Last Updated on September 9, 2023 by ScreenPush
If there’s one thing you need to avoid when starting a new business, it’s investing in the wrong things, or investing too much. Your margin for error is very limited, so it’s crucial that every investment you make in your business returns its value and helps you grow. When it comes to marketing materials, this can be especially tough. You want to make sure that your materials are effective and professional, but there’s a good chance that you can’t produce them on your own. That said, you need a high-quality graphic design to be able to produce materials that look good and catch the eye. Here are some ways that you can keep your graphic design costs as low as possible when you start a new business.
Do Legwork in Advance
When you start out looking for graphic design help, make sure to do some work upfront to make the process smoother. The best thing you can do is have a plan and an idea of what types of materials you need and what you want them to look like. Not only that, but think about what benefits you want from your pieces will bring, and how they fit as a part of your overall marketing strategy. Having all of this information in your mind and ready to go will allow your eventual graphic design team to hit the ground running. You won’t have to pay for extra consultation time or to have them come up with those answers for you.
If your vision is clear, then the project will go much more smoothly. The design team won’t have to stop their work to consult with you and ask questions as often. Too much of this can delay a project and lead to cost overruns, not to mention the cost of delaying a campaign. Make sure that you create a brief for your graphic design team. It will have as many details as possible that a graphic designer might need to complete a project. Your goal should be to answer all of the most common questions a designer might have. These include what you are looking to say, who you are targeting, and for what types of media the materials will be used. You can even include any rough drafts or sketches that you have put to paper already.
During the creative process, the design team will have the brief on hand so that they can check it whenever they are unsure of something. This will cut down on questions, consultations, and thus costs.
Choose the Right Designer For You
One of the best things you can do to avoid delays and mishaps is to choose the designer that is right for you. Don’t simply choose the one that comes up at the top of your first Google search. Check out several options, and get quotes from all of them. Don’t go with the cheapest, necessarily. Talk to them all, ask them questions about their process and ask to see previous work. Ask friends, colleagues, and family members if they can provide recommendations as well. Choose one that can produce work in a style that you want while also being a good fit personality-wise with your brand. Having the right graphic designer will save you headaches down the road.
Use Online Tools to Do It Yourself
Sure, you might not have a creative bone in your body. However, you can still create great graphic design materials with tools that are available online. MyCreativeShop, for example, provides templates from which to choose that make creating marketing materials easy. You can browse templates for posters, brochures, and everything in between. You can even learn how to create flyers with the click of a mouse. It’s all there for you and at a much more affordable price than hiring someone or contracting a service.
Choose Your Media Wisely
Starting out a business means that you need to be selective with your marketing dollars. Sure, you could produce broad marketing pieces for television and radio, and get a lot of people to see them, but how many of those people will actually buy your product or service? When your budget is limited, it’s always best to target smaller groups that will be more likely to convert. When choosing what media to use, go with where your customers are. You can send them flyers or brochures in the mail, market on YouTube videos, or have banner ads placed on certain sites. Keep your costs down by being more strategic with your marketing, and reap the benefits as a result.
Yes, you need marketing materials when you start a new business, but it’s tough to stomach shelling out full price for a graphic designer. By following these tips, you can cut your marketing costs down and grow your business with professional-looking materials that deliver excellent returns on investment.