Outsourcing Graphic Design for your Website

If you're not artistically inclined, then graphic design can be one of the worst elements of your web design to do yourself. There are many aspects of web design that can be taught and learnt quite easily today but graphics is something that seems to require a particular talent and if you don't get it right then it can really de-value your website. If you are not good at graphic design or art then it is usually best to outsource graphic design for your website.

The first question you may be asking is where do you actually find someone to create your internet graphics? The answer here is that there really are many places - the first place you may want to look is for royalty-free graphics or stock photos on the search engines which you can often get for free or very low cost. One great resource for stock images is at http://www.sxc.hu. There are also many websites that offer free templates such as at freewebsitetemplates.com. The advantage with these is that they are free but the disadvantage is that your website will not be completely original in appearance as probably many other people are using the same templates and stock images.

Another place where you can find graphic designers to create original images for you, at a cost, is through the freelance jobs boards such as Elance.com, Guru.com, and gofreelance.com. The amounts you pay for these images will vary greatly depending on the provider, what you request, etc. and so it is important before going in that you know what your budget is - also bearing in mind that cheap is not necessarily better and if you pay too little then you can end up with shoddy work.

Your project description is vital for getting the quality of work you require when hiring a freelancer through one of the freelance jobs boards. Try to be as specific as you can and if possible give examples of the type of graphics you require. State what formats you require (.jpg, .gif, .tif, .png, etc.) and if you have any specific dimensions you want, etc. The more specific you can be with regards to your requirements, the easier it will be for people to quote and for you to compare eggs with eggs.

If you are placing a job description on one of the freelance jobs boards you will soon start receiving plenty of people bidding on your work and you will want to ensure, as far as possible, that the person you choose really is the best person for the job.

Start by looking at their actual proposal - does it sum up what you wanted done? Does it look like it is just a standard write up that they write up for everyone (this may mean they haven't really understood your description and you could have other, more serious communication difficulties later)? Look for the best proposals that are personalized for what you have requested.

You also want to consider any feedback they have been given on the jobs board, look at their portfolio or get references to other people they have worked for. Consider all the feedback and the portfolio items carefully before deciding on who you want to go for.

Once you feel you have found the right person for the job it is important to set up a contract that ensures you get what you want or that you have a way of pulling out if necessary. This work contract should give all the details of the internet graphics you are after such as how many you require, what formats they will be delivered in, how much you are paying per graphic, when they will be delivered and what will happen if they are not up to the standard you require. Knowing all this beforehand not only makes it safer for you but also more secure for the freelance graphic designer.

There are plenty of freelance graphic designers out there but finding the right one, who can do the standard of work you require means you will need to do some careful planning beforehand - determine how you are going to go about getting your graphics, how much you are prepared to pay and create a detailed description of what you are looking for. When people start applying for your work take a careful look at their project proposal, portfolio, feedback and references, and then create a contract to ensure that the work is done to your standard or that you have a way out.