51ÊÓƵ

AsÌýanÌýentrepreneur, you know how important itÌýisÌýtoÌýprovide great customer service. That includes ensuring your customers get their orders onÌýtime andÌýinÌýgreat condition. The key toÌýthis isÌýhaving theÌýright shipping labels forÌýecommerce stores.

InÌýthis article, we’ll explain theÌýneed forÌýshipping labels andÌýhow toÌýcreate, buy, andÌýprint them. We’ll also share best practices forÌýcreating shipping labels andÌýshare how toÌýget them atÌýaÌýdiscount.

What Are Shipping Labels?

Shipping labels contain information about theÌýshipment, such asÌýtheÌýsender’s address, theÌýrecipient’s address, andÌýother details related toÌýtheÌýpackage.

Shipping labels are often printed onto sticker paper orÌýthermal paper, making them easy toÌýaffix onto packages andÌýwaterproof soÌýthey won’t beÌýdamaged inÌýtransit.

AÌýshipping label usually includes theÌýfollowing information:

• Who shipped theÌýpackage, i.e. its place ofÌýorigin
• Where theÌýpackage isÌýbeing shipped toÌý(i.e. its destination)
• The weight ofÌýtheÌýpackage
• Shipping class (express, overnight, etc.)
• Tracking number
• Routing code forÌýpostal tracking.

AÌýshipping label can also show billing status (for example, pre-paid), service level, andÌýmore.

Let’s look into aÌýreal-life example ofÌýaÌýshipping label toÌýunderstand its contents better. Here isÌýaÌýUSPS shipping label:

Let’s break down theÌýcontents ofÌýtheÌýshipping label inÌýour example.

The service icon block indicates different USPS services:

• Priority Mail
• First-Class Mail
• First-Class Package Service
• Priority Mail Express
• USPS Retail Ground
• Media Mail

InÌýour example, PÌýstands forÌýPriority Mail. Keep inÌýmind that this applies only toÌýUSPS. Other providers might have different service types.

The service type banner states theÌýtype ofÌýdelivery asÌýdenoted byÌýtheÌýblock above. InÌýthis case, it’s Priority Mail.

The postage payment area isÌýforÌýshowing postage payment information. This section should include theÌýclass ofÌýmail (such asÌý“Single Piece” orÌý“Presorted”), theÌýcity andÌýstate ofÌýtheÌýpermit, andÌýtheÌýpermit number.

With USPS, retailers can apply forÌýaÌý which allows them toÌýpay forÌýandÌýprint shipping information inÌýbulk.

The return address isÌýtheÌýaddress where theÌýpackage should return inÌýcase ofÌýnon-delivery. InÌýmost cases, this would beÌýyour business address. IfÌýyou outsource shipping toÌýaÌýthird party, you will use their address here.

The delivery address isÌýtheÌýaddress you’re shipping theÌýpackage to. Besides theÌýaddress, you also have toÌýinclude delivery route code information andÌýRetail Distribution Codes (RDC). This isÌýaÌýfour-digit number placed next toÌýtheÌýzip code. ItÌýhelps mail handlers figure out theÌýroute toÌýtake toÌýdeliver theÌýproduct. USPS automatically generates this code forÌýyou when you use their site toÌýprint your labels.

The tracking code section includes theÌýcode you andÌýyour customers can use toÌýtrack theÌýorders. Usually this code isÌýgenerated automatically.

The additional information section contains anyÌýadditional details about theÌýpackage, such asÌýtheÌýshipping date orÌýweight.

Most shipping labels follow theÌýsame pattern. Usually, you just have toÌýfill out theÌýcustomer’s address, theÌýreturn address, andÌýtheÌýdimensions ofÌýyour parcel. The rest isÌýgenerated automatically byÌýyour shipping provider orÌýyour shipping software.

Why Are Shipping Labels Important?

