subject: Invest in Your Business and Reap the Rewards [print this page] Planning budgets are necessary for running a successful businessthat's a given. But, there are always areas in your business that deserve greater financial and time investments than others. One such area that demands these investments is your brand story and logo. If you're looking to rebrand or have a new logo designed for your business, it's essential to consider a pool of highly experienced branders or graphic designers.
Your business is your child. You nurtured it from the ground up and are willing to do anything in your power to continue growing. But, what many business owners fail to realize is that one of the worst things you can do for your business is associate it with a horrible imageor logo, in other words. A bad logo can mean fatality for your business.
A graphic designer or business brander who is ill experienced can create a crippling image for your branda risk that could cost you years of agony and stress and loads of money to repair.
Do it right the first time. Get a professional graphic designer or brander who brands your business correctly. He or she might cost more, but the investment is well worth it if his or her qualifications match the pricing.
Here are four tips for finding the best graphic designer or brander for your business:
1. Do your research on- and offline: Don't immediately go with the first brander or graphic designer who appears in search engine results or the first graphic designer you see advertising in the paper. They might not be a good fit for you and might be overpriced.
Once you find a handful of designers you are interested in, research the going rates for high-end graphic designers and branders. Many times, designers won't put pricing on their website as their pricing depends on the scope of work each client is looking for.
2. Look at sample work: Sample work is always an effective way to get a feel for the style of the designer and the quality of his or her work. If he or she does not have samples or a portfolio, this might be a key indicator that the designer doesn't produce superior work. Obviously, if the designer's site appears under construction, the absence of a portfolio might just mean the portfolio has not been added to the website yet. In this case, email the designer and ask to see some of his or her sample work.
3. Talk to previous clients: Samples in a designer's portfolio almost always have a company name or client associated with the design or image. Visit the websites of these clients, and contact them regarding their work with the designer.
In this email to previous clients, introduce yourself, tell them why you are contacting them, and ask them questions about the designer. Questions could be, "What was your experience like with this designer?" and "Would you recommend this designer to others?"
Keep your questions to a minimum of three. You don't want to take up more time than necessary from the individual you are emailing. If this individual enjoyed his or her experience with the designer, it will most likely be expressed in his or her responses to just a few questions.
4. Speak to him or her to get a feel for his or her personality: If the designer passes all of your above tests, it's now time to contact him or her. Send an email asking if you could set up a time to speak about your specific needs.
When you speak with the designer, get a feel for his or her personality and work ethic. Speaking for 15 minutes with this designer can give you a fairly good first impression and better aid you in your decision to hire him or her.
After you speak with a handful of designers and narrow down your favorites, compare their prices. Don't immediately eliminate designers just because their rates don't fall within your budget. They might do phenomenal work that could provide much greater results for your business than a designer who is less expensive or less qualified. I'm not saying overpriced graphic designers and branders aren't out there. They are. This is why doing your homework is essential in finding the perfect graphic designer or brander for your business.
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Invest in Your Business and Reap the Rewards
By: Michelle Salater
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