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The Advisor- Now AIRCO AdvisorInsurance Woes | Issue # 001 | June 21, 2004 |
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The (AIRCO) AdvisorVehicle Graphics | Issue # 002 | July 21, 2004 |
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Inflatable Industry News You Can Use!Getting the Most out of GraphicsAre you taking advantage of your own 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week advertising billboard? Your vehicle isn't pulling it's weight if it's not advertising for you as well as hauling your rentals around. Our own Matthew Mark (Akareaper from the AIRCO Forum) contributes an article this month based on his experience as a commercial printer. What type of graphic is best for your vehicle? Read on for some definitions and advice. Tip of the DaySee what your website looks like to a search engine spider or mobile device user! This neat tool gives you an approximation of what a search engine spider can view on your site, and you might be surprised how little is actually there. Take a look! -Scottie ClaiborneAIRCO |
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National Moonwalk DirectoryAccepting Listings!We're switching the directory over in a week and a half, so if you don't have your listing in yet, what are you waiting for? Listings are currently in order of submission- first in, first listed! Get at the top of your state now. Listings are $10 a month or $100 a year if you link back to the directory, $15 a month or $150 a year if you prefer not to link to us. Resellers and manufacturers with rental businesses can be listed for $25 a month or $250 a year. Add your listing to the new International Moonwalk Directory now- the old directory will be removed as of Aug.1! Companies who have purchased moonwalks from us in 2003-2004 receive a free listing- please e-mail us for details on adding your listing. |
What Are People Saying About the Directory?Moonwalk Rental Directory is responsible for many calls!!! All in all, we get about 80% of our business off the internet!! Our Moonwalk Rental listing puts us in good postion on internet searches for our area!Thank You!! -Bounce-a-Roo I just booked a $375 rental because of my listing in your directory. This customer does numerous events throughout the year and will probably give us much more business. -Backyard Bouncin' It is definitely the cheapest form of advertisement, you only need one rental to pay for the year of advertising. Cheaper than any mailer or phonebook and the directory ranks at the top of any search engine. I have been going through my contracts and I have had four rentals in the past 3 months of being on the directory. I have also had over 200 hits on my website from Moonwalk Rental... - Jumping Jamboree |
Moving Billboards- Putting Your Vehicle to Work as AdvertisingBy Matthew Mark ©2004The next time you're out driving and stop at a red light, look around and count the advertising opportunities around you. Not the billboards, the storefront, or the small roadside signs, count the cars around you. Yes, the cars! Whether we are stopped or moving, our vehicles have become the latest craze in marketing. Ask yourself how many times you've read a bumper sticker, website address, looked at a vehicle magnet or even a vehicle wrap. We all do! It's human nature to look at a vehicle and want to know why it's different. Vehicle graphics provide that difference so take advantage of it. Practically the only difficulty in vehicle advertising is deciding what style is good for you. By style, I mean window graphics, magnets, or vinyl lettering and graphics applied to any surface of your vehicle. Other factors to consider are whether you own or lease the vehicle, use it for pleasure, business, or both. If it's strictly business, go for the impact of vinyl graphics. If it's a combination, magnets may be the way to go as they are easy to move. As with your logo, any advertising on your vehicle should be colorful and eye catching. Whatever you decide to put on your vehicle should stand out from the rest of your vehicle so people focus on it immediately. A poor example would be red letters on a maroon truck They would hardly stand out at all. However, white letters on dark paint scream, "Read Me!" Make sure it is appealing and exciting. Most people have 1 ½ to 2 ½ seconds to take note of your message. If it's loaded with text, chances are it will not make a lasting "impression". Think of how many people will see your vehicle and how many potential impressions are out there. A simple blend of graphics and text usually works best. Normally a company name in the form of a web address and a phone number are sufficient if you have visual graphics to accompany it. If you must add text, use single words such as "Moonwalks", "Rentals", "Concessions", etc. No one has time to read a book. There are four basic applications for vehicles including window vinyl, magnets, calendared and cast vinyl. They can each be effective; make your choice based on your budget and needs. Listed below are the material details and their practical applications. MagnetsMagnets have a come a long way from plain text and now utilize digital prints applied to the magnet, which allows for customization. Magnets are easily moved from one vehicle to another, or removed to restore your vehicle to its normal status. The only downfall is the potential of losing the magnet, but with quality material this is unlikely. Advertising space is limited as well. With magnets, you want to remove them periodically and clean them and the vehicle surface. Dirty magnets placed on a dirty vehicle can cause scratches.Window VinylWindow Vinyl, also know as 'See Through" is a perforated vinyl that adheres to the exterior window surface. This material allows you to see from the inside out, and allows outsiders to view your message. This material works best with a light colored background, and large text and graphics. Text size should be no less than 2 ½ inches. This material does not work well with windows where wipers are used a lot. In this case the vinyl will deteriorate in about 5 to 6 months. With a regular window surfaces that don't roll down, this material can last 2 to 3 years and longer. This material is sometimes confused with "static cling" but is completely different.Calendered VinylCalendered vinyl is suitable for vehicle areas with flat surfaces. Complex curves and rivets wreak havoc on this vinyl and it will most likely start to peel within months. Sides of vans, trucks and trailers with smooth flat surfaces are ideal for this material. A removable adhesive allows easy removal within a year and a permanent adhesive allows the graphic to stay on upward of almost 7 years. This vinyl should be applied only to factory finishes. Touch-ups, and repainted vehicles should avoid graphics altogether or risk the paint being removed when the vinyl is removed.Cast VinylCast vinyl accepts graphics just like calendered vinyl, however it is suitable for complex curves and rivets which makes it the best option for vehicle wraps, trailers and trucks with rivets, etc.. The material flexes around these curves and maintains its adherence to the vehicle. Like calendered vinyl it is available in removable and permanent adhesives and should be applied to factory finishes only.Graphics MaintenanceCaring for your vinyl is important to its longevity. Use only mild soap and water to clean these areas. Harsh detergents and solvents will ruin the vinyl. Never use anything other than a soft cloth for cleaning. Do not rub hard, scrub, or use brushes. Power washing and quarter car washes should be avoided as they can strip the vinyl and/or damage the prints. Most shops use solvent or pigmented inks that contain UV inhibitors that are made for outdoor use. The vinyl is manufactured for weather resistance and outdoor use also. Either a liquid laminate or clear overlaminate film will add to the life expectancy of the graphics and resist the sun's UV rays as well. Ask potential vendors what they use when shopping around. Keep in mind that prints vary from the way they look dependent on the material used. Your logo may look slightly different on window vinyl than it does on cast vinyl. Different materials accept the ink differently, causing color variations. The higher resolution your artwork is, the better your print will be. Now, go put your vehicle to good use and take advantage of an incredible marketing opportunity. You'll be pleasantly surprised how easy and affordable it actually is, and the return on investment it offers. Want to discuss this article? Talk about it at the forum. |
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What Does Your Website REALLY Look Like?If you've got a website, you'd like for people to be able to find it, wouldn't you? What sites need to be found in search engines is WORDS. Real words. Not words in an image because they can't read those. You've got to have some good old, on-the-page words so that the search engines know what your page is all about. If you want more details on what kinds of words you need, read my article on The Secret Sauce in Web Marketing. If you are ready to see what your site REALLY looks like, click this link for a Lynx Viewer, input your URL, and see what comes back. You may be surprised! Discuss your findings or ask questions at the Moonwalk Forum! |
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Top Threads at the AIRCO ForumAdd Ons at Festivals? Selling Balloons |
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