How to Create Custom Labels That Stand Out

Posted by : Mercury Labels Ltd on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 in Choosing Your Labels.

Truth is, there is no point creating custom labels if the
results look generic. The whole idea with custom labels is that you come up
with something 100% unique.

Not to mention, a standout design that differentiates you
from your competitors.

All well and good, but knowing where to start can be half
the battle. With limitless scope for creativity and innovation, customer label
design can be a daunting prospect.

This is where taking things back to basics can help. In
fact, there are just seven key considerations that need to be addressed, in
order to put together your perfect product labels:

1.    
Competitor Research

First up, the last thing you want is for your labels to be
even remotely similar to those of your competitors. Differentiation should be
your priority, which begins with competitor research. Check out what your
competitors are doing, and make every effort to do something entirely different
with your own labels.

2.    
Colour Association

There will always be certain colours that are naturally
associated with specific products and product categories. A green bottle for a
product with a pine-fresh fragrance, a plain cardboard wrapper for an
eco-friendly product and so on.  This
kind of colour association should be brought into your label design strategy as
a key factor of importance. Ideally, the colours you choose should give a clear
indication of what is in the packaging at a glance.

3.    
Fonts and Lettering

Choosing the right font and lettering for your product
labels should be fairly straightforward. By now, you should already have a
select few fonts you use consistently to represent your brand.  In which case, the same fonts and typeface
should be used on your product labels. The only exception is where the
subsequent text may be difficult to read. In which case, swap out your usual
forms for something that is clear, simple and legible.

4.    
Hierarchy of Information

This refers to the textual information on your labels that
takes precedence over the rest. Your product name will (of course) be a
headline, typically followed by a tagline, a description or maybe a slogan of
some kind. The name of your product and its primary selling points should be
the first thing the customer sees at a glance. All other important information
(such as product composition or nutritional data) needs to be clearly
presented, but does not need to be quite so prominent.

5.    
Label Material

Choosing the right materials for your product labels is
about more than looks alone. You also need to think about how your products
will be handled, stored, transported and so on. Some materials are naturally
more eye-catching, sophisticated and/or durable than others. Think about the
kinds of conditions your product labels will be exposed to, and select an
appropriate material accordingly.

6.    
Label Size and Shape

The temptation can be to instinctively go with a generic
square or rectangular label of a standard size. With custom label design, your
product labels can be fashioned in literally
any imaginable size and shape you like. This alone could be one of the
things that helps differentiate your products from those of your competitors.
Just be mindful of the fact that the more abstract the shape, the trickier it
may be to include all essential textual information on your labels.

7.    
Finish

Last up, custom product labels can be finished in a wide
variety of ways. They can be embossed, they can be glossy, they can feature a
mirror finish, or they can be plain matte. All of which can be equally
eye-catching, depending on the rest of the label’s design. Consider how the
options available align with the rest of your visual branding strategy, and
feel free to experiment until you come up with the perfect fit.