Preparing Product Labels for Print

When designing custom product labels, you have to make a lot of decisions. The images, colors and font you choose are just the beginning. And while perfecting the labeling and packaging may seem less important than creating a valuable product, the truth of the matter is that not many customers are going to purchase the good if it has a lackluster exterior.

Successful marketers understand that taking a detail-oriented approach to the packaging and labeling of a product is necessary to ensure shopper engagement. They leave no stone unturned, no element overlooked.

Before finalizing your product label design, there are a number of questions you can ask yourself to determine whether or not it is truly ready for the print and ordering stage of the process.

1. What is the first thing I notice?

When you spend a long time designing the perfect label, getting caught up in the various details, it is easy to forget that what we see may not be the same as someone who is viewing with a fresh pair of eyes. It is helpful to take a step back and consider what someone seeing it for the first time would notice first. Is it your brand's logo? Are your eyes brought to the image on the package or the text?

You only have one chance to make a first impression. Use visual-spatial techniques to ensure you have designed the label in a way that guides the shopper to view the most important information first. Better yet, get a more accurate assessment of this by asking for the opinion of people who haven't seen the design yet.

2. Is all included content absolutely necessary?

When it comes to creating product labels, most of us have very limited real estate to work with. Therefore, it is important to make effective us of every inch of space. Take a look at the label and package and ask yourself whether everything you have chosen to include serves a specific purpose. One of the most difficult decisions a marketer can make is determining which information is relevant. You don't want to crowd the label with too much text, but you also don't want to leave out any element that shoppers may find important. This is where having a sound and comprehensive understanding of what kind of information your specific target audience values becomes crucial. Furthermore, if you are struggling with having too much information you want to include but not enough label space, consider adding a QR code.

3. Am I being honest?

If there is one thing marketers today should learn from the handful of labeling controversies that have emerged over the past few years, it is that consumers are becoming increasingly skeptical of product labels and that many value honesty and transparency. Depending on the type of product you are selling, there may be certain regulatory requirements to adhere to. Make sure you have read up on the latest industry standards to ensure compliance. However, it is also important that you can verify any claim made on the label - whether it has to do with the benefits it provides, ingredients, sourcing practices, nutritional value or something else. Don't expect consumers to simply take your word for it, as mislabeling a product can damage your reputation and lead to legal ramifications.

4. Did I use the best possible label printing materials?

You already know how important a role packaging and labeling play in the marketing of a product. However, what many sellers tend to overlook is how heavily the quality of label and packaging material can influence their appearance. When choosing a label material, keep in mind that you should be considering both its aesthetic and its function. A high-quality substrate can be used to make an item stand out, as can advanced digital printing techniques. Additionally, label adhesives are designed specifically for certain products and applications. If you don't choose one that is compatible for the package you're applying it too, it can crack, peel or deteriorate prematurely, thereby impacting the perception the consumer has about the quality of your product.

5. What message am I sending?

Similar to how people who see your label for the first time may notice something different than what you do after looking at it for a long time, you may find that the design of your label doesn't send the message you originally intended it to. There are many factors that contribute to how a shopper perceives a product, such as the color, font and images. Being mindful of the type of personality your brand is embodying with its product packaging is crucial. Take color psychology into account and use it to your advantage. For example, companies that want to demonstrate trustworthiness often use shades of blue, whereas brands that want to position themselves as being eco-friendly and/or healthy leverage green and earthy tones.

Request your FREE instant quote today.