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5 Reasons You Should Be Using Die-Cut Stickers to Market Your Brand
Stickers have become an increasingly popular way for brands to increase their exposure, build relationships with customers, and generate more sales. They have a significant advantage over other promotional channels in that people don’t perceive them as advertising, regardless of what’s printed on the sticker. However, to generate the best results possible, die-cut stickers are your best bet. Read on to find out why. Die-Cut Stickers Stand Out Die-cut stickers stand out more than other stickers because of their shape, which is essential when you want to capture someone’s attention. Most people will only glance quickly at a sticker, meaning that you have less than a few seconds to get their attention. You can be certain that a die-cut sticker will be able to do that more effectively than a standard sticker. The shape alone draws the eye to it, and sparks enough curiosity for someone to take a closer look. For example, the jar below is definitely going to draw people’s attention faster than if it were a simple rectangular sticker. It’s also easier to convey your message. For example, if you run a hotel on the beach, a surfboard-shaped sticker will immediately get people thinking about the beach. No one will be confused about the location of your hotel, either. Or if you own a café, a sticker shaped like a cup of coffee will immediately clue people into what you do, even before they take a closer look at the message printed on the sticker. Die-Cut Stickers Look Professional Stickers are already a pretty low-cost advertising vehicle, but when you opt for die-cut stickers, you give the air of professionalism. In other words, you send the message that you don’t mind investing a little extra to offer people something of good quality. And that’s precisely how people perceive stickers. They don’t consider them an ad tool. Instead, when you hand them out, they think of them as a gift. So, if you go for cheap stickers, they’ll think you’re cheap and won’t be quite as impressed with your brand. Conversely, a die-cut sticker sends the message that you want to make your future and existing customers happy and that you aren’t afraid of spending a little extra to do so. Most people will, of course, translate this to your overall brand. In other words, your brand is willing to go the extra mile to offer a great customer experience. And this will earn you their loyalty much quicker. For example, the stickers in the photo below have a simple design, which is great for a dispensary. But sometimes a simple design isn’t enough and people think you are cheap. However, these stickers are saved from mediocrity by their really cool shape. Die-Cut Stickers Will Get You More Exposure When you go out next time, look around and see what types of stickers people are most likely to put on their personal items. You’ll find that die-cut stickers tend to rule the roost. Space on personal items is at a premium, so people will choose to display stickers that they think look cool and really resonate with them. And few things look quite as cool as quality die-cut stickers. So, if you want to have a better chance of your sticker being put in a prominent place on someone’s personal items, then you need to invest in die-cut stickers. Don’t forget that when someone puts your sticker on their laptop, for example, they aren’t the only ones who will see it. Everyone else who is in their vicinity when they are using their laptop will also see your sticker. Die-Cut Stickers Will Gain You a Competitive Advantage It might sound silly, but when you give out stickers, you’re actually competing with other brands for the attention of your customers. And in this case, everyone else is your competition. You want people to remember your brand, and the easiest way for that to happen is for your sticker to be placed somewhere where your customers will see it all the time. Space like the front of fridge, mirrors, frequently used binders, laptops, and on other personal items is at a premium. There isn’t a lot of it, so you have to make sure your sticker looks better than everyone else’s so you can make the grade. Die-cut stickers are much more attractive than plain stickers, which will increase your likelihood of getting your sticker put up in a prominent place. And this will skyrocket your impressions, i.e. the number of times someone sees your sticker. The more frequently they see your sticker, the more cemented your brand will become. For example, the stickers featured in the photograph are more likely to end up on someone’s fridge or laptop because they are interesting and attractive. They draw they eye and they’re fun. And that’s what people want from their stickers. Die-Cut Stickers Allow for More Creativity In the same vein of creating an uber-attractive sticker that everyone will want to get hold of, die-cut stickers naturally allow for more creativity. It’s true that you can’t go overboard because if the edges of the design are too complex, cutting them out won’t be an option. However, because you can play with the shape as well as the printed design, there are many more creative options than with standard stickers. And the more attractive you make your stickers, the more likely it is that people will pass them around to friends and family, which will definitely work in your favor. Die-cut stickers are a great way to build the image of a brand that cares about it’s customers. They show that you are willing to invest to make your customers happy, even though that investment is minimal. The important aspect is the perception of your customers. With die-cut stickers, you can also be certain of more exposure and impressions than with any other type of sticker. Due to their attractiveness, you have a much better chance at beating out the competition when it comes to the premium ad space on people’s personal items.