Shipping labels help machines andÌýhumans inÌýyour supply ³¦³ó²¹¾±²Ô—s³Ù´Ç°ù²¹²µ±ð warehouse, customs, courier, ±ð³Ù³¦.—u²Ô»å±ð°ù²õ³Ù²¹²Ô»å your package origins andÌýits shipping destination.

AsÌýyou can imagine, failure toÌýcreate clear shipping labels can result inÌýaÌýlogistics disaster. You can lose packages enÌýroute, deliver theÌýwrong package andÌýcause long-term damage toÌýyour customer experience.

Correct shipping labels provide accurate information about theÌýshipment, which helps ensure that itÌýreaches its destination quickly andÌýsafely. They also help speed upÌýdelivery times byÌýproviding clear instructions forÌýcouriers andÌýcarriers onÌýwhere toÌýdeliver theÌýpackage. This way, they can help reduce theÌýloss ofÌýpackages because they contain valuable information that can beÌýused toÌýtrace aÌýpackage ifÌýitÌýgets lost.

How ToÌýCreate, Buy, andÌýPrint Shipping Labels

Creating shipping labels isÌýrelatively simple ifÌýyou have theÌýright tools andÌýresources available toÌýyou.

There are two options toÌýcreate shipping ±ô²¹²ú±ð±ô²õ—m²¹²Ô³Ü²¹±ô±ô²â through your shipping provider’s website orÌýautomatically through shipping software.

Creating Shipping Labels Manually

This isÌýaÌýslow method toÌýcreate shipping labels, but itÌýworks ifÌýyou’re dealing with low volume orÌýare using anÌýecommerce platform without built-in shipping label integration.

Every major shipping service provider allows you toÌýcreate andÌýbuy shipping labels onÌýtheir website, including USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.

The information you provide forÌýcreating andÌýbuying aÌýlabel isÌýalmost always theÌýsame:

• Your (company) name andÌýtheÌýname ofÌýtheÌýrecipient
• Shipping weight andÌýdimensions
• Shipping origin
• Shipping destination
• Type ofÌýshipping service
• Any additional service options (for example, insurance ifÌýyou’re shipping aÌývaluable order)

After you fill inÌýall theÌýrequired information, you’ll beÌýasked toÌýadd aÌýpayment option. After paying forÌýit, you’ll beÌýable toÌýprint your label.

After you print aÌýshipping label, you put itÌýonÌýyour parcel andÌýdrop itÌýoff atÌýtheÌýnearest post office. Some postal services also allow requesting aÌýpackage pickup from your house.

Creating Shipping Labels Automatically

Luckily, ifÌýyour ecommerce platform integrates with theÌýmost popular shipping providers, you can spend way less time (and often money) creating andÌýbuying shipping labels.

IfÌýyou sell online with 51ÊÓƵ byÌýLightspeed, you can buy andÌýprint shipping labels right from your 51ÊÓƵ admin. All you have toÌýdoÌýisÌýclick aÌýcouple ofÌývital buttons. The shipping labels are automatically prefilled with customers’ information toÌýsave you time andÌýavoid typos.

Not only does that save you time, but it’s also more convenient. You don’t need toÌýhave aÌý3rd-party account toÌýorder theÌýshipping labels. NoÌýneed toÌýremember access credentials orÌýshare credit card information.

The best part about buying labels inÌýyour 51ÊÓƵ admin isÌýthat itÌýsaves you shipping costs. Labels bought through your 51ÊÓƵ admin are discounted, significantly saving you money, especially when you ship many orders orÌýship internationally.

You can also choose toÌýautomatically assign aÌýtracking number toÌýtheÌýorder andÌýemail shipment details toÌýtheÌýcustomer. Again, less time isÌýspent managing shipping labels andÌýtracking numbers!

The built-in shipping label tool isÌýavailable forÌýsellers from theÌýUS, Germany, Belgium, andÌýtheÌýNetherlands. Follow toÌýbuy andÌýprint discounted shipping labels from your 51ÊÓƵ admin.

IfÌýyou are from another country, you can buy shipping labels using apps from our .

