it’s ready.
Using this method, you can boost your brand visibility quickly and start reaching potential customers while you work on your other marketing strategies.
Enhanced professionalism
A well-designed custom wrap makes your vehicle look more professional and shows your customers and prospects that you mean business. It provides a polished, quality look that can make your business seem more credible and trustworthy.
This is why it’s vital to source or consult an experienced professional to design your vehicle graphics and to go to a reputable car wrap company for installation.
What Are the Drawbacks of Vehicle Wrap Advertising for Plumbers?
While vehicle wrap advertising can be effective for plumbing businesses, it also comes with its drawbacks:
1. Non-specific audience: You can reach a broad audience with a truck wrap, but impressions don’t necessarily mean conversions as a significant portion of that audience may not match your ideal customer profile.
You should include targeted advertising campaigns in your overall marketing strategy to balance this out, such as Google’s Local Services Ads (LSAs). These ads let you target relevant local search terms, such as “Petaluma plumber”, so you can reach people actively looking for plumbing services in your area.
With ServiceTitan’s LSA features, you can maximize the benefits of running LSAs. The tool integrates with Google directly, letting customers book straight from your ad. All their information is automatically populated in the ServiceTitan booking system.
Furthermore, you gain access to real-time ROI reporting to see which ads are working and how much revenue they bring in.
2. Limited messaging capabilities: Your vehicles can only carry a certain amount of information. Trying to cram everything into your vehicle advertising may lead to confusion or make it difficult to read.
You must therefore prioritize your branding elements and key messaging, ensuring that vital information like your contact details and plumbing services offered are included.
3. Weather damage and dirt: Over time, your signage can discolor or become damaged through the elements and general wear and tear. You must ensure your fleet stays clean to avoid obscuring information with dirt.
Failing to manage vinyl wrap upkeep can make your business look unprofessional.
Vehicle wraps as a marketing tool have pros and cons and they should be used as part of a broader marketing strategy for the best effect. Other marketing methods to consider include local SEO, email marketing, and direct mail.
ServiceTitan’s Marketing Pro software helps plumbing businesses enhance their marketing strategies. With ServiceTitan, users can:
Create a unique, trackable phone number for each campaign, providing real-time ROI tracking when it is used to book a job.
Automate marketing efforts to free up time to deliver top-quality plumbing services.
Let customers book their appointments online through live chat or live voice.
Organize and rank campaigns by revenue with the Marketing Scorecard to see at a glance which campaigns are working and which aren’t.
Understand the areas where ads are most effective (generate the most revenue) with the ServiceTitan Heat Map and focus marketing spend on the most profitable areas.
What Are the Different Types of Vehicle Wraps for Plumbing Trucks?
Vehicle wraps come in various forms that offer differing levels of coverage. You can choose the one that best fits your branding needs and budget.
Common track wrap styles include:
Full wrap: Covers the whole surface of your truck including the hood, sides, rear, roof, and trunk/back doors. This is the most expensive option.
Partial wrap: Covers an area of your vehicle, most often the sides and back. This option is cost-effective while still advertising your brand effectively.
Spot graphic or decal: Applied to different parts of your truck as more minor, individual signage items. For example, you could place your plumbing business’s logo on the doors and your contact details on the back. This option is budget-friendly but may not be as effective.
Window graphic: Adds designs to the vehicle’s windows with a perforated vinyl that allows visibility from inside.
Custom wrap: Custom designs let you tailor your vehicle wrap to your exact needs and preferences. You can combine different elements of the wrap styles mentioned above to come up with a unique design that fits your business and branding.
How to Choose the Best Truck Wraps for Plumbing Businesses
You should keep a few things in mind when choosing the best vehicle wraps for your business:
Truck color
The color of your vehicle can affect the final wrap design. To ensure people can see it easily, you will need to choose colors that contrast well with the vehicle's color.
If you intend to wrap your fleet, it’s advisable to purchase vehicles in a light color like white or tan, as these provide a neutral base for your wrap design.
