help me with car vinyls for business :(

unwashed potato! · 12 Jul 2009 at 02:19

Fido McNasty said:
Why do you want graphics on your car?

To clearly advertise the business to everyone including bystanders a mile away, or simply to remind yourself and those who are close to the car what the business is called and about ?

there is various reasons and i'm sure i'll forget them all but anyway...

1st is because we cover a broad area we do a lot of driving and feel that we may as well try and do advertising on the vehicle. speaking to a lot of people that have cleaners one of the biggest problems was just trying to find legit good cleaners, advertising on the car would be just one more way for customers to find us.
2nd being that when we clean properties i like the idea of parking outside the house with out name etc clearly displaying why we are there. this will hopefully result in a few neighbours noticing that the house has cleaners, perhaps question the owners and get a recommendation.
3rd imo it's better to have the car with some sign that it's ours, just like i like that we wear work tops with our name emroided on them, imo it's much more professional and 'complete'.

manic111 said:
There's too much on there. If I were you I'd just have the website on the front and a little info on the back with the logo; nothing more than saying that you're eco-friendly cleaners though.

EDIT: Nice website though

thanks for the comment on the site. as people are pointing out there is a lot of work still to go but every day it's getting better. i'll have a play tomorrow and see how i can get it to work.

do people prefer 'environmentally friendly' or 'eco friendly'? i have said both far too many times now and i can't really decide.

unwashed potato! · 12 Jul 2009 at 02:22

manic111 said:
There's too much on there. If I were you I'd just have the website on the front and a little info on the back with the logo; nothing more than saying that you're eco-friendly cleaners though.

EDIT: Nice website Seriously, though, tone down the 100% British thing; it just makes you sound racist even if it's true. I also reckon it could land you in hot water with trading standards for having a bad recruitment policy. Maybe change it to 100% English speaking staff?

it was english and i changed it because others said english sounded bad lol, i prefer english so may change it back. i don't have a recruitment policy as i don't recruit atm being just a partnership. maybe something like 'native english', 'fluent english' etc? can people understand what i'm trying to get across though with the british thing?

manic111 · 12 Jul 2009 at 02:41

Mammalian said:
it was english and i changed it because others said english sounded bad lol, i prefer english so may change it back. i don't have a recruitment policy as i don't recruit atm being just a partnership. maybe something like 'native english', 'fluent english' etc? can people understand what i'm trying to get across though with the british thing?

I do see what you're saying; nobody wants a cleaner in their house that they can't converse with. However, I would make it plain on your website that you don't mean "we don't hire immigrants", when what you want to say is "we hire nice people who speak you language". (I know you don't hire but you get the picture).

In my opinion, "100% English speaking staff" is fine. "100% British staff" looks slightly racist to say the least! Make sure that you get the point across that it's the ability to speak English, rather than to come from Britain, that is important!!!

Sankari · 12 Jul 2009 at 08:56

Keep the font straight, not curved. Don't put it on weird places like wheel arches; people tend to look at flat, open spaces, so print on the panels only. Use a maximum of two colours and make sure they're contrasting, not complementary. Make the font larger, and use only one size. Your logo must be as simple as possible. Your website needs a space between "Green" and Clean".

And remove the "100% British workers" thing. You're selling a service, not a political message.

Wicksta · 12 Jul 2009 at 09:03

Mammalian said:
what car would you recommend we use instead?

Use whatever car you want, but a clapped out £1000 S reg Micra isn't exactly portraying a good image for your business. If you can't afford anything else then you should really question whether you want your company logo on such a vehicle at all.

Sankari · 12 Jul 2009 at 09:17

Mammalian said:
do people prefer 'environmentally friendly' or 'eco friendly'? i have said both far too many times now and i can't really decide.

Use "Eco friendly". It's simpler and rolls off the tongue.

it was english and i changed it because others said english sounded bad lol, i prefer english so may change it back. i don't have a recruitment policy as i don't recruit atm being just a partnership. maybe something like 'native english', 'fluent english' etc? can people understand what i'm trying to get across though with the british thing?

I see what you're saying. Just say "friendly, well spoken staff". That will get the message across without causing any problems.

Feek · 12 Jul 2009 at 10:01

Hxc said:
You've put loosing rather than losing.

shauncr91 said:
That's some impressive grammar nazi detective work

It's a very valid point though, a professional website shouldn't have such a schoolboy error.

ThriceNightly · 12 Jul 2009 at 12:59

great website

good luck with your venture

Abyss · 12 Jul 2009 at 14:52

I don't wish to be a stick in the mud but:

No promotion of business interests
You may not promote any website or business you have a financial or other interest in, or use the popularity of this community to help build one of your own. The forums are here to allow people to freely share knowledge, not provide them with personal financial gain, or free advertising.

You are actively promoting your site in your sig and you are asking forum members to do something that you should be paying a professional service for, not really very fair.

bitslice · 12 Jul 2009 at 15:37

Abyss said:
You are actively promoting your site in your sig and you are asking forum members to do something that you should be paying a professional service for, not really very fair.

how is he going to get advice unless we can see his web site and graphics? :confused:

unless your business is giving startup advice or web design then I can't see the harm being done?
I do agree with you if his website was in his signature though (gone now I think) but good luck to anyone who wants to work for themselves

LordSplodge · 12 Jul 2009 at 17:25

Good website but why do you just have a mobile number for contact? Can't speak for others but I never use companies with a mobile contact number only.

