Outsourcing has become a trend to increase the proficiency of the tasks being performed. And when it comes to outsourcing graphic design services to a company, it takes a lot to juggle and decide the best option. The entire look of the company is in the hands of the designers. If the designs are good, then the ads you run on various platforms will grab attention. This will further help in lead generation and huge revenues eventually. Most online marketing campaigns are successful because of the enchanting designs.
Since we know how important it is to have professional and attractive designs, let us take up some important questions. These are some of the questions that are most frequently asked –
- Is it worth outsourcing graphic design services?
- Should it be outsourced to an agency or a freelance designer?
First, let us see if it is useful to outsource graphic design.
1. Speeding up the Process
In the case of a freelance designer, you will have to give all the work to one or two in-house designers. There will be times when you will have a lot of things that will require designing, like brochures, social media content, website banners, etc. On the other hand, there will be days when you do not have many designs. But if you have in-house designers, you will have to regularly pay their salaries. In such a case, you will be in a tricky situation when the work is in abundance and you will wish to outsource the project.
When you outsource it to an agency, you will be able to pay at a fixed rate as per the contract. It will be the responsibility of the agency to get it done. The agency may assign it to a single designer or more, but get the work done.
2.Affordable
When you hire an in-house team, you will have to pay rent for the space. You will also have to generate work on a daily basis as per employee bandwidth. Even when there will not be enough work, you will have to pay a certain amount as a salary. On the other hand, when you outsource it to an agency, you will not have to pay the space rent. Even the amount you pay would be justified. It is mostly on a project basis. Thus, there is a fair amount of money. The agency takes full responsibility for timely delivery of the project and may deploy more employees on one project.
3.Concentrate on bigger projects
It becomes difficult to concentrate on every little project when there is work in abundance. You cannot even skip the minimal design of that Instagram post because these posts have established a visual tone for your brand. But focusing on the designs of those promotional hoardings needs to be done as a priority. In such a situation, you can make your in-house designer focus on the bigger projects and outsource other projects.
These were the top 3 reasons that justify why outsourcing your company’s assignments is a wise decision.
Now, let us address the second question. Whether to outsource it to an agency or a freelancer.
1.Time Bound
Freelancers are their own bosses and sometimes they may not work round the clock. This may result in delays to your projects. On the other hand, an agency has proper management and the designers are answerable to them. Also, if the projects are lengthy, the agency will assign a team to work on them. This not only ensures timely delivery but will also make room for more ideas and innovation.
2.Cost
A freelancer may deliver the project late, but it may cost you less than the cost of an agency. If you are a newbie in the market and are watching your budget, you can go in for a freelance graphic designer. But initially, if you are dealing with clients, then go in for timely delivery to set a strong foundation for your brand. Your content should appear regularly on online platforms. If you are doing it through a freelance designer, then get a week’s posts designed by the designer beforehand. But there are some affordable agencies also. Agencies like Work4you and many more provide virtual assistants at affordable prices. These companies not only provide graphic design services but also bookkeeping services, online marketing, etc. So, you can get all the services in a package in one place. This will cost you less and ensure timely delivery. Thus, you can go in for such a midway.
3.Availability
Freelancers may take time off due to unavoidable circumstances. In such a situation, you cannot force them to work as per your will. The only option you will have is to find another person to complete the project, set a budget, and pay them again. Thus, it will lead to delays.
On the other hand, agencies have many designers who work in shifts. They are available 24/7. They can adhere to your details and provide you with the projects on time. They are also flexible in adapting the timings as per your choice.
4.Specialization
In an agency, the designers are engrossed in multiple projects, while a freelancer has a particular niche. A freelancer focuses on one type of project and will treat you with their specialization.
But if you have different sorts of design work, like designing logos, website pages, advertisements, organic posters, etc., then an agency can be useful. There is a team of experts that sit and brainstorm to deliver the best in all the niches.
The Bottom Line
The formula SACT (Specialization, Availability, Cost Effectiveness, and Timeliness) is very important for making a wise decision. So, we have clearly stated the pros and cons of the agency and a freelancer according to the SACT formulae. You can scrutinise the pros and cons of both the options and choose what suits you best.