After you automatically generate aÌýlabel andÌýprint itÌýfrom your 51ÊÓƵ admin, you put itÌýonÌýyour parcel andÌýeither drop itÌýoff atÌýtheÌýnearest post office orÌýrequest aÌýpickup byÌýaÌýpostal worker.

Best Practices For Creating Shipping Labels

When creating shipping labels, there are aÌýfew best practices that should beÌýfollowed toÌýensure accuracy andÌýefficiency:

• Make sure all ofÌýtheÌýinformation included onÌýyour label isÌýcorrect before printing andÌýdouble-check all addresses.
• Use high-quality materials forÌýprinting soÌýthat your label won’t fade.
• Consider investing inÌýaÌýprofessional label printer ifÌýyou ship aÌýlot ofÌýorders.
• Take advantage ofÌýbulk discounts when buying multiple labels. Or, switch toÌýanÌýecommerce platform that provides discounted shipping labels, like 51ÊÓƵ byÌýLightspeed.

What IsÌýaÌýPacking Slip?

Besides shipping labels, you also need toÌýinclude aÌýpacking slip (also called aÌý“waybill”) with your package.

AÌýpacking slip isÌýaÌýdocument that accompanies theÌýpackage andÌýcontains information about theÌýcontents ofÌýtheÌýshipment. ItÌýusually looks something like this:

AÌýpacking slip isÌýusually included inside aÌýpackage andÌýcontains theÌýfollowing:

• Your company’s name, logo, andÌýaddress
• The customer’s address
• The order date andÌýorder number
• The customer’s contact information
• The names, quantities, andÌýprices ofÌýeach item included inÌýtheÌýpackage
• Customer service contact inÌýcase ofÌýanyÌýproblems with theÌýproduct
• Optional comments.

The packing slip isÌýessentially aÌýcustomer receipt. Besides acting asÌýaÌýproof ofÌýreceipt, itÌýalso tells customers what’s included inÌýtheir ±è²¹³¦°ì²¹²µ±ð—p²¹°ù³Ù¾±³¦³Ü±ô²¹°ù±ô²â helpful when you’re shipping multiple items spread across multiple packages.

However, theÌýpacking slip isÌýnot necessary forÌýshipping. Your shipping service won’t mind ifÌýyou don’t include itÌýwith theÌýpackage.

Usually, your shipping orÌýinvoicing software can also create packing slips. You can also create aÌýpacking slip yourself inÌýGoogle Sheets orÌýExcel using templates like .

IfÌýyou sell online with 51ÊÓƵ byÌýLightspeed, itÌýsaves you time with packing slips too. You can use asÌýyour packing slips. They contain your company name andÌýaddress, theÌýbuyer’s name andÌýship-to address, theÌýpayment method andÌýshipping method they’ve chosen forÌýtheir order, information about theÌýordered products, andÌýanÌýitemized order total.

Invoices are generated automatically forÌýyour orders andÌýyou can print them with just aÌýclick. You can also customize your invoice template ifÌýneeded.

Alternatively, you can use theÌýPrintout Designer app from theÌý51ÊÓƵ App Market toÌýcreate andÌýprint packing slips.

Wrap Up

Shipping labels are anÌýessential part ofÌýrunning anÌýecommerce business asÌýthey ensure accurate delivery times andÌýprotect against loss ofÌýpackages during transit. It’s important toÌýunderstand how shipping labels work toÌýcreate accurate ones forÌýyour customers quickly andÌýefficiently without spending too much time andÌýmoney inÌýtheÌýprocess.

ByÌýfollowing these tips, you will save money andÌýgain peace ofÌýmind knowing your customers will receive their orders safely every time.

Ìý

• Print Discounted Shipping Labels atÌýHome with 51ÊÓƵ
• AnÌýEntrepreneur’s Guide toÌýShipping Labels forÌýEcommerce Stores
• The Anatomy ofÌýShipping Labels inÌýBrief
• What isÌýtheÌýBest Shipping Label Printer?