Does design play a crucial role in product packaging?

Packaging designs plays a major role in the marketing mix because companies do understand that a good packaging helps augment sales. Don’t you get carried away by attractive bottles of wine when compared to that of a plain Jane design? Certainly yes!!

Don’t forget that packaging is consumer's first point of contact with you and your product. Hence, an attractive and a spiffy package will force people to try a new product line which they never did before. Your package design plays a significant role in either launching or re-launching your product. However, there are a number of things that one has to consider before designing a package because the design has to function. Apart from attracting people, your packaging should also protect the product inside it, should facilitate easy storage and distribution, and give required information about the product to attract customers.

Remember that the cover needs to be captivating to sell what’s inside it. The following are a few important questions that one needs to address before finalizing a package design:

1 – How will your packaging represent your brand?

Your brand’s personality is conveyed through fonts, colors, and textures that are used on the packaging. An appealing design combines all these elements and conveys your brand’s story. On the contrary, an excellent design goes a step further. It considers the shape of the product and ensures that it stands out with a unique outline.

2 – How is your product priced?

Your packaging also plays a significant role in deciding the price. If you wish to position your product as the cream of the slot, then the packaging can be high-end. Understand the fact that you can increase the perceived value of your product by offering the same in a good cover.

 3 – What materials will be used?

How durable should the packaging be to ensure that the product inside it remains fresh or safe till it reaches the end user? This aspect plays a crucial role because the design also depends on the kind of fabric on which it will get imprinted. For example, certain colors and designs will look on plastic packaging, but may not appeal on glass. Hence, the designer must design logos, prints and other designs keeping in mind the above mentioned points.

The nutshell is: “Yes, designs on your packaging plays a significant role when it comes to marketing your product.” Hence, opt for good and appealing designs to grab and retain customers.

Excogitate The Very Purpose Of Designing

Since a decade, designs have been considered as an integral part of branding, advertising and marketing. The reason is simple – “It talks volumes.” Designs have always had its impact on the physical world. Sometimes designs are simple; at times complex, yet they offer a deep rooted meaning.

So why do we need designs and what goes into excellent designing? Whether its logos, ads or campaigns, the nutshell is: “Impressive Designs.”

The fact is that designing demands deep thinking and the job of a designer is to blend all the ingredients of designing effectively. Using copied, cheap or free design essentials is like a reputed chef making use of canned sauces. The nutshell is to create your product from the scratch and offer the best.

Keeping all these in mind, smart agencies have came up with the concept of “Collaborative Designs” wherein experts come together for individual projects and offer sans pareil results.

Every company has a fixed budget for marketing and advertising. With a stipulated budget, companies cannot hire the best in each segment. Instead, it is wise to opt for agencies who offer such collaborative services. Collaborations will help sink in the best talent in the market. Using free or cheap elements of designing will give rise to poor designs or replicas.   

In short, the very purpose of designing is to create original and impactful designs. If companies are looking for the best, then the wise thing is to go with the flow of collaborative designing. It’s a smart and an intelligent way of branding and promoting your products and services. 

Budget friendly ways to build your brand

You have an excellent product range, a great idea, interesting website and even some funding. So what? This will not fetch your business anything until people are talking, buzzing and sharing stories about you. If no one heard the tree falling in the forest, how will anyone know about the very existence of the tree - and why would anyone even care?

This is the usual case with the startup companies because publicity typically comes last in their expenditure list. However, with tremendous competition for attention and coverage, publicity does play a major role in connecting dots. Smart strategies help, but company’s profile does play a major role. This in turn, attracts advertisers, consumers, investors and, partners.

Reality Check: Companies which consider public relations as the lead horse will cross the boundary before anyone else. However, if you’re bootstrapped and do not wish to spend on a PR firm, then it is wise to hire an in-house communications specialist, who can kick-start the drumbeat with the help of excellent social media marketing and press coverage buzz.

So what best can you do to attract the media and the customers especially when you have a limited budget?
Understand your elevator pitch: "Tell your story", ensure that your presentation to the media, customers and the investors is interesting. It is observed that behind the scenes stories are more captivating than the than the actual pitching strategy. 
Leverage your contacts : It’s indeed a small world where you can make best use of your contacts to get business. Don’t be shy to ask for references because you never know what clicks for you.
Use social media : We are lucky to be in this era wherein connection and relations are just a click away. And believe me so is business. Ensure smart moves on social media platforms and believe us there is huge business happening on these sites.
Do your research : Never go for pitch in without knowing about the opposite party. Understand their recent business, interests and then offer what the company is looking for. This will ensure prompt and smart move.

Building a communication strategy for the business is as crucial as building a business plan. Understand that every business must have a communications strategy, and a few PR activities to stay in the limelight. Make best use of social media, PR and contacts to grow and excel.