Finding an affordable designer for your merch is crucial if you’re going to stay within your budget. While you often get what you pay for in terms of services like this, that doesn’t mean you have to spend money you can’t afford on creating awesome merchandise. Below, you’ll find some suggestions that will help you to affordably create incredible merchandise.
1. Use YouTube To Teach Yourself
You might not have time for this one. If not, feel free to skip. However, if you’re interested, you could save a lot of money designing merchandise all on your own. This is by no means easy, however, there are many free tutorials on YouTube and even on sites like Udemy, so you could learn a few new skills in no time at all. This isn’t something you want to rush, however, so if you’re afraid you won’t have the time then it’s probably better leaving it to somebody who offers this as a service.
2. Find A Freelance Designer Through Freelance Sites
There are all kinds of tools out there that make the process if finding, hiring, and paying for freelancers so much easier. Platforms like Guru, Freelancer, and Upwork are great. These platforms include reviews from other users, so you’ll have a really good idea on who you’re going to hire to design your merch for you. You won’t have to deal with any nasty surprises this way!
3. Fiverr
Fiverr is another platform you can use to find somebody to design your merch. However, the people on here are not so much freelancers as anybody who wants to offer their skills for $5. It’s an entry level space, so you can expect only the basics to be offered. If you just need a simpler design and a hand putting it together, then this could be a good option. If you need something a little more complex, then it’s probably better to choose a different platform.
4. Ask For Recommendations From Friends
Ask for recommendations from friends, either when you see them in person or by posting on social media. You just don’t know who might know somebody, and you might even know somebody personally who is willing to help you out. Plus, the great thing about recommendations from friends is the social proof. As your friend is recommending their services to you, you know that they are legitimate and more likely to do a good job. A friend wouldn’t recommend somebody who wasn’t very good!
5. Look For A Designer In Person
This might be the step you take first, or it might be your final step depending on what you prefer. As conveying the right message is so difficult online, it could be a lot easier to explain what you’re looking for face to face. Using something like Meetup.com you could meetup with a great designer.
All you have to do is enter the term ‘design’ and it’ll give you the closest design related events. You’ll be in a room full of designers and your options will be endless. You’re bound to find someone this way, although it may not be as quick and easy as doing it online.
Now you should have a few good ideas on how you can find an affordable designer for your merch. Using freelance sites, Fiverr, and getting recommendations from friends is really easy and should leave you with a great shortlist.
However, if you have something more complex you’d like to pull off, meeting the designer in person by using a site like Meetup.com might be your best option. Then again, if you want full control, teaching yourself might be the way to go – but it won’t be easy!
When you have a short list of potential merch designers, make sure you do the following:
- Ask to see a portfolio of their work
- Look at their reviews and testimonials
- Discuss your project with them in detail to ensure you’re both on the same page
- Get a quote from them and ensure there are going to be no hidden costs
- Compare the details of your favorite designers so that you find the right one
Although you’re looking for an affordable designer, you might come to the conclusion that it’s worth going for one of the designers you have found that is priced on the higher end of the list, perhaps because they seem more experienced or offer more with the service. It isn’t all about choosing the cheapest designer you can find. In the end usually you get what you pay for.
Good luck!
