Too often, business owners overlook one important part of their product's presentation: the packaging. In the wider process of getting your product ready, it's easy to forget to spend as much care and effort creating the perfect way to show it off. However, the packaging is literally the first thing your customers will see, particularly if they have ordered online. You can make sure that first impression is a great one by having absolutely stellar packaging.
Here are five ways to improve your products' package:
1. Go High-Quality
If you use flimsy cardboard or low-quality envelopes to ship your product, your customers are going to notice. These little details can give your customer's the impression that you don't use the best materials in general: You don't want your customers to feel like they're settling for your product, so don't let your packaging send the message that you don't pay attention to the details.
Instead, use strong, sturdy boxes that are less likely to get dented during shipping, and if you're shipping something in an envelope, make sure the paper has a quality look and feel.
2. Add a Design
Your branding efforts should touch every aspect of your customer's experience, and that includes the packaging. One way you can do this is by purchasing boxes that have your company's name and logo printed onto them. You can also use personalized mailing labels to give your boxes and envelopes that extra touch.
3. Consider Subtlety
If your product is something people might be inclined to steal, don't have anything on the outside that broadcasts that information. Your company's name and logo is probably fine, but you may even want to reconsider that if you're well known in your area. However, if this is the case, you need to pay extra attention to the other elements of your packaging's design. Instead of printing on the outside, you can have your logo printed on the inside lid of the box, so it's the first thing your customer sees when he or she opens the box.
4. Include Useful Additions
One way to encourage customers to use your service again is to slip useful add-ins into the packaging. Coupons and catalogs are easy ideas that can make sense for virtually any business, but try to think of things your customers would need. The more specific you can get, either to your customer or your product, the more exciting the add-in will be for the person receiving it. For example, if you make your own yarn, you could include a pattern for an easy knitting or crocheting product your customer can try.
On the other hand, overly general or useless additions will make a bad impression. Too many pamphlets or flyers are more likely to annoy your customer than impress them, since they'll probably end up throwing most of it away.
5. Go Eco-Friendly – Visibly
It may sound obnoxious to brag about how great for the planet you're being, but if you have recycled or recyclable packaging, let your customers know. Using environmentally-conscious packaging is something to be proud of, so you shouldn't feel bad about mentioning it. It's as simple as adding a quick reminder on the box that it should be recycled or reused: If it your overall brand is approachable and funny, a short, "Recycle me!" printed on the side of a box can go a long way.
Not only does this establish you as an earth-friendly business, it also gives your customers a chance to feel good about their own environmental efforts. People like to do eco-friendly things, so you're giving them an opportunity to help protect the planet. This way your packaging does more than just present the product, it engages your customers and helps your company stick out in their mind.
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