If you're an entrepreneur or business owner, you know how important it is to make a good first impression on your customers. Stickers are a great way to do this; they're affordable, completely customizable, and can be used as an integral part of your branding and marketing strategy.

However, sticker design isn't as simple as it might seem at first glance. There are many mistakes that people often make when first designing and ordering their stickers.

In this blog post, we'll go through some of those common mistakes so that you can avoid making them yourself, and ensure you end up with a sticker that looks professional, conveys the right message, and is a perfect representation of your brand.

1. Trying to pack in too much information

If your sticker needs to contain information, make sure it doesn’t look cluttered. Including too much information on a small sticker will make it hard to read and detract from the overall design, diluting your brand.

Why? Well, the human brain prefers organization and order. Imagine walking into a cluttered room and it makes you feel anxious, uncomfortable, or stressed. In contrast, now imagine walking into a clean and organized room–don't you feel better? It's the same thing with visual marketing; if you keep your designs tidy, organized and aesthetically pleasing, it helps your customer feel positive about your brand.

What can you do to make sure it looks uncluttered? One of the most powerful and simplest tips is to include what's known as "white space." The white space doesn't have to be white (it's also called "blank space”) and it simply means there is spacing between elements or between words. When the brain sees space, instead of feeling frustrated and bombarded with information, it brings a sense of calm and clarity.

Therefore, making sure there is white or blank space on your sticker will not only keep it easy to read, but also help to ensure your customer's impression of your business is a good one. Additionally, white space can up-level your brand, which is ideal if you are looking for a more luxury, high-end, or modern appeal.

Sticker design needs to be impactful. Your sticker can still be fun or vibrant, so whatever style you choose, just remember to keep things readable, digestible, and not confusing.

2. Text that is too small or fonts that are too fancy

No matter the size of the sticker, you want the text to be clear and easy to read. If you use a font that's too scripted, cursive, or fancy, it may not print well and may be hard to read.

Also check that the font you use isn't too small. Using a 6 point font size or higher is a general recommendation.

When choosing which font to use in your design, remember to check with the company printing your stickers and confirm they have the font you need.

3. Straying too far from your brand personality or color scheme

Using custom stickers is a great way to share fun and engaging aspects of your brand's personality, but make sure your sticker design and colors coordinate with your brand and enhance your message, rather than detracting from it or creating a conflicting image.

If you need some inspiration when selecting colors that compliment your brand, you can use a color wheel. This useful tool is used widely in the world of design and shows you how colors relate to each other. It also shows you the relationship between primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.

Tips for using the color wheel:

• The colors opposite each other on the wheel are considered complementary.
• Adjacent colors (those next to each other) also create harmony while colors separated by three positions on the wheel are harmonious but not as strong as complimentary colors.

When thinking about colors, it's best to keep your design between 1-3 colors, also making sure they don't bleed.

4. Choosing the incorrect size sticker for your container or packaging

When you are creating stickers for a product or package, make sure they are the right size before ordering. If the sticker is too small, it may be hard to read. If it's too large for the container, it may look unprofessional and give a bad first impression of your product.

Always measure your product or packaging before ordering. You may find that you can use a single sticker design for multiple products. If you intend to use your stickers on different products of varying sizes, try to think ahead and order your stickers according to the smallest surface you will need them for.

If product and surface sizes vary massively, then it's best to order stickers in multiple sizes to ensure a good fit.

5. Not Proofreading

This seems obvious, but it happens!

Before ordering your stickers, make sure you check for spelling errors and grammar, and send your drafts to someone else so they can double check. Sometimes the longer you stare at something, the easier it is not to notice a mistake. Having a second or even third pair of eyes is key to success.

Make any necessary corrections and double-check again before placing your order.

6. Not printing out a sample

Remember that your computer screen is displaying a high-resolution and enlarged version of your design.

Colors and fonts will show up differently when printed, so always make sure you print out a draft of your sticker to get a better idea of how it will look when at its actual size.

7. Not choosing the correct adhesive

Before you order a sticker, it's important to think about the potential places and surfaces it will stick to.

Ask yourself:

• On what surface will the sticker be used?
• Do you need the sticker to stay put for a long time, making it hard to remove?
• Do you want it to be removable and be able to transition to different surfaces and products?

Once you have these answers, make sure you are ordering the right adhesive for your goals; some adhesives are more permanent, and some are more transitional. Feel free to ask us if you have any questions or aren't sure exactly what to order.

We hope our tips and advice have been helpful. We want your brand to look great, so please follow these guidelines when designing and ordering your custom stickers for the best results.

If you need more guidance or have questions about any of the things we've mentioned, feel free to contact us. Our team is happy to work with you to make sure you end up with stickers you can be proud of!

Related products

Circle Stickers

Vinyl stickers look fantastic anywhere. Each one is durable and made with bright colors, a crisp design, strong adhesive and a matte or gloss laminate to protect the print.

Die Cut Stickers

Customizable die cut stickers. Order and get your free online proof shortly.

Clear Stickers

Transparent vinyl stickers durable and made with bright colors, a crisp design, strong adhesive and your choice in either.