DesignIsAboutYou.com

Can you risk their customer-facing materials on a designer who has little else to offer but K-Mart pricing? Customers respond to quality presentations and they eschew companies that look cheap or unprofessional. Can you afford sloppy, lazy, or boring customer-facing materials? What will your customers think?

When purchasing design and marketing services, it is important to not mistake value with price. Value equals the best price for the best product. Often the best price on a bid may likely translate to sub-par work on Web sites, brochures, collateral material, and corporate identities.

It is critical that you select a design firm with the talent and wherewithal to provide the necessary quality. You can expect to pay more for superior work, but remember that the value will bring a greater return on your investment. Take time to look at samples, ask questions about similar work the design firm has done, and look for a designer that is truly interested in your success and not just in landing the job.

Design is about solving problems. Conversations with a design firm should focus on problem solving. Perhaps you have a customer relations problem, or you need help defining your corporate identity, or you need help in regaining market share? A good design firm will want to work with you to solve your problem, not just talk with you about designing your website, logo, brochure or other collateral.

As with any other professional service, you want to find a design firm that can offer you outstanding advice that brings value to your organization. Your success depends on it.