5 Tips for Effective Product Packaging

Product packaging can be just as important as your product.

The packaging is what the potential consumer sees, influencing their purchasing decision. In fact, 72% of Americans say the product packaging influences their purchasing decision. Check out these five tips for effective product packaging. 

1. On-brand product packaging 

Your packaging should be a consistent extension of your brand. 

Your brand is how your company looks and feels. Follow your brand style guide when designing the packaging. If you don’t already have a brand style guide created, now would be a great time to get started. 

Your brand style guide is used throughout your business to create general guidelines for the look and style of your brand. It establishes colors, fonts, and much more to ensure the consistency of the brand. It should portray your brand’s personality and values. 

Just as important as staying on brand is functionality. 

2. Functional product packaging 

Your product packaging should fulfill its function before all else. 

Consider the product packaging’s use within the life of your product. 

First, it must adequately protect the product. You should be prepared for both gentle and hard handling. Make sure you account for any special care of the product, including light, ventilation, water, and heat concerns. 

Second, it must include all important information to abide by rules and regulations to avoid a potential lawsuit. 

Third, the packaging must fit within the size, weight, and volume constraints. Consider making it stackable so it can be easily stocked. 

Fourth, the packaging must be easy to open. There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to open a package that makes you think the company doesn’t want you to get to the product. 

Fifth, if the packaging will be used throughout the product’s life, then make sure the packaging is adequately made for this purpose. For example, make it resealable and durable. 

Over-the-top packaging which does not serve a functional purpose can be a waste of money due to environmentally conscious consumers. 

3. Environmentally friendly product packaging

Consumers are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious. 

Many are looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact on the earth, including reducing their waste. Therefore, they’ll want to look for companies that align with their goals. Environmentally friendly product packaging can have many different faces. 

• Use recycled materials.
• Use recyclable and/or reusable materials.
• Reduce the weight and size of your product packaging.

Environmentally conscious product packaging can help it stand out, among other methods. 

4. Product packaging made to stand out 

Your packaging is the face of your product. 

Little things can make a big difference in customer purchasing decisions. Effective product packaging can trigger impulse buying from customers. If you can find ways to differentiate your product packaging from your competitors, you’ll be better able to stand out, increasing sales.

Research your competitors to see what they are doing. Brainstorm ways your product packaging can stand out. Consider: 

• Shape
• Presentation
• Color
• Design
• Layout 

However, there are some things you don’t want to change. 

• Keep your packaging within your industry parameters.
• Include your product, brand name, and one to two main selling points.
• Be honest. You’re going to want to present your product in the best light, but there’s a line between positive framing and lying. With great products, there’s no need to stretch the truth. And in the end, it’s counterproductive because you’ll anger customers who don’t get what they thought they bought after they’ve unboxed the product. 

5. Product packaging for unboxing

Lately, unboxing videos have risen in popularity. 

Unboxing videos include customers buying products and then filming themselves unboxing them. They rose in popularity because the viewer could receive second-hand satisfaction from unboxing new products. It also highlighted the importance of the unboxing experience for customers.

From a business’s point of view, unboxing videos provided authentic, customer-produced marketing. Products with unique packaging provide material for great unboxing videos. Get creative and try to generate ways you can enhance the unboxing experience. For example, include a thank you card or stickers.

Unique product packaging examples

Guidelines and tips can be vague, which is why examples are useful. 

Check out a few examples of creative product packaging. 

• NYC Spaghetti. The designer created product packaging so the spaghetti resembled the Chrysler Building. This catches customers’ attention.
• Butter! Better! Here, the butter container comes with a knife so the user can easily use the butter. This will fix the frustration of lacking utensils. The design expertly combines function and form.
• Görtz 17 Shoelace Box. Here, the company developed more environmentally friendly bags while also keeping things creative. Being a shoe store, it perhaps wasn’t innovative to put a shoe on the box. But it was innovative for them to incorporate real shoelaces that extend from the box’s design. 

Hopefully, these examples can spark some product packaging creativity. 

Consult your printer about product packaging 

Product packaging can get overwhelming. 

