Here are some considerations when designing awesome custom stickers whether for sale or promotion.
• Stickers are a social currency. Think about how your target market and end user wants to appear to others. Cool? Smart? Alternative? Artsy? Connected? Tough? Make sure your sticker design reflects that vibe.
• How does the design of your sticker trigger a story about what makes you unique or special? Why would someone talk about the sticker or about your business, message, or design? Can the design tease a story or question that a viewer may not be able to resist asking the displayer?
• Can you add to the strength of the sticker design and the story by evoking more emotion. Like a song, you want to project a feeling whether its pride, pain, humor, wonder, and/or joy. Yes, it is possible to move someone (or perhaps a bunch of people) with a well done sticker design or message.
• How will the stickers be received by the general public? Remember, a sticker needs to be displayed and spread to be talked about. That public may have strong emotions or reactions perhaps different from your target market. You want it to be noticed but you don’t want to spur anger or road rage. This is one of the reasons we see less and less political stickers in public.
• If the sticker has a higher perceived value it gives the message, image, company and displayer more value. Don’t go cheap or cheesy and don’t hesitate to offer more than one sticker to encourage pass-along and increased visibility.
Can you make your stickers (and your story) contagious? Several of my thoughts here originally spawned out of the book Contagious which I reviewed and from which pulled some insights and ideas related to sticker marketing.
More on effective sticker design:
First Dates and Sticker Design
Stickers Should Be Creative But Also Have a Strategic Plan
Why You Should Involve Customers In Sticker Design
Effective Design – Who? What? Where?
Should Your Sticker Design Scream or Whisper?