What About a Design Contest?

Business owners on a tight budget could look for discounts, but as with any bargain, one must weigh the benefits against the drawbacks.

Small-business owners could write a blog post announcing their requirements for a logo (symbols, colors and other specifics) and inviting designers to participate. Base the contest on your requirements, which could include budget, standard, premium or custom options. Quote prices based on how many submissions you expect to receive; 75 to 80% of your quote will be the winner’s cash prize, and the rest would be the fee for the organizer.

Sponsoring an online contest is also a great way to increase traffic on your website. Designers will learn about your website and business in the process of participating in the contest.

Pros of Design Contest
•It’s cost-effective.A design firm or freelancer would likely spend a great deal of time researching your target audience and competitors, which would be costly. With 99 Designs, though, you can get a logo for as little as $295.
•It’s simple and saves time.With a design firm, you have to make appointments, costing both time and travel. With 99 Designs, the client simply posts their criteria and then chooses which logo they like best.
•Pick and choose.You’ll have a number of designs to choose from, and all of them will meet the criteria you set.

Cons of Design Contest
•Critics believe that contests devalue designers.“A lot of designers find speculative work unethical and think it cheapens the industry,” says Morgan Morcani, a freelance designer based in San Francisco. Critics believe that most designers who participate in such contests end up doing work for nothing.
•Quality could be compromised.Established professional designers don’t pay much attention to contests, so business owners might get amateurish work.
•There won’t be a relationship.You’ll miss out on building a rapport with a designer over time and working with someone who can truly cater to your needs.