There are so many details involved. But, we can help the printing be the least of your worries. We can point you in the right direction to avoid printing challenges resulting from your design not quite matching your material. We can also discuss costs and lend our general expertise. Happy product packaging printing! For More Information on Custom Packaging go to:https://www.printcafeli.com/store/product-view.html/70-Packaging

 

                       Using Content to Win New Customers

Marketing content is a useful tool for any business trying to generate more traffic to their doorstep, either digitally or in person.

Whether your content is provided through a direct mailer or digitally, the right information catches people's attention and attracts them to want to find out more.

And that generates valuable activity that causes sales to happen.

Yes, content is powerful and profitable, but what kind of content works? Here are valuable content tips that can make a difference for your business.

Don’t Reinvent the Wheel

A lot of energy, time, and resources are consumed creating new methods from scratch, whether in business or anything else.

So why go down that road when you can learn by working examples instead?

The key is to focus on companies and organizations that put out both digital and print content that is wildly successful. It doesn’t even have to be the same industry as yours.

Instead, look for methodology and strategy. What is it about these businesses that makes their content work? Find the system, learn the approach, and then apply it to your business.

Pinpoint What Attracts Customers to You

In traditional marketing, identifying viable customers is known as “defining a target market.”

Typically, a marketer would find the right type of demographics mix that makes up a target market and then aim marketing efforts towards that person, hoping for a response.

Today, however, things are easier.

Ask your current customers what they appreciate and like about your business and find more people with similar interests. Then shape your content accordingly.

Screen Your Existing Material for Easy Gems

Most likely, your company has already produced a library of information that can be used to create content for customers.

Review your existing resources, modify the material, and post or print it for them to find. Customers connect to the most amazing things; the trick is to tell a story that brings them back for more.

Don’t Brain Dump, Choose Material Wisely

Content is never an accident.

Your customer-oriented material should be part of an overall story you tell each month to audiences. Every piece should connect and integrate with the next during each content push window.

One of the best ways to do this is to shape your content for each month. Whether weekly or daily, the month’s material should be planned, summarized, and segued from one piece of the story to the next. Consider each content piece a chapter in a bigger book.

Make Sure Your Writer is Passionate

If your content is just a chore for whoever gets assigned the task, it will show in the writing.

Make sure your writer actually has a passion for your topic, and the difference will come out naturally. It will also be far more attractive to your customers, who will find the content genuine and natural.

Avoid Hard Calls to Action

Remember, your content’s goal is to generate an audience for your business.

Hard messaging stands out awkwardly in genuine content. Instead, the material should be informative, helpful, and useful. The body of the content will do its work and attract customers, who will then seek your business on their own and connect it with your business. Their interest will do the rest on the natural. This is why content generation is so powerful.

Lastly, make your content human and personal. Put a face to it if possible. Customers connect far more to a person than generic information.

Need some fresh ideas? Contact us today to get started! 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO:www.printcafeli.com

The 8 Dos and Don'ts of Branding

 

Your brand is often the key to growing and keeping your customer base. 

A recognizable, identifiable brand with a cohesive look and feel helps you get the attention of a potential customer and keeps the would-be one-time customer coming back for more. You want your brand to be instantly memorable, especially when it comes to print-based marketing. This is why it is essential to make sure your brand is in tip-top shape!

How do you know if your brand is on point or missing the mark? You follow these dos and don'ts of branding.

The Dos of Branding

1. Take the Time to Update Your Brand Logo

Even iconic brands like Coca-Cola revamp their logo on occasion.

The longer you have been in business, the more likely you need to update your brand logo. You want your brand to appear fresh and relevant. You don’t have to redesign your brand logo completely; just give it a revamp. 

2. Pay Particular Attention to Detail

Designing for print leaves little to no room for error.

You want to get it right the first time and avoid costly fixes down the road. Therefore, it is usually best to start with a digital design before printing the final product.  

3. Take Advantage of Print Textures

Because print-based marketing gives the consumer something they can hold, don’t forget about using print texture to enhance your brand.

Techniques like folding, embossing, or even well-placed foiling can create a unique print experience. 

4. Respect White Space

With print, sometimes less if more.

Try to leave space between the icon and the text. Try your design in black and white before adding color. You’ll see just how impactful it is or realize you need to go back to the drawing board for tweaks and adjustments.  

