What turns an average card into one you just HAVE to buy? In our earlier blog post on 'How to design the perfect greeting card', we used the phrase 'the art attracts and the verse sells' - and we stand by this. Creating attractive card captions will greatly improve your chances of making a sale. Don't know where to start? Then you're in the right place. We're here to give you some helpful tips.
Be different
Anyone can caption a card with 'Happy Birthday' or 'Get Well Soon'. Whilst it's better to have a caption than not - even if this is a straighforward one - there are plenty of ways to get your message across differently. Why not sit down, define some major card sending occasions, and think of all of the different ways you can get your message across. 'Happy Birthday' becomes 'Hope your birthday is mint', or 'It's Your Birthday, Nobody Cares'. 'Get Well Soon' becomes 'Chin Up, You Wally'. What can you come up with?
Be 'punny'
Puns are a great way of thinking of new ways to caption cards, often in a lighthearted way. Perhaps you're really keen on a certain animal, celebrity or a popular TV show. Have a think around how you can make a pun that relates to your subject matter. You love koalas? Then why not, 'Mum, You're Koala-ty' for a mother's day card? Or you're a huge Taylor Swift fan? Then 'You're HOW OLD? Moving Swiftly On....' could make for a funny birthday card. The options are endless here - just make sure the pun is clear and not overly complicated so that it's not lost on your audience.
Be relatable
If you've come across cards such as those from Rosie Made A Thing, for example, you'll understand the power of being relatable in making a great greeting card. Consider your audience, and then the best way to relate to them. If you're trying to design a mother's day card for example, think about what sort of message will reach them on a personal level. Perhaps it's the glass of wine after chasing the kids around all day, or a joke about the neverending clothes washing, or having to wear so many different 'hats'. Create a connection, a sense of understanding, and you're more likely to attract a sale.
Put yourself in their shoes
When trying to com up with unique captions, it can be useful to think of people you know in your life and what sort of message you'd like to find on a card that you'd send to them. If your mum is a bargain hunter, then maybe you'd instantly buy a card that said something like 'No reduced label on this card Mum, you're worth every penny!'. If your best friend is the life of the party, then 'Happy Birthday! Cheers to another night we won't remember!' could be ideal. Imagine the different people in your life, and design the perfect card for them. Chances are it'll appeal to lots of others as well!
Know your audience
We've come across this so many times - cards out in the market that have completely missed the mark when it comes to appealing to their target audience. For example,if you're buying a card for your Mum, you're probably not going to buy something really crass or explicit - no jokes about sex between Mum and Dad for example. Whilst the caption might be funny on a wider level, it's probably not going to appeal to Mum. Always ask yourself 'Would I buy send this card?'.
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