Top Tips for Better Product Packaging

(Photo : Top Tips for Better Product Packaging)

If you're in the business of creating and selling products, you'll know only too well of the various challenges associated with this particular field. Not only do you need to make unique, stand-out, useful products that people really want, but you also need to utilize clever marketing and branding to draw attention to those goods and build your brand.

One area that often gets overlooked but can make all the difference to the success of your creations is the packaging. Especially in the modern era, packaging matters a great deal, and customers can instantly be attracted to or turned away from a product-based purely on the box, bag, or packet it comes in, so it's absolutely worth your time to invest more thought and effort into preparing the perfect package.

We're living in an age of influencers and unboxings, where appearance matters so much and packaging can say such a lot, not just about the product on the inside of the bag or box, but also about the brand that produces it. With this in mind, let's consider some top tips to improve your product packaging and see why they matter so much.

Think Outside of the Box

One of the big trends in product packaging we're seeing as we move forward is an increasing tendency for brands to think beyond the box, both literally and metaphorically, when coming up with their packaging designs!

For instance, many companies have started developing multi-use or reusable packaging, effectively allowing them to turn their boxes, cartons, and packets into a real, tangible part of the product itself, rather than something that can simply be tossed aside or thrown away.

Be Careful with Color

Color can make all the difference to your packaging, but it's important to be careful with how you use it and make sure you choose a theme that really works for your brand and the products you're trying to sell. 

Bright, primary colors can do a wonderful job of catching attention, but they're not always suitable for every kind of product. Similarly, dark and subtle shades can add elegance and sophistication to your packaging, but they need to tie into whatever it is you're selling.

Consistency is Key

Following on from the previous point about color selection, it's important to try and aim for consistency throughout your packaging and product lineups. Not only does this give your brand a more professional look, but it also helps to raise brand awareness and give your company a real identity in the eyes and minds of consumers.

If a company haphazardly changes its packaging all the time, putting out one product in a bright yellow box with floral patterns and then switching up to something totally different, customers will have a hard time recognizing that brand in the future, seeing it as hazy, inconsistent, and even unreliable, so make sure you keep a consistent flow through all packaging.

Eco-Friendly

In these modern times, with increasing awareness of our impact on the planet and the growing importance of green practices, we're seeing more companies 'going green' and more consumers looking for brands that reflect their own values and make efforts to be kind to the environment. 

One way you can make the most of this is to switch to eco-friendly packaging. Consumers will appreciate companies that offer fully recycled and recyclable packages, minimizing the amount of waste they have to deal with and reducing both your and their carbon footprint too. There are plenty of options and you can easily make eco-friendly packaging that looks fabulous.

Know Your Audience 

Another good way to improve the product packaging you provide is to make sure you know your target audience and keep them in mind through every stage of the design. Are you targeting a millennial crowd? If so, the packaging you choose should be totally different than if you were aiming to sell to consumers over 60, for instance.

You can make use of surveys and customer feedback to get a better feel for your audience, as well as getting their views on your packaging at the moment and potential suggestions for how it might be improved in the future, and there are many ways you can make use of that data to take your packaging options to a higher level.

Easy to Open 

Often, when thinking about packaging, some companies have a tendency to spend so much time and effort focusing on the aesthetic appeal of their bags, boxes, and other containers that they overlook one of the most important fundamental tenets of the entire packaging industry: it needs to be easy to open.

Customers, especially modern customers who are used to higher standards than those of the past, don't want to waste too much time getting into the products they buy and breaking through boxes and packaging to access those products. Keep this in mind when putting your packaging solutions together and remember to think about substance, as well as style.

Tell Your Story and Stand Out

Ultimately, your packaging is supposed to be a reflection of your brand. It's a physical manifestation of what your company is all about, aiming to embody the values, attitude, and personality of what you have to offer. Be sure to consider this when putting packaging designs together and you'll surely start to make stronger packaging in the process.

Too often, packaging designers get carried away with chasing the latest trends or copying the competition, but often, those that have the most success are the ones that dare to be different and aim to stand out from the crowd, rather than simply fitting in with the rest of the flock and blending into the background.

Final Word

The importance of packaging should never be underestimated. It isn't just a functional container to get your products to your consumers; it's an integral part of your brand and can be a genuine make-or-break factor when it comes to the success of your business. Take it seriously and keep these tips in mind to get the best possible packaging.