| "If you sell a product, you need a label for that product. | | | | laminate that makes them easy to clean, but almost |
| Your label might be the last thing you think of, but | | | | impossible to write on. |
| product label printing is actually a very important piece | | | | Film product labels (called BOPP) are best for |
| of your marketing program. | | | | packages that will be wet, like shampoo. Another |
| There's more to custom label printing than what meets | | | | consideration is the look - do you want a see-through |
| the eye - you have to think about paper material, | | | | label for a glass jar or maybe a transparent label to |
| adhesives and coatings as well as the design and text. | | | | add effect? You can also get labels "hot-stamped" |
| Here are a few key basics you need to know before | | | | with silver or gold foil that will really make them pop. |
| you get started: | | | | Pick the best size for your product. You don't want a |
| 1. You can find a great label printing company online | | | | teeny, tiny label on a huge product and you don't want |
| and get bids from many of them before you choose. | | | | a huge label on a small product. Make sure you pick a |
| 2. Printers can do it all for you, from supplying the right | | | | label size that is proportional to your product size. You |
| kind of paper to designing your product labels, if you | | | | can get circle- or oval-shaped labels in addition to the |
| want. | | | | common rectangular or square shapes. It's hard to find |
| 3. Digital label printing is available for short runs - a boon | | | | a printer that can print custom label shapes, but they're |
| to small businesses. | | | | out there. You'll just need to do some extra research |
| Here are some recommendations on label printing: | | | | to find a printer that can do it. |
| Research printing companies online. Many companies | | | | Choose the right colors. Make sure that the colors you |
| specialize in label printing or have printers that are used | | | | choose for your labels complement your package |
| especially for labels. You can even get a free instant | | | | color. Many people forget to envision the label on the |
| quote on many Web sites by answering a few simple | | | | actual package and then they get contrasting product |
| questions, like how many you need and if you'll be | | | | packages when they're all put together. Make sure |
| using four-color printing. | | | | you get a digital proof or paper proof so that you can |
| One good online resource for label printing is LabelLab | | | | make sure the colors on the label will work with the |
| (labellab.com), which has a good FAQ list for beginners. | | | | rest of the packaging. |
| Think about what kind of label material you need | | | | Go "green." If you have a product that is |
| ahead of time. Ask yourself what conditions your | | | | environmentally friendly, you can make your labels |
| labels must survive in (freezers, outdoors, water?) | | | | green too. Ask the printer to use biodegradable film |
| Also, will you want to write on the labels? Some labels | | | | labels made from corn, or ask for recycled paper |
| have a writable surface while others have a glossy | | | | labels. |