The benefits of hiring a brand designer vs Doing it yourself
& where to find quality brand designers.
When you’re starting off as a small business, you have to realize that branding is an investment, just like any other business expense.
It’s what helps your audience connect with the brand & remember it.
Brand designers use strategy to help make that connection.
If you’re still unsure about the value of design, I hope I can give you some things to think about.
Having a professional opinion helps
Take it from any brand designer I know, we all struggle with designing our own branding & we’re the professionals!
We’re too close to the project. Our business is our baby.
The same idea goes for your branding.
You may already have a vision for the logo, but will that vision convert to repeat customers? A loyal fan base even?
Brand designers use strategy to create brands that are not only aesthetically pleasing but that reflect the brand’s personality & resonate with the target audience.
By working with a designer, you’re not only going to get a consistent brand identity but the strategy behind it to help position yourself for success.
Quality work & files
As designers, we have the resources & the knowledge to create logos in the right formats.
Sure, there are many ways to get a logo without a designer, but you’re sacrificing professionalism & more importantly, impact.
It’s easy to tell a homemade logo.
Low-resolution files, random graphics, bad font or color choices, inconsistent messaging, & overused, trendy logo styles that don’t fit the brand or its audience.
Design is what we do; we have the time & resources to create a brand that aligns with your business goals.
From color codes & font licenses to print & screen formatting.
We ensure everything is professional & stays consistent.
Can’t trademark Canva logos
Controversial opinion, but I’m a big fan of Canva.
I use it all the time for social media templates or other quick designs.
But it’s not where you want to be creating your logos.
Not only do they not have the resources you’d need to create a professional logo, but you can’t trademark it.
And if you’re using logo templates not only can you not trademark, but you can only use free elements available to anyone.
Basic fonts & shapes limit design tremendously.
Even Canva recommends hiring a designer to create logos/icons for you to then upload & use in Canva.
Read more about Canva licensing here.
So where do you find a quality brand designer?
There are many options & I wouldn’t run straight to Fiverr.
It may seem tempting to see so many cheap & fast options out there, but a single listing isn’t enough to know what you’re getting.
You don’t know if these designs have been used before or even worse, stolen from another designer.
With that in mind, I’d recommend Instagram. It’s a great way to do your research on designers.
There are a lot of options, so follow a few whose style you really like & just keep tabs on them.
Check out all their projects and packages then compare so you can make an educated decision.
After all, branding is an investment!
Another place to research designers is Contra.
You can post jobs & get matched with freelancers, or search for them directly on the site based on your needs.
Contra lets freelancers not only create a solid portfolio but also allows them to list their packages & services for you to easily do your research.
These are both great options to give you a good understanding of the designer you’re investing in & what the outcome will look like.
Small business owners (who are not design studio owners) have priorities that are not design. & that is okay! But that doesn’t mean it’s not an important part of the business.
That’s where freelance brand designers come in.
You don’t have to have a lukewarm logo just because you think money would be better spent elsewhere.
You can have a complete & quality branding system that makes sense & sets the brand up for success.
Thanks for reading!
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