DIY Graphic Design: How to easily create your own marketing materials

Do you also scroll through social media and wonder how us marketers make all these visually appealing and perfectly branded posts? We don’t! Usually, we have the pleasure of working with talented designers that deliver us the high-quality templates that we then add content to and publish on social media. If you currently don’t have a designer within your team, don’t worry! In this blogpost, I will explain the basics of how to create a good and branded design and I’ll give you some tools you can use to easily make these designs yourself!

One of the key things to remember when trying to come up with a design is simplicity and consistency. When creating visuals for your business, try to keep the following things in mind with each design you create:

Clear Messaging: Make sure that your message is concise and easy to understand. Avoid clutter and focus on delivering a clear, compelling message.

Consistent Branding: Use consistent colors, fonts, and imagery to establish a cohesive brand identity across all your marketing materials. This helps in creating a memorable and recognizable brand.

Whitespace Matters: Don’t underestimate the power of whitespace. A clean and well-organized design allows your message to stand out and prevents visual overload.

To bring your design ideas to life, you need the right tools. There are many great tools out there, the ones I’ve listed below are my personal favorites because they are user-friendly and budget-friendly. These are my recommendations for design tools:

Canva: A versatile and intuitive design platform that offers a range of templates for social media graphics, presentations, posters, and more. Canva is perfect for beginners and allows for easy collaboration.

Crello: Another excellent tool for creating stunning graphics. Crello offers thousands of templates, design elements, and customization options. It’s a great choice for small businesses looking to produce professional visuals effortlessly.

Pixlr: For those seeking more advanced features, Pixlr is a powerful photo editing tool available online. It provides tools similar to industry-standard software, making it ideal for users with some graphic design experience.

So now that you have your design ready, here are a few tips on how to change them up a little so you can make plenty of posts with them without all of your posts looking exactly the same:

Use Templates Wisely: Use the pre-designed templates offered by graphic design tools. This saves time and ensures a professional look even if you’re not a design expert.

Incorporate High-Quality Imagery: Use high-resolution images to enhance the overall quality of your designs. Platforms like Unsplash and Pexels provide a vast collection of free, high-quality images for commercial use.

Understand Color Psychology: Familiarize yourself with basic color psychology to evoke specific emotions from your audience. Choose colors that align with your brand and resonate with your target market.

Typography Matters: Pay attention to font selection. Use readable fonts and consider typography hierarchy to highlight important information. Consistent font choices contribute to brand recognition.

Seek Feedback: Don’t hesitate to seek feedback from colleagues, friends, or your target audience. Fresh perspectives can help identify areas for improvement and refine your designs.

By using these tips and user-friendly graphic design tools, small business owners can take charge of their visual branding without the need for a professional designer. Remember, the goal is to create eye-catching visuals that effectively communicate your brand’s message to your audience. With a bit of creativity and the right tools, you’ll be on your way to leaving a lasting impression in the crowded online space.

Have a question about your designs? We have talented designers at Blends ready to answer any question you may have, contact us now!