How To Write Successful Pet Product Packaging Copy

These questions will help you plan what and how to write successful pet product packaging copy.

The pet products and services industry is thriving

There’s no denying it: global pet ownership is booming. But that’s not the only thing that’s flourishing because as the number of households with pets rises, so does pet-related spending. That makes the pet industry a particularly attractive one for entrepreneurs!

Except that more competition means it’s harder for pet brands to stand out. It’s also so much tougher to capture market share. So, a topic that’s always top of mind is, how do you get your pet products to fly off shelves?

First, you’ll need an eye-catching design. But the second part of the equation is convincing copy. That’s the hard part!

Fortunately, how to write irresistible pet product packaging copy is what this post is all about.

How can a pet brand stand out?

Beyond just a few shelves, multiple aisles (indeed, entire pet stores!) are dedicated to pet products like pet food, pet grooming materials, toys and accessories. Imagine all the shapes, colors, and cute images of cats and dogs fighting for a shopper’s attention at every turn.

All this to say, it’s not easy getting your product from shelf to cart and eventually to the checkout counter.

It’s a multi-step process that begins with grabbing the shopper’s attention. Product packaging has to be eye-catching to stand out. They have to be visually distinct to compel a shopper to pick the item up in the first place. But once a product is in the shopper’s hands, it’s the packaging copy that will sell it.

That’s why pet branding is so important.

Branding is key for small pet product businesses that want to compete with big-budget industry giants.

And by branding, we’re not just talking about design; your logo, font and color choices. We’re also talking about voice, which is something that’s found in your copywriting. Namely, how a brand chooses to present itself in words.

The carefully-chosen words that go on product packaging are of paramount importance—they’re indispensable.

Because other than what’s written online, a product’s packaging is what customers physically touch and inspect while out shopping. How it looks and what’s written on it play a decisive role in influencing sales.

That’s why it’s not enough to just throw a few buzz words together and hope that the adorable photo of Fido will the do the trick! No. Small pet food brands as well as accessories, grooming and over-the-counter medicine brands need to approach their packaging’s text strategically.

Tip: Marketing matters but you obviously also need a really great product! Even if you manage to convince the consumer to purchase your product, if the pet doesn’t like it, falls ill, or there are numerous recalls and bad reviews online, that would have been the first and last purchase ever.

Writing copy for pet product packaging: What should go on the box?

Before you sit down to write your product’s packaging copy, make sure you have answers to the following questions.

1. What are your brand’s most important attributes?

As a small business, your very first consideration should be: What are our brand’s core characteristics and traits? What is our brand’s personality?

Another way to think about this is, if your brand were a person, how would you describe her?

Perhaps you consider yourselves classic, conservative, and professional? Or maybe you’re modern, innovative, and playful? What about casual, natural, and approachable?

Note down your brand’s top four to five qualities. Those points will influence everything else about your branding, including your pet product sales copy.

2. What do your ideal customers care about most?

You want your product to appeal to your ideal customer. You can’t do that if the copy doesn’t resonate with them. But when you know (1) what matters most to your customers and (2) what your product does or offers better than anyone else, then you’ll know what you need to write about in your pet product packaging copy.

For example: Let’s say you make heavy-duty dog beds specifically designed for dogs with destructive habits. You’re targeting dog owners looking for a product that’s going to last a while; they don’t want to keep spending on beds. You might use the words “indestructible”, “long-lasting”, “scratch-proof” or “chew-resistant” on the box. And, if applicable, you might even highlight the warranty period!

3. What keywords do you want to focus on?

Keep in mind that whatever the product – whether it is canned or dry dog food, medicated dog collars or herbal pet shampoos – space for text is limited. In other words, which words must be on the box?

Which adjectives do you want to highlight in your packaging’s text? What are your ideal customers looking for? How can you best describe your product and the promise you’re making to pet parents? What do pet parents want? What kind of information do they need to make the all-important decision to add your item to the shopping cart?

Answer those questions and you’ll have a starting point for suitable keywords and ideas you’ll want to incorporate in your copy.

For example: You make flea and tick collars for cats and dogs using only natural ingredients. You might include words like “non-toxic”, “optimum defense against…”, “ultimate shield”, “safe for prolonged use”, and “no synthetic chemicals” among others.

Tip: “Organic” and “all-natural” are popular keywords in the pet industry but we’re gradually seeing a shift towards and growing preference for “grain-free”, “non-GMO” and even “clean label”.

4. What do you need to write for this product to fly off the shelves?

How much do you want to say in your pet packaging copy?

Some brands want to share their story on the packaging. Others are happy with a few of the most important points to describe what their product is, who it’s for and why it’s worth buying.

Ultimately, your goal is to write pet product packaging copy that instantly convinces the reader your product is exactly what they want to give their beloved pet.

Note that the purchaser may only dedicate a few seconds of time to actually look at your product. Make those few seconds count!

5. What is legally required information?

Most countries mandate legally required information for pet food packaging labels. Sometimes, these requirements can also vary from province to province.

For the most part, you’ll need to include the following:

Product Name
Net Quantity Statement
Manufacturer’s Name and Address
Ingredient List
Guaranteed Analysis
Nutritional Adequacy Statement
Feeding Directions
Calorie Statement

Make sure that your pet product packaging copy follows all the labeling rules of your home country and / or the rules of export countries.

You can take a look at the FDA or FEDIAF good labeling guidelines for more information.

6. What tone and style are you going to use?

Do you want to sound cheerful and energetic? Or would calm and serious be more appropriate? These are some considerations along with deciding how much of your brand’s personality you want to shine through in the copy.

At the end of the day, it should be consistent with your overall branding, so go back to the attributes you listed earlier on and use that to guide your choice of language and style for your packaging copy.

7. What is your pricing?

This is important because it also dictates the type of words you use to describe your product. A low-budget product may raise eyebrows (and skepticism) if they highlight premium ingredients. It might be more effective for the focus to be on something else, e.g. how it provides a complete and balanced meal with all the vitamins and minerals puppy needs.

Tip: A great design alone won’t sell. You need to think of the entire picture, i.e. the impression potential customers will get from the packaging and its label as a whole. Think about balance and how much space you have to work with. Look that the design complements the words. Colors, text, font choice, design, imagery and even packaging style have to work together harmoniously to sell your product.

Know what pet owners value

Every pet owner desires three things: Their pet’s good health, safety, and happiness. The best copy taps into (and uses) those desires to guide their copywriting.

Pet parents value transparency

Every pet-loving owner wants to ensure that their pet will be safe if they consume or use these pet products. That’s why transparency is crucial for long-term success.

That’s why, among other things, pet parents want to know how your pet food was made, where the ingredients came from, how it was handled and processed, if there are additives and if so, what they’re for.

Every pet parent has his or her personal preferences

The pet products humans buy is a reflection, in many ways, of their own values, priorities, and preferences. Another way to put this is that their pet’s lifestyle mirrors their own. In that sense, you will want to be aware of general food and lifestyle trends.

For example: If consumers want products containing natural, organic ingredients and care about how sustainable a brand is or if it’s doing its part in being environmentally friendly, chances are they’ll have the same standards and criteria for pet food.

Consumers care about a product’s origin

We’re also seeing increased interest in where a product was made and where ingredients were sourced. This is because a product’s origins can say a lot about the expected quality and safety of a product.

Many pet food brands proudly declare that their ingredients are 100% sourced domestically as well as made and packaged domestically.

Tip: As online sales grows in popularity, make sure you’re paying just as much attention to your e-commerce product descriptions as you are to the physical pet product packaging copy.