Have you ever noticed that your small business’s packaging doesn’t really stand out? When someone gets an Amazon package, there are big, bold logos and brand imagery plastered all over it. They know what they’re getting and who sent it. The same goes for practically all the big retail companies you’re competing with and trying to survive against.

When your products go out, the customer probably gets a pretty generic package or container; they can’t immediately identify who sent it. They have no reminder of who you are, and you’re relying on whatever clamshell or bag you have the actual product in to handle all the marketing work. You don’t have to let that keep happening. You can play hardball with the big boys and actually win; you just have to be cleverer than they are.

This brings in the necessity of effective packaging, which applies to most products, whether they are sold on shelves, or ordered online. Product packaging is a marketing tool that practically all companies should leverage because it facilitates the creation of a solid brand identity. Take, for example, new-age cannabis businesses; they dedicate their efforts towards consumer experience by not only delivering quality products, but also through attractive oil, tincture, herb, or edible packaging. This contributes to their image and can set them apart from their competitors.

Likewise, you will need to work towards making your business packaging stand out. Understand the preferences of your consumers and figure out what can make your product more attractive to them. We’re going to give you three tips to help your mailed packages stand out against your big-box competition.

Use Printed Mailing Boxes

First, use printed mailing boxes. This seems like such a useless thing to worry about, and in the grand scheme of things, it really is. A fancy box doesn’t change the function of the product inside of it. However, it does leave a tremendous mental impact on the customer, and that means it’s important for your company.

The puts your brand up front and center when your customer goes to collect their mail, and it becomes a memorable visual that will keep you in their mind for longer.

These aren’t even expensive. You can special order them from a number of eco-friendly companies, and they’ll toss in the printing for a tiny fee. The effect that little fee has on your business as a whole far outweighs the minor price hike, and it ensures that your mailed packages stand out against the bigger competitors out there.

Moreover, these boxes offer sufficient space for imprinting important information like barcodes that can be easily scanned by a barcode scanner during the fulfillment process. This not only reduces errors but also enhances the overall efficiency of fulfillment. The end result is improved customer service and quicker delivery times, which can significantly benefit your business.

Add a Thank You Letter

This is a big one that will help you stand out. Customers want to feel valued, and it’s in your best interest to do that. It’s one place where your bigger competitors are failing dramatically, and it’s actively driving customers to smaller businesses such as your own.

One way you can do this is to add a thank you letter to every package you ship out. No, you don’t have to hand-write thousands and thousands of letters. If you can write up a very general, by-the-books, thank you letter template, you can just print a bunch out at once, insert the customer’s name, and pack it in.

This letter should genuinely thank them for their patronage, let them know how much their business means to you, and invite them to review your product or come back for more. Even though it’s a template letter, you should try to make it feel personal, though.

This will show customers that you care at a time when most companies just get the job done and call it a day.

Maintain a Solid Presentation

Even if you do both of those things, your presentation of the packaging can greatly lower the customer’s response to your product.

Let’s say you did everything right, and then Joe from the late-night crew just chucked the box all over the place when he was supposed to get it on a mail truck and shipped out to the customer. That box is going to show up dented and in poor shape, and it will ruin your efforts.

Beyond ensuring your employees are keeping the boxes pristine, you should also opt for a reliable and trustworthy parcel service; you don’t want the mailman ruining your work, either.