Running a small business, even one that operates solely online isn’t a one-person undertaking. Success is built by many. If you want your virtual projects to take flight, you have to insert the right people at the right time. Here are four professionals who can get you to the next level.
Graphic Designer
Graphic design is much more than just knowing how to draw a compelling visual. How your images, including your logo and web banners, are created matters just as much as the way they look. An experienced graphic designer knows this and has the education and hands-on experience to get it right from the beginning. They won’t, for example, use Photoshop in the design process. Instead, your designer will get to know your needs and use a vector program to layout images that you can transfer to the web and printed materials. They will use color, fonts, and even animation to tell a tale without overloading your customers’ senses.
Web Developer
Once your branding materials are good to go, you need a web designer who can put them to work on your site. Don’t fall prey to the DIY websites or think that you can build a customer-friendly online presence with just a few drag-and-drop forms — you can’t, but a web developer can. However, a graphic designer is a professional that knows the end result is really the culmination of everything from appearance to how your site functions when scaled down for mobile. Delaware Digital Media can provide both the web and graphic design services that your site needs to engage, entice, and entertain, and they can work with you so that your business can present your brand properly.
Video Producer
Once your website is up and running, you have to post more than just your products. Videos are a wonderful way to supplement the customer experience. You can post unboxing, tutorials, reviews, and other watchable content. But it has to be high-quality. And this is not always easy.
While YouTube’s Creator Academy is a great resource for novice video content posters, it does not replace the technical knowledge of a trained video producer. This person will understand how to effectively use their equipment, which will include everything from lights, a computer, cameras, special lenses, a microphone, and backdrops. They can also offer advice on video length, ensure you are in a perfect position, are speaking clearly, and are wearing clothing, jewelry, and a hairstyle that does not distract from your message.
Marketing Expert
Like posting videos, there are plenty of resources online that can show you how to use Google Ads, Facebook Marketplace, and other online selling tools. Unfortunately, if these are placed on the wrong platform, at the wrong time, or don’t clearly relate your message, it will be time and money ill-spent. A small business marketing expert solves this problem and already knows what works, what doesn’t, and what marketing risks are worth taking. Further, as Study.com explains, they will have knowledge of email marketing, web analytics, and consumer outreach. A great marketing campaign will pay for itself, and like all of the above professionals, you can hire an online specialist like a Facebook marketer as a freelancer, which means you only pay for the time you use.
While it is easy to think that you can do each of these jobs just by Googling “how-to,” the truth is that this rarely leads to a happy conclusion. Without the right knowledge or experience, you will miss out on the nuances that can make or break each project. So, don’t be afraid to call in the proverbial big guns, even if your project is small. After all, every business has to start somewhere. Of course, if you plan it carefully and choose the right “seeds,” it will grow into something you’ll be proud to have cultivated.
Finally, remember that, while most of your work can take place online, Oak Forest Executive Center has coworking options available for when you need to put your heads together.