Learn moreWhat Elections Can Teach Us About Branding
Whatever your feelings towards Donald Trump as President, his team did an amazing job with his campaign and branding. After all, he went from being someone with absolutely no experience as a politician straight to the top of the political food-chain, which is no mean feat. So, how exactly did Donald Trump win the presidential elections, shocking an entire nation in the process? Read on to discover how he did it and what you can learn from his approach. Trump Focused on a Specific Niche Whether you’re with him or against him, you have to admit that some of the things he said during his campaign didn’t endear Donald Trump to various segments of the population. In fact, at times, he seemed to be doing his best to insult quite a large number of people. However, if you look at it from his point of view, you would realize he was catering to the niche he had decided to win over. Instead of trying to be everything to everyone and win over the entire American population, he chose to focus on a single niche, namely working-class, white men. It’s a pretty significant demographic, but quite specific. All his messages, even the insults, were tailored to that audience, ensuring relevance. Relevant, targeted messages that resonated with his “target market” helped him win them over, which was clear if you looked at his numbers on social media. As a business owner, you need to do the same thing. You can’t be everything to everyone. Instead, focus on a specific niche and craft your messages and marketing to make them relevant to that niche. That means understanding your target market and delivering in such a way that they will think the sun rises and sets on your business. It’s better to have one group of people think you’re amazing than having everyone thinking you’re mediocre. Trump Wasn’t Afraid of Being Different He used tons of exclamation marks in his tweets, he made outlandish statements, he was often divisive, and he made everyone think he was against the establishment. In other words, he connected on an emotional level with his audience while not being afraid to stand out. Hilary Clinton, on the other hand, tried to make herself liked by everyone, resulting in a campaign that pretty much had her disappearing into the background, especially when compared to Trump. When applying the same principles to a business, it means you should do everything you can to stand out from the competition. Taking it a step further like Trump did requires you to ensure that the brand you created shows and cements those differences. And, like Trump, don’t be afraid to compare your brand to the competition and show people those differences. After all, Trump never missed an opportunity to compare himself to Hilary. Also, you need to learn to use emotion in your messages, just like Trump. He didn’t use logic to get people to vote for him. He didn’t publish and 8-year forecast and plan for what he intended to do. No, he used emotion to appeal to his audience, which is exactly what you must do too. At least, if you want them to act. Remember, emotion gets people to act. So, if you want your audience to take action, then you need to learn which of their emotional buttons you need to push, and then push them. Trump Kept Things Simple As previously stated, he didn’t publish a three thousand-word report on what he was going to do when he got into office. In fact, he made very few concrete promises. His promises were all vague, like “Make America Great Again!” That’s a pretty vague statement, yet it’s concise and memorable. It certainly resonated with his audience, which came out to vote for him in droves. While vague may have worked for Trump, it likely won’t work for your business. However, what you can take away from Trump’s approach is to keep your message concise and simple. The more concise it is, the more memorable and effective it will be. If you overdo things and get to complicated, you will lose your audience. Keep things simple, though, and people will remember your brand. And people tend to come back to the brand they find most memorable. Trump Used Every Tool at His Disposal From social media to TV appearances, Trump used every tool at his disposal to connect with his audience. He didn’t limit himself to one or even a few channels. Instead, he went to where his audience was. Everywhere they were. This ensured that he was able to reach the people he was trying to connect with. Further, his sometimes off-the-wall, extreme statements gave them the impression that he was being totally transparent, even though he was often being less than truthful. Instead of focusing on a single channel to connect with your audience, do some research and learn where they hang out. Then, go to where they are and interact with them. Provide a true multi-channel communication experience, which will appeal to your audience. You also want your brand to be perceived as being transparent, because that’s how you build trust. However, we recommend against Trump’s approach. Instead, really be truthful and transparent, which will build a powerful bond of trust that will lead to your customers becoming loyal advocates for your brand. There is a lot businesses can learn from elections about branding. After all, every politician is essentially creating a personal brand, which is what people vote for. Beyond that brand, we rarely have much more knowledge of the people we are voting for. So, we vote for the brand. And considering how much money is put into political campaigns, emulating the approach of teams of people who are paid a lot of money to create a great brand is a pretty good idea. While we’ve given you some ideas in this article, it wouldn’t hurt for you to go back and analyze Trump’s campaign in a little more depth. It will allow you to understand how he managed to turn the tables and win the elections.
