Packaging and Labeling Design Tips That Help Market Your Product Continued

In our last installment we talked about how there are six common rules of package andlabel design that will help ensure your product stands out over the competition.  We discussed how a clear and simple, honest and authentic label design works to draw consumers in.  Below we will discuss the last three common rules in package and label design that work together to create the masterpiece which will represent your brand and product.  A strong package and label design helps to ensure your product is chosen before one of the forty thousand competitors.

Shelf Impact

When creating a new package or label design a common problem exists in how the product will look on the shelf next to its competition.  In order to create something that has any shelf impact value you need to evaluate the packages and labels of the products next to yours on the shelf.  One thing that we need to be reminded of when designing a label is that never will your product be viewed alone or in great deal when seen by shoppers.

Your products label is arranged on a shelf in rows and columns along side of your competitors.  Until your products label design catches a consumer’s attention they are unlikely to take a closer look.

Go to the market today and stand in front of any shelf.  What do you see?  Which labels catch your attention?  What qualities do they possess that gives them the shelf impact you are looking for?  Is it a certain color, a special pattern or an image that catches your attention?  How can you emulate that within your own package and label design?

Extendibility

Consider the future of your brand; will the product package and label design that is created allow for an easy introduction of a new line extension?  Designs should always be created with your company’s future in mind.  Create something that offers a visually systematic design that allows for easy changes to both the visual and contextual content within your label.  This will allow for an easy transition as your brand and product lines expand.

Practicality

Practicality in product packaging and label design deals with the actual shape, size and function of the container.  A perfect example of this is with ketchup.  Certain brands of ketchup were sold in glass bottles.  It would take forever for the ketchup to come out.  Once this was realized the company’s redesigned the package into a squeeze bottle.  This in turn increased the products usability.  Consider this when designing a container for your food product.

Using the six rules outlined in our recent articles you can create a product package and label design that maximizes results.

At Anchor Printing, we take pride in offering our clients cut & stack labeling, pressure sensitive labels, roll-fed labeling, shrink sleeves as well as flexible packaging options. Contact us today at http://anchorprinting.com for all of your product label design, printing and packaging needs.

Packaging and Labeling Design Tips That Help Market Your Product

There are six common rules of package and label design that will help ensure your product stands out over the competition.  The products package and label design needs to market the product on its own as you will not be sitting on the shelf selling it directly.  In this article we will discuss common rules in package and label design that work together to create the masterpiece which will represent your brand and product.  A strong package and label design will help to ensure that your product is chosen before one of the forty thousand competitors.

Clarity and Simplicity

The label on your product should clearly and simply state the answer to these two questions: what is this product used for and what is the brand behind it?  If your product label does not clearly present the answer to these two questions you have a problem.  In less than four seconds the average consumer has decided to purchase or pass on your product.  Your package design should be appropriate for the product category and your label should be clear, simple and stand out.

Honesty

Your label needs to be an honest representation of your product.  Strive to depict your product in a way that is believable and allows the customers to visualize what they are purchasing.  Don’t mislead consumers by depicting your product in a light that is ten times better than it actually is.  Ultimately this will lead to consumer disappointment, which in turn leads to poor sales and a negative brand image.

Authenticity

Great brands all have three things on common: they are original, have their own character and are memorable.  With hundreds of competing products the only way to set your product apart is to be authentic.  Creating authenticity using a product label is not something that advice can really be given on.  It comes from creating something that is visually strong and unique to your product and brand. If for instance, most competitors are using a vertical label with cartoon characters go for a horizontal label using photos or illustrations.  Be unique and different while staying true to your brand image.

In the next installment on the six most common rules of package and label design we will look more in depth into labeling elements that your products shelf impact, extensibility and practicality.  

Creating a label that makes the most out of each of these six rules will help to ensure its success.

Anchor Printing, we take pride in offering our clients cut & stack labeling, pressure sensitive labels, roll-fed labeling, shrink sleeves as well as flexible packaging options. Contact us today at http://anchorprinting.com for all of your product label design, printing and packaging needs.

Food Product Label Design Tips

Designing a new food product label is both an exciting and tricky endeavor.  The thrill with designing a great label comes from capturing the unique aspects your product offers over the competition.  The difficult part is constructing a design that is marketable, targets the consumer and prevails over the competition.

Define your target audience: It is crucial to define whose attention you are looking to catch with your products label design. In order to design an effective label you must know what your customers are looking for, what problems they have and how your food product solves it for them.

A food label has to do everything an ordinary product label does and more.  It must support a message of freshness, promote quality ingredients and express just how delicious it is.  Understanding exactly what your customer wants allows you to design a label that represents this using images, text and color.

A perfect example of this is how images of fluffy white clouds don’t speak to consumers looking for sandpaper.  Just like certain colors when used together create certain emotions in us, green and red make people think of Christmas time while pastels make people think of Easter.  If you used green and red on a package of egg shaped Easter candy it wouldn’t entice people as much as colors that are representative of Easter would.

Research your competition:  For your food product label to stand out from the competition it is important to have knowledge of their label designs.  If you are advertising toilet paper think outside the box.  Instead of using images of cotton and clouds like your competitors consider a completely different angle all together.  Look at the other qualities your product offers.  Maybe it is easier for your septic tank to break down or perhaps it is comes in sheets that are perforated more often so you can choose how much toilet paper to use.  Whatever angle makes your product stand out over the competition is what should be represented on your products label.

Take into consideration the products packaging: Shoppers want to see what they are getting for their money.  This is especially true in food products.  Many food products on the market today are packaged in clear see-through containers.  If this is the case, you will want to design a label that does not cover or take anything away from seeing the actual product.  Seeing the tasty treat inside offers more than any picture on a label can.

Emphasize key ingredients and features:  When you are looking at designing food labels it is important to highlight the fresh, quality ingredients as well as essential product features and awards it has received.  What sets your food product apart from the competition?  This needs to be an element focused on when designing food product labels.

Plan for post-sale marketing:  Look at your product label as prime real estate.  Take advantage not only of the space on the front of the label but also the back.  Use a label that offers a peel back function and then list product recipes on the back.  This allows you to show case the product you are selling as well as other company products that are used to create the recipes you feature.  Using all the space available on your food product label is smart marketing.

Marketing food products is fun but not easy.  Follow the tips above to get your products off the shelf and into the customer’s tummies.

At Anchor Printing, we take pride in offering our clients cut & stack labeling, pressure sensitive labels, roll-fed labeling, shrink sleeves as well as flexible packaging options. Contact us today at http://anchorprinting.com for all of your product label design, printing and packaging needs.