Hello and welcome to the 3rd installment of our educational series on commercial printing! If you have questions about image resolution or colors, you might want to backtrack and read the prior posts first.
Today’s post will be a bit different because we’re going to discuss an important business investment you may be neglecting—professional graphic design. I know you’ve probably thought about this before, and may have gotten price quotes for past projects. Or maybe you want to work with a designer, but you’re afraid you can’t afford this luxury. Budget issues are understandable, except design isn’t a luxury—it’s an absolute necessity.
Why Do I Need a Graphic Designer?
Short Answer: For the same reason you need a doctor, dentist, or lawyer: because you aren’t one.
Long Answer: Small business owners often see design as an unnecessary expense until it’s too late. This happens for 2 reasons (1) lack of knowledge & (2) financial limitations. Unless you have a background in advertising or a related field, you probably aren’t familiar with the design process. All the more reason to hire a pro! Your designer will be able to walk you through the project from a concept to a complete marketing campaign in less time than it would take you to educate yourself on the basics.
Aside from the fact that you don’t have the time to get involved, you also can’t afford costly mistakes. On the web errors are usually fixable, but everything’s final in print. You only get 1 chance for happiness or you’ll end up paying for a reprint. For this reason, we strongly advise you to work with someone with prior printing experience. There are tons of talented web designers out there capable of creating quality marketing materials, but that doesn’t mean they’ll get the technical details right. Save yourself the time, money, and headache by finding yourself a designer with print pieces in his or her portfolio.
Can’t I Just Do It Myself?
Short Answer: Yes, if you’re not afraid to embarrass yourself.
Long Answer: Of course you’ll be able to slap together a template based business card or find a free logo generator. But when you take the easy way out, you won’t be fooling anyone. Your clients aren’t stupid; they will see through your DIY solution, and judge you accordingly. Think about the message you’re sending about your brand and its reputation. If you don’t care enough to invest in your presence, why should anyone else?
Besides, did you know that the design itself directly impacts your ROI? Those direct mail postcards will go straight to the trashcan unless they’re useful, attractive, and easy to read. There’s no point in paying for the printing if you’re not willing to go the whole nine yards.
How Do I Know Good Design from Bad Design?
Short Answer: By the bulge in your wallet.
Long Answer: While some aspects of design are subjective, there are really no arbitrary decisions involved. Basically, this means that every aspect of your artwork is intentional and serves a purpose. For example, designers use the principle of alignment to show a relationship between elements.
You see this principal in action daily and now you know why you’re drawn to images that use it correctly. So look at what’s in front of you, and ask yourself the following questions:
- Am I able to easily comprehend the message?
- Does everything seem in synch as opposed to conflicting or chaotic?
- Is there a clear visual hierarchy of information?
- Do I feel an emotional connection to the content?
- Do I know how to follow up or learn more about the offer, product , company, etc.?
If you answered “yes,” to at least 4 out of 5, then you’re dealing with good design. If the answer’s negative, then your ROI will follow suit.
Where Can I Find a Cheap Designer?
Short Answer: At a thrift store shopping for vintage clothing.
Long Answer: You don’t need me to tell you about crowd sourcing sites or outsourcing overseas. And trust me, you’ll get exactly what you pay for when you use these cheap solutions. In this case, the word cheap doesn’t merely mean inexpensive—it means low quality.
Before you enter that unholy abyss, consider your options. Ask your friends and colleagues for a recommendation. Your fellow entrepreneurs have probably worked with competent designers, and you’ll feel confident that you’re paying for someone with solid skills. You might be able to negotiate a flexible payment plan to stay within your budget. Students are another money saver, although you’re liable to get burned by a rookie mistake.
Does PrintFirm Offer Custom Design Services?
We most certainly do! Our creative team may be less expensive than hiring a freelancer because of our high volume. Every product page on our site gives you the option to upload your own artwork or get a custom design:
You’ll find our prices are affordable and you’ll still get the benefits of professional precision. If you have any questions about our design fees or anything else, please feel free to contact us!