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.