Learn more10 Ways to Get Your Company Message to Your Customers
Crafting a great company message that resonates with your target market is essential. For it to have any effect, though, you need to get that message to your customers. Here are ten ways you can deliver your company message to your customers: Face-to-Face Depending on your business, delivering your message face-to-face might be feasible. In-person presentations can be a great way to connect with prospects and customers, allowing you to build rapport and establish a power relationship based on trust. One advantage of face-to-face delivery is that you have their full attention. It also allows you to more easily understand and combat any obstacles standing in the way of them responding to your message as you would like. By Phone If face-to-face meetings or presentations are not an option, the next best thing is calling up customers. You can tell them about special offers, or any new products or services you are offering. It’s the perfect way to deliver your message while strengthening the relationship. Calling people is also a great way to reach out to prospects. It’s often a better option than email, especially when you are trying to get your message to someone who doesn’t know you. By phone, you are better able to build the trust needed for a powerful, long-term relationship. It’s one thing talking to a person; it’s a completely different thing when a prospect receives an impersonal email. One gets you remembered; the other one ends up in the trash. Snail Mail Snail mail might not be as popular as it once was, thanks to the internet, but it’s still a great way to connect with customers. Remember, it’s only junk mail to people who don’t care. If someone loves make-up and perfumes, for example, they’re going to love receiving a catalog in the mail. Add a few samples, and you’ve got a really, really happy prospect or customer. You could also include a few die-cut stickers, which will please people. So much so that they’ll end up looking forward to receiving mail from you. Signs From billboards and roller banners to decals and posters, signs are everywhere you look. They’re an excellent way to deliver your company message to your prospects and customers. The best part is that you can get creative with placement to increase their effectiveness. For example, you can put up store-front and in-store signs to draw customers into your shop. Or, you can put up roller banners advertising your gym next to health food stores. Advertisements Ads in magazines, newspapers, trade journals and other publications are still a great way to deliver your company message. You can take out small display ads or go for a full page, whatever your budget will allow for. Just make sure you choose the publications that are relevant to the market you are targeting. You wouldn’t advertise the latest drill in Cosmo, just as you wouldn’t advertise the latest weight loss pills in Fine Homebuilding. Regardless of size, make sure that your ad has a good offer and a strong call to action. Make it as easy as possible for your prospects to connect with you. TV Commercials TV commercials aren’t cheap, and they’re not quite as effective as they used to be. Mainly because of the oversaturation. However, they still work, and for some businesses, they are the perfect vehicle to connect with their audience. Commercials are a good option for products or services that have a massive target market. Like soft drinks, cars, and even make-up. If you have the budget, it’s worth looking into TV. Before you start throwing your entire marketing budget at the most “innovative” TV commercial possible, you might want to test first to make sure it is the best option for you. Your commercial has to be entertaining to compete with others. However, make sure the agency you hire doesn’t make it so smart and clever people have no clue what you’re trying to sell. Radio Like TV, radio isn’t necessarily cheap. Okay, the cost is nowhere near that of TV, but it still costs money to get the spot produced and then aired. However, it’s a great way to increase brand awareness, especially for established businesses. It’s also a pretty good option for small businesses serving a limited area, especially if you focus on local radio stations. Flyers A flyer needs to include a message that shows your prospects the benefits they will gain from using your products and services. The offer also has to be good, and you need to include a call to action. Once again, make it easy for prospects and customers to get in touch. You can hand out flyers, post them on bulletin boards in high-traffic areas, put them up in shop windows, display them at the checkout counter, and more. Website Your website is one of the most powerful ways in which you can deliver your message to your customers. In fact, most of the methods above will probably lead customers right to your website. That means you need to have an amazing site that delivers and expands upon your message effectively. Your website can help you build a list of prospects that you can eventually turn into customers by establishing a rapport and a strong relationship. Social Media Another great way to deliver your message is through social media. Go to where your prospects and customers hang out and interact with them. Whatever you do, don’t spam sales messages or you’ll end up alienating people. It’s called social media for a reason. So, be social, establish a rapport, build trust, and eventually, people will want to do business with you. You can choose from quite a few platforms, but at the very least, go with Facebook and Twitter. You can then expand to Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube. Remember, a great message is useless if your customers don’t see it. However, keep in mind that you need to tailor your message according to the delivery message of choice. The message on a roller banner, for example, should be succinct, whereas a website allows you to go more in-depth. Just remember that they all need a call to action to be effective.
Learn moreUsing Stickers for Schools
Everyone seems to love stickers, though our design preferences change as we age. Or so most people claim. We freely admit we still like stickers with cartoon characters, like Transformers and My Little Pony, but you won’t be seeing us putting them up in any place visible. We’re adults, after all. However, what this does prove is that our fascination with stickers started when we were kids, like most people’s. And kids today love stickers just as much as we did, which is why they can be amazing tools to help children with their learning and development in school. When thinking of stickers and school, your first thought might be to use them as achievement rewards. IN fact, many parents use sticker reward charts at home to get kids to do their chores without complaint. So, they do work that way. Up to a point. We’ll address that a little later, though. First, here are a few ways you can help children learn and develop in a fun way using stickers. Improve Their Concentration Kids get bored quickly. Their attention starts to wander and getting them to focus can be a challenge. However, you can use stickers to keep them focused, as well as helping to improve their memory. For example, you can use stickers with their favorite cartoon characters to create a memory game, you can also learn more with them about what the lucrative career skin creators have, they love video games. By getting children actively involved and using the representation of something they love, you can improve their ability to concentrate, as well as exercise their memory for better recall. Help Them Learn Basic Math Stickers are also a great way for children to learn basic math. In fact, you can start with preschoolers and teach them how to count and learn to read numbers using stickers. For example, you can write out a number on different cards and get the children