Handing out customised tote bags is one of the most effective ways to increase brand awareness.
These bags have large printable areas for your branding, and people love walking around with your logo hanging over their shoulders. Most people willingly carry around advertising for your business, so why not take advantage of the free exposure?
To increase the efficiency of tote bag giveaways, you will have to pay careful attention to the design elements. You want your branding on the tote bag to draw attention and be memorable.
In this post, we look at a few design tips for customised tote bags that promote brand awareness.
Keep it Simple
When creating a tote bag design, it may be tempting to optimise the entire printable area. The objective is to have a design that is legible and memorable, though, even if someone sees it from across the street.
Simplistic designs are typically more impactful and do a better job of conveying your brand than ornate patterns or motifs. Sticking to simplistic elements and a limited colour pallet will also force you to be bolder with your branding, which translates well through screen printing.
Avoid Too Much Information
A single logo on your tote bag is sufficient to promote brand awareness.
It is not necessary to add information that explains your business products or services unless it contributes to your brand’s authenticity.
For example, incorporating the words “Mitch’s Rare Surfboards” into your branding is much easier than “FinCheck – Authorised Financial Services- and Registered Credit Provider.”
The objective with customised tote bag designs is not to educate the public on your offers, but to familiarise the public with your brand.
Be True to Your Brand
Your tote bag design should be an accurate representation of your branding—stick to the same fonts and wording that you use elsewhere to ensure uniformity across the board.
Your objective is to promote brand awareness, but if your tote bag design has no similarities with your primary branding, people will not realise it is the same company.
Stick to Your Brand’s Colour Schemes
Using your branding’s original colours lets people who know your brand immediately associate the tote bag design with your company. Sticking to your brand’s unique colour pallet gives you the freedom to be more creative without losing touch with your brand identity.
Pay Attention to Visual Interest
For the tote bags to draw attention, you need a visually appealing design.
Visual interest requires an in-depth understanding of your target audience and their likes (and dislikes). It is not always necessary to move away from convention when designing a customised tote bag—simplistic design elements are more effective in creating a design that is filled to the brim with personality and visual interest.
Incorporate Your Business Culture
Your business culture should be the foundation of your tote bag design. Cultural features in design come down to the use of creative elements. For example, an artisanal coffee company will have a completely different branding than an attorney who specialises in tax law.
It’s all about the brand.