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Why Business Owners Should Invest in Car Magnets
Business owners are constantly thinking about how to better advertise their business and increase their revenue stream. They will often try a variety of advertising methods without seeing much of a return, which is a waste of marketing dollars. Relying on ostentatious roadside signs may seem like a good investment, but there are a fixed number of people who will pass them each day, limiting the amount of exposure a business can get from them.
Benefits of Car Magnets
Car magnets are a way to use a vehicle’s available real estate to advertise a business. The average person spends 40-90 minutes in their car each day. During that time, a vehicle can pass over 1,000 cars. Car magnets put a business’s name in front of thousands of eyes, making them a valuable advertising resource. Below is a list of reasons business owners should invest in car magnets.
Budget-Friendly
A car magnet could reach up to 30,000 people every month just by being displayed on the side of a vehicle that is driven every day. To get that many impressions through Google or social media advertising, businesses would need to spend a lot of money. Car magnets cost less, making them a bargain compared to digital marketing costs.
Mobile Advertisements
Billboards are stationary, so only people in the same location will see the advertisement. The average cost of a billboard is over $6,000, making it a costly way to advertise to a limited number of people. Car magnets bring the advertisement to several areas, increasing the number of people who see it and increasing awareness of the business in a larger geographical area.
Low-Maintenance
Car magnets have some maintenance requirements, such as cleaning underneath them to prevent scratches on the vehicle or washing them if they become dirty with road salt. However, aside from gentle cleaning, car magnets are easy to use. Removing them is just a matter of peeling it off the side of the vehicle.
Cross-Channel Marketing
When people think of car magnet design, they often assume it will be a business’s logo and phone number. However, car magnets can be used with other advertising platforms to increase the effectiveness of a larger campaign. For example, car magnets can display a 5-digit shortcode that individuals can send a text message, allowing them to opt-in to a larger marketing initiative.
When business owners use car magnets in this manner, they can easily track the magnets’ effectiveness. By using a unique code or URL on the car magnet, business owners can see how many of their customers found out about them through the car magnet, allowing them to calculate their marketing return on investment.
Gets People Talking
Car magnets get people’s attention. Business owners who display them proudly on their car notice that others will approach them with questions about their business. Once the conversation is started, business owners can use the opportunity to give a short sales pitch or invite the person to visit the business’s location.
Designing a Car Magnet
Not all car magnets are created equal. There are specific design elements that, when used correctly, can maximize the magnet’s draw. Below are some tips on designing a high-impact car magnet.
Make the Business Name Prominent
While many people see car magnets every day, most have little time to look at them. It is important that the business’s name is the most prominent feature on the magnet, ensuring that the public remembers them.
Use High-Contrast Colors
Bland colors or colors that match the vehicle are likely to go unnoticed. Using high contrast colors that stand out from the vehicle ensures people notice the magnet and pay attention to the information that is on it.
Keep it Easy to Read
Most people have driven behind a car with a bumper sticker that made them squint to read it. Not only is this ineffective, but it is also dangerous, too. Car magnets should be easy to read, with bold text and a prominent call-to-action that only takes a glance to understand.
Car magnets are a versatile, low-cost way for business owners to increase awareness around their brand. They are more effective than traditional advertising methods, such as billboards and print ads, and have a better return on investment.