to apply the right number of stickers to each card. Likewise, you can use stickers to help children visualize basic addition and subtraction. Instead of using the imaginary apples, use stickers instead to teach them how to add and subtract. When using stickers that feature a character they love, you’ll find kids are much more likely to focus on the lesson because it’s fun. If you take things a step further and turn it into a game, you can be sure that children will find it much easier to grasp the concepts you are teaching them. Enhance Their Analytical Skills Developing kids’ analytical skills is essential, and one easy way to do that is with stickers. You can ask children, for example, to sort stickers by color or shape. Or to group them based on other criteria, including patterns, size, and more. These exercises are great for young children, but also older ones. Just remember to change the sticker designs based on the age of the children you are teaching. For example, stickers featuring cartoon characters are great for pre-teen kids, but once they get into their teens, you’re dealing with an entirely different kettle of fish. And yes, you can still use stickers to teach teens as well, as long as you get a little more creative with the designs. They might not admit to liking stickers – they might even moan and groan about the exercise – but if you use designs that appeal to them, you’ll have an engaged bunch of teens who are having fun and retaining the information you are trying to impart, even if they won’t admit it. Develop Their Creativity Stickers are a great way to help children develop their creativity, as well as giving them the confidence to express themselves. For example, you can use stickers to tell stories. Pick a character everyone loves, then show them how to build a story around that character, and use stickers while doing it. Then, help them each come up with their own story. Just remember, you are only there to guide. In storytelling, especially at that age, nothing is wrong or impossible. Let their imaginations roam free and try not to influence the direction of their story. It doesn’t matter how silly or impossible it is. Don’t forget that there are plenty of works out there that are cringe-worthy, and they were created by adults. Any movie by Uwe Boll comes to mind. We bet you that anything your kids come up with will be a million times better than that. And the most wonderful thing is that by giving them free reign, by trusting them, you will be giving them the confidence to express themselves more freely when they are older. Use Them As Rewards… with Caution We mentioned that stickers can be effective rewards, but you have to be careful. There are at least two drawbacks to using stickers to get kids to do what you want them to do. First, it creates a transactional relationship with the child. This is especially true if their parents are using the same system at home. The child grows up with the idea that they have to get something in return for doing something. The result of this transactional relationship is that it diminishes goodwill and a desire to help others just for the sake of it. Another issue is that teachers and parents often end up relying on stickers too much. For example, you might be tempted to go beyond giving a sticker for stellar achievement to make sure kids do what you want them to do. For example, instead of giving stickers out just for great grades, you might think that a good way of motivating them to do their homework is to give them a sticker just for completing their work. Unfortunately, by making stickers easy to earn, their importance diminishes. So, instead of motivating them, you end up with the exact opposite when they no longer care about earning stickers. So, while stickers can be great rewards, and are motivational, you must make sure that children also learn the value of doing something for itself. And you also must make sure those stickers keep their worth as rewards, or you could end up with a kid who’ll always be asking what they’ll get in return whenever you ask something of them. In conclusion, there are many ways to use stickers in school to help children learn and develop. And they can be used regardless of the age of the child. You can help them develop everything from their analytical skills to their creativity, and all you have to do is engage in a bit of creativity of your own.
Learn moreHow to Brand Your Products to Be Memorable
Whether driving to work, watching TV, surfing the internet, or visiting the mall, consumers are bombarded by ads and promotions. They see numerous brands throughout the day, so if you want your products to stand out, you need to create a memorable brand that will stick with your target market long after they’ve encountered it. It might seem like a daunting task, especially when you might be competing against large corporations that have marketing budgets larger than the GDP of some small countries. The good news is that creating a memorable brand is possible for any company. It does require research and will take time and effort, but the results are well worth it. So, read on for some tips on creating a memorable brand. Understand Your Customers Creating a memorable brand starts with understanding your customers. Without in-depth knowledge of your target market, you will be hard-pressed to design a brand that they can relate to and that they will remember. However, don’t just stop at building the persona of your ideal customer. Dig deeper and find out what your customers already think of you. Remember, your brand isn’t what you believe it to be, but what other people say it is, which means you need to know what your prospects and customers think of you if you want to successfully build a memorable brand. Make Sure People Perceive Your Brand Name Positively Your brand needs to be associated with a powerful and compelling message that will resonate with your target market. So, develop a message that is as short as possible but that describes your brand as accurately as possible in terms of how you help your customers. Essentially, with that one message, you want prospects and customers to get a good idea of what they can expect when purchasing your products. Maintain Consistency Across the Board While creating a memorable brand for your products is important, you have to remember that you need to be consistent across the board. From the labels on your products to the website you promote them on, you have to make sure everything delivers the same message. If you want your brand to stick in consumers’ minds, which is what you should be aiming for, then you need to ensure that everything you do supports that. So, make sure that your brand cohesive across all prospect and customer touchpoints. Make Sure Your Brand Is Honest and Human If you want a memorable brand, then you have to make sure that you deliver on your promises. Honesty really is the best policy when dealing with consumers nowadays, and nothing will alienate your prospects and customers like promising them the moon and failing to deliver. Your brand also needs to be approachable and human. Thanks to technology, shopping is easier than ever before but all the automation has made it somewhat impersonal too. So, you need to make sure that your social media accounts, email accounts, and all other forms of interaction with your customers have real people behind them. A Twitter handle of @Chris_from_Brand will go over much better than simply @Brand. People want to know they’re dealing with other people. It also makes it much easier to start building a relationship with your customers because people connect with other people more easily than they do with a faceless entity. Pick Up Your Humor and Dust It Off If you want your brand to be memorable, there’s no better way to achieve that than by using a little humor to promote it. Whether you’re telling a funny story, making a joke, or creating