Are you wondering what you need to consider before you hire a graphic design company? Keep reading and learn more about it here.
Did you know that hiring a graphic design company can do wonders for your business? First impressions count, after all, and it only takes about 50 milliseconds for users to form an opinion about your website and business.
Your graphic design can make or break your business. However, it can be tempting to prioritize other parts of your business and put off graphic design for a later time.
Although hiring a design company can take time and is an investment, when done right, your business will reap the benefits. Here is the ultimate guide for hiring the right graphic design agency for your business.
Reasons to Hire a Graphic Design Company
There are many free tools and templates online now, making graphic design a lot more accessible. However, think long-term and invest in a professional graphic design company to do the work. It is best to use a graphic designer for these reasons:
Stand Out From the Crowd
Although there are a lot of tools online, it also means many businesses have similar graphics or even the same logo. In Illinois alone, there are over 1.2 million small businesses, so you want to find ways to stand out from the crowd. A graphic design company will create visuals that are unique to your business, which will leave a memorable impression on consumers.
Look Professional
Whether you are a well-established business or just starting out, looking professional is essential. You will appear more trustworthy and attract more customers.
Even if you have a casual marketing tone or business, your branding should still be consistent and professional. You will appeal to your target audience and not give off mixed messages, which can happen when you experiment with graphic design yourself.
Establish a Brand Identity
You do not want to scrap a free online template in a few years because too many businesses are using it. Create a consistent brand identity from the beginning with design companies.
They will guarantee your branding is consistent across all platforms, including your website, emails, packaging, and signs. Your brand identity tells a story and effectively communicates your business type to consumers. Effective branding will also make your business easily recognizable.
Attract More Consumers
Consistent and professional branding will make your business more appealing. The result? More leads and more revenue.
94% of consumers will leave a website if it has a poor design. In contrast, effective branding has the opposite impact. Some consumers will buy products just because of the packaging. Packaging and other business graphic design have a strong impact on consumer behavior.
Revamp Your Business With Fresh Eyes
Hiring graphic design companies also allows you to refresh your business. You are getting a new and unattached perspective on your business, which can help you enhance your business. A design company has the expertise and fresh perspective to bring new ideas so that you can portray your business in the best light for your target customers.
Cost-Effective Investment
Yes, it is an investment to hire a graphic design company. But it is also an investment to spend time making your own graphics and learning how to work different programs.
Let the professionals focus on creating your graphic design to use your time in more economical ways. You will have time to focus on other aspects of your business and ways to improve it, which is a more valuable use of your time.
Graphic Design Experience
It can be overwhelming to know where to begin with graphic design. You might overlook some essential areas your business needs to work on if you do not have the right experience.
A graphic design agency can help you identify your needs and will guide you through the graphic design process. You will end up with professional business visuals and a better understanding of visual communication and what your business needs to be successful.
No Trial and Error
Trial and error are a part of life. However, it is not something you want to be part of your business, especially when you have a limited budget. Graphic design errors can be costly for your budget and time.
If you pick the wrong graphics, you will also be wasting valuable time that you could spend connecting with customers. A graphic designer will get it right the first time, working with you to find the best design for your business.
How to Hire a Graphic Design Company
There are many benefits of hiring a graphic design company. But there are also many graphic design companies to choose from. There are over 134,000 registered graphic designers in the US, so it can be overwhelming to make a choice.
Thankfully, you can take steps to make hiring a graphic design company easy. Here they are:
1. Understand Your Options
There are different types of graphic designers and graphic design companies out there. So, first, understand the different options you have.
Graphic designers usually work for a company, are freelance, or in-house. There are positives and negatives to each option. However, a graphic design company will have a variety of graphic designers with different specialisms to help fit your business needs.
There are different areas to graphic design. Some design companies will specialize in a specific area, such as packaging or brand identity work. However, others will have a broad range of skills to suit all businesses.
2. Reflect on Your Business Needs
Your chosen graphic design company will help identify your graphic design needs. However, it helps to reflect on whether any needs come up for you before you begin, as it will help with your search.
Consider your team's current skill set and whether there are gaps that need to be filled, such as web design or social media marketing. Then, you can look out for a company that can offer these services. You can also prepare a brief to help get started with your chosen design company.
