How do you design a "viral" sticker that users will actively share on social media?
There is a good chance you have seen a neat sticker on a laptop at a cafe or an amusing one on a bumper. Maybe you have noticed a sticker on a water bottle at a gym. Then you see the sticker on your social media feed because someone posted the sticker and their friends commented and liked the post. That is the sticker marketing phenomenon. It is not just a sticker, it is a marketing billboard that people want to show off and share.
What can you do to make stickers that users take the time to photograph and share on social media? Great stickers are designed based on audience interests and use smart promotional methods. For example, Zhuoyue Printing manufactures stickers of the highest quality. Stickers that are poorly designed and that easily peel off the surface to which they are applied are never shared. So, what is the recipe for stickers that can lead to social media glory?
Viral stickers: Take the advertising off
If you want your stickers to go viral, the number one rule is to make them look like an advertisement. If your manufacturer uses your logo and slap on a company URL like stickers, forget about it. People do not want to be a corporate billboard. They want to be individuals.
Your sticker should embody some form of expression whether it be a concept, emotion, joke, or sense of identity, which the owner can adopt as their own. Consider automotive stickers for band brands, outdoor brands, or niche internet memes – these stickers communicate a lot about the owner. Understand the essence of what a sticker represents, now consider the essence of your brand. Is it witty, daring, or artistic? Reflect these traits in your sticker. People should see the sticker and say, 'that describes me perfectly.'
Design for Engagement: The Aesthetics
If a sticker is to have a good chance at going viral, it needs to be aesthetically pleasing. The following design elements are important.
First and foremost, it should look simple and good. A design that is overly complicated may look unorganized and chaotic. This is especially the case for stickers that are small or medium in size. Think of striking and clear shapes in the design. A well accepted sticker design is one that looks iconic and is simple.
Consider, first the role humor and wit, funny stickers almost always get shared. If your design incorporates humor, you increase the chance that the person will take a picture of your design and share it with their followers. This helps create a more positive association with your brand and more exposure.
Additionally, consider the role of art and aesthetics, a sticker that has a great composition or design is likely to be shared simply because it is well designed and nice to look at. In a way, the sticker becomes a small piece of art that people will want to showcase. Consider the popular aesthetics such as minimalism, line art and large block colors.
The Physical Product: Quality Matters
If the sticker is poorly made, all the design effort is wasted. If the sticker peel, fades, or water damages it, it will never be shared. In fact, it will damage your brand image as people will see your brand as cheap and low quality.
The next decision will be looking for a good printer. A manufacturer who has spent decades perfecting their craft (like Zhuoyue), knows what good quality looks like. You want quality stickers that will last. weather resistant stickers that can even be cut into shapes (die-cut stickers) are a lot more appealing. A well made sticker will stand out when put on any surface. It will show the end user that your brand takes care of details, and they will be even prouder to use the sticker.
Design a Boost for the Sticker's Reach
Your sticker has the potential to be very widely shared, so how can you make it look good for social media? Can you incorporate elements that will make it more likely to be captured in a photo? For instance, a sticker with a humorous quote could motivate some to take a self-portrait. A uniquely shaped sticker could be appealing on top of a laptop in a flat lay photo.
Designing a collection of stickers could be the making of a mini-game of sorts. When stickers are sold in individual packs, collectors will be more likely to buy the stickers in order to collect the entire set and take a picture of the completed collection. Mini-game-esque sticker packs give collectors a sense of fulfillment, and allow sharing to occur organically.
The Social Media Hook: Make Sharing Easy
Integrating an element of sharing into the sticker design can contribute to sticker collecting motivation. This isn't the same as an ugly sticker with a social media handle plastered across the front. An example of a non-intrusive social media integration can be a custom sticker with a hashtag designed as a part of the sticker. This will encourage the sticker owner to post along with the hashtag, making it easy for you to find and engage with their post. Along with the hashtag, you could design a QR sticker to a game filter, offer, etc. The sticker and the social media element will be integrated, but it will be designed with ease of sharing in mind.
Launch and Amplify: Fuel the Fire
When the stickers are designed and printed, it is time to get them into the right hands. You can include them in orders, give them out at events, or leave them in strategic locations. But to truly get the viral process going, you'll need an amplifier.
A good way to do this is create a simple social media campaign. Launch your stickers along with a contest or a challenge. You can provide an incentive to share by making a contest to post a picture of your sticker in a fun or creative location for a chance to win a prize. This will create a lot of activity and will get people sharing it. When people see their friends participating in those posts, it will create activity and people will want to get involved. This is the essence of viral marketing.
Study From The Best: Analyze Successful Stickers
It's time to become a sticker scholar. Start observing stickers in the wild and in social media. Which stickers do you notice? Which stickers do you enjoy? Which stickers do people post? Now do some analysis. What do these stickers have in common? Is it the humor? The type of art? The cleverness of it? Let this guide your design's inspiration.
When a sticker design goes viral, it can get your customers to do the marketing work for you. This can lead to a lot of brand exposure. When you design a sticker that people want to display, using quality materials, and providing a way for your customers to easily share the stickers, it will become a sticker that people remember. Zhuoyue is the best option to partner with for quality and knowledge. This is the partner that will ensure you have the best stickers.