We all love pretty packaging, especially when we receive something in the mail. If you ship out a physical item to your clients, this is a great way to express your brand to create a client experience. Don't underestimate the power of the first impression; use that to your advantage!

If you are feeling that your brand is less than desirable and are looking to rebrand, I recommend doing this before investing money into custom packaging. You will want your brand to stand out, so think about what you currently have and how this affects your customers. Anyone should open the package and instantly know that it came from you. Branding is much more than a logo and a few graphics - it is the overall customer experience, and should reflect who you are and what you want your company to be.

Logos

This may seem easy enough, but think about how you can use your logo to brand your packages when you send them. Also, ensure you have varying logos; your standard logo probably will not work for smaller items such as stickers. Examples of varying logos would be a standard logo, a favicon (for your website and other small pictures), and a small, condensed version for other materials.

Custom Packaging

I am a big fan of custom packaging, if it coordinates with your products and it is affordable. There are many ways to use custom packaging for your products, such as custom printed tissue paper, boxes, ribbons, tape, etc. that can really show off your brand.

Outer & Inner Packaging

I used to use the standard FedEx or USPS boxes to ship my items; however, they are not very professional and I was missing an opportunity to showcase my brand. I switched to Uline's White Mailers because they are sturdy, and offer two colors (white and kraft). I use the white version to ship my products in, and place a sticker on the outside with my logo to keep my brand consistent. They are lightweight and offer protection for my products as well. I use this in conjunction with Uline's white crinkle paper (shown below) as a filler to keep my products from shifting, and offer consistent colors throughout. I have been using Uline for years; they offer great products and extremely fast service (I typically receive my order the next business day).

Keep Colors Consistent

Keep your colors consistent with your brand as well as what is on your website will make your packages recognizable to your customers. My primary colors are grey and white, so I use white for my shipping boxes and the shredded filler paper. I like to add a small pop of color with either a blush or silver ribbon to give it the "wow" factor when the box is opened. Try to keep your packaging to a minimum of 2-3 colors that are a part of your brand.

Thank You Notes

Inserting a handwritten thank you note could be the single most important piece of collateral that you use when shipping your products. A sincere thank you for your business is so important in the digital world that we live in today, and can really set you apart from others. I recently read The Art of the Handwritten Note, A Guide to Reclaiming Civilized Communication by Margaret Shepherd, and it is a fantastic read and could be very helpful to small business owners.

Coupons

A great way for repeat business is to insert a coupon with your products! Depending on your business, this could be a 10 or 15% off your next order promotion, which will invite your customers to shop or book your services again.

Business & Social Media Cards

We all want repeat business, so in order for your customers to remember you, invite them to follow you on social media. This is a quick and simple way to send them your media handles so they can always have you in the back of their minds for future purchases or bookings.

Additional Enhancements

Adding just a few special touches can really change your packaging. A few examples would be ribbon, twine, tags with your logo or a saying on them, colored or custom tissue paper, colored shredded paper, and washi tape.

Depending on the product you offer, another idea would be to include an insert on how to take care of their product. For example, if you are a photographer and are shipping prints and USBs, you many want to remind them to keep their USB and prints out of direct sunlight and away from moisture to avoid damage. Or, if you are environmentally conscience, you can create an insert on 100% tree-free paper and remind them to recycle their packaging. This shows off more than just your product, but who you are as a company.

Remember, when creating packaging for your brand, keep it simple. You are trying to achieve an overall experience, but do not need too many bells and whistles to reflect your brand authentically.