In a Digital world, it’s still about Personal Relationships.

97% of Soul Graphics’ business is referred to us by people that we’ve previously worked with or are currently working with. This is our biggest source of pride.

People love working with us, and have no qualms about referring their family, friends, or colleagues our way. It means they trust us, and they trust us with their reputation as well. (I don’t recommend shady businesses to my people, do you?)

Personal relationships still matter in this increasingly digital world.

We’ve never been a big fan of websites such as Fiverr or other graphic design websites that promise fast, cheap results. Why? Because it takes the partnership out of your digital presence.

Your website, your logo, and the message behind your branding campaign are your first impression to most of your clients, and to the world as a whole. We would go as far as saying that it is your most important asset as a small business owner. If your designer doesn’t understand your message how are they going to portray that message to your potential customers?

When we meet with potential clients, one of the first things out of our mouths is “We are your partners, and we want to understand your business.” We’re not just designers, we’re business builders — that’s what makes Soul Graphics unique. We truly want you to succeed, and to succeed you have to have a succinct message custom tailored to your ideal market.

I have always believed that personal relationships are vital in business and that people should be directly accountable for their actions. — Richard Branson

We need to know you, we need to know your business, and we need to intimately grasp your passions, and your business’ message before we can put anything to paper, or in our case, to the internet. Web design must be strategic to be effective.

The problem with Fiverr or other services like it for both graphic and web design is that it’s meant to be cheap, and it’s meant to be fast. It’s not meant to be collaborative or comprehensive or accountable.

Our suggestion is to hire a web designer that you know, or who has been recommended to you and bring them into your business as part of the team. At the very least they need to have an extensive portfolio with great client testimonials. Let them get to know your passion, your business mission and then let them custom tailor your entire brand based on that.

Spending that time up front will save you a lot of headache, time, and money in the future.

I can’t tell you how many website rebuilds we’ve done because the first designer didn’t take the time to get to know the business.

Whatever you do, make it Soulful.™ | Follow Soul Graphics on Twitter.