Why You Need a Designer on Retainer for your Business
When you’re running your own business you wear many hats. Everything in your business is your responsibility, but at a certain point it’s time to start sharing responsibilities, you need to start outsourcing and delegating.
Outsourcing can be scary I get it! I’ve been there! But getting help for your business is totally worth it. If you’re going to grow your business then it’s time to stop doing everything yourself.
We all have our strengths and weaknesses and having someone to take care of things you don’t want to do or aren’t good at is a lifeline. Having someone there to be a soundboard and hear out your ideas will not just help you with the work you delegating but remind you that you’re not alone!
If you’re thinking of delegating, the design might be a great place to start! Being a specialised skill set it’s the perfect task to delegate and have someone take over your design needs and make it look easy and amazing. Finding a designer that can make your branding look amazing and offer you regular support with a retainer can be just the boost your business needs.
What is a retainer?
A retainer is a monthly commitment where a designer like me helps you with all your design needs for a set amount of hours every month.
So you have a designer in your pocket for all your needs during that period of time.
What can you get done in a retainer?
Retainers are great for tasks that need to get done regularly like social media graphics or website maintenance.
However, depending on your needs they can include prepping and designing marketing emails, setting up landing pages or even helping you deliver work to your clients.
This is why I recommend chatting with your designer before committing to a package so that you can discuss your needs and get the right package for your budget and design needs. If you’re interested in a Retainer model book a time to chat here.
What are the benefits of a retainer?
Easy Working Relationship
When you first get started working with a designer they need to get to know you and your brand. This takes time and through that process your having to deal with revisions and adjustments until you learn each other’s preferences and quirks.
When you’re working with a designer on a retainer that process only happens once! Once your designer has figured out your design style and has a good understanding of your brand work will go a lot smoother and the number of revisions it takes to get to a design you love will go down significantly.
Consistency in style and quality
Having a designer on a retainer ensures that your design needs are always taken care of. Instead of scrambling to find a designer every time you need something designed, you have a dedicated designer who is always available to help you. This saves time, energy, and money, and ensures that your design projects are completed on time and to a high standard.
A designer on a retainer will also become familiar with your brand and your company’s design aesthetic. This means that they are able to create designs that are consistent with your brand and that reflect your company’s values and goals.
Peace of Mind
You can’t put a price on your peace of mind, but that’s exactly what a retainer offers you. With a retainer, you KNOW your branding is in good hands with someone that cares about your business and brand and that will do a good job for you.
You also know that if you have a time-sensitive project on your hands you’ll get to lean into your designer and use those pre-booked hours to get your project done.
Discounts
Many designers offer a discount if you sign up for a retainer. The more hours you reserve the more discount you tend to get on the standard fee. Designers are happy to offer these preferential rates to their retainer clients so that they can work with them in the long run!
Is a retainer right for you?
A retainer isn’t right for everyone. If you don’t need regular work one-off projects or even design day intensives might be a better fit. But if you want and need regular help then the retainer might be just the right model for you!
If you think you might like a retainer model, then we recommend you start small. Pick a few recurring jobs you’d like your designer to do for you and add to them as you go. If you’d like to try a retainer for your business get in touch! Let’s chat and figure out how I can best support your business!