Do-It-Yourself or Hire a Professional Designer

Remember your vision for your company and the brand or statement you want to make when any of your current or potential customers come in contact with you. You have to impress them in all the ways you connect with them.

DIY (Do-It-Yourself)

?? Knowledge is Power
I highly recommend reading and
learning about graphic/web design.
It's a good idea in a long-term sense
whether you do design projects yourself
now or hire in the future. You will be
able to communicate more effectively
to your graphic professionals when
your business is ready to outsource.
By learning design techniques, it will
help you organize how to present
your image to your target market.
The most important lesson to remember
is if you start your design project,
don't forget about Quality. I may not
call myself a copywriter, but I do write
my own content and persuasive
marketing materials... But I feel fairly
confident about my copy because I
have taken steps to learn about writing
copy that sells and you can do the same
for design. Read books. Take classes.
Learn the software.

?? It's an affordable route
Nothing is more affordable that pulling
up your sleeves and doing it yourself
especially if you don't have a budget to
spare on outsourcing.

?? It gives you instant gratification
It's nice to have control and once your
learn the tricks of the trade, you can pat
yourself on the back for a job well-done.

Hiring a Professional

?? How much time do you have?
Designing your marketing materials
(website, business card, stationary,
ezine, postcards, etc.) is not just about
learning about the graphic design
software and, in the case of web design...
learning HTML. Your designer will know
how to harness color theory and how to
organize your content & information to
readable chunks, allow your viewers to focus
on the important benefits, evoke a certain
feeling or thought, and add supporting
graphics that clearly and effectively
communicate your message.

?? Don't you want to concentrate on business?
When you are a small business, you probably
play the role of sales, customer service,
accounting and need to concentrate on
strategies to build business. Hiring lets you
make the decisions to take your business to
the next step, communicate your wants/needs
but then hand it off to someone who can
effectively and productively implement the
project.

?? You do care about quality, right?
You get what you pay for. A quality designer
will only want the best for you and your
business. They live off long-term relationships
and want great testimonials from you.

?? Don't think "service provider".
Think long-term partnerships.

With over 100+ websites designed in the past 4 years, Maya Sunpongco is your Chief Imagination Officer for Design Insomnia, in San Diego, CA - an internet/web graphics firm that harnesses the "Power of Design to Communicate." She supports women-owned businesses and is a member of the National Association for Female Executives and the Professional Women's Network.

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