The Power of Graphic Design in Your Small Business Marketing

It should come as no surprise to any business owner that images are vital for promotion.

As the common saying goes

A picture speaks a thousand words - unknown

Graphic design is your visual arsenal, and far from being treated as unimportant, its prominence in the list of important marketing elements needs to be understood. In a truly competitive marketplace, you need to stand out for all the right reasons, not the wrong ones. And this is where your graphics and images come into play.

The visuals you use on your website and in your marketing are massively influential on your success and should be regarded as vital components of a good marketing campaign, not an afterthought.

Let's take a look at why graphics are so important.

First Impressions

Unbeknownst to many, your business is under scrutiny the moment a potential customer lays eyes on an image representing it. The professionalism and quality of your graphics are the first things that catch their attention. If these visuals fail to meet expectations, the initial impression will be less than favorable.

Your graphics play a crucial role in shaping a positive image in the consumer's mind. They need to clearly communicate what you can offer in an easy-to-understand format. This means that blurry logos, stretched images, and outdated designs are out, and high-quality, well-designed graphics are and ready to make a lasting impression.

Branding that Sticks

Cast your mind to some of your favorite brands. Chances are, you can clearly see the colors, images, elements, and font used in their graphics. This isn't an accident; it is done by design because clear, consistent visuals help a business stick in people's minds.

When it comes to printing business cards, images on websites, social media flyers, and other marketing and promotional tools, you need to ensure that not only do you maintain a consistent look and feel for all of your graphics, but also that you get all the small details right.

Ever seen something printed, and the edges were all off? That's usually because the file didn't include a bleed. If you're designing your own graphics, then you need to understand all of the small actions and elements that impact the quality, such as how to add bleed in illustrator.

Boost Sales

For consumers, the quality of a product or service matters; however, before they get to the stage where they are determining the quality of your product or service for themselves, good design is the main focus.

One study found that 72% of people say packaging impacts their purchasing decisions, while Performable had a case study that showed changing the colour of a CTA button increased conversions by 21%. It's no understatement to say that your graphic design, or lack of good design, will impact sales. And if you're losing money or you're not converting, it's a good idea to go back and look at the design and the graphics on your website and your marketing materials to make sure that they are not the problem.