a few witty memes, you’ll be surprised at how far humor can get you. As mentioned previously, you want your brand to feel approachable and human. And one of the best ways to do that is with humor. Think of the Super Bowl. While everyone definitely looks forward to the game, they are looking forward to the ads just as much. And guess which ads get the most exposure? The funniest ones of course. There are even lists of the funniest Super Bowl ads on YouTube which people watch months or even years after the game. Talk about creating a memorable brand. If you don’t feel your sense of humor is up to snuff, or you’re simply not sure how to incorporate it into your business, there’s lots of advice available online. Another option is to hire an expert who can write funny stories about your brand that you can then share on social media. Keep It Simple Silly Design is definitely an important part of creating a memorable brand, and y9ou might be tempted to get as complicated as possible. After all, your brand is complex and you have so much to say, you definitely need something a little more complicated, right? Going too complicated isn’t a good idea. The more complicated a design is, the harder it will be for people to remember. Instead, keep things simple. Don’t go overboard on colors, choose an easy-to-read font, and think minimal in terms of logo design. Think of Nike or Apple. There are few logos that are as recognizable, yet they are incredibly simple. The Nike swoosh and the Apple…well, apple. Even if you see the logo without the brand name, you instantly know what it is. You should also apply the same approach to your brand story. The simpler it is, the easier it will be for people to connect to and remember. While developing a memorable brand for your products is important, don’t forget that you also need to focus on the experience. In other words, you need to make sure that your customers have a positive experience with your products and throughout their journey with you so that they will have a positive perception of your brand. Otherwise, no matter how innovative your logo, color scheme, and website are, you won’t win customers over to your side. You want people to remember your brand for the right reasons, because that’s how you become a success.
Learn moreHow Stickers Can Help Build a Brand
A brand represents a promise to your customers that you will live up to the values of your business. And when you have a powerful brand, it means consumers agree with you because you have consistently lived up to, or even exceeded, their expectations. Building a brand is essential because it sets you apart from the competition and helps you build a relationship with your target market. Remember, a brand isn’t just your logo. It’s everything from the customer experience you offer to the design of your packaging. For example, when you think of Mercedes, what do you see? You see the logo, but also think of a German-made luxury car that is famous for being pretty much awesome, right? It’s a lot more than just the logo. But because they’ve done a great job building their brand by making sure they deliver on their promises, when you see the Mercedes logo, you know what it is. While building a strong brand takes time, you can start the ball rolling by using stickers, which have proven to be powerful branding tools. Stickers Draw Attention Most stickers are relatively small, which often means that the designs have to be pretty amazing to make them stand out. And since you want people to display them, these strong visuals tend to attract attention, helping to build brand recognition. In the beginning, you might be tempted to go with just your logo. However, consider what you are trying to achieve. If you are Apple, then you can get away with just a logo because of what it signifies. However, if no one knows who you are and you want to build brand recognition, then you need to think a little more creatively. You need to give people a reason to display your stickers, which means creating attractive designs that mean something, whether they’re entertaining or inspirational. Let’s just say that a picture of a cat yawning with a funny quote and your logo will have a much better chance of being displayed and remembered than just a sticker of your logo. Stickers Build Trust People like logos. Combine a logo with a professional-looking, quality sticker and you have instant credibility. Even if you’re a one-man show, you can make your brand much bigger just by printing stickers because of the way people perceive them. Remember, the better the quality, the more powerful the impact. And there’s nothing that can contribute to a strong brand like credibility. People do business with companies the like and trust. After all, they have plenty of choice nowadays, and most consumers end up buying from companies they have an emotional connection to – one they have a relationship with. The first step to building a powerful relationship is, of course, establishing credibility. Stickers Are Easy to Distribute You can hand out stickers to people at the mall, or stand on a street corner and give them away. You can send them out to your existing customers, or you can put a stack of them in a physical location for people to pick up on their own. This ease of distribution means that it’s much more likely for your stickers to end up being displayed somewhere. And the more people affix them to their products, the more exposure you will gain for your brand. And when you give them to your existing customers, you are not only increasing brand exposure when they display the stickers, but you are also reinforcing the brand with them as well. You’re also building a reputation for offering value and going the extra mile for your customers, which will be even more of an incentive for them to display your stickers. Stickers Can Be Put Up Practically Anywhere As long as it’s not illegal, you can pretty much put stickers up on any surface. You can blanket a whole area with stickers, thanks to the low cost of printing them, so you can make sure you reach your target market wherever they hang out. Put them up in restroom stalls, on windows, in elevators, and any other place you can think of to make sure your brand stands out. Stickers Help to Build Relationships with Customers and Prospects In today’s economy, you have to offer prospects and customers value. The more value you offer, the better they will perceive your brand. Luckily, most consumers perceive stickers as value, which means that by handing them out, you are taking the first step in building a powerful relationship. With prospects, you can use stickers to entice them to learn more about your brand. Include QR codes to make it as easy as possible for them to learn more. With existing customers, use stickers as a reward, and to make it easy for them to advocate your brand. Stickers Hang Around for a Long Time By their very nature, stickers tend to hang around for a long time. Once someone has affixed a sticker to a laptop or their car or another personal item, that sticker will be around for a while. This means that a lot of people will see it, making it one of the most cost-effective ways you can increase brand exposure. After all, it’s rare for someone to remove a sticker, especially since it can be difficult. So, you’re very likely to have your sticker hanging around at least until that person gets rid of their laptop, or sells their car or so on. In other words, you’re going to have free advertising for a long time. Stickers are a great branding tool, especially because of how consumers perceive them and because they are cost-effective. However, remember that you need a great design that is suited for the stage of your brand. When you have a well-known brand people love, a logo might be enough. But if you are just starting out, you will definitely need to be quite a bit more creative to make sure your stickers are getting displayed.