Also, as Feek, has said: This is a professional business website and one thing you should always take time to do is proof read it.

Again (as has been said) 100% British sounds racist - lose (or loose?

) it.

Finally to answer you opening post, a good logo and the website address (minus the www. bit) is all you need. As long as the name of your website gives a clue as to what you do (and yours does) otherwise a strapline would be needed.

unwashed potato! · 12 Jul 2009 at 20:51

LordSplodge said:
Good website but why do you just have a mobile number for contact? Can't speak for others but I never use companies with a mobile contact number only.

Also, as Feek, has said: This is a professional business website and one thing you should always take time to do is proof read it.

Again (as has been said) 100% British sounds racist - lose (or loose? ) it.

Finally to answer you opening post, a good logo and the website address (minus the www. bit) is all you need. As long as the name of your website gives a clue as to what you do (and yours does) otherwise a strapline would be needed.

i live at home with parents at the moment so using the landline would be silly, plus installing another would be a waste of time given that if things keep increasing like they are then we'll be moving out fairly soon, and finally we are on the road most of the time, if people don't like mobile numbers then there is always email, unfortunately for now being a small business thats the best i can do.

i agree with the spelling, we are professionals and i want the site to reflect that. the problem as i have said is that i have had so much to do, plus i have read it a million times already that i now scan read it. definately will get friends to read it over in the hope they'll pick up any mistakes

thanks for the car vinyl advice, i think i may actually try go for a simpler design and as you have said just website/name and logo and maybe contact number.

Abyss said:
I don't wish to be a stick in the mud but:

You are actively promoting your site in your sig and you are asking forum members to do something that you should be paying a professional service for, not really very fair.

afaik actively promoting means making threads asking if people need the service that i provide. asking for advice is not promoting my company to get customers.

unwashed potato! · 12 Jul 2009 at 20:54

as above ^^^

Fido McNasty · 12 Jul 2009 at 21:17

Abyss said:
You are actively promoting your site in your sig and you are asking forum members to do something that you should be paying a professional service for, not really very fair.

I agree with this. And no I don't want to be another stick in the mud, sorry. Principle being that OP makes no intimation of reward. At the same time we are talking small potatoes eithin a field of giants. Validation of your presence through graphics on your vehicle is no bad thing and a perfectly solid idea.

You would be as well to pop along to your local sign shop and have a simple text vinyl cut. Helvetica font, something simple. One colour that contrasts against the vehicle colour, away you go. Probably cost you itro a fiver or a bit more.

LordSplodge · 12 Jul 2009 at 21:46

Mammalian said:
i live at home with parents at the moment so using the landline would be silly, plus installing another would be a waste of time given that if things keep increasing like they are then we'll be moving out fairly soon, and finally we are on the road most of the time, if people don't like mobile numbers then there is always email, unfortunately for now being a small business thats the best i can do.

You can get 0845 numbers that forward to where ever you need them for not a lot of cash. Remember you are trying to look like you are a: Professional and b: Established.

Mobile only looks a little more fly by night.

Just my 2p's worth.

i agree with the spelling, we are professionals and i want the site to reflect that. the problem as i have said is that i have had so much to do, plus i have read it a million times already that i now scan read it. definately will get friends to read it over in the hope they'll pick up any mistakes

I would suggest you get a book called Getting Things Done or at least look into GTD methodology as there will be enough time to do all these things but rather you are trying to keep too much "in your head".

thanks for the car vinyl advice, i think i may actually try go for a simpler design and as you have said just website/name and logo and maybe contact number.

Simple is always better. I see some car designs and they are crowded rubbish and others that are plain and simple and to the point. Guess which ones stand out?

LordSplodge · 12 Jul 2009 at 21:48

Fido McNasty said:
I agree with this. And no I don't want to be another stick in the mud, sorry. Principle being that OP makes no intimation of reward. At the same time we are talking small potatoes eithin a field of giants. Validation of your presence through graphics on your vehicle is no bad thing and a perfectly solid idea.

Asking for help with his graphics is no problem but I do agree that having his business in the sig area is pushing things a bit.

You would be as well to pop along to your local sign shop and have a simple text vinyl cut. Helvetica font, something simple. One colour that contrasts against the vehicle colour, away you go. Probably cost you itro a fiver or a bit more.

Even a simple mono version of the logo shouldn't cost much from your local sign shop.

Morba · 12 Jul 2009 at 21:53

Mammalian said:
It's like when companies advertise that they have call centres only in uk as people don't want to speak to someone they don't understand.

That means nothing though. T-Mob used to only have UK based call centres.... one in Merthyr, where the accent is horrid and at best its only just understandable to many, a few in scotland, which lets be honest, have a harsh accent.

There are plenty of call centres around the areas which are highly populated by minorities, which are hard to understand.

So, your thoughts there are rather moot :]

Greenlizard0 · 12 Jul 2009 at 22:12

Exactly, some of the reasons given for disliking call centres which are on foreign shores are amusing.

There are plenty of people here that are difficult to understand.

neil3k · 13 Jul 2009 at 18:21

would you do an end of tenancy clean in winchester?

if so might have some business coming your way in a bit