4 Reasons NOT to Hire a Designer for Your Business
Didn't expect to see an article detailing reasons NOT to buy the services I’m selling? I myself questioned the sanity of the idea but after a few years in business I reflected on the lessons I learned and what I wished I'd known from the start.
The biggest lesson I learned...having a successful business isn't about the flashy things like having a perfect website or a big team or top of the line equipment or the big name business coach. In fact, focusing on these things can lead to debt, burnout and anxiety.
So I'm here to say it's OK if you're business isn't ready to hire a designer. If you hired me to design your logo and website I'd want you to end the project feeling like you would've paid double what I charged because you got so much value out of it. In order to maximize the value of design services you need to have a few things in place first. This brings us to the 4 reasons NOT to hire a designer for your business.
1. You're just starting out*
It can be tempting to hire a designer right out of the gate so you "look the part". Resist that temptation in the beginning because when your business is brand new you'll be learning things on a daily basis.
You might get 2 months in and realize all of your clients are in a completely different target market then you were originally going for. Or after doing a few projects you might realize you want to offer a new service and nix another.
When you're constantly adapting your business in the beginning your brand will be adapting as well. If you invest in a big design project right off the bat, before you learn these things, you'll end up going back to your designer again and again, spending lot's of extra money to get your brand right.
*There's a caveat to this one.
If you're just starting out but have a very clear, developed Brand Foundation + a good budget, you can invest in a designer to create your brand identity and website. Just know that you might be ready for a rebrand sooner rather than later because a new business evolves at a much faster rate than an established business.
2. You don't have a strong Brand Foundation
That brings us to the Brand Foundation. Your Brand Foundation is what you're selling, why you're selling it and who you're selling it to. It's your mission + vision statements, core company values, target niche, competitive advantages and Unique Value Proposition.
When you're super clear on these building blocks your new website or logo will feel like an extension of you, fully capturing your brand story and expressing it in a way the connects with your customers.
When you're not clear the end result can often feel off, like it doesn't quite fit or you end up going through round after round after round of edits, pushing out timelines and increasing costs.
PRO TIP: The scope of a design project includes a certain number of edits, usually 2-3 rounds. After the included number of rounds, you'll be charged an additional fee. Starting with a strong Brand Foundation ensures we'll hit the nail on the head well within the project scope, saving you time and money.
SHAMELESS PROMOTION: We not only help with the visual design of your brand but your Brand Foundation as well. If you need help honing in on your mission statement, identifying your niche and writing your Unique Value Proposition, schedule a free consultation with us.
3. You don't have the budget
Let me say this right now, you do NOT have to go into debt to get your business off the ground. Branding is such a fantastic and necessary investment in your business but good work costs good money. If you don't have $3000 to pour into a website (yet), that's ok. If you made your logo yourself on Canva, it's not going to make or break your business at the beginning. It's much better to wait until you have the budget to invest in a great designer so you get great results.
In the meantime, see if the designer you're dying to work with offers free consultations. If they do (and they should), ask questions to get an idea of how much it will cost, if they have payment plan options and what's included. Then make it a goal and start saving so you do have the budget to work with them in the future.
P.S. We offer free consultations and would love to answer any questions you have on price, scope and process. You can schedule one here.
4. You don't have the time to devote to collaborating
While your designer will be doing most of the work, bringing your brand to life is a joint venture that requires your collaboration. Giving timely, intentional feedback is an essential part of the design process. Make sure you can dedicate time and energy to reviewing the proofs and mockups your designer sends you as well as doing any homework they give you.
Our design process for logo and website projects begins with an in-depth Discovery Questionnaire going over everything from goals and measurables for the project to your style, target market and selling points. This "homework" gives us an in-depth picture of your business and vision so we can nail your brand identity from the start.
We also ask that clients upload all the necessary brand assets before work can begin. For a website project this could be things like photos, web copy and brand elements like your logo. For a logo project this could be things like inspiration you've already gathered and your current brand identity (if it's a rebrand).
PRO TIP: To save time make sure you have all your assets organized in a way that will make things easy to find for your designer BEFORE starting a project. This includes the way you name your files.
As always take what you need from this article and leave the rest. You are the master of your business and there are so many different ways to build and grow a successful brand.