The importance of design when planning your print job
So, you need some flyers for your business, or a roller banner for an event, or maybe a product brochure. You have MS Publisher installed and a pretty good idea of what you want to say. You set about designing your promotional literature.
A nice bright eye-catching background and a funky WordArt headline – that should grab people’s attention. A few boxes of text – you need to tell your audience everything there is to know about your product or service – and throw in some graphics for good measure. Excellent! You’re really rather pleased with what you’ve created. No need to pay a graphic designer – you’ve nailed this. Now, off to the printers.
Sound familiar? You aren’t alone. For many small businesses, this is how the design process happens. After all, you know your business better than anyone else and you really can’t justify the cost of a graphic designer.
But what is your print design saying about your business? How are your customers interpreting this? Before you reach for the mouse and start getting creative, it’s worth taking a moment to think about your brand and whether investing in a professional graphic designer could make all the difference.
What does your print design say about your business?
First impressions count, right? It used to be said that you had 7 seconds to make a first impression, in fact, some research suggests that it is now closer to a tenth of a second. One thing’s for sure, it’s not long, and you only get one chance to make a first impression. In those first few seconds, someone will have judged you, your brand and your business. They will have decided if it’s worth investing any more time in your company. Have you enticed them to even read the flyer that you have lovingly designed?
In those first few seconds a potential customer will have decided:
- How professional your business is
- What the quality of the product/service you offer is like
- How organised you are
- How credible your business is
- Whether your product or service is modern/traditional/out-of-date
- How relevant your business is to them
Why should you hire a professional graphic designer?
There is clear research (The Design Council) that shows that companies that put more emphasis on design increase customer loyalty and out perform their competitors.
If your potential customers don’t like any element of your design, there is evidence to show that they will switch off and disengage from your marketing materials. This could be a customer lost forever.
Professional graphic designers understand what works and what doesn’t work. They understand the nuances of colour, fonts and imagery and the impact this has on the audience. They understand the importance of design and the impact it has on your brand and company’s reputation.
No matter how successful your business is, or how good you think you are at designing your own marketing literature, hiring a graphic designer will ensure you create a professional brand and an excellent first impression. A brand that your customers and potential customers will want to be a part of and raise your profile above your competitors.
The question shouldn’t be, “can I afford to hire a graphic designer”, but, “can I afford NOT to “.
How to hire a graphic designer?
Of course, not all graphic designers are created equal and like any relationship, it is important to find someone who understands you and your business and can translate your company’s personality and values into print. Here are five steps to choosing a graphic designer.
Five Steps to choosing a Graphic Designer
- Carry out research – Research graphic designers. Ask to see examples of their work and ask for testimonials
- Determine you project needs – What is the overall objective? What do you want to achieve?
- Create a project brief – The more information you are able to give your graphic designer about your industry, company, product or service, the better your designer will understand your needs and what you want to achieve. This will help deliver great results.
- Decide on a budget – Every project has an anticipated value or return. Knowing what you want to achieve from the project and the end result will help you set a budget.
- Set expectations up front – Setting basic parameters at the start of a project will help everyone manage expectations and allow the project to run smoothly. Set out when you work and when you don’t, expected response time to emails, payment schedule, expected deadlines etc.
How PMR Print Solutions can help
At PMR, we are different from a lot of print companies, when it comes to design. Over the years, we have worked with a number of graphic designers and have built up fantastic relationships. We know their personalities and their strengths (and weaknesses). We know which designers work best with which clients.
Let us take the headache out of finding the perfect graphic designer for you and your business.
Once we have matched you with your perfect designer, you’re ready to get to work.
Our design process
When it comes to designing the perfect marketing collateral, the process couldn’t be easier.
Want to know more or start your design journey today?