Be sure to set your expectations so there is no miscommunication with design companies. For example, some graphic designers will also work as creative directors, whereas others will not. And if they do, their fees will be higher.
3. Know What to Look For
Many graphic design companies are out there, but not all are created equally. So, what makes a good design company? Some skills to look out for include:
Excellent communication skills
Technical abilities
Accessibility
Experience
You want to work with a graphic design company that is contactable when you need them. There is no use picking a national firm that never calls you back. Consider a local graphic design company that is accessible or one that has a clear customer service protocol.
You also want to work with a company that listens to you and respects your needs. Be wary of a company that shuts down your ideas or does not communicate clearly. You want everyone to be on the same page.
A design company with experience will understand what works for your type of business and will know how to deal with any problems that arise. Naturally, problems can occur during the graphic design process, so pick a company that will confidently deal with them.
Look out for design companies that work well with coding and online platforms. They need technical experience to navigate the constant technological advancements and ensure your business keeps up.
4. Work Out Your Budget
Before you commit to a graphic design company, take the time to work out a realistic graphic design budget. Look out for an agency that fits into your budget. Ask about pricing options and compare prices between graphic design companies.
The cheapest option does not always mean the best deal, and the most expensive option does not mean the best quality. Often you are partly paying for the brand name when you work with a well-known firm.
5. Advertise or Search Online
You can either advertise for a graphic designer or search for graphic design companies. The most cost-effective option is usually to search for companies yourself, especially if you do not want a permanent in-house designer. You also have the freedom to decide whether to reach out to a company or not instead of going through a hiring process.
You can search online for graphic design companies. First, search for companies in your area, such as 'graphic design companies Illinois.'
If you are struggling to find agencies, also reach out to businesses if you like their graphic design, and ask for recommendations. There are also many portfolio sites and search engines to find designers.
6. Check Portfolios
Once you begin to find graphic design companies, check their previous work to see if it suits your business. A graphic design agency should have a variety of work visible to help you decide.
You want to ensure they have the skills to work on various graphic design areas, so unless they are specialists in a particular area, be wary of designers that only show one type of design, such as web design. You can also look out for similar clients to your business. If you are unsure or cannot find a portfolio, reach out to the company directly.
7. Read Reviews
A company may look great on paper, but how is their working relationship with clients? It is useful to check client reviews to help determine whether a graphic design company is reputable or not. Take the time to find independent reviews of a company, do not base your judgment just on the company's website.
You can also ask for recommendations from staff, other businesses, and loved ones. There are many reasons why people work with graphic design companies, and it can give you peace of mind to get a personal recommendation.
8. Schedule a Free Consultation and Prepare Questions
Once you shortlist design companies you like, it is time to schedule a consultation. Here at Karben Marketing, we offer a free consultation to help you get started.
Consider what questions you want to ask before the call. The company may also have questions they want to ask you. Some example questions include:
What services do you offer?
Do you have pricing packages?
Do you have a specific specialism or have broad experience?
What other similar projects have you worked on?
What are your favorite types of designs?
What is your deadline process?
A consultation will help you get an idea of whether you connect with the graphic design company. Be wary of a company that does not offer a consultation or takes a long time to respond to your queries. It is also okay if you do not feel you connect with a specific company or feel they are not listening to your needs.
9. Make a Plan
Once you decide on a graphic design company, you will need to draw up an agreement, although they may have one ready. Be sure to go through details such as work metrics and the graphic design plan with your business.
You want to know how they measure their success and how you will track their progress. For example, you can look at conversion rates and time spent on the project.
10. Hire a Graphic Design Agency
Once you have a plan and feel happy with your choice, it is time to hire a graphic design company! If you opt to use a company, they will have a process for you to follow to hire them. Then you can sit back and enjoy as they get to work!
Before you know it, you will have incredible graphics that are true to your business and communicate your vision.
The Best Graphic Design Company in IL
Hiring a graphic design company does not have to be expensive or time-consuming if you follow this guide. And it is worth the investment, as you will have the ideal graphic design for your business to thrive.
Are you ready to hire a graphic design company? Karben Marketing is a graphic design and marketing agency based in Naperville, IL.
We can help you with all your graphic design and marketing needs. We work with various companies and will ensure you are satisfied with the final product. Contact us today to get started.