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Makeda Waterman

Graphic Design Tips for Small Business Owners

Updated: Apr 20, 2020


As a small business owner, you have the power to indirectly rebrand the public image of your company with simple graphic designs. Your customers will walk into your retail store with a sense of a positive new change. A compelling visual design for your brand can deliver many benefits to help you re-engage your market.


Whether you decide to take on the graphic design task or hire a professional graphic designer, I challenge you to test new ideas. The next time you take a seat and open Adobe Photoshop or InDesign, here are a few tips you should consider in 2020.


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Your Competitors Can Teach You a Lesson

Companies that use effective designs study the competition. For example, Realtors stay up-to-date with the latest technological advancements in logo design by checking out their competitors and learning how to improve the appearance of their print marketing materials such as real estate business cards.


The Type of Logo You Need

Symbols and eye-catching images may not be apart of your plans. The truth is letters are as useful when you use a Type-only logo. It is easy to design, and it’s an ideal way to emphasize the importance of your products and services.


A few smart ideas include using your company name or only the first letter of your company. If you need to take a webinar or class on typography, it will be worth the investment. If you are not convinced, think about Facebook’s F logo and the simplicity of the overall design.


When we think of Nike, besides sports gear, one of the first things that come to mind is the Swoosh logo on advertising and clothing. Think of adding a symbol to your branding that consumers can fit into their lifestyle, a necessity they can’t live without.

Small things to Avoid

One minor but vital mistake small business owners face when working on business cards is, they forget to add a bleed as a pre-set on their printer. You can eliminate this issue if you have a 5mm or 3mm printer on-site with 3D capabilities.


To explain it a bit further, cutting materials with a printer is not easy. Most graphic designers leave room around the edge of their document to avoid cutting errors, which are known as the ‘bleed’ in the design industry. You need to invest in a printer that works well with different types of ‘bleed.


Retro Back in Style

Is your business stuck in the past? Retro design with vintage color schemes, such as pastels, and multi-cultured hues, will bring a pleasant feeling of nostalgia to customers. It’s essential to stay ahead of the game when it comes to branding. Whether you own a music store that sells old-school vinyl’s or sells a product that connects with a specific generation, it will add a touch of authenticity to your design.


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