Selecting a designer for your home business brochures can sound easy but is in actual fact difficult. Who do you choose and why? Here are my top six tips for how to hire a designer that suits your business.

1. Personal recommendation
There is nothing like a referral from a friend who has already used the service and is a happy customer. Make sure you see the final product your friend got out of the designer as that will be a real indicator as to their ability.

2. Personality type
More important than some people give it credit, the personality type of the designer may be an important factor in making your decision. Are they someone who is approachable, friendly, willing to concede to your ideas and provide you with a product within the time frame you stipulate? Ask your friend or other customers of the person about their experience. If you don't know who their other customers are, ask to see some of the design work they've done and write down the names of the businesses then make a few quick phone calls. If you are going to spend a reasonable amount of money you want to know it is good value for money.

3. Style of the designer
Like personality types, designers have individual style and you need to pick a designer is who is competent at the style of design that suits your business. For example, my girlfriend is a graphic designer and she does beautiful work but she excels at feminine design work and is not as good at the more funky or modern stylings. Once again, checking out brochures and work they've already produced for other businesses will help you to see how flexible they are in their styling.

4. Convenience
Choose someone who is close to where you are. You are going to be going back and forward to the designer, so it pays to get someone in your local area if possible.

5. Connections in the Print Industry
If you are going to get a designer to create your business brochures you need to make sure they are able to deliver the printing aspect of the process for a reasonable price. Find out which printer they use and check on their reputation. A great design put through a sloppy print process will be less than impressive at the end of the process.

6. Know what you want before you speak to anyone!
Look at as many brochures as possible and have a mock flier ready to show the designer when you go. Know what text you want to include, what types of images (they will be able to produce these, so don't worry about tracking down pictures), get a swatch and choose your corporate colors and text fonts. The more prepared you are, the less time and money that will be wasted in the design process.

At the end of the day, remember, this is your business and you need to take control of the whole design process. Keep the pressure on your designer to produce the goods within a reasonable time frame and make sure you follow up with them during the print process to ensure that they deliver the goods on time. A lot of things can go wrong and printing processes are notorious for delays.

Learn more about this author, Hayley Solich.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about How to hire a designer for your home business brochures?
We want to hear your view. Write now!