We all know that packaging is vital, but it’s also hard to get right. Most marketers settle for average product packaging, which leaves a lot of money on the table. Most of your marketing efforts end up wasted because you don’t stand out from the competition. Your product packaging has the most significant impact on your sales, yet unfortunately, many new entrepreneurs ignore it.
Packaging is an excellent opportunity for new business owners and marketers because it’s one of the few marketing channels you can control 100% yourself (unlike SEO or social media). Additionally, it allows you to stand out from your competitors, which is critical in today’s overcrowded markets.
What you need is a proven strategy that helps you create fantastic product packaging (no matter what industry or niche). It doesn’t have to be expensive either; you can do it on a budget by following the strategies below.
Strategy #1: Call Out To The Right Audience
Many startups and small businesses make the mistake of marketing to everyone. You might feel like you’re covering your bases by targeting a broad audience, but that’s not how it works in practice. If you try to appeal to everyone (with very generic product packaging), nobody will care about what you offer. You’ll just put your product in the same “shoebox” as everyone else.
The way to stand out is by creating unique, custom packaging that appeals directly to your target audience. This allows you to connect with them emotionally and position yourself as a thought leader or authority figure within their minds. If you can win their trust, then it won’t matter how many other companies you’re competing with. Go to customboxworks.com to learn more about custom packaging and boxes.
Strategy #2: Use A Unique Shape
Another common mistake entrepreneurs make is settling for standard rectangular shapes and boring boxes to showcase their product packaging. You might think this is the safest or cheapest route, but in reality, most people don’t even notice your product if it looks like everyone else’s. If anything, standard packaging makes you blend in with all the other boring companies that used rectangular boxes (and nobody wants to be generic).
It doesn’t matter how great your product is. Your customers will never take notice unless you use unique shapes and designs on your box or container. You don’t want to go crazy and make your product stick out like a sore thumb, but it should be noticeable enough that people take some interest.
Strategy #3: Utilize Negative Space For A Unique Design
Adding logos or other designs on the packaging is not always the best idea because they start looking cluttered after a while (especially if you have a lot of different products). Instead, you should try to use negative space as part of your product packaging. You can do this by creating unique designs with the color or texture printing on the box itself (instead of adding more elements onto it). This creates an interesting contrast that draws attention from customers without being too distracting.
Strategy #4: Think Outside the Box (Literally)
Most marketers are afraid to deviate from industry standards. They simply copy what everyone else is doing, which leads them nowhere. If you want to stand out and make your product shine, you need to try something different and research on brandbookcloud to create a packaging name. How do you accomplish this? Think outside the box.
This doesn’t mean you have to do something crazy or utterly random with your product packaging (unless that’s what works best for your industry). Instead, think about ways you can take a traditional idea and put it into an unusual context. This might require some extra creativity on your part, but even small changes can make a big difference.
Strategy #5: Customize Your Packaging
Don’t settle for boring, off-the-shelf designs. Instead, you should try to set your product packaging apart by customizing it with unique touches that fit the theme of your brand. This includes everything from adding your logo or business name to creating a specific color palette or layout design. Even small details can have an impact on how your product is perceived.
Strategy #6: Incorporate a Theme
Many companies try to develop product packaging that is random and doesn’t have any specific theme or context. This usually leaves them floating around in the void of generic ideas, never standing out from their competitors.
This doesn’t mean that every product has to be themed the same way or look identical outside (although this can work for some companies). Instead, think about ways you can tie everything together with your company’s branding strategy. This creates an environment where customers feel like they’re getting more than just a product. They feel like they’re accessing an entire experience that’s themed around your brand and values.
Strategy #7: Use a Professional Designer
If you want to elevate your product packaging design from mediocre or generic, then it’s time to hire a professional. This might seem like an unnecessary expense at first glance. Still, most marketers don’t realize that the right designer can save them money in other areas (like advertising and marketing campaigns).
When you work with a talented graphic designers, they can use their expertise to create a product that perfectly fits your brand and is guaranteed to stand out from the rest. Using an amateur can lead you down a path of lackluster design with little-to-no impact on customer perception.
Strategy #8: Get Feedback From Customers
Getting feedback from customers can be a powerful way to determine how your product packaging is perceived. This can be helpful when you want to rebrand and redesign your product packaging for maximum impact.
This doesn’t mean that you should ask random customers what they think of the design or layout (although this might occasionally yield valuable information). Instead, incorporate a formal survey into your marketing campaign strategy to determine the biggest issues with your current designs. Then, you can use this data to come up with a solution that makes everyone happy.
Strategy #9: Choose Usability Over Aesthetics
There are some companies out there that think product packaging needs to be beautiful, but it doesn’t need to be the most aesthetically-pleasing aspect of your brand. Instead, usability should always prioritize aesthetics when you’re designing new labels and boxes for your products. This can mean anything from including a dispensing mechanism to making sure your product is easy to open and use.
If you want a perfect example of this in action, look no further than Apple’s iPod packaging from 2001-2004. The original design was notoriously challenging to open, which led to people using knives, scissors, and other tools. Of course, Apple later changed the design after customers voiced their complaints about this issue.
Strategy #10: Create a Unique Point of Difference
You should never forget that your product needs to be differentiated from others on the market in some way or form. This can include a unique selling proposition or a key point of difference that sets your product apart.
If you’re struggling to come up with any ideas for this, it can help to look at other competitors in the industry and see what they are doing well (or not so well). You can also talk to customers about why they would choose one competitor over another when it comes to your product category.
Finally, you’ll want to make sure that any points of difference are documented and communicated throughout the entire customer journey (from awareness through purchase). This ensures customers know what makes your products different or better than others in terms of quality, design, and performance.
Strategy #11: Leverage The Power of Psychology
The last strategy you should consider is leveraging the power of psychology to make more sales (without manipulating customers). One easy way to do this is by making people feel comfortable or at home when they see your product.
This doesn’t mean you have to use bright colors or deliver a completely different message than everyone else (which could backfire in some cases). Instead, try implementing subtle details that convey trust and safety, such as soothing pastel tones instead of harsh reds and oranges. This creates an environment where people feel safe and comfortable buying from you, which increases your chances of making a sale.
Final Thoughts:
In today’s competitive market, it can be challenging to stand out from the competition. Whether you’re trying to launch a new product or rebrand an existing one, many things need to come together for your customer base and brand image to grow. One of the most important aspects is creating high-quality packaging that showcases your products in their best light while conveying trust and professionalism. In this blog post, we discussed 11 proven strategies for designing impressive product packaging with a focus on usability over aesthetics and leveraging psychological principles without manipulating customers.
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