Label Printing 101: Basics of Great Labels and Tips to Achieve Them

Image and branding have a huge impact on consumers’ decision-making process. Around 75% of consumers recognize brands by their logos. Good branding can drive sales while bad branding can scare sales away. This is why having a great label can be so important. It will have an influence over whether or not your product will sell. Plus, making them yourself can save money. But how do you get started with creating and printing your own labels? Read on to find out some helpful tips and tricks to jump-start your label printing.

Creating Your Label

Before you get started with printing your label, you need to create the label. This is a significant step in the custom label printing process that will impact the success you see.
First, consider your brand and logo. Make sure that both your branding and logo are attractive and memorable. If they aren’t you may want to consider a redesign before you start printing labels.
Next, you can start creating the custom labels. You want your label to instantly grab attention. Consider using brighter colors or a striking image.
While doing this, make sure the features of your label aren’t working against each other. The colors should work together instead of clashing. In addition, too many images will create a cluttered label that customers will view as being messy.
Finally, make sure that your label has enough information on it. It should clearly state what your product is and why customers should buy it. Too much or too little information can cause you to lose sales.

Set up Your Printer

Once you have a label, you can start printing. However, before you do so, you need to get your printer ready.
If you don’t have a printer yet, you need to get one. Choosing the right printer is an important step that you should consider carefully. You don’t want to purchase one that will end up being a problem for you going forward.
When choosing your printer, think about how much you plan to print. A printer you will be using constantly may need to be more heavy-duty than a printer that only sees occasional use. Even if you don’t plan to do much printing in the short term, buying a heavy-duty printer now may save you from having to buy one if your business expands in the future.
You also need to consider the type of labels you will be printing. Consider if you need colors, what type of ink you will need, and the level of detail you need. Different label printers will have different capabilities, so you need to pick one that will do what you need.
Finally, think about the type of product you need a label for. Labels for beer bottles will be very different from labels on food products. You should pick a printer that can handle the specific jobs you have planned for it.

Prepare Your Workstation

Once you have a printer, it is important to prepare a proper workstation for it. Otherwise, you could compromise the printing process.
Try to pick a location that will be free from potential accidents. You don’t want to finish printing a batch of labels only to have someone accidentally knock them onto the floor and ruin them. You also don’t want to have the wind blow the labels off the table or have a leaking roof drip water onto them.
It is also important to pick a place that will suit the printing process. Try to avoid direct sunlight, as it could damage the printer and the labels themselves. In addition, try to avoid a place with too much humidity and too much dust.
Having a dedicated room for printing can solve many of these issues. With a dedicated room, you can control many of these factors while also ensuring that your labels will be safe as they are being printed.

Start Printing

Once you have your label designed and your printer ready, you can start the printing process. This part of the process is the most straightforward, as your printer will be doing most of the work for you. However, there are a few things to remember.
First, make sure that you start the printing process early. Your product labels may take a while to print. So, starting the printing process early will ensure that the labels are ready to go on the products as soon as the products are ready.
Starting the process early will also allow you time to correct any mistakes. Imagine you just finished printing an entire batch of labels when you suddenly realize there is a typo on the labels. If you didn’t start printing early, you would potentially have to delay shipping your product in order to have enough time to print new labels.
As you print, you should make sure to remember a few things. Always use the right paper for the job, don’t overload your printer, and make sure the paper you are using doesn’t have any noticeable problems with it. If you let these problems creep into the process, you will see problems with your labels.
Finally, make sure to have your printer maintained every now and then. This will keep it running smoothly and effectively.

Making Label Printing Work for You

Printing your own labels can seriously improve your business. If you keep the label printing tips, tricks, and advice listed here in mind, you will be well on your way to creating great custom labels. All you have to do now is get the label printing process started!
If you are interested in getting your own label printer, make sure to check all of the options available from TCS Digital Solutions.

Drew Strickland

Drew is the Chief Marketing Officer and E-commerce Director at TCS Digital Solutions, with over 20 years of experience in the printing industry. His extensive background in marketing within this sector has deepened his passion and knowledge. He offers valuable tips and reviews on the latest printing products and innovations, dedicated to helping businesses and individuals find the most efficient and high-quality solutions for their printing needs. For a closer look into his insights and experiences, you can connect with Drew on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.