How to Get Long-Term Graphic Design Services Without Breaking the Bank

Between ever-evolving technologies and stiff competition, you need to bring your A-game when it comes to design. The list of graphic design services available is growing, but that doesn’t mean your marketing budget magically follows suit. Is there a way to get a long-term, affordable design collaboration? Let’s find out.

If you’re still wondering who needs graphic design services, you’re already 1-0 behind. It’s 2022, and even the local bakery around the corner has a steady stream of flashy digital content. A business and graphic design go hand-in-hand, no matter the size or field you’re in.

Has your marketing budget been stretched to its full capacity? Then we have some good news for you. There is a way to get a versatile, long-term design collaboration going without costs skyrocketing.

The power of good graphic design

It’s a common misconception that graphic design is just the imagery for your projects. It is so much more than that. Professional graphic design services will help you convey your message successfully yet strikingly. And this has a snowball of positive side effects on your business.

Here are a few ways in which quality design helps your business.

If you’re ready to utilize the power of good graphic design without drowning in costs every month, book a demo call with us today!

Shape your brand

Your business is unique, and with a well-planned graphic design strategy, you can present yourself as a cohesive brand rather than a business trying to make a buck.

Branding is more than just your logo; it’s the visual identity of your business that determines how your audience will perceive you. That first impression is crucial and can be the make or break point of the relationship between you and your potential customer.

Be seen

Let’s talk a bit more about that first impression. If you want to leave some sort of impact on your target audience, you need a shot at that impression in the first place. Because between stern algorithms and our collectively declining attention span, you’re lucky if you get a split-second.

We’re always eagerly looking for something new with the increasing volumes of content. And that’s where custom graphics design comes in.

Show who you are

Now that you’re seen, you need to ensure the visuals are enticing enough for people to stop scrolling. Showing off precisely who you are and what you’re all about will form an emotional bond with your target audience.

But how do you show an audience who you are? You guessed it: with graphic design. By deliberately picking out colors, imagery, and even typography, you can give spectators a clear image of who they’re dealing with.

Increase conversions

So you have the first impression in the pocket, and people see you for who you are. Up next is that crucial call-to-action. Whether you want people to click and go to your homepage or sign up for your newsletter, graphic design will guide them. If done right, that is.

Skilled designers can anticipate every step of your potential customers and design accordingly. This not only leads to a user-friendly experience but to an effortless journey towards your call-to-action.

A joint effort between user interface design, branding, and advertisement design holds power to persuade your potential customers to engage with your brand.

Build trust and credibility

Think of it this way. What would happen if your friend shows up on your doorstep wearing unusual clothes, speaking with a different accent, and behaving entirely out of the ordinary? You’d feel uneasy, maybe even fearful, not trusting the situation.

Now let’s flip the scenario. Think of your favorite brand and its advertisements. Most likely, they all look similar to how you would expect them to look. If someone displays you one of the advertisements while covering up their logo, you’d still recognize it is from your favorite brand.

In short: a consistent and cohesive presentation of your brand will build trust and credibility.

The lowdown on graphic design services

Instead of wondering, “who needs graphic design services?,” ask yourself: where can I find a graphic designer? Because by now, you must realize how crucial good design is and how much it can mean for your business.

We’ve briefly mentioned it, but there is a vast landscape of graphic design services. Let’s go over some of the key categories in graphic design.

Graphic design services list

Branding and visual identity

The total sum of a brand’s key visual elements, such as a logo, color palette, typography, illustrations, and icons, make up the visual identity.

Advertising design

The creation of specific ads for different channels, like social media or print advertising.

Web design

The creation of the look and feel of a website. This includes the hierarchy of information and the aesthetic and intuitive.

UX/UI design

User experience (UX) design refers to the entire journey of using a product or service, while user interface (UI) design refers to the look and feel of a product or service. Though they aren’t limited to web and application design, that is where the terms are currently mostly used.

Print design

Any design that is printed can be considered print design. Examples are flyers, brochures, album covers, magazines, and newspapers.

Product design

Creating a product is the process of merging the user’s needs with their business adjectives. It’s a vast and complex field since system design, process design, and interface design fall under this umbrella term.

Packaging design

The design of the exterior of a product requires a specific set of skills since it performs numerous tasks. It should protect the product, be cost-effective, and inform the customer, to name a few.

