Especially in the early stages of your business, a graphic designer can help you make or break it. However, just because a graphic designer is renowned for being awesome doesn’t mean they’re automatically the perfect fit for you. How can you find that match? The Personal Branding Blog asked nine experts, including me, to share our secrets.
Don’t reinvent the wheel. For me, I look to my customers for inspiration. After all, your best employees are former customers! Do you have a customer who’s also a designer? You’re golden. In fact, my last two designers came straight from customer lists. When I need an expert in any industry, I’ll email my customers and ask if anyone is looking for a job or gig. They already know how incredible your product is, making them the perfect hire.
Other tips include testing their aesthetics or having them create a test design first. Use design contests, which double as a marketing campaign. Ask your colleagues for referrals, or hire on a freelance basis first. Look for a designer who has a similar background to what you’re looking for, and design-audit your materials before making any hiring decisions.