Learn moreWhy the Biggest Companies in the World Use Stickers
The next time you go out for a drive or for a walk, take a moment to look around you. But really look. You’ll find stickers from Apple, Reddit, GoPro, Under Armour and many other large companies all over the place. It’s natural to assume that these large companies have armies of people going around putting these stickers up all over the place. The fact, though, is that in most cases, their customers are the ones putting up these stickers. It’s obvious for the stickers you see on laptops, bike helmets, cars and other personal items, but even those on street poles, walls, and bulletin boards and in other public areas have often been put up by customers. But why would a company like Apple use stickers? After all, they probable have a bigger marketing budget than the GDP of many small countries. They can definitely afford to be more creative, right? Of course. However, the marketing team at Apple is smart enough to use every effective promotional tool at their disposal, including stickers. Stickers Straddle the Fine Line Between Advertising and Gift People perceive stickers differently to most other forms of advertising, and companies like GoPro and Under Armour understand this. If you go on eBay now, you’ll find people selling Under Armour and Apple stickers, among many others. And there are quite a large number of listings, which means that people are buying them. In other words, people value these stickers so much that they are willing to pay for them. So, when a company hands out stickers with their brand, especially a large company that has created a culture around their products, they know those stickers will be perceived as a gift rather than an advertisement. Stickers Act as Validation Apple has built a brand that’s focused on lifestyle and prestige. They’ve built the idea that if you own an Apple product, you are part of an exclusive, prestigious club. Thanks to this positioning, many people buy Apple products precisely for the prestige. And what better way to prove to the world that they are part of this prestigious club than to put up stickers of their favorite brand on their personal items. That’s why you see Apple stickers on people’s cars. They want to be validated as an owner of an Apple product. Apple makes it easy for people to feel validated too. They make sure that with every product you buy, you get two stickers included, which further encourages people to make a statement and show the world they are part of the Apple family. Stickers Put the Decision in the Hands of the Consumer When handing out stickers, you are putting the decision in the hands of your customers. You aren’t telling them to put up the stickers. You aren’t bombarding them with TV ads or billboards. You aren’t interrupting them with flyers. You’re giving them a gift and the decision of what to do with it is theirs. Large companies understand how powerful it is to put the power in the hands of the consumer. By letting them control the situation, you gain a lot more because people want to tell others about this awesome company that makes great products and empowers them. It might not seem like such a big thing but when people are constantly bombarded by ads from external sources, the ability to support their favorite brands when and where they choose is priceless. Instead of being told you should buy this, they’re saying “I choose to buy this brand.” And by putting this power in their hands, it’s guaranteed that others will perceive a brand stickers on someone’s personal items as a personal endorsement. After all, they had to actually put the sticker on their car or on their laptop, which means it was a personal choice. They were in control and others will see it as a glowing recommendation for the brand they are advertising. Stickers Work Online Too In the era of camera phones, people post a ridiculous number of photos online. And when someone receives a free gift of stickers, you’ll often find them taking photos and posting them online, whether it’s a selfie with the sticker, a photo of the product along with the sticker, or even just the stickers themselves. They might want to show the world what an awesome freebie they got, or just to validate that they are part of the in-crowd that purchased the product in question. Regardless of the reason, companies like Apple know that their stickers will not only end up being displayed in the real world, but also online. And they love it even more when those stickers are used creatively and people display their art because it attracts even more eyeballs. Stickers Can Be Used in All Stages of Marketing Stickers are effective whether you’re trying to acquire new customers, keep existing customers, or build loyalty by ensuring an amazing experience. By handing out stickers to prospects, you introduce yourself in a way that provides value, creates an emotional connection and ensures people will want to learn more about your brand. Once you’ve invited people “in”, you can offer higher quality stickers to cement the relationship. You can use stickers to create a community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about the same thing, and stickers are the “secret handshake”. When someone has made a purchase, you can include special stickers as a gift, which validate their purchase and their membership in your “special” club. Reddit increased their exposure by plastering their alien stickers all over the place. Once the community started growing, members were putting up the stickers, and now, people are getting tattoos of the alien. The biggest companies in the world know precisely how powerful tickers are, beyond just being cheap compared to other marketing channels. Stickers can be used to build powerful communities, offer validation, and they give people a choice, which is so much more than any other marketing tool can do.
