Diy Versus Hiring A Graphic Design Firm

By Author: Wildfire Marketing Group
Total Articles: 49
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These days, it seems likeeveryone is tightening their belts to save money. One approach that some people have tried using to save money is handling their own graphic design. This may sound like a great idea, especially if you have a little spare time, but more often than not, the results are mediocre if not counter productive. This is because there is more to graphic design than just designing a pretty image; remember, the point of graphic design is to convert your prospects into customers. A professional designer knows what will work and what won't, and they know why. If you don't, you're just guessing.

There are several reasons to hire a professional graphic designer instead of taking the do-it-yourself route, here are a few:

1. You need special programs

Professional graphic designers already have the software that is needed to design the files you need. Sure, you can create your fancy new business cards in Microsoft paint, but when you send the files to the printer, will they turn out the way they looked on your monitor? Most likely not. More than a few people have hired a professional designer after ...
... they spent hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a print job that turned out bad because the file was set up wrong. Don't make that mistake; it's expensive, frustrating and time-consuming!

2. You have to know how to use the software (correctly)

Just having a copy of Photoshop doesn't make you a designer any more than having a copy of TurboTax makes you a CPA. Ask Timothy Geithner. You certainly can learn how to use any software, but is it worth your time?

3. Your time is valuable

Any time you spend handling your own graphic design would be better spent focusing on your core business. Especially when you consider that you will be much more effective at that than something you're inexperienced with. A wise man once said, "Focus on what you do best and outsource the rest."

4. You are not your own customer

One of the most common mistakes people make when doing their own graphic design is that they design what they like. This isn't a bad thing in and of itself, but your marketing materials have to appeal to your potential customers - not you. A designer can see your situation from an objective viewpoint.

5. Graphic designers know how to get the results you're looking for

There is more to design than just designing something that is aesthetically pleasing. There are many scientifically proven rules, and while they say rules were made to be broken, you have to know them before you can decide when it's the right time to break them. You would take a drastically different approach when designing a billboard for branding purposes compared to a billboard promoting a sale event.

6. Graphic designers know how to make you stand out

When people handle their own graphic design, they often look at their competitors, or even other, unrelated companies for ideas. They end up with marketing materials that make them blend in with everyone else. A professional will create your own unique image based on your needs and situation.

7. Graphic designers know how to make you look professional

You can get attention with the most obnoxious, vividly colored ad in the newspaper, but if it presents a poor image of your company, it does more harm than good. A professional can get attention while making you look professional.

The bottom line is that you may save a few bucks by doing your own graphic design, but any savings you may see will be tiny compared to the time you'll have to put into it - and this is assuming that your print job goes off flawlessly. You also need to consider the fact that marketing materials designed by a professional graphic designer will get far better results than those you create on your own. What is that difference in results costing you? If you're serious about the success of your company, hiring a professional designer is the only way to go.
If your marketing materials aren't achieving the results you want, visit a world-class graphic design company, Wildfire Marketing Group!