99designs.com: A Review of the Pros and Cons for Small Business Owners
99designs.com is a popular online platform that connects businesses and designers, providing an easy and efficient way for small business owners to get professional designs for their brand and marketing materials. The platform offers a wide range of benefits for small business owners, but like any service, it also has its drawbacks.
One of the key benefits of 99designs.com is its ability to provide small business owners with access to a large pool of professional designers. The platform has a global community of designers, which means that small business owners can find designers that specialize in their industry or design style. This can be especially beneficial for small business owners who do not have in-house design teams or the resources to hire a full-time designer.
Another benefit of 99designs.com is its flexibility and affordability. The platform offers a wide range of design services, such as logo design, website design, and marketing materials. Small business owners can choose the type of design services they need, and the platform will connect them with designers that specialize in that area. Additionally, the platform offers a range of pricing options, which makes it accessible for small business owners with limited budgets.
99designs.com also offers a user-friendly and easy to use interface, which makes it simple for small business owners to navigate and find the designer that best suits their needs. The platform also has a robust review and feedback system that allows small business owners to communicate with designers and provide feedback on their designs, which can help to ensure that the final product meets the business owner’s expectations.
Additionally, 99designs.com has a secure payment system that ensures that business owners only pay for the designs they approve. This can provide peace of mind for small business owners, who may be concerned about the financial risk of hiring a designer.
However, one of the disadvantages of 99designs.com is that it can be difficult for small business owners to stand out in a crowded marketplace. With so many designers on the platform, it can be challenging for small business owners to get the attention of the best designers, and to have their design brief stand out from the rest.
Another disadvantage is that the platform does not offer a guarantee on the final design. Small business owners may have to go through multiple rounds of revisions and may not be completely satisfied with the final design.
Moreover, 99designs.com is not a one-stop-shop solution, it only provides design services and doesn’t offer other services such as development or printing. This means that small business owners will have to find additional service providers to complete the full spectrum of their projects.
How Small Business Owners Can Use 99designs.com
A small business owner of an e-commerce fashion store is looking to rebrand their business and refresh their website design. They have a limited budget and a small team, so they do not have the resources to hire a full-time designer. They decide to use 99designs.com to find a designer who can create a new logo and website design that will appeal to their target market.
The small business owner creates a design brief on the platform, outlining their business goals, target market, and design preferences. They also provide examples of designs they like and dislike. They launch a contest for logo design and a different one for website design, inviting designers from all over the world to submit their designs.
After a few days, the small business owner starts receiving designs from different designers. They can review and provide feedback on the designs and communicate with the designers directly through the platform. They select their favorite designs, and work with the designers to make revisions and finalize the logo and website design.
Once the designs are finalized, the small business owner can download the files and use them for their business. They can also use the same designer for additional design projects in the future.
Using 99designs.com was a great choice for the small business owner. It allowed them to access a large pool of professional designers and find a designer who could create a new logo and website design that met their business goals and target market. Additionally, the platform’s user-friendly interface, review and feedback system, and secure payment system made the process easy and efficient.
In conclusion, 99designs.com can be a great resource for small business owners who need professional designs for their brand and marketing materials. The platform offers a wide range of design services, a large pool of professional designers, and flexible and affordable pricing options. However, it may be difficult for small business owners to stand out in a crowded marketplace, and there is no guarantee on the final design. Additionally, the platform does not offer other services such as development or printing which means that small business owners will have to find additional service providers. Despite these drawbacks, 99designs.com can be a valuable tool for small business owners looking to improve the design of their brand and marketing materials and create a professional image for their business.