The Don’ts of Branding

1. Forget to Edit

Editing is often the best friend of printing and branding.

Come up with several options before settling on something final. Brands will inevitably evolve, but spending the initial investment of time on the front end will allow you to come up with a solid brand.

2. Add Too Many Fine Details for Printing

There is a time and place for intricacy when it comes to branding.

Intricate designs with multiple colors and gradients may be amazing for digital marketing platforms but will most likely get lost in translation in print. So instead, think simple but unique for print purposes by scaling back fine details.

3. Use a Wide Variety of Colors

One of the goals of print marketing is to get the customer’s attention.

While you can do this with color, too many colors may have the opposite effect. Think about the size of your print materials and use that to guide your choices of colors. 

4. Use the Wrong Font

Think about your brand. Is it bold? Demure? Classic?

Choose a font that represents the overall feel of your brand. For example, a construction company would likely never utilize a swirly font with loopy letters. Put your font choice to the test before making a final decision. Look at it in various sizes. If it doesn’t translate well to several settings, choose another font.

Creating a brand for your business doesn’t have to be an impossible task. When you keep these dos and don’ts of branding in mind, your business can be well on its way to iconic status in no time. 

Partner With a Marketing Expert

When it comes to building a successful printing brand, partnering with an experienced team of marketing experts is crucial. With years of valuable experience, we're here to help your business shine. Contact us today to get started!Need some fresh ideas? Contact us today to get started! 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO:www.printcafeli.com

How to Build Trust and Rapport in New Business Relationships

When Brendan Kane scheduled a Fox Business interview, he never planned to bag a presidential candidate.

Kane, a social media influencer strategist, thought his Kennedy show interview was simply another media spot. Until he landed in the green room with Democratic presidential candidate John Delaney. Kane later admitted he didn’t even know who Delaney was – he just wanted to have a good conversation. But as they visited about their lives and interests, Delaney was quickly drawn to Kane’s magnetic, genuine personality.

One warm conversation bloomed into a partnership. Before the day was over, Delaney asked Kane to help him with his political social media campaign.

Sell Yourself, Then Sell Your Products

Do you want to create a rapport that quickly builds trust with others?

This starts with meeting people organically and connecting with them authentically. Brendan Kane never tried to sell John Delaney anything; he just took an interest in his life and story. It was Delaney who eventually pitched himself to Kane!

Great business relationships start with rich personal interactions, including conversations that flow from an authentic, nonthreatening place. Are you looking to sell yourself so you can then sell your brand or product? Here are three tips to get you started:

1. Offer non-judgmental validation

People feel heard and valued when you seek their opinions and input without judging them.

Seek the other person’s opinions and thoughts without jumping to conclusions. While you don’t have to agree with what they say, adopting an attitude of acceptance means respecting a person’s feelings or values as valid, even if they are different from your own.

If this is difficult for you, taking time to imagine yourself in the other person’s place can help you be more open and empathetic.

2. Listen with your full presence

Do you ever talk to someone who seems distracted? Even as this person listens, you can see a thousand thoughts racing through his head, as if he can’t wait to cut in and speak his mind.

One of the best gifts you can give someone is your full presence and attention – to truly listen. Beneath all the swagger or struggles, everyone has a story to tell. People are longing to be seen and heard, and when you ask questions and actually hear the answers, you’ll be amazed how quickly connections are built.

3. Establish a time constraint early in the conversation

Have you ever been sitting in an airport or your office chair when someone unexpectedly approaches you to start a conversation?

This scenario can be unsettling for many people because no one wants to feel trapped in an awkward, unplanned discussion (especially with someone they don’t fully trust). To quickly set an associate at ease, preview the end of a conversation before it starts.

Say something like, “I’d like to visit with you about ____, can I grab 10 minutes of your time?” or, “I’m on my way out, but before I left, I wanted to ask you _______.”

Enlarge Your Influence

Building rapport is critical for nurturing strong relationships and amplifying your influence on others.

When you build relational bridges, you will engage people on a human level, foster transparency, and fuel a culture of innovation, loyalty, and collaboration.

Need some fresh ideas? Contact us today to get started! 516-561-1468 or FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF OUR MARKETING PRODUCTS GO TO:www.printcafeli.com