Subscription Box Inserts That Encourage Social Sharing

When building a subscription box service, the products you’ll share are at the forefront of your planning. But it’s equally important to consider the little things you’ll include alongside the monthly main event. Adding custom subscription box inserts to each shipment makes your box feel more special and encourages customers to come back again and again.

Why Subscription Box Inserts Matter

Custom box inserts enhance the subscriber experience by adding value beyond the high-quality products you include. In addition to reinforcing your brand identity with each box, unique box filler can also create an air of mystery or surprise as each product is revealed. Inserts can even create opportunities for engagement beyond the initial purchase by encouraging unboxing videos or other social sharing, inviting subscribers to an exclusive online community, or incentivizing them to make additional purchases through discounts, loyalty rewards, or referral programs.

Types of Subscription Box Inserts That Drive Social Sharing

There are a variety of different types of custom box inserts, and the ones you choose will depend on your promotional goals, the brand identity you’re building, and the audience you hope to attract.

Personalized Thank-You Notes

Nothing makes a customer feel appreciated quite like being personally thanked for their purchase or support. Custom inserts allow you to create unique thank-you notes that tie into your subscription’s theme, your brand identity, or current trends.

Product Information Cards

Custom box inserts are a great way to add extra information about each month’s products. Include instructions for using beauty products, source explanations for eco-friendly items, or the story behind why you chose a product for your subscribers.

Founder or Brand Story Inserts

Including an insert sharing your story can be a great way to introduce subscribers to your brand. Add the full story to each subscriber’s first box, or spread out your story over several inserts for an ongoing saga that keeps customers coming back for the next installment.

Sneak Peeks of Upcoming Boxes

One of the most popular uses of custom inserts is to offer subscribers a sneak peek at future boxes. This helps build excitement for upcoming months and allows subscribers to plan their purchases accordingly.

Exclusive Discount or Referral Cards

Including exclusive discounts or referral rewards is beneficial in two ways. First, it makes the subscriber feel appreciated, much like personalized thank-you notes do, improving customer loyalty. But a discount code or referral card also drives future sales, as well. Discounts encourage subscribers to purchase additional products outside the subscription offerings. Referral rewards bring new subscribers who may become repeat customers, while also rewarding the loyalty of your existing subscribers.

QR Codes Linking to Additional Content

Building buzz online is a great way to extend your brand’s reach. Many brands now include QR codes in their packaging that link to social content, contests, or online communities, driving customer engagement and putting your brand’s content in front of a wider audience. For many social media algorithms, the higher your audience engagement, the more it puts your content in front of new users.

Create Share-Worthy Moments Inside the Box

In the online world, “content is king.” By gearing your subscription boxes toward content creation, you encourage influencers and trendsetters to share your products, expanding your reach better than many traditional advertising routes.

Create shareable moments by adding unboxing prompts or social media challenges that help content creators share your boxes while staying aligned with your brand. Incorporate branded hashtags that build community around your brand or products. Incentivize digital creators to share their unboxing by offering photo contests or customer spotlight opportunities that grow both your audience and theirs. You may even offer exclusive products, discounts, or freebies to sweeten the deal.

The Role of Subscription Box Filler in the Unboxing Experience

A good unboxing is all about the experience. While the products should be high-quality, a truly engaging unboxing relies on more than just the goods. Exterior packaging, presentation, box inserts, and bonus content all increase the likelihood that content creators will share the unboxing experience with their audience.

The experience starts with customized outer packaging, which should be eye-catching and clearly connected to your brand identity. Once open, package inserts and fillers help present your products beautifully and tell the story of each subscription installment. Decorative crinkle paper or branded tissue paper makes each product a surprise, while sustainable filler options such as recycled paper show that your brand is environmentally conscious. 

Custom-shaped inserts or filler keep products from moving around during shipment, minimizing the risk of damage and ensuring your presentation is preserved for the customer. Unique inserts can also create a premium reveal moment as each product is individually unwrapped and custom info cards share the story behind your choices. All of these options add to the anticipation that makes subscription unboxing so exciting and keeps customers sharing and coming back for more.

Best Practices for Designing Effective Inserts

To design effective subscription box filler and inserts, keep your content concise and action-oriented. Don’t just cram as much content into the box as you can and hope something sticks. Choose a few key ideas, such as a product story, an unboxing photo contest, or a sneak peek at the next box, and build your inserts around those. Make sure you align each insert with your brand voice for consistency, and try to balance promotional content with customer value. For example, a photo contest with a free product for the winner, or an exclusive referral code that earns the returning subscriber a discount or bonus sample for their next box. Finally, make sure to include a clear social-sharing CTA with branded hashtags or your social handles for tagging to encourage posting.

Building a Complete Subscription Box Experience

Building the ultimate subscription box experience requires a combination of elements that work together to draw the customer into your brand and your story. Start by combining custom mailer boxes, inserts, and filler that keep branding consistent through every shipment. Ensure product quality is equally consistent, so customers know they can rely on a positive experience. Finally, incorporate elements designed to turn subscribers into repeat customers and advocates, such as personalized thank-you notes, exclusive discounts, referral rewards, and social sharing incentives.

Why Subscription Brands Choose Box Genie

Subscription brands love Box Genie because we’re the leader in custom packaging solutions. Our selection of fully branded custom mailer boxes combined with flexible customization options and low order minimums on wholesale box orders makes our packaging ideal for brands of all sizes. We also offer packaging support for growing brands to help with everything from custom box dimensions to crafting the best insert designs.

Create Subscription Boxes Worth Sharing with Box Genie

Custom packaging inserts are only one step toward building an unforgettable subscription box experience. Fortunately, Box Genie is ready to fulfill all your packaging needs, from custom mailer boxes to unique inserts, so you can focus on finding the products your subscribers will love.

Get started with our custom box builder, or contact us for help designing the perfect packaging for your brand.