Anybody who has ever started up their own business will be aware that there seem to be expensed at every turn. From setting up your company to appointing accountants, finding a property to rent, the list goes on and on.
There is a need for a logo, design, and printing of corporate stationery such as invoices, statements, receipts, business cards, brochures on the graphics side.
If you outsource all of this to a graphic design company, it will cost you a bag of money. Unfortunately, money is something you often do not have in the early stages of starting your business.
Consider doing your own graphic design and save yourself some vital startup capital which can then be used on other essential areas.
Let’s take a look at how this can be done.
But I Don’t Have Graphic Design Skills
This is something that so many entrepreneurs say when they palm off the idea of self-design.
There really is no need for you to be particularly creative or skilled with design for you to churn out professional-looking graphics.
This might sound too good to be true, but it isn’t. I promise – let’s investigate a little further.
But the Software Is So Expensive and the Learning Curve Too Steep
There is a common perception that graphic design software is costly.
When last I checked, the cost to use Photoshop was about $21per month. Unfortunately, there is no longer an option to purchase the software outright.
This is a whack of cash to commit to something which is not your core interest and will continually drain your bank account.
The good news is that you do not need to buy any software, nor do you need to buy powerful hardware.
You can simply use your web browser to access websites that provide most, if not all, of the functionality of graphic design that you need for free. Yes, I said that, at no cost. We will cover this a bit further in this article.
These websites are designed for ordinary people who want to engage in graphic design, not creatives with unique skills.
The user interface is simple, and often designs are achieved by simply clicking through a process. As a result, the steep learning curve usually associated with graphic design is wholly dispensed with.
You will be up and running and creating designs, whether logos, business cards, or adverts, for your Instagram posts within minutes.
OK, I am Listening – So What Should I Look for When Choosing a Service Provider?
There are so many options to choose from.
When choosing, look for a website that offers as many graphic design features as possible. The benefit of this is that once you are familiar with that company’s basic graphic design process, you can apply that to all the functionality.
The website should be highly user-friendly and simple to understand and operate.
For instance, if you needed to convert a graphic from one format to another using an image converter, check that you could do this within 4 clicks.
Then go on and try it out. If you feel comfortable that the process is simple and easy, then the same will probably be true of most of the functions on that platform.
The best service providers offer you the ability to work with photos, videos, and vector art.
The provision of libraries of various templates that you can use as a basis for your customized designs is helpful too.
The correct template can save you a ton of time and ensure that you design the graphic to the correct dimensions and layout required by the end publishing application. For example, Instagram has precise specifications for its adverts. These are all catered for by the template. So you don’t have to waste time on this and get on with the design.
Storage space provided in the cloud for your account should be at least 10 GB of space for your ongoing projects.
In Summary – Yes, You Can!
Handling your own graphic design, especially in the early startup phase, should not be intimidating when you know how easy it is.
It will save you money and possibly even time since you will be designing from your own brief and approving artwork as you go along.
Doing it this way will also familiarize you with the design process, so you have a good idea of what it entails when you outsource it later. So go for it – you have nothing to lose but your chains!
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