Looking into logo design options for your company? Unsure of whether you should create it yourself or hire a professional? Both options have unique benefits and challenges, but as the business owner, you are the only one who knows what will work best for your company. Here are some pros and cons for both options to keep in mind when making a decision about your company's image:
Pros
The number one advantage of hiring a professional designer is that it requires you to do less work. Simply provide all the basic details about the business and what services or products you offer and let the designer begin working their graphic magic. Ask to see their top five or 10 ideas and from there you can edit the options to include your favorite details or features. Often it's easier to edit than to create, so recognize your weaknesses and strengths and hire a professional to help you capitalize on them. Another benefit of hiring a designer is that you can include a specific deadline in the project contract to ensure that it's met.
Cons
A common complaint against hiring a professional to create a logo is the expense. Depending on the level of experience of the chosen designer and the pay structure for changes, you can easily spend thousands of dollars to have a company logo created by a graphic designer. If you have the budget for it, it's a worthwhile expense, otherwise it may not be a wise to spend if other critical facets of the business, such as advertising, would have to suffer to allow for high fees.
Pros
The number one advantage of using logo creation software is that it gives you maximum control of the finished product. This is an ideal option for business owners who consider their brand an extension of themselves and know their offerings inside and out. This type of software is designed for amateur use, so don't worry if this is your first foray into the world of design. Most programs only charge you for the finished product and allow revising and editing as much as you wish without additional fees.
Cons
The most notable challenge of designing the company logo yourself is that you're not an expert. You have not spent years refining your graphic abilities nor do you have the experience of creating an image from scratch. There's no recipe or magic formula to follow, you have to go with your gut instinct and see what works. You may not have experience conducting market research for brand identities like some design professionals, but now is your chance to take matters into your own hands and find out what works for similar businesses and what doesn't.
Like the old saying goes, "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again." Start with one option and try out the other one if you aren't thrilled with the initial results. Remember, it's your business; you make the rules!