Learn moreHow to Use Stickers to Attract Customers
Customer acquisition is important to every business, no matter how large or small. However, research shows that customer retention is just as important. In fact, it’s often even more important seeing as repeat customers spend more per transaction than new customers, and they also have a much greater lifetime value. Furthermore, they also cost less, which helps your bottom line significantly. The great news is that stickers are a cost-effective way to both attract and retain customers, if you know what you’re doing. So, read on to find out why stickers are so effective and how to use them to improve customer acquisition and retention rates. Why Do Stickers Work So Well? When consumers are being sold to, whether it’s through traditional ads in magazines, on TV, or online, or via direct marketing, promotional articles, or so-called genuine reviews that you can tell from a mile are actually promotional, a massive barrier fraught with dozens of obstacles goes up. Skepticism, distrust, and downright hostility are just some of the issues you have to deal with, which can make acquiring new customers complicated and expensive. People perceive stickers differently, though, even when they are being used as advertisements. As children, we learn to love stickers and see them as rewards and gifts. And most people carry that with them into their adult lives, which is why you see adults with laptops, cars and other personal items covered in stickers. For this reason, when stickers are used as promotional tools, people don’t put up the same barriers. In fact, many feel as if they’ve been given a gift, which makes them more open to doing business with the company that gave them the stickers. How to Make the Most Out of Stickers While you’re already starting out ahead because of the way stickers are perceived, there are a few things you can do to maximize your positive results. Know Your Target Market The first thing you have to do is get to know your target market well. You need to know what they want, what they need, what motivates them, what keeps them up at night and so on. Ideally, create a customer persona, including every little detail, from demographics to their fears and desires. To be able to attract customers, you need to understand them. The more you know about them, the easier it will be to develop sticker designs that will offer value and help build a connection. And that’s the key. Every step you take in your business needs to be focused on your customer, from product development to deciding on the design of your stickers. Decide on a Strategy There are a number of ways you can use stickers to attract customers, depending on your business. For example, if you run a physical store, you can use decals and outdoor stickers, which are large stickers that can be affixed to windows, floor, walls and so on. You can use them to attract foot traffic by piquing people’s curiosity, like an Apple store did with a sticker that mimicked broken glass to advertise the iPod Hi-Fi. People didn’t know what the ad was for until they entered the store, but the broken glass drew them in because people were curious to find out what had happened. TV2 also got creative with outdoor stickers when they launched Batman Begins by placing them on footlight paths so that when the lights were turned on, they shone through the sticker, creating the bat signal. This type of approach can be used by any business looking to increase brand exposure. Then there are the standard stickers that you can hand out to people, which also work for any type of business. They aren’t just great at increasing brand exposure, but they also help create a connection because you are, essentially, giving your prospects a gift. And everyone loves a freebie. Create an Effective Sticker Design Once you’ve decided on the approach, it’s time to consider the design. If you’re going for decals and outdoor stickers to increase brand exposure, you need to step a little outside your comfort zone and come up with something that will stop people in their tracks. If you’re going to be handing out die-cut stickers, you should consider a slightly different approach. While a sticker of your logo is all well and good, if you really want your brand to stick in people’s minds, you should consider a design that entertains, is inspirational, or is useful. For example, a cute kitten meme with your brand and logo off to one side will get more mileage than a sticker of just your logo. Likewise, a calendar will get more attention than a simple photo of your product. Remember when creating the design to take into account everything you’ve learned of your target market, but also consider how you want people to use your stickers. Do you want them to put them up on their refrigerators to glance at all the time and never forget your brand? Then a calendar or a cooking conversion table would be great options. Do you want them to put them on their laptops? Then maybe an inspirational quote might be the way to go. The one thing you need to keep in mind is to make sure that your stickers are offering your prospects value. By offering them value first, you start to build a relationship – you start to earn their trust – and that makes customer acquisition much easier. Don’t Forget Distribution If you’re going the gift sticker route, you have to consider distribution. There are a few avenues you can explore, but they depend on your target market, location and timing. For example, getting someone to hand out stickers during the day in an office building might not be the best approach. Using interruption marketing techniques isn’t a great idea when people are busy thinking about work or hurrying to get to a meeting on time. However, putting a stack of stickers in a stand near the elevator is a much better idea because people will be more likely to pick them up while they’re hanging around, just waiting. On the other hand, giving out stickers in the mall on a Saturday afternoon tends to engender better responses because people are out relaxing and are much more open to a little interruption, especially if they’re getting a gift. The key to attracting and retaining customers is building a strong relationship with them. And stickers are a powerful, cost-effective approach because even a small sticker will be perceived as a gift rather than advertising. If you take things a step further and make it something that your prospects would really love, based on the data you gathered about them when researching your target market, you’ll find that it will the beginning of a beautiful and mutually beneficial friendship.
