Top 5 Most Asked Questions as a Designer

We answer questions you have about branding and working with designers.

QUESTION 1:

Why is getting a logo so expensive?

Just like most things in this world, you get what you pay for. There are low-cost options like Fivver. The cost is so low since they typically aren’t unique to you as a business. They don’t take into consideration your goals, target market, or brand positioning. Also, crowdsource options aren’t typically easily trademarkable. To keep costs low, the designer will pitch the same idea to multiple businesses that sell the same product. This will save the designer time. 

For us, design is our business. We have expenses associated with running a business. We have to pay our accountant, lawyer, computers, phones; the list goes on and on. There are very real costs of running a business which we have to account for in our pricing. There are also the unseen hours that go into running a business. Outside of just making a logo, we have to write estimates, send invoices, email our clients, gather quotes from printers, mockup designs, etc. The client doesn’t see this, but it is all the things that make the project successful and our clients happy. 

When you hire a designer, you are paying for our time and our experience. This is why some cost more than others. Some designers have years of experience and offer a flawless customer experience that gives you peace of mind. If you work with a designer that has less experience or doesn’t typically do logo work, then they might be cheaper, but they also might know how to answer all your questions or think through how to best approach your project. It’s not because they aren’t a good designer; they just don’t have the experience to know how to do it differently. 

A great logo will give you the confidence to reach out to new prospects and make closing deals easier.

A great logo will add value to your business. It is essential to marketing your products and getting them into the hands of more customers. A great logo will give you the confidence to reach out to new prospects and make closing deals easier. The more professional your business looks, the more people will want to do business with you.

QUESTION 2:

Why should I copyright my logo and how do I do it?

Think of your logo as an asset in your business. If you ever want to sell your business, you need to make sure you have clear ownership of all your assets. Think of a trademark as a sales receipt. This is proof that you are the only person that owns the logo. You might be thinking, who cares if I’m the only one who owns my logo. Well, think of your logo as a representation of your business in the marketplace. What if another company made a lower quality product from you using your same business name and logo? Customers would get confused, and you could be associated with an inferior product. Owning the copyright to your logo is a protection given to you, so you can go after any business that uses the same logo.

Filing for a copyright can be complex since you need to file it properly so you’re appropriately protected. 

QUESTION 3:

How to Avoid Getting Burned?

After being in business for over a decade we’ve heard some unforutnate client stories. As designers that take pride in the work we do it always crushes us to hear these unforutnate stories of our client’s past experiences working with other designers. So how do you avoid getting burned in the first place? I think it boils down to a couple things, trust the person you are hiring and do your due diligence. Don’t hire someone because you’re related to them or they “need a break”. Hire them because they’re great at what they do and you trust that they’ll do a great job for you. 

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Ask lots of questions around their process, how/when they expect payment, what you get when the project is done (style guide, color palette, list of fonts, file types, etc), anything else you need to ask to put your mind at ease. Simply put if you don’t trust them, don’t hire them! This goes for designers as well as any other vendor you’ll need for your business. If the person doesn’t want to answer your questions then move along. It’s better to take the time and find the right person for the job than rush. The time and energy you’ll waste on someone that isn’t a good fit will end up costing you more than they’re saving you. 

The time and energy you’ll waste on someone that isn’t a good fit will end up costing you more than they’re saving you.

QUESTION 4:

How do I get a logo for my business?

There are a lot of options out there. I already mentioned crowdsourced options like Fivver, but you can also find professional studios to help you. First, I would ask around for recommendations. If you see a business with a great logo you love, ask that business person for who they used. You can also get an unfiltered testimonial as to what it was like working with the designer too! Gather up to five different names of people you can reach out to. Most designers don’t list prices on their website; they will provide you a custom quote based on your size and needs. Please make sure you tell them the challenges you’re having and why you’re reaching out. It’s on the designer to then advise as to the best course of action. Another option is searching online for a designer. Some good search terms are “graphic design studio” and your city. If you don’t find results, you like to expand the geographical location to the next largest city. It’s great to hire local designers but make sure you like their work and feel confident in their ability to help you.

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QUESTION 5:

When is it time for a rebrand?

Some businesses love to change their branding every few years. Our philosophy is to do it once and do it right. Changing your logo is an investment in the time to create a new one and update all your signage, brochures, packaging, etc. It’s not wise to change your logo frequently for this reason alone, but it also creates confusion in the marketplace. Customers will recognize you for your company name and logo. When you change it frequently, it creates confusion.

At Fizz, we don’t believe in a rebrand just because you’re bored with your logo; there is too much financially at stake to change unless you see a significant drop in revenue, not reaching your target market, or having a shift in your company mission. We will walk you through how to do a brand audit and make sure you’re approaching this process strategically.