Do-It-Yourself or Hire a Professional Designer

DIY (Do-It-Yourself)

›› Knowledge is PowerI highly recommend reading andlearning about graphic/web design.It’s a good idea in a long-term sensewhether you do design projects yourselfnow or hire in the future. You will beable to communicate more effectivelyto your graphic professionals whenyour business is ready to outsource.By learning design techniques, it willhelp you organize how to presentyour image to your target market.The most important lesson to rememberis if you start your design project, don’t forget about Quality. I may notcall myself a copywriter, but I do writemy own content and persuasivemarketing materials... But I feel fairlyconfident about my copy because I have taken steps to learn about writingcopy that sells and you can do the samefor design. Read books. Take classes.Learn the software.

›› It’s an affordable routeNothing is more affordable that pullingup your sleeves and doing it yourselfespecially if you don’t have a budget tospare on outsourcing.

›› It gives you instant gratificationIt’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 aboutlearning about the graphic designsoftware 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 focuson the important benefits, evoke a certainfeeling 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 probablyplay the role of sales, customer service,accounting and need to concentrate on strategies to build business. Hiring lets youmake the decisions to take your business tothe next step, communicate your wants/needsbut then hand it off to someone who caneffectively and productively implement theproject.

›› 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.

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With over 100+ websites designed in the past 6 years, Maya Sunpongco is your Chief Imagination Officer for Design Insomnia, in San Diego, CA - offering consulting in internet marketing, copywriting and web design expertise to help you harnesses the “Power of Design to Communicate” the benefits of your products and services. Maya supports women-owned businesses and is a member of the National Association for Female Executives.