No matter what business you are in, there are thousands of companies doing the same thing as you. It’s hard to stand out and create awareness of your products and/or services, especially if you are a small business. When you see the big-budget marketing campaigns that larger companies run, you might wonder why you’re even trying. But what if we told you that people are so sick and tired of all this flashy advertising that they have learnt to tune it out? That’s why the time has come for low-key advertising such as custom stickers. No matter how big or small your company is, you can easily create your own stickers, a powerful yet affordable marketing tool that people aren’t annoyed with. Stickers are a form of non-aggressive, friendly communication that will capture the attention of prospective customers and help raise awareness about your company. Read more to find out how custom stickers can help your business.
Why use custom stickers
People like them
Most people like stickers, take in their message but don’t perceive them as overly salesy. When we were children, many of us collected stickers, and we always looked forward to getting a new one. They still elicit those positive emotions.
They are cost-effective
Custom stickers are a reasonable investment and an effective way to reinforce your brand and get your message in front of a large audience.
They help your business stand out
Since everyone nowadays advertises digitally, non-digital ads such as stickers will show that you are different and help your business stand out among similar companies. Furthermore, custom stickers allow for a great deal of creativity, and well-designed ones will attract a lot of attention.
They serve as recommendations
When somebody uses your custom-designed sticker, this shows that they support your business and your stickers turn into personal recommendations.
Materials, shapes and finishes
Stickers can be square, rectangular, round, oval or custom shaped. There is no such thing as the best shape; you need to choose the one that will complement your design.
When it comes to materials, stickers can be made of paper, polyester or vinyl. Paper stickers are the cheapest kind of stickers. They are great for labelling but can easily tear and are not the best solution for outside use. Vinyl stickers are long-lasting, scratch-resistant and weatherproof, so they can be used both inside and outside. Polyester stickers are an excellent middle ground between less expensive paper and more expensive vinyl stickers, as they are more durable than paper but not quite as good as vinyl.
Stickers come in two different finishes: matte and glossy. Your stickers will look classier with a matte finish, while a glossy finish will make your lettering and images sharper and hence more eye-catching.
Design
You might be a design newbie, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t make great stickers on your own. Find some user-friendly digital imaging software such as Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator and give them a try. A lot of people don’t know they have a talent for design until they try to make something.
Online design tools can also be a great option. Canva, for example, is a fantastic, easy-to-use online design tool with lots of templates you can use for free. Most reputable printing companies have free online design tools you can use as well.
If you still don’t feel like doing it yourself, you can hire a professional to help you create an aesthetically pleasing design. Go to Upwork, Fiverr or other freelancer markets to find one that fits your budget.
When creating stickers, try to match their colours with your brand. You want all your colours, fonts and graphics to work together. Add information about your business. Keep your design simple and message clear. Also, if you incorporate subtle humour into your sticker design, you are bound to make a lasting impression.
After you’ve finished designing, save your files as PNGs since this format can handle intricate, high-contrast graphics without losing quality when opened and saved multiple times. To produce high-quality stickers, most printing companies require a resolution of 300 DPI, so keep that in mind as well. A lower DPI will result in lower-quality graphics, as the ink will spread over fewer dots and blur the edges.
What can you use stickers for?
There are plenty of ways you can use custom stickers for business. The most important thing is to match them to your needs.
Labelling
Stickers were invented to label items, and they are still used for that purpose today. Labels are typically sold in rolls or sheets and are easy to peel away from their backing, making them perfect for fast application to products.
Custom labels might include either legally required information (for some highly regulated products) or additional product details like features and benefits.
Promotion
Rather than using standard and often dull marketing methods like everyone else, you can use well-designed, creative stickers to make your brand pop. Adding them to your marketing mix will help raise awareness about your business and, in the long run, increase your profits.
How to use stickers to promote your business
Stickers can be used in a variety of ways to boost your marketing efforts. Here are some examples.
Storefront windows and doors
If you have a brick-and-mortar shop, people might pass you by unless you grab their attention and make them want to come inside. This is where window decals play an important part. They are usually larger, made of vinyl and can be block-out, clear or micro-perforated. Some companies also offer static window clings made of flexible vinyl, which are ideal for short-term use.
Besides for drawing attention to your store, window decals can also be used to communicate important information, such as business hours. You can also use yellow, orange, red or green decals to highlight ongoing sales and discounts.
Office decoration
Decorating a shop or an office doesn’t have to be expensive. Wall decals are the easiest and fastest way to freshen up your workspace. They are usually made of vinyl and can even have a cool canvas texture.
Use wall decals that complement the rest of the room’s furnishings. Put your logo, some artistic graphics or inspirational messages on the walls to ensure that no one ever thinks your office or shop is boring!
Floor signage
This may not appear to be a common way to get people’s attention, but you can apply stickers on the floor of your store. Make sure they are laminated to extend their lifetime.
Stickers on the floor can show visitors, for example, where to find new things or items on sale. You could also place stickers on concrete to direct people to your store if city bylaws allow it. This brings us to the next idea.
Guerrilla marketing
Strategically place stickers in high-traffic, public areas to create brand visibility and attract attention. Pick a spot where people wouldn’t expect to see ads to add the element of surprise. However, you have to check city regulations before slapping your stickers anywhere to make sure you are not breaking any rules.
Stickers used for guerrilla marketing should have a unique and powerful message that people can relate to. Make them clever and humorous, but keep them simple enough that everybody can grasp what they’re looking at.
Personalised parcels
If you happen to ship a lot of parcels, consider giving your packaging a personal touch with stickers. Decorative packaging is usually quite expensive, and you can achieve a lot with ordinary brown paper and custom-designed stickers.
Your stickers will promote your business to everybody who sees them on their way to their final destination. Once they reach your customer, they will add to the unboxing experience and make your company appear professional. Besides for personalising, stickers can also be used to seal any type of mail.
Corporate goodies
Many companies hand out various promos at business events such as trade shows or conferences. Why not give away cool branded stickers featuring amusing sayings or cool designs that are related to the industry?
You can give out stickers on their own or with other promotional materials like samples of your products. They are also great as business cards.
Loyalty gifts
Custom stickers can be a means to express gratitude to regular customers or customers who place orders that exceed a particular amount. It’s important to let your customers know that you value their business.
If you do a good job with the design, your customers will proudly display your stickers on their personal items. Even if they pass them to someone else, you never know where your stickers will appear and promote your brand, for free.
Vehicle decals
Vinyl decals can be placed on both the windows and the body of your car. They are mobile billboards that are exposed to a large audience on a daily basis and will advertise your business more effectively and at a lower cost than many other marketing strategies.
Opt for large vehicle decals with your essential business information or eye-catching bumper stickers with your logo or a slogan. You can even offer some bumper stickers to your customers in-store or pack them in product shipments.
To sum up
Small businesses don’t have the budget to compete with big players, and the competition in any field can seem overwhelming. However, custom stickers are an affordable marketing tool for any business. No matter what type of stickers you choose, make sure they are well-designed and made of quality materials. Don’t settle for mediocre service and let bad stickers devalue your brand! Your custom stickers are your salesforce! They need to make an impression, improve brand awareness, start word of mouth and eventually bring in customers.
