4 Features of an Effective Product Label

Product labels are 50 percent informative and 50 percent all about marketing. The purpose is not only to provide the consumer with details about the product, but also catch their eye and make them want the product. If a label can accomplish both things, it is considered an effective label. Here are some tips to help you design an effective product label.

Plan Packaging First

It's never a good idea to design the label before you have made the finishing touches on the product packaging. Both the packaging and the label should be complementary of each other; however, if you plan the label first, this might not happen.

Take a hair shampoo, for example. With this product, you want to give the consumer a peek at the actual product so that they can gauge its consistency, color and other elements. If you design the label first, you might create one that is so large, it prevents any view into the bottle. Simply settling on packaging first can eliminate this issue.

Create Texture

Many labels are somewhat plain in that there is a solid background color and solid colored text. Since many other product labels look similar, it can be hard to stand out with this type of design. Consider adding texture to your label. You can do this by layering colors. For example, you could have the background of the label designed in a tan color.

You could then overlay this with a light brown that is somewhat blurred, allowing the tan and the brown to bleed through. This minor change can dramatically alter the appearance of the label by giving it some texture and allowing it to stand out.

Take a Minimalist Approach

When deciding what content to include on the label, it's best to take a minimalist approach. This less is more approach will make your label easier to read and, therefore, more attractive. The average consumer doesn't have a lot of time to research labels.

They need to quickly see what the product is, its purpose, and any other key features. By only including this information along with any other must-know facts, you can accomplish this. Always include website information on the packaging so that the consumer can visit it for more details.

Pairing with a design professional like those at Northwest Label can help you eliminate many of these issues. Don't forget that your label is a very important part of your product rollout. Don't hesitate to request assistance if you need it.