| With the availability of Do-It-Yourself Graphic Design | | | | the colors you want to use, then this approach will |
| (DIY-GD) Packages for printed identity and promotional | | | | save you the biggest dollars. Letterhead and |
| materials, opportunities have increased, and overall | | | | envelopes continue to be one of the most expensive |
| cost has decreased for many businesses and | | | | printed business identity materials. |
| independent workers. Now you can afford to promote | | | | Who Should use Do-it-Yourself Graphic Design? |
| and compete in areas that were not affordable a few | | | | |
| short years ago. | | | | 1. Independent Hair Stylists and Barbers - You generally |
| When should you use Do-It-Yourself Graphic Design? | | | | have a creative bent and are able to develop unique |
| - If you have an existing high resolution design in jpg, | | | | and appealing designs. With the savings incurred you |
| png or gif format and want to get it printed without | | | | will be able to do more promotion with your existing |
| paying for the middleman, merely upload it to one of | | | | budget. You can economically do things typically done |
| the DIY-GD packages. Turn around is generally 2-5 | | | | by large salons like referral cards, coupons and more. |
| working days and you save a lot of money with one | | | | 2. Realtors - Most realtors have or can acquire their |
| less person involved in the transaction. | | | | company logo and tag line. With those items, you can |
| - If your business is heavily dependent on recognition | | | | quickly design business cards, post cards, letterhead, |
| of your capabilities, services or products. This holds | | | | envelopes, magnetic cards, stickers, door hangers and |
| true especially during tough economic times, when | | | | other items that will help promote your business and |
| most consumers have less disposable income. | | | | increase commissions. |
| Competition for the available dollars is increased and | | | | 3. Internet Marketers - The successful internet |
| promoting yourself and your business becomes | | | | marketers approach their web sites, like a realtor |
| imperative to survive. | | | | approaches listings and sells. They have business |
| - If you are contract employee ( Form 1099 rather than | | | | cards printed promoting their sites. They have |
| W-2) responsible for your own promotional costs, this | | | | postcards printed and sent to mailing lists acquired |
| is an ideal approach for you. It saves money initially and | | | | through their existing sites to promote specials or |
| is tax deductible as a promotional cost. It puts you into | | | | advertise the launch of new sites. Try it. You will be |
| a position to do the things like direct mail that used to | | | | pleasantly surprised with the results. |
| be only affordable by larger businesses with available | | | | 4. Any single employee or two employee Limited |
| promotional dollars. | | | | Liability Corporation or S Corp. can get the same |
| - If you never like the designs you get from a Graphic | | | | benefits regardless of what their business is. It |
| Artists until you have massaged it. If you are one of | | | | becomes affordable to promote in ways they never |
| those people that are rarely satisfied with the result | | | | have before, and deductible as a business expense. |
| unless you do it yourself, this is an excellent approach | | | | DIY-GD is allowing small business and independent |
| for you. | | | | contractors to promote and compete in ways they |
| - If your business uses large numbers of letterhead | | | | have not in the past. |
| and envelopes, and you have your logo and an idea of | | | | |