[B]CFP:[/B]
I respect your opinion, CFP, though I definitely disagree.
Are business cards, postcards, websites, emails, uniforms, phone messages, estimates, invoices, and yellow page ads marketing tools?
I say yes.
Because ANY media that can support and communicate a sales message is by extension a ‘tool’ to do so. Of course, ‘marketing’ per se, is crafting and refining our sales message to appeal to a very specific, target prospect.
[I]By that definition[/I], a truck [I]could [/I]be a ‘marketing tool’, no?
And I ask this question in sincerity, since you seem confident in your perspective.
I think you have made a very important point in mentioning that when you see a vehicle with some lettering and company info, you said
" I would need to think “hey, I could use that service”, then I would have to think “hey, I should get that number”, then I would have to dig through things to get a pen and paper… by then, who cares. I have lost interest. I’ll just look somebody up online or in the book later. No big deal. "
In this scenario, you don’t really have an [i]immediate need[/I] that this company fills, whereas if the company DID happen to cater to an immediate need, would your response be different? What if you WERE looking for a plumber/painter/cabinetmaker…AND then factor in whether or not you had bottomless pockets to address this need.
Average vehicle vs. Sweet vehicle. No difference in impression to you, all other things being equal?
RE your comment: “Our trucks fanciness will not get us more customers.”
I guess I really have to wait to see if my results will be different, since my experience has been NIL thus far, awaiting the vehicle, so I’ll stop blabbing about the theoretical in my company’s case! It must be frustrating not to see ANY interest generated by your vehicle, versus the results that many others here have observed, as noted on this thread. I can see why you would have the position you have, with your poor results in mind. What do you chalk up the difference to? Say, between your experience and that of a guy like Juggernaut?
[B]Juggernaut: [/B]
Kudos on the valuable score of that well-priced job, and on reaping the rewards of your intelligent marketing investment! This is what I would identify as proof of what I perceive to be the case across the board…
[B]Gleaming:[/B]
Yeah - I’m just doing a couple of small custom things to it, but nothing too exciting. Aside from that, I’ll throw some nice lettering on it too, but not the wrap deal, but something more elegant.