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Summarizing sticker trends of the last 35 years, custom stickers have gone through tremendous transformations. While the average size of a bumper sticker has been shrinking, the power of stickers in marketing has steadily increased. Today’s promotional bumper stickers are usually not actual “bumper” stickers at all. Custom sticker sizes are getting smaller and more versatile.

Websticker, a company specializing in custom promotional stickers, has been at the forefront of marketing with stickers for over 25 years. When we got into the sticker business, stickers were regarded like any other promotional product handout with a logo or name on it. But as the marketing potential for stickers has increased promotional stickers have become an economical and essential tool in many marketing campaigns. And, the best custom sticker sizes have been trending smaller.

What’s important to remember about promotional stickers is that although they are basically mini-billboards, they are not perceived as ‘advertising’. Stickers applied in visible locations are personal recommendation and literal ‘signs’ of support for a organization, product or idea. Supplying the right size and type of stickers to customers and fans takes advantage of practically free advertising space by turning those customers into a no-cost sales force and encouraging word-of-mouth advertising.

Sticker Trends Toward Smaller & More Versatile Custom Sticker Sizes

For a business to take full advantage of this marketing medium promotional stickers need to be a size and design that is appropriate and attractive to it’s target market so that the customer is more inclined to apply them in visible locations. Here in lies the reason larger traditional bumper sticker trends have been towards shrinking sticker sizes. Smaller custom die-cut stickers can be stuck on helmets, laptops, phones, skateboards, windows, water bottles, lockers… anywhere. Smaller die cut stickers are not only more versatile than traditional bumper stickers they are more subtle. Exposure increases as people willingly spread a name, logo or statement into a much vaster public arena.

Companies and marketing directors have become increasingly savvy arming their customers and supporters with promotional stickers. At Websticker we have seen sticker trends towards sticker hang tags, movable webcam covers, sticker postcards, sticker business cards, sticker sheets and other creative formats for delivering long lasting, identity building stickers and decals. Custom stickers are not just an inexpensive, trade show handout anymore. The marketing world is now finding creative ways to get these mini-billboards into the hands of fans and customers who help spread the word. Smaller, more versatile custom sticker sizes are a way to increase usage and thus exposure. Every happy customer is a potential influencer.

Jeff Nicholson

Jeff Nicholson is the founder and Creative Director at Freely Creative, Inc. and Websticker, a sticker marketing company specializing in the design and production of custom stickers, decals, labels and magnets. He is the author of Stick This! Using Promotional Stickers To Build Identity, Create Word Of Mouth and Grow Sales.

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