Learn moreWhy Tattoo Artists Should Use Stickers For Marketing
Designs created by Charmanderchar. Tattoos are becoming more mainstream every day. In fact, it sometimes seems as if everyone and their grandmother is getting tattooed. This trend means, of course, that there are an increasing number of tattoo parlors popping up, which means more competition for you. In this sea of tattoo parlors, you need to find a way to make yours stand out and draw in more customers. Sure, you could buy billboard space in your area, advertise in local publications, or create a site. Well, you should definitely do that last one, no matter what. However, there’s also another way you could market your brand that’s more effective than most, namely by getting custom stickers made. Custom Stickers Showcase Your Talents Convincing someone to let you ink a tattoo on them isn’t all that easy. It’s a design they will have on their bodies for the rest of their lives. So, you need to show them that you’re the perfect artist to do it. Telling them won’t work. They will need to see proof. You can say that they’ll see the quality of your work once they visit your shop, and that’s true. But that means getting them through the door in the first place. Getting stickers made of some of the best tattoos you've inked is a great way to showcase your talents and show people what you can do before they walk through the door. You can hand them out to people in your area, put them up in public places, and give them to your customers as a bonus. That’s the cool thing about stickers. People don’t perceive them as advertising, so when you give someone a couple of stickers, it’ll feel like a gift, which will make them happy. And, of course, happy customers will tell all their friends and family about you. They’ll probably hand out a few stickers, too, further helping to increase the exposure of your brand. Of course, make sure every sticker has at least your website URL on there so people can find you. After all, you never know where a sticker might end up, so it’s essential that you ensure people have a way of getting in touch. You Can Be Just As Creative with Your Campaign As With Your Ink You can also be really creative with stickers, and we’re not talking just about the design. They allow you to advertise in areas and in ways you might not have considered. For example, a tattoo parlor came up with an awesome campaign where they put up stickers of tattoos on mirrors in public restrooms. They were positioned in such a way that people could stand in front of the sticker and see what they’d look like with a tattoo. Now, that’s not only a cool and memorable idea that people will have fun with, but it’s also a great way to get people talking about your brand. Stickers Are Affordable To get the most out of your marketing campaign, you want to get as many of your designs in front of your prospects, and stickers are a great option because they’re affordable. Depending on the quantity you order, die-cut stickers can cost as little as 10 cents a piece. When you consider how many people can end up seeing them, the price is ridiculously low. And even if you order fewer stickers per design so you can advertise more of your tattoos, the price is still extremely low when compared to any other marketing channel. Stickers Have a Long Life When someone puts a sticker on their car or their laptop, or wherever else, those stickers will stay there for years – usually as long as they have the car or laptop. In other words, people will constantly be seeing your brand for years to come. And you don’t have to pay anything for all that exposure. If you also get different stickers made regularly, that’s even more reason for people to display even more of them and get even more exposure for you. Also, don’t forget, that when someone displays your sticker, they are giving you their personal endorsement. In other words, it’s a form of word-of-mouth marketing, which is one of the most powerful ways you can get your brand out there. After all, people are more likely to follow the recommendations of someone they know, and putting up a sticker featuring your tattoo parlor on their personal belongings is definitely a recommendation. Don’t Forget to Use Them Yourself You should be setting a good example, so make sure you’re using your own stickers. Put them on your car, on your laptop, on your tablet and on everything and anything else you own. Turn yourself into a walking advertisement for your tattoo parlor to increase brand exposure as much as possible. And always have some on you to hand out whenever someone expresses interest, whether it’s in your stickers or your tattoos. Even if they just ask what you do, you can hand out a few stickers when you tell them you’re a tattoo artist. As we’ve already said, people really like stickers, so feel free to hand them out to all and sundry. Even if that person doesn’t seem like someone who’d get a tattoo – though you never know nowadays – they could very well have friends or family who’d love one, so don’t miss out on any opportunity to get your stickers in people’s hands. Stickers are a great way to showcase your talents and convince people to visit your shop. They show potential customers that you are a great artist with proof rather than just a clever tagline. They’re also very affordable, which means you can make existing customers even happier by giving them a free gift, and turning them into your advocates. Once they start displaying your stickers, they’ll help increase the exposure of your tattoo parlor, while also giving you their tacit personal endorsement.
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