Want to make a lasting impression on your customers, whether they’re loyal fans, new clients, or potential leads? Insert Cards, such as thoughtfully designed cards, make a strong impression. These small additions inside your shipped packaged can yield significant results by fostering stronger customer connections and driving repeat business.
Why Strategic Packaging Inserts Matter
Even simple insert card ideas can deliver a strong return on investment (ROI). By strategically including items like business cards, personalized thank you notes, and promotional materials, you can achieve three key objectives:
- Build customer relationships
- Increase client loyalty and repeat purchases
- Enhance brand personalization
Plus, let’s be honest- everyone loves a little surprise! An unexpected package insert can create a moment of delight and make your brand more memorable.
Let’s explore seven effective packaging insert ideas and actionable tips to help you maximize their impact.
#1 Thank You Cards
The easiest and most impactful way to start using custom insert cards is through a sincere thank you. Thank You Cards offer a prime opportunity to personalize your message to each customer, laying the foundation for a strong and lasting relationship.
Tip: Express your gratitude by hand! Handwritten notes add a special touch to any insert card. Or keep it super simple with just the name of the person who actually packaged the shipment.
#2 Discounts & Promotions
Who doesn’t love saving money? Including discounts and promotional inserts in your packages is a smart way to encourage repeat business and introduce new products. Consider offering:
- A percentage off their next order.
- A shareable coupon for friends.
- Dollars off based on their total purchase.
- Special offers to promote new product launches.
No matter what you offer, you’re increasing the chance the customer will shop with you again or try that new item.
Tip: Be thoughtful with paper stocks and finishes. As a premium online printer, The Bernard Group makes it easy to create the right look and feel with textured linen, felt weave and recycled stocks, gloss and matte UV coatings and velvety Soft Touch laminate.
#3 Loyalty & Rewards Punch Cards
Have a loyalty or rewards program? Include a punch card or rewards information in your packages and help customers earn points, cash back, bonuses and gifts. It’s a great way to keep customers coming back, and if they’re unaware of your program, easy promotion, too. You can even personalize them using Variable Data Printing.
Tip: It’s important to design your insert cards with messaging that matches your branding. After all, it’s just another piece of marketing! Make sure you stick to brand colors and graphics, as well as a tone that customers will recognize.
#4 Ask for a Review & Share on Socials
It’s no secret that product reviews and your social media presence can have a big effect on your brand, so include a card asking the customer to write a review and share their experience on their social channels.
Whether positive, negative or neutral, the more reviews you have, the better. And if a customer has their own social following, it’s double promotion for your brand, too.
Tip: Include a QR code on your insert card that takes the customer straight to the online review. QR codes are convenient, quick and swiftly becoming the norm.
#5 Suggested Items
Online shoppers have grown accustomed to “You Might Like” suggestions, and you can recreate that in physical form. Based on your customer’s order, include similar or coordinating items, product details and imagery that shows the products together. Or when you launch a new product, introduce it on an insert card!
Tip: Want more space for the specs? Use custom Postcards, Rack Cards or design a regular Card without the fold. And of course, leverage double-sided printing.
#6 Care Instructions & How-to Information
This one may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised at how often it’s missing. Whether you list bulleted steps or include paragraphs, care instructions and how-to information is crucial to a positive and painless customer experience.
Tip: Instructions and directions can be bland, so play with digital laser cutting to present your information in custom and unexpected shapes. Design your insert cards for online printing in simple circles, ovals and rectangles or take it up a notch with more complex shapes.
#7 About the Brand
Tie the proverbial bow on your shipment with this consumer favorite. Providing extra insight into your brand story (your origin, mission and values) builds a personal connection between you and your customer. It drives loyalty and makes them feel good about their purchase, too.
Tip: People love a good background story for products. Offer interesting details and fun facts about where and how their item was made.
Other Package Insert Ideas
Who says you have to include just one? Double up with product inserts like magnets, samples, stickers, bookmarks, keychains, koozies, mints and more. Part of our premium online printing services, The Bernard Group can print custom promo products to suit your audience and meet your goals.
The possibilities are endless, but whatever you choose to include, make sure it’s something that will benefit your customer and the message is genuine.
Make a Lasting Impression with The Bernard Group
Boost engagement with Insert Cards to your current customers or prospective clients. The Bernard Group and our online division, Smartpress, can help your business yield significant results by fostering stronger customer connections and driving repeat business.
FEATURED DESIGNS
Thank You Postcard Design by Simplified by Emily Ley
Promotion Postcard Designed and Photographed by Jessica Uttinger, The Killer Brownie® Co.
Reward Self-Mailer Design by The Foursome and Boundary Clothing
Review on Socials Business Card Design by Laura Hammonds | Dbl Feature
Suggested Items Brochure Design by Christina Vidal, Kenny Flowers
How-to Postcard Design by Walker Mowers
About the Brand Postcard Design by Moka Origins
Die-Cut Magnet Design by EncourageThought for Homestead Coffee Roasters