Wrap design
As with any type of visual marketing or advertising, you should ensure your truck wrap design is:
Eye-catching
Clear and uncluttered
Concise, simple, and straightforward
Professional
Avoid cramming in superfluous information or design features, and limit the amount of text in your design. Remember, your ‘moving billboard’ is only seen for a couple of seconds, so viewers must be able to grasp the messaging and vital information in that time.
Brand colors
To maintain a strong, cohesive brand identity, you should keep your brand style and colors consistent across all marketing channels. The same applies to your vehicle wrap design, so ensure it includes your brand elements.
Wrap material
The material you wrap your vehicle in will impact its durability and appearance. This is especially important if you service an area with a particularly hot or wet climate.
High-quality vinyl is the most popular material for vehicle wraps, as it is durable and resistant to most weather conditions.
Plumbing Van Wrap Examples to Inspire You
Coming up with ideas for your vehicle wrap design can be difficult if you aren’t skilled at design. We’ve gathered some top examples of plumbing van wraps to inspire you.
Perfect Climate HVAC
This wrap is an excellent example of effective spot graphic use. The business name, services, and contact information are easy to read, and the company’s logo and brand colors brighten up the van and catch the eye while remaining simple and uncluttered.
Arctic Cool Heating and Plumbing, LLC
This full van wrap cleverly showcases what Arctic Cool does, and the bright, attention-grabbing design leaves a lasting impression. Despite the full-on graphics, the design is clear and engaging, and important information is displayed in a bold, easily read font.
Peterman Brothers
This van wrap is simple and straightforward but highly effective. The bold brand colors and the brothers' graphic catch the eye, and viewers can see exactly what they offer at a glance. One thing we would perhaps change is to make the contact information more visible.
Thomas the Plumber
This example of a plumbing van wraps quickly and clearly shows the company’s contact information. Rather than leaving it at that, the branding also includes key messaging, including specialties, the use of cameras to provide better service, and a free estimate.
Despite packing in much information, the design remains clear and easy to read.
Drain Stars
This truck wrap highlights plumbing services in a bullet-point style list to make them easily legible. The use of red and dark blue against white and light blue makes the branding stand out, and using water in the design makes it clear this van belongs to a plumbing company.
A before-and-after image of a drain the firm cleaned showcases the quality of service it provides.
How Much Does a Vehicle Wrap for a Plumber Truck Cost?
The price of your truck wrap will vary depending on several factors, such as:
Vehicle size
Design complexity
Type of wrap
Wrap material
You can expect to pay between $2,000 and $5,500 per vehicle, but keep in mind that the cost will increase if a vehicle needs bodywork repairs or if you opt for custom design.
If you have a tight budget, consider using partial wraps or spot graphics and opt for a simpler design.
Beyond Van Wraps: How ServiceTitan Helps Plumbing Businesses Excel
Plumbing van wraps are an excellent addition to your overall marketing strategy that can help you bring in new customers. However, servicing more customers can expose weak points and inefficiencies in your operational workflows. To avoid slowing down when you want to ramp up, consider ServiceTitan.
ServiceTitan helps plumbing businesses streamline their processes through an all-in-one software solution designed for the trades. Top features include:
Scheduling and dispatching software: Optimize routing and improve response times, ensuring timely service delivery, enhanced customer satisfaction, and reduced fuel costs.
Simplified payment features: Integrated payment options let technicians collect payments in the field through secure transactions and instant invoicing, improving cash flow and speeding up payment cycles.
Enhanced fleet management: With Fleet Pro, users can monitor fleet vehicles through GPS-enabled tracking. The tool also enables automated maintenance scheduling, helping businesses stay on top of repairs and cleaning.
Book a ServiceTitan demo today and see how to enhance your plumbing business.
ServiceTitan is a comprehensive all-in-one business management solution that provides trades businesses with the tools they need to enhance their business operations. It is trusted by over 100,000 trade companies around the country.
ServiceTitan Plumbing Software
ServiceTitan is a comprehensive plumbing business software solution built specifically to help service companies streamline their operations, boost revenue, and achieve growth. Our award-winning, cloud-based platform is trusted by more than 100,000+ contractors across the country.