Five Hidden Benefits of Designing Your Own Logo

Written by John Williams of Entrepreneur.com

These days, do-it-yourself (DIY) is everywhere, invading industry after industry. So if you're weighing the pros and cons of designing your branding materials yourself instead of hiring a graphic designer, you're not alone. Obviously, you expect to save money as a design-it-yourselfer -- and you probably will. But that's just the beginning. There are other DIY advantages that are less well-publicized.

Here are five hidden benefits of employing your creative side and designing your logo:

1. If you're an entrepreneur, your brand is a reflection of your personality, not of someone else's interpretation of it. No one knows your brand like you do. If you hire someone else, be prepared to explain a lot about your brand, including its history, benefits, audience, competition, etc. Some entrepreneurs assume they can't design it themselves because they're "not creative."

But if you're an entrepreneur, then by definition you're creative. That's what entrepreneurs do: they create. What's more, DIY Web sites and software make it easier than ever for entrepreneurs to design customized, professional-grade logos, business cards, Web sites, signs, brochures and other marketing materials.

Many of these technologies are simple, step-by-step guides that allow a novice designer to interject his or her creativity without breaking basic rules of layout -- rendering them virtually "foolproof" from a design perspective. Other DIY technologies offer advanced design-it-yourselfers more freedom and flexibility. Choose the style that best fits your experience and comfort level.

2. You'll end up doing the "heavy lifting" anyway. Whether you hire a designer or create it yourself, you must decide what you want to say and how you want to say it. You, not the designer, will be called upon to clarify your ideas and prioritize your messages. I refer to this as the "heavy lifting" because it's actually at the heart of your design.

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