Consider Your Consumers As Your Marketers

This article from Packaging Europe touches on the ways modern consumers influence packaging design. This Biz Community article considers the same prospect but also examines the ways in which packaging creates experiences for customers. So, by designing the product’s packaging with a wider view in mind, you create a full experience for customers, not just a protective casing for your item.

How exactly are consumers your marketers?

Shoppers have always spoken about the products they love, but these days it’s also done on a public online stage. So, take advantage of it. As a result of creating beautiful and helpful packaging, you’ll get customers who market it. Yes, even go above and beyond the competition. Don’t just offer a product, build that experience.

Social Media Influencing

Obviously social media has completely changed the marketing landscape. Now when people like your product they also promote it on their social media pages. The brands they like almost inform the brand influencers build for themselves. So, make your packaging worthy of the product placement. Not only do you have the option to pay influencers to promote your product, but fans will create their own user-generated content for you when they’re excited to show it off. Artistic packaging makes it far easier for the later to enthusiastically occur.

Word of Mouth and Blatant Recommendations

Online and off, an unbiased recommendation from someone you know is a very convincing way to try something new. So, when you create packaging that goes above and beyond to serve customers, they’ll post online reviews, discuss their experience in person, and even post positive comments on your social media pages. This type of engagement must be earned through value. Shoppers need to be inspired, educated, entertained or assisted in using the product to find this level of connection with a brand.

The Importance of Brand Values

First, communicate the values your brand holds dear. Even product specific values. This information is communicated through association logos, on-theme product photography, and of course, label copy. Selling vegetable noodles? Communicate that it’s a fresh, healthy, and quality product by using imagery that connects shoppers to a clean, professional restaurant environment. So, whether they realize it or not, they understand the values of the product with a single glance.

Innovative Labeling Techniques

So, how do you design a label that looks beautiful enough to enthusiastically promote? Enhance it with labeling techniques. There’s so many to choose from, so consider the purpose they hold. Create more realistic images with embossing and foiling. These classic techniques make your sunshine motif glisten in the light, or your metallic bolt graphics pop off the surface. Then, create a more unique dimension with tactile coatings. Or, leave your competition in the dust by using unique, holographic techniques like Motion Coat and Cast & Cure, seen above. These techniques not only glimmers in the light, but they create nostalgic and positive subconscious connections.

E-Commerce Presentation Can’t Be Shrugged Off

It’s important to find consistency in your in-person and online experience. Shoppers need to easily find your product and your storefront, but they also need to recognize it’s the official page. Consistent branding, copy voice, and imagery help with that.

Plus, how your techniques appear online is crucial. This not only highlights the design elements but offers an authentic, transparent shopping experience. When the product arrives on your customer’s doorstep, they’ll want to know exactly what’s inside.

Booklet-Style Labels

Booklet-style labels offer more content space to expand on helpful information or to provide translations. Plus, when customers open up the label, it engages the emotions on a haptic level. Now, they are not only delighted by the satisfaction of being able to open up the label, but the information inside provides added value. This is a simple way to even step above your competition and stand out. Offering simple tutorials inside is another way to turn shoppers into your marketers.

Durability in All Conditions

No customer is going to become your marketer when the label is peeling off the container. Use water-resistant labels like The WetStick™ featuring an adhesive chemistry so strong, you can apply labels underwater. Don’t skimp out. Go for quality stocks and labeling options that last well past the grocery aisle. When you don’t invest in quality, loyal customers post undesirable pictures of your disintegrating pool-side label. That’s not very re-postable. So, do yourself and your customers that favor. This also goes for heat resistant labels, using UV inks and on and on.

Labeling Technology

Lastly, labeling technology like NFC (Near Field Communication), QR codes, and even hashtags connect customers to more value. Send shoppers to your custom created video tutorials, blog posts, and apps that offer inspiration, information, and community connection. This goes a long way in finding even more value and longevity with a product. Plus, when the information provides more fulfillment, customers will come back for more. Take the extra step, go above and beyond your competition, and the return on investment will show. Plus, the physical engagement with the packaging engages the senses in a similar way that labeling techniques do. This may just be the very thing that turns your customer into your very own marketer.

Learn more about the labeling solutions Great Lakes Label offers. We offer a variety of inks and coatings that create a label that excites customers. Download our e-book, The Resource Guide To All Things Inks & Coatings.