99 Things Your Graphic Designer Can Do For You

April 19, 2013 | Design Basics

Make it pretty.

It’s a statement that most graphic designers hate to hear. As a group we get sick of feeling like design is just decoration. If you work with a highly qualified, experienced and well-rounded designer, you should expect so much more.

Designers don’t just make things look pretty…

1. I take a vague idea that’s in your head and make it a reality.
2. I make your text easier to read.
3. I educate your buyers.
4. I make the complex understandable.
5. I turn something boring into something compelling.
6. I interpret data.
7. I help you sell more books.
8. I make you look professional.
9. I make you look like an expert.
10. I help you charge more money.
11. I help you attract better clients.
12. I increase the visibility of your business.
13. I add value to your business.
14. I build one of the most valuable intangible assets your business can have.
15. I make people want to keep reading.
16. I build your credibility.
17. I decrease your bounce rate.
18. I increase your open rate.
19. I help you understand why your brand identity is so important.
20. I explain what to expect when creating a new web site.
21. I help you launch your new business.
22. I keep your web site up and running.
23. I understand your ideal customer.
24. I understand how to communicate to your prospects.
25. I deliver your message in the most effective medium.
26. I help you decide whether to use words, pictures or video.
27. I tell you when you’re wasting money.
28. I get people to trust you.
29. I get people to like you.
30. I make it easy for people to buy from you.
31. I understand your business goals.
32. I help you reach your business goals.
33. I communicate for you.
34. I find just the right image to convey your message.
35. I get search engines to find your web site.
36. I get your prospects to find your web site.
37. I keep viewers on your web site longer.
38. I make sure you don’t look like a DIY start up.
39. I help your customers overcome their fears about buying from you.
40. I help you keep up with the ever-changing world of online marketing.
41. I help you understand why we chose a serif rather than a sans serif typeface.
42. I focus your readers’ attention on the right words.
43. I get your RSS feed working.
44. I set up your Google Analytics.
45. I show you how to read and interpret your Google Analytics data.
46. I explain why updating your web site content is critical.
47. I integrate your web site with your CRM.
48. I make each e-newsletter you send have people say “wow” instead of “ugh.”
49. I allow you to take credit card payments on your web site.
50. I increase your email list.
51. I stop you from sending spam.
52. I create charts and graphs that really convey the data.
53. I help you make your point.
54. I make your book easy-to-read.
55. I make your book compelling to pick up.
56. I make your signs helpful.
57. I make your clients comfortable.
58. I think like a designer.
59. I project your best image.
60. I organize your words.
61. I use imagery to convey your ideas.
62. I make your words more effective.
63. I make you look how you wish you were: approachable, smart, trust-worthy, funny, etc.
64. I coordinate your brand identity.
65. I give you the tools to maintain your own brand identity.
66. I teach you how to update your web site.
67. I give you a competitive advantage.
68. I help you grow your business.
69. I make your product look desirable.
70. I don’t waste money, I increase it.
71. I prioritize your messages.
72. I find printers who do the job right the first time.
73. I find the sign makers.
74. I find the screen printers.
75. I figure out the right label to print.
76. I put a face on an ideal customer.
77. I help you define your audience.
78. I coordinate your Twitter background with your brand identity.
79. I teach you how to use Twitter.
80. I help you decide whether you should use Twitter.
81. I make you more efficient with broadcasting your content.
82. I make it easy for you to repurpose your content.
83. I coordinate your web site, e-newsletter and social media.
84. I set up your Facebook page and have it automatically post your new blogs.
85. I set up your blog to automatically feed to your LinkedIn profile.
86. I explain the difference between CMYK and RGB.
87. I explain the difference between PMS and CMYK colors.
88. I explain when you need offset printing, and when digital printing is OK.
89. I make the color look right on screen and in print.
90. I find the right paper stock.
91. I find the right partners to produce our ideas.
92. I pick out just the right color.
93. I set up the files the right way so that the end result is what we were all expecting.
94. I help you expect higher prices.
95. I get people to take you seriously.
96. I get people to take your business seriously.
97. I get people to think you’re the real deal.
98. I help you earn respect.
99. I build your brand identity.

What can you add? What has your designer done for you?