Tips to Help Your Custom Product Labels Stand Out
Product labels may seem like an afterthought, but they’re one of the most important branding touchpoints between your company and customers. Investing in custom-designed labels can pay dividends by making your products instantly recognizable on store shelves. Here are some tips to make your custom product labels stand out.
Choose Eye-Catching Colors and Graphics
Color and visuals are one of the fastest ways to capture attention. Using bright, contrasting shades that pop on your product labels makes them hard to ignore. You can integrate colors from your brand palette to maintain consistency. Also, it includes engaging graphics, illustrations, or product photos to draw the eye in. Just be sure the label remains easy to read.
Develop a Consistent Look
Consistency across your product line helps cement your brand identity. Maintain signature colors, fonts, graphic elements and themes across all your product labels. This allows customers to instantly recognize your items. A unified aesthetic should be carried through websites, ads and packaging too.
Highlight Key Product Benefits
Don’t just rely on the ingredients or details – call out the most compelling benefits so they’re obvious at a glance. Is your product organic? Made with premium ingredients? Award-winning? Tell customers directly on the label. Bold icons or taglines stating major selling points make it easy for shoppers to identify what makes your item special.
Use Unique Shapes and Textures
Think beyond plain rectangles. Interesting label shapes, like circles, ovals, or bottles with curved labeling surfaces, allow you to stand out. Experiment with different label materials, too – textured paper, foils, and gems can add dimensional intrigue. Just ensure the shape doesn’t impede readability.
Tell a Story
Today’s consumers connect more with compelling backstories. Use your product labeling real estate to share your brand’s origin and founding mission or commit to principles that make it special. A QR code can link to more storytelling for customers wanting to learn more.
Invest in Quality Materials
Flimsy, wrinkling labels can cheapen the perception of your products. Use thicker paper stocks and durable adhesives so labels last through shipping and shelving. Waterproof, tear-proof materials are ideal for products that will encounter moisture or wear and tear.
Refresh Occasionally
Redesign your product labels every few years to keep things fresh. Update any imagery and typography to align with current visual trends while retaining your core branding elements. Limited edition collections or special releases are great opportunities to experiment with label designs.
Watch the Details
Refine label copy, font choices and spacing to optimize scannability and readability. Ensure all mandatory elements like weight, ingredients and warnings are easy to find. Little touches like matte varnish, foil accents and tactile embossing can elevate labels from ordinary to extraordinary at a relatively low cost.
Partner with Experts
Unless you have in-house expertise, work with professional label designers and printers. Their technical skills, design acumen and best practices will ensure your labels align with your brand vision while meeting industry compliance standards.
Standing out in crowded retail environments is no easy feat. Investing the time and budget in thoughtfully designed custom labels can provide an impressive return by building brand recognition and connecting with consumers. Use these tips as a guideline when working with a label printing company to create custom labels.