Learn the tried-and-true steps to creating marketing powerhouses for your business.

Ever wondered why some products seem to stand out while others sit and seem to blend in there on the shelf?

The reason could well be its labeling and packaging presentation. A well-designed product label has a significant impact on your brand’s success. It might be challenging for your product to grab a consumer’s attention when most shoppers make split-second judgments based solely on appearances.

You have worked so hard to develop and create your product. The next step is to persuade consumers that it is worth purchasing. Follow the 5 vital steps below to design and create labels that will entice people to buy your product again and again.

1. Get to Know your Target Market

Conducting extensive research before starting to create your label (even the preliminary designs) is crucial. The first stages of the research must include determining who your target customers are. Factors such as your prospective customers’ values, gender, age, education are essential to consider when making design decisions.

Additionally, researching competing products will help you know the type of design that will draw the consumers to your product. It will also aid you in avoiding a label design that is too similar to competing brands.

 2. Plan and Prepare

“Failing to plan is planning to fail.” You have probably heard this classic adage that people attribute to the pioneer of time management, Benjamin Franklin.

To reach your goal for exceptional custom labels, you must prepare ahead of time. The second step after research is to create a list of all relevant points to consider.

In the planning phase, you must make decisions on basic information such as:

• The size and shape of your labels and the functional and aesthetic reasons why these are so
• Your product’s packaging format, making sure this not only protects your product and keeps it fresh until the end of its lifetime, but also how your prospective customers interact with it (e.g., Is a bottle more convenient for dispensing, and is a spout necessary?)
• Your brand story, which is the backbone of your brand and product

When working with a set budget, make sure to get a print package that includes comprehensive Prepress detail work to make sure your label artwork files are set up correctly and you avoid unnecessary (and oftentimes costly) mistakes.

3. Evaluate and Incorporate your Brand Story

It is important to realize that there is more to brand storytelling than simply adding a smart slogan. A brand story describes your brand’s image, values, personality, and history.

When you effectively incorporate this into your design, whether in graphic or textual form, you will build a long-term emotional relationship with your potential consumer. If you continue nurturing this engagement and relationship appropriately, it will most likely result in greater consumer loyalty.

4. Set your Label Specifications to Align with Your Packaging

Your packaging presentation and custom label design should complement each other so that both work together to successfully promote and display your product.

Both should have functional properties that ensure your product is safe from tampering and looks good even after handling and shipping. Primary and secondary packaging must have sufficient product information for your consumer to know and comprehend what your product is and how it is used. Choose consistency for brand recall and top-of-mind dominance.

Whether or not exterior packaging is required for your product display, your custom labels must be at the center of your efforts.

5. Design your Product Label

Before proceeding to this step, ensure that the first four (4) steps have been completed. This is where most people get it wrong. The previous steps are not optional—they lay down the necessary groundwork for this current step!

Start with positioning your brand name, company name, or product name when designing the label. Especially if you have limited real estate on your labeling area, as with smaller items, set up the most important details of your labels first. This should be the initial visual information that catches the consumer’s attention. Add more required information and make any necessary changes.

Get Started in Creating Your Perfect Product Label

Designing point-of-sale labels for your product is a time-consuming task, but it is one that you can complete. Using the detailed steps above, you’ll be able to make beautiful product labels that will help your products rocket off the shelves.

The time and work you put into creating your product labels are invaluable, especially when promoting your business, brand, and product. Follow the steps above and enjoy a successful product launch and branding that truly represents what your business stands for.