New Facebook cover photo? New ad banners? New business cards?
Would you like to avoid spending thousands on a graphic designer? There’s nothing negative to say about designers here—and my tips can’t compare to a professional’s expertise.
However, I do believe it’s absolutely possible to create great-looking graphics without hiring an expensive designer. This is especially useful for startups where budgets are tight and hiring a designer isn’t a top priority.
I’ve personally worked with Photoshop for 8 years and am entirely self-taught—in other words, it is possible!
Whether it’s homepage banners for Made4men, affiliate banners for Helsebixen, or even designing an entire new website, like I recently did for Bakbladeeurope, having a sense of graphic design is an invaluable skill to have on hand.
But—what if you’re not a Photoshop expert, and you don’t have 8 years to learn it?
Here’s the answer! Today I’m sharing my 5 “secrets” for how you can become skilled at graphic design without spending as many years learning as I have.
These five tools can be used whether you’re designing a new business card, adding flair to your blog, or updating your banners ahead of Black Friday.
Let’s take a closer look!
- Canva (free)
Canva is a very user-friendly platform that offers a wide range of pre-set templates. You can create anything from quick, simple data infographics to cool Instagram quotes.
Canva keeps expanding its platform and has recently introduced micro-payments, allowing you to buy premium design elements for a low cost. It’s an ideal solution when your budget is tight.
Watch the video and find out how it works
2. 99designs.com
99designs is a paid service, but it’s on the more affordable end—and it’s a sharp alternative to a full-service ad agency. It’s a platform where you can get everything from logos and website designs to new business cards; the possibilities are extensive.
You simply describe what you’re looking for from the designers and upload your brief to 99designs. The platform has over a million designers ready to submit their ideas—whether it’s a new logo or something else. A truly exciting process.
Watch the video and find out how it works
How Peter Bendtsen’s logo came to be
3. Graphicriver (from 2 USD)
Graphicriver is a fun little resource. I personally use it 4–5 times per month. The site offers everything from ready-made banners and flyers to infographics and business cards—in short: everything your graphic heart could desire. You get easy-to-edit files in formats like Photoshop and Illustrator.
You could even design your new résumé here.
4. Fiverr (from 5 USD)
Fiverr leans a bit toward the humorous and informal side, but it can definitely be useful for business-related needs too. It’s a well-known online platform where you can get services starting at just $5 (hence the name Fiverr). You’ll find logo design (though not on the same level as 99designs), audio clips, translations, mascots, and much more.
The quality can vary, so make sure to check the seller’s profile and reviews. Those with many high ratings are often your best bet. Also, avoid buying SEO and link-building services here—it’s more harmful than helpful for your website.
For example, I used Fiverr when I wanted to create a mascot.
It was a fun little project based on things I’m passionate about—and pretty cool too, right?
5. Pixabay (free)
When you’re working on graphics or want to enhance a blog post, it’s great to have access to quality images.
It might be for a new Facebook cover or an Instagram update.
There are plenty of paid platforms that offer this type of content, like iStockphoto, Fotolia, Shutterstock, and many more—but I recommend Pixabay because it’s a free service. On the right side of the download button, you can see whether the images are approved for commercial use.
6. Bonus tip: Moat.com (free)
Something I struggled with in the beginning was generating ideas for how my banners should look. Moat can help you with that in just a few minutes.
You can search for a wide range of brands within your industry and see how their banners are designed.
I searched for Oreo—just look at all the inspiration I found.
Try searching for your competitors or major brands and get inspired.
I hope these six little hacks help you improve your graphic design skills for your business.
This is not to say that designers aren’t necessary—far from it—I have great appreciation for their work, and a good designer will always deliver exceptional quality. But these hacks can serve as a helpful alternative—especially since we can probably all agree that not every business has the budget to hire a full-time designer.
How do you handle graphic design in your business?
Do you design things in-house, or do you outsource to an agency or a freelance designer? I’d love to hear about your experience in this area!
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