Know-How Exchange : Advertising/PR

Speak to a graphics artist who will be able to communicate your "feel" for the company and your clients into a visual. Alternatives for some of the pricier options are college graphics design students or companies like logoworks.com or logoloft.com.

Check out eLogoContest.com or 99designs.com Both websites allow you to create a contest for designers to submit basic logos for relatively little money.

Dear mason_danielle,

Here's a phrase to strike fear into the heart of any advertising, design, or marketing professional: "Do you like my logo? My 12 year old daughter did it. She's good at art!"

Ten years. That's how long it takes, on average, to become an expert at something. And that's working at it for at least 40 hours a week, probably for 50 weeks of the year—every year. Which means getting it wrong, leaning by doing, and by learning from others.

What does this mean? It means that Phil's right. Sorry if this bursts your bubble.

By doing this kind of work on the cheap, by working with a graphic design student, and by thinking it will all work out well ... you're short changing yourself and you're looking at expense and saving money when what you ought to be looking at is seeing the value
of investing in your business.

If you were on trial for a serious crime, who would you want defending you? A seasoned legal mind? Or a law student? What
if you needed surgery? Who'd you rather have operating on you?
A skilled surgeon? Or a first year medical student?

I know. You probably don't want to hear any of this. But trust me on this. I've been involved in design, advertising, and marketing for 25 years, so believe me: you'll be MUCH better off working with an experienced graphic designer, and for this, you'll be better off looking at the sites of www.elance.com, and www.99designs.com.

My first graphic design projects? They sucked. No. Scratch that. They blew. Oh my, how they blew. And when the inexperience of the designer shows through, the work suffers and so does the client and the client's end result. Sorry here to be the bearer of these tidings, but that;s the way it is.

I hope this helps.

Gary Bloomer
Wilmington, DE, USA

I create killer, easy logos with www.logomaker.com Hope this helps! Good luck!