Authenticity is top of mind for most companies and marketers today, and for good reason. 90% of surveyed consumers said that authenticity is important to them when they’re deciding which brands to support. But what exactly is authenticity and, more importantly, how can businesses build it into their branding?
One answer is influencer seeding. Influencer seeding is when companies send free products to online influencers in exchange for honest reviews, features, or mentions on their platforms. Influencer seeding can be extremely successful, particularly with younger generations.
A big part of this success, however, hinges on whether you can create a unique and memorable experience with your packaging. With custom-designed packaging, influencer seeding kits can help businesses form more authentic connections with their customers, develop long-term partnerships, and foster creative collaboration with influencers. All of this leads to a more personable, authentic brand identity.
Custom Packaging in Influencer Seeding Kits
While product seeding is an extremely effective tactic on its own, many overlook the importance of using custom-designed packaging to elevate the experience of the influencer and their audience. Packaging is what will help your seeding campaign stand out, starting with a strong first impression.
Captivating First Impressions with Packaging
As the first point of contact, packaging lays the foundation for an influencer’s experience with the seeding kit. By extension, it also sets the stage for their audience’s experiences and opinions. Unique designs, eye-catching features, and creative packaging elements can help ensure your seeding kit is captivating from the start.
Reflecting Brand Values and Story
When it comes to forging authenticity into your brand identity, the “why” is more important than the “what” and the “how”. Custom packaging provides businesses with an opportunity to communicate their values, their brand story, and why they do what they do. If you’re looking for a way to connect more personally with your customers, this is essential.
Enhancing Perceived Value
Influencer seeding kits are already fun but well-designed packaging can also enhance the perceived value of the products inside them. With materials and finishes that reflect your brand identity, and attention to detail, packaging can communicate a sense of luxury, earthy connection, or anything in between.
Crafting Unboxing Experiences
Memorable unboxing experiences are invaluable in seeding kit marketing. At their core, influencers are seeking to entertain their audiences with interesting or unique experiences. By incorporating unexpected elements, personalized messaging, and unusual presentation techniques, brands can create an unforgettable unboxing experience for the influencer and their audiences. At the same time, this helps brands solidify the impression that they are in tune with their consumers, giving more credence to their appeal to authenticity.
The Power of an Impactful Influencer Seeding Kits
While creating outstanding first impressions and telling a story are all essential factors for portraying a more authentic brand, influencer seeding kits have the ability to take things a step further by doing one simple thing: connecting with individuals.
Developing Authentic Connections with Influencer Seedings
Influencer seeding kits are more than a strategy. It’s an opportunity to build authentic, lasting connections with influencers, their fans, and your wider consumer base as a whole. Researching and identifying the right influencers for your product can not only ensure you’re reaching the right demographics, but it can enable you to customize the experience to the influencer themselves for a more lasting connection.
Creating Long–Term Partnerships and Organic Brand Advocacy
Seeding kits are usually not a one-time interaction; they are the starting point of longer-term relationships and collaborations. By consistently delivering high-quality, personalized, and thoughtfully designed kits, brands can demonstrate their commitment to the influencer’s success. Trust and loyalty can then be nurtured through transparent communication. Once in place, this trust and loyalty can lead to organic brand advocacy.
Fostering Collaborative Creativity with Influencers
Influencers have their own unique perspectives, ideas, and skills. By forming deeper connections and nurturing long-term relationships, brands can tap into these ideas by sparking collaborative conversations with influencers. By asking for input, accepting feedback, and incorporating influencer insights, brands can refine their products, campaigns, and marketing.
The end result is deeper conversations, more meaningful engagement, and enhanced brand loyalty, all built on the foundation of authentic connection.
Build Authentic Connections with Custom Packaging From Hatteras
Influencer seeding kits are invaluable when companies are looking to build a more authentic brand image. When paired with the impactful capabilities of custom-designed packaging, seeding kits can lead to deeper, more lasting relationships with influencers and a deeper connection with their customer base as a whole.
At Hatteras, we develop visually engaging packaging solutions that are custom-tailored to fit your product and your brand image. With our in-house printing capabilities, mailing and data services, and custom fulfillment, we work closely with you from conceptualization and prototyping to production and delivery to ensure the highest quality, eye-catching packaging.
Ready to create something incredible? Connect with our team today to get started.