When you are running a startup, things can get overwhelming. It’s as if 24 hours a day isn’t enough to accomplish everything. You have to settle all documentation, develop a product, do market research, meet with investors, and start introducing your company to the end-users. And because of this, most founders do not put graphic designing at the top of their to-do list.
That’s a rookie mistake.
Before you can even meet with potential investors or start marketing your company, visual assets should be in place. Think about your business plan, sales deck, investor deck, and initial social media posts. Take note that we’re just scratching the surface here. Quite frankly, you will never stop having requirements for graphic designs. Let’s further prove it.
You still have to finish your website, internal training decks, brochures, email newsletters, press kits, and the list can go on for days. If you are not going to hire professional graphic designers in the early phases of your startup, we guarantee you that the entire plan to launch and grow your company will be delayed.
Aside from the never-ending requirements, here are the reasons why graphic designers are a startup’s best asset.
Helps with Branding
After doing your market research, identifying your niche, and positioning your products, it’s time to create the proper branding. We have to tell you, this is no easy feat. A lot of companies have closed their operations in a matter of months because they failed to create a strong branding that resonates with their market.
This is where a professional graphic designer could help you. A good one will not just sit and take orders from the client. Instead, they will share the best industry practices that your team could use to create a marketing strategy. It’s for this reason that we encourage you to have a graphic designer on board even at the early stages of your startup.
Leaves A Good Impression
Unless you are backed up by huge investors and well-known personalities, leaving a great impression can be more challenging for a startup. One of the ways to entice the market is to create visual assets that will show your company culture.
If you have lousy marketing materials, people will perceive your business the same. And quite frankly, it’s hard to bounce from that. You have to do it right the first time. Otherwise, it could place your brand at the end of the competition right away.
Gives Clarity to Your Message
Graphic design is defined as the visual content to communicate messages. This simply means that it’s not just about creating a design that is visually appealing.
Graphic design is more than that, and a professional designer will consider all elements to strengthen your message. The color scheme, contrast, even balance of each icon will have to be considered.
It’s your company’s bridge to reach out to the market. And if yours are not well thought out, don’t expect that people will understand what you are specifically offering, or why they need to try you out.
For them, you are just another startup waiting to flop at any moment. Prove them wrong.
Builds Trust And Credibility
Let us ask you this question. When you see a poorly designed website, what’s your initial reaction?
More often than not, you will not waste a second and leave the page immediately, right? It’s because when you see a bad website, you start to question how the company handles their operations. You begin to wonder, ‘If they can’t even build a professional website, how can I trust their business?’
This is how consumers think. But that’s the reality you have to face. And so, by working with professional graphic designers, you can ensure that all your marketing materials, including your website, will look credible.
Increases Conversion
Any type of business would always aim for a high profit. But just so you know, having the best products is not enough. It should be complemented by graphic designs that invite customers to take the next action. This direction should be clear on your posters, billboards, social media ads, and even websites. And that’s possible if you work with graphic designers that know the best techniques for integrating call-to-actions.
Even if you spend hundreds of dollars every day to boost your ads, a bad graphic design will repel potential customers. You are just wasting a lot of money on something ineffective.
Gives Team Members a Sense of Pride
Whenever you have a great graphic design either for your website or merchandise, your employees will be the first brand ambassadors. They will be eager to share your posts on social media because it’s like a badge of honor to be in your team.
On the other hand, if your graphic designs are too lousy, they might not want to be associated with the company.
Again, this is where you need professional graphic designers. It’s not just to impress the market. It’s also to encourage your team to be proud of your company.
Saves You Money
You might think that not hiring a professional graphic designer saves you money. After all, you don’t have to pay for the services. But if you are to look at the bigger picture, hiring a good one right away is the best course of action.
Many startup companies had to change all their visuals, including their logo, after being in the business for years. This is after they realized that their marketing collaterals are substandard and less professional. As we’ve already mentioned, that reflects the type of company culture you have. At the end of the day, they looked for graphic designers to revise everything. And if you follow that path, that could cost you a fortune.
Conclusion
As a startup, you should, indeed, focus on developing your products or services. But that doesn’t mean you should place graphic design on the back burner.
It’s an area of your business which you need to prioritize too. Instead of doing it on your own, have a team that will focus on improving your overall branding. They could help you propel the business and reach its maximum potential. Never undermine the power of graphic designers for your startup. They could make or break your business.