Video References:
Blog Post: How to Hire a Logo designer for Your Small Business
Summary:
Scam Alert: Free Logos and Websites- Angela Bryant warns about a common scam where businesses are offered free logos, websites, or other services, but then are asked to pay unexpected fees or the provider disappears after the initial work. She advises being cautious of offers that seem “too good to be true” and to avoid working with inexperienced designers, as the final cost often ends up higher than working with a professional from the start.
Red Flags to Watch For- Angela outlines several warning signs to look out for, including unreasonably low prices ($5-$25 for a logo or website), providers asking for upfront deposits, and a lack of transparency around the provider’s business model and how they plan to make the “free” work profitable. She encourages businesses to do their due diligence and trust their instincts if an offer seems suspicious.
Importance of Working with Experienced Professionals- Angela emphasizes the value of working with experienced, professional designers and developers, even if it costs more upfront. She explains that these providers have honed their skills over time and will deliver higher-quality, more polished results compared to newer or inexperienced freelancers offering steep discounts.
Recap and Resources- In closing, Angela summarizes the key points about identifying and avoiding scams, reiterates the importance of working with experienced professionals, and shares a link to a blog post she has written on how to choose a great logo designer. She encourages the participants to reach out if they have any further questions.
Transcript:
Angela Bryant
Good morning, business owners. name is Angela Bryant and I am the owner of Nest-Egg Digital and your local marketing vigilante.
Today, we are going to talk about our new scam of the month, which goes by a couple of different names, but the way that you have seen it, you’ve seen it on social channels where you run across a post that says, I’m feeling generous.
Drop your business name for a free logo or I’m building my portfolio. I’m doing free websites, free logos for the next five people who contact me.
And of course, this can sound like a great offer, a great idea. But unfortunately, a lot of these are scams and actually depending on how they’re executed, they could be considered a scam or kind of a bait and switch.
Here’s how this happens. So you see this, you think it’s a great idea, you’ve started a business, cash flow is low, this is going to save you money.
you contact these folks, you give them their information and they start working. A lot of times they might ask you for an initial deposit or come back and say, Hey, you know, can you offset some of my costs?
I need $50, $100, whatever that may be. And then you feel like you have a relationship with these guys and give them the money and they disappear.
That’s the scam. The bait and switch comes from the perspective of they’re going to do a little bit of work for you.
And if you want anything extra, like can you edit this font in this logo sample you’ve given me? Can you edit this page on this website?
That is all going to be extra. And there’s a psychological thought that now you’re already invested because of your time.
The providers. time. So you’re more likely to go ahead and continue giving the money. And a lot of times at the end of the day, the cost is actually more than had you gone with a professional designer right from the get-go.
So here are some things to look for. And here are some ways to make sure that you don’t fall for this.
First of all, I would say, again, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And the opposite side of that coin is $5 is an unreasonable price to pay for quality work.
$25. I would even argue $50 to $100. When you’re working with a professional designer for your logos your websites, these folks have spent years honing their craft and picking up all of the tips and tricks that improve their end result.
And so this is where I’ll get back into, you know, I love the fact that people are starting out and you have to start some
somewhere. But I am not going to encourage folks to take something as important as their logo and put that in the hands of a brand spanking new logo designer.
Even if they’re great, they’re just going to miss some things that a more experienced designer will have picked up on.
Ideally, they’re working with a more experienced designer so that they can get that information and get those learning experiences down while they kind of grow their skill set.
They’re going to do a design. Someone more experience is going to give them feedback. They’re going to work together to get a good quality product out there.
So again, take into consideration, you know, new designers, new work, how are they actually operating? And then again, also look at it from the does it stink test, right?
I can say for myself that, you know, I’m not going to give away free work. You know, outside. side of the occasional pro bono or charity work that we do.
I’m not necessarily going to put a free offer out there unless I’ve got a strategic plan behind it or an agenda to turn that into a profitable activity.
So not saying that we would do that, but if you’re getting those types of offers, maybe just take a moment and ask like, how are they actually making this profitable?
What’s the fine print? am I not actually seeing in terms of what’s going on here? So again, those of you that have questions, take into consideration, does it stink?
Is it too good to be true? I do have a post that I’ve recently written about how to choose a great logo designer that’s going to work well with you.
I’ll link to that below. And until next time, be well, be safe, and I’ll talk to you soon.
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