Environmental design

Environmental design is focused on the environment around you, making it both aesthetically pleasing and functional. From the navigation map in a mall to the interior of public space, this is a broad field. It’s often a design collaboration between various disciplines such as architecture, landscaping, and urban planning.

Motion graphic design

Motion graphic design is the creation of moving pictures. These animated designs are often time-consuming and rely heavily on a designer's experience, so it’s not the cheapest of graphic design services.

Type design

Type designers are the ones behind each font, font family, and typeface. You may not think about it too much, but each letter you see is designed. Additionally, the way the letters are placed is thought through by a designer.

How to price graphic design services

We’ve just scratched the surface with the above list. Each service requires specialized skills and a dedicated designer. Are you envisioning endless negotiations and steep bills yet?

We’ve come to the frequently asked question of how to price graphic design services. Although there is no straightforward answer, since it entirely depends on your needs, we’ll go over three affordable ways to outsource graphic design.

Freelancers

Hiring a freelancer is a great option if you have a small project. It’s not difficult to find someone since there are many platforms where freelancers offer graphic design help.

The cons? It’s rather time-consuming to find the right fit. Additionally, you may need multiple freelancers specialized in various skills, which can cost you a pretty penny, especially in the long run.

Design contest

Another option is submitting your design request as part of a contest. Several designers will pitch their design solutions. You pick a winner, pay the fee and get your design delivered.

If you don’t have a clear sense of what you want, this could be a helpful option to spark some ideas. However, consider that competing designers are often ones with little experience looking to expand their portfolio. Additionally, they lack knowledge about your brand.

Unlimited design service

Last but not least, you can opt for unlimited graphic design. With this option, you pay a flat monthly fee. You can submit as many design requests as you’d like.

One of these unlimited design services is us, ManyPixels. Since we know our service best, we’ll take ManyPixels as an example here.

We offer flexibility, allowing you to cancel your subscription and get your money back in the first 14 days of your trial. After that, you can always scale up or down in plans. The variety in our team of designers means you’ll have access to a diversity of skills and styles. And last but not least, we complete most smaller projects in just 1-2 business days!

Cheap graphic design equals expensive design

You may wonder why we skipped the cheap graphic design options. Although we’re very much aware of the DIY platforms in which you can pick a template, this isn’t a viable solution in the long run. Why? Because your business is guaranteed to outgrow the phase of getting away with using mundane stock photos and overused templates.

What’s more, is that cheap graphic design often equals expensive design. The whole DIY route is time-consuming, and you risk copyright infringements.

Long-term design collaboration

Few think of outsourcing design as a long-term solution. And that’s where the problem lies, which causes many people to spend way more than necessary or not spend anything at all and miss out on countless opportunities.

That average hourly fee of a graphic design freelancer of $35 may not sound like much. But after a little more than 28.5 hours, you’re already at the $1000 mark. That’s a bit more than 3.5 working days.

If you’re knee-deep in a design collaboration with a freelancer and the hours are adding up fast, you may think of cutting costs by limiting the time. But that’s not the best idea either.

Each graphic design process roughly consists of five main phases:

• Brief
• Research
• Brainstorming ideas
• First draft
• Reviews and revisions
• Final product

Every single phase is as crucial as the next one when hitting your design out of the park. And when a designer is considering how to price their services, they calculate in hours for each phase. No wonder it’s virtually impossible to get high-quality, cheap graphic design!

So what if you need graphic design daily? Social media graphics, blog banners, and advertisements aren’t one-off projects.

Affordable design at last

The math is simple: paying a flat monthly fee for unlimited design service is by far the most affordable option. Here at ManyPixels, we offer three different plans, each giving you access to affordable design:

Advanced

Our Advanced plan is perfect for the creation of all of your everyday designs. For a flat fee of $549 a month, you get unlimited requests, unlimited revisions, and unlimited brands. Although it’s our most affordable plan, all design services are included. Check out our scope of services here.

Business

With our Business plan, you get everything our Advanced plan offers but double the output. Where our Advanced plan assigns one designer to your account to work on your requests each business day, our Business plan assigns two designers to your account for just $899 per month.

Dedicated Designer

Last but not least, we have our Dedicated Designer plan available. For $1,199 per month, you get a dedicated designer for your brand. Collaborate in real-time with your designer through Slack, and expect same-day delivery.