How to Design Shipping Labels

Shipping labels are often the first tangible thing exchanged between a small company and its customers. With today's computers and printers, it is easy to make a nice-looking shipping label to reassure your customers that, even if you are small, you operate professionally.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Microsoft Office Word 2007 1 package Avery Shipping Labels No. 6462 JPG image file of your company logo Inkjet printer or laser printer (color for best results)

Designing Shipping Labels

1. 
    
   Click OK to open your template as a document.

   Go to the Avery.com website and enter in 58164 in the search box. From the results page select "Shipping Label, 6 per sheet," and on the resulting page, click "download template." This will open a smaller log-in window. Fill out the form and hit "submit." This will open a download window which instructs you how to open the file. A smaller window will open asking if you want to open a document file. This is your shipping label template, so say OK.

2. 
    
   Arrow shows location of superior tabs.

   Insert your business or personal logo by clicking on your insert tab and then selecting your image. This will automatically center your photo to the left and middle. For this example, the logo is moving to the top of the label. Click on your image. This will bring up two superior tabs (above the regular tabs). One says "Table Tools" and the other says "Picture Tools." Click on "Picture Tools."

3. 
    
   Move your logo or image to the left and top of the label.

   Click on "Text Wrapping" and select "In Line With Text." This directs Word to line up your text next to your logo and it also opens (allows you to use) the "Align" feature. Click on "Align" and select "Align Left." This will move your image all the way to the top and left on the label.

4. 
    
   Arrow points to regular text alignment tool.

   Click on the label, next to your logo. Type in your company or personal name using the font you like. Your font choice should represent your company products or activities. The example uses 28 point Curlz MT Bold and 10 point Century Gothic. Highlight and center your address under your logo and company name.

5. 
    
   Arrows point to the tools you need for selecting your font and aligning it to the left.

   Click your enter key and then click your border tool. Click on "Horizontal Line." Insert the line on your shipping label. Click on your text alignment tool "Align Text Left." Select a clean, bold font such as 22 point Century Gothic Bold and type "TO:"

6. 
    
   Copy your content to each shipping label.

   Highlight your copy by dragging your mouse across your label and pressing the copy tool. (Alternative: Go to your "Layout" tab, click "Select," click "Select Cell." Go to your "Home" tab, click "Copy," place your mouse arrow over the empty label and click "Paste.") Paste into the other labels. Save your new shipping labels and you are ready to print.

Tips & Warnings

• Use easy-to-read fonts and large point sizes on your labels to be read easily by your customer and the post office. I have used a photo instead of a logo because a photo can work if you don't have a logo. Your label represents you, so make it work for you by making it nice. This works equally well for both types of printers except that some laser printers are black ink only and your labels should be in color.
• Save your template as a blank before you start. If you make an error simply start over. These steps will work with most Avery labels and other templates as well.

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