Graphics to Start Your Freelance Business

Ways to Get Around Branding When You Can't Afford a Graphic Designer      

Starting a freelance business isn’t free.  Even though you don’t have the same investment like start-ups who sell a physical product, you still have expenses - like creating a website.  And you run into the graphics wall.

If you’re like me, graphics isn’t your thing.  I mean, you like them and all, but developing them?  That takes a lot of patience.  (Isn’t it interesting the things we have lots of patience for and a complete lack of elsewhere?)

This summer, my ability to navigate graphics has improved.  This knowledge would have been nice to have nine months ago, but better late than never, right?

Getting Started

When you think about starting up a business, a logo comes up.  However, in today’s world you need more than that.  You logo appears in many places across social media, your website, business cards, and possibly in your office.

Prevailing advice says pay for a professional logo and don’t skimp.  This is your identity, after all.   

Some even believe Fiverr is better than trying to design your own.

There are times when conventional wisdom doesn't quite work as expected and it gets expensive chasing the "right" way.  I’ll share with you my experiences and you can make your own choice.

Going the Fiverr Route

I’ve paid for three logos now.  One for my husband’s freelance business, one for my first company, and one for my company after I incorporated.

Mine were overseas designers (Romania, Lithuania, etc.) where the money goes farther.  However, things can get lost in translation, and it makes it difficult to get the revisions the way you envision – if at all.

The first experience was good, and we paid the premium rate.  He delivered on time.  He also specialized in that industry, which is a plus.  (Tip for choosing a designer … the higher the rates, the more experienced, and likely better quality.)

The second experience, with a different designer at entry cost plus generous bonus, wasn’t so good.   

The basic concept was nice, if one element could be removed. The promised changes never materialized.  It left me with a logo I didn’t want to use.  I finally gave up.  I proceeded to avoid the website and branding thing for months. Very unhelpful for the income producing thing.

The third experience was somewhat better, and I paid the premium rate.  I ordered the whole ride.

Business card design, branding manual, social media kit, etc.  It was still like pulling teeth to get what I needed.  I never did get everything.

Understanding How to Make Use of It

Then I couldn’t figure out how to use the branding manual.  I thought copy and paste would work like it does in a Word document.  This week, I learned that copying out of a .pdf document involves drawing a box around the words or object to select in the same manner as in Paint - and then copying.

A lot of frustration and wasted time went into that.  Then I needed different sizes in order to use it on various social media sites. 

I learned a bit more about resizing in Paint.  I learned that I can adjust by pixel, but I really need to pay attention to the little auto-checked box.  “Maintain aspect ratio” keeps the image nice, but won’t play well with social media recommended sizes.

The fonts he used weren’t fonts I had, so I’d have to purchase them to create the cohesive look he suggested.  I didn’t love the font, either.

He gave information on colors he used, but not in a manner other programs asked for.  I spent a lot of time doing trial and error to get close so my information packet text colors would match.

Finally I Gave Up

I looked at the branding manual and decided to create my own logo and web banner, using the picture he had.  I figure I’ve already paid for it, it’s mine to use in whatever capacity.  I think that’s the only piece I kept from the whole thing.

Why change it?  First, the logo over that picture felt a bit cartoonish.  Second, and more urgently, I needed to change my tagline.  I didn’t want to pay again and have more delays.  I’m already three months into this. 

It was also a white logo over a dark picture.  The picture didn’t carry my brand color.  Either change the picture or change the brand color.

I Created My Own

I couldn’t do it as fast or as elegantly as a designer or hobbyist could.  Nevertheless, I created a simple logo.  I created a favicon while I was at it.

I used fonts I had so I could replicate them in my information packet.  I also wrote down the colors so I could replicate those.

Saving the Professional Option for Later

Would I love a high-end professional solution now?  Absolutely.  I’d love to avoid spending hours on this.

And I’ll do that at some point.  Maybe.  It may be good enough to leave alone. 

I value my Fiverr experience.  My ignorance wasn’t the designer's fault.  I just didn’t want to go through the repeated hassle to get something I loved – or at least liked.

If I was commissioning a high-end professional, there’s a better understanding of how to communicate what I want.  And I wouldn’t feel bad about asking for revisions if needed.

Until then?  I like what I created. 

We’ll see what my website building advisor has to say!