Venus Trapped in Mars Sports and Lifestyle Blog Dallas

25 July 2013

How To Choose A Blog Designer + Being a Good Blog Design Client




Here is a guide to helping you find the best blog designer for your personality, as well as some tips from a graphic designer's mouth on how to be the best client. I have a point to this post at the very bottom. I promise.

Not every graphic designer will be right for you. My favorite thing about my designs, as well as the majority of the other blog designers out there, is that you can tell it came from me without even needing to see a "blog design by" stamp. 

I love that blog world is so big that there is not a feeling of competition between designers. We all have different styles, and there seems to be plenty of design work to go around. Some of my favorite bloggers and closest friends in blog land, have their own blog design studios, all different from mine. There are so many choices for you out there, how do you decide? 
Designers don't price their work just willy nilly. There is a method to their madness. Do I think you will get a better product from a blog designer who charges $200 as compared to my designs which only cost $50? I do and I don't. They have been doing this longer than I have. They know tips and coding that I couldn't even imagine existed. And I bet they are fast. That doesn't mean their end product necessarily looks better than mine, but it will have more bells and whistles. 

The reason I am priced where I am, is not because I don't think my work is worthy of $200, but because I'm as slow as molasses. I work two full time jobs. I have my regular 8-5, then I also do freelance marketing for a chain of salons back in Tennessee. I'm busy. But graphic design is my outlet and I love love love it. I price myself at $50 hoping that people see the value that they are getting in a completely custom design, and don't mind the wait. 
How many edits do you get with your design? If you are the pickiest person in the world, and you know you are, don't choose a designer who limits your edits. If you are easy going and want to let the expert do the work, and you trust them to provide you with something beautiful, don't pay attention to the number of edits you receive. 

The coolest thing about blog designers is that we are all bloggers too. Do you love someone's blog? Do you read it every day, comment and even say to yourself, "Man, if we ever met, we would totally be besties!" Then you find out they do blog design, and you love their designs?! No brainer, pick them!! 

Don't pick a blog designer you have nothing in common with! And for the record, I can design blogs that don't have glitter on them, I just prefer not to. :) If you are a glitter whore lover in design and in life, pick me! If you want something clean and or  elegant, I may not be the girl for you. 

Make sure your personality aligns with their personality.

And finally, how to be a pleasant client to work with...

1. Trust us: We have done this a few times. Put your faith in us that we won't screw you over. Our name is on this blog design too, ya know!

2. Be as specific as possible with your feedback: When we send designs, we are nervous. We spend a lot of time brainstorming, creating, adjusting, switching fonts and sometimes even moving things up, down, left, right and back again to where it started. The last thing we want to hear is... I don't like it or Not bad. What specifically do you not like? What specifically do you like? Do you like one font in particular? Do you like this color, do you like that pattern? 

We are all taking shots in the dark coming up with designs for you. We don't know you. Heck, I don't even know my closest friend's design preferences! If you hate it that's fine, but tell us why you hate it. The more specific you are, the faster the design finishes and the closer your blog design matches your personality. 

And remember that time  I said I had a point.... Here it is! I'm launching my new blog design site today! I already had a Social and Chic page, but it wouldn't support the new passionfruit design services html, so I knew I wanted to switch. I asked my go to blog expert to look it over for me, because I knew she would not only be honest, but be knowledgable on what other bloggers would want to see. 

I'm sure you already know who I'm talking about... Helene... duh. I simply asked her to look my new site over, and this is the response I got...

"On first glance: it looks inviting, simple and I love the colors and design. The blue is perfection. Kinda reminds me of the beach.

Really diving into it: I think social media buttons at the bottom should be slightly bigger so people can really look at them. I also love the now serving free wine (yesterday) I think that should be a little (just slightly larger). I also think your tabs at the top (the font) should be a little thicker font so it's easier to read. just slightly. 

Services page looks freaking amazing. So does portfolio.I love that you use passionfruit for people to buy it, makes it super easy! I like the contact form but maybe throw an email on there to contact you (unless you don't want people to contact you that way) bc sometimes people are weird about forms! and then your blog- duh totes amaze.

I was an honest as possible and I don't know much about design so if you hate what I say no hard feelings!"

This is how every blog designer wishes their clients were. This feedback was specific, fixable, helpful and most importantly made me feel confident in my new blog design site! I took Helene's advice on each item she listed, plus it inspired me to make a few other graphic changes on the site. Yes, I'm obviously one lucky duck to have such a blogging expert to look my design site over, aren't I? And thanks to her feedback, I feel confident to show of my new Social and Chic page with you guys! 

Click the icon below, go check it out, let me know what you think!! But remember, be specific!
 (hah, jk, lol, lylas)


Venus Trapped

38 comments :

  1. Love the new site lady! Makes me wanna pick you all over again to design my blog!!! :)

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  2. ZOMG IM SO EXCITED FOR YOU TO DESIGN MY BLOG ZOMG.

    the end.

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  3. love the new site!

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  4. Love the new site and this working with a designer advice is top notch, I can't imagine taking and idea from someone's head and trying to make it a design that they'll love.

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  5. And I can personally recommend Sarah because she made my amazing blog business cards that everyone is obsessed with!

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  6. Love your new sight and designs! Seriously still have no idea how to manage to juggle it all! You're a rock star!

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  7. Definitely going to have to head over and check it out!

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  8. I have one designer that is my go to but I really think it's awesome how there's not a competitive feeling between designers. I think this is a great blog post and it will definitely be helpful for people who want to make the leap into paying for a blog design!

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  9. I see a little shout out to my original design question in there ;) what what. You make the design process really awesome for us newbies, Sarah, so I always appreciated that. I think this is a great guide. You should maybe think about putting it under the "tutorials" tab too for easy access for people looking for future advice!

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  10. I have to say...I love love love that I can look at a blog I've never read before and know you designed it. As someone who works in an industry where branding is everything, girlie you OWN your brand. Kudos to you!!!! I love this post too. Working with someone on your blog design can be hard, and if you're trying to be 'nice' you can end up with something you don't love.

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  11. just stalked everything on your design site! LOVE IT. It looks fantastic!!

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  12. The new site is great. Good luck :)

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  13. This is why I picked you and don't mind waiting :) xx

    Amanda
    www.rhymeandribbons.com

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  14. I feel like this post was about me hahaha but only you know why! Love you for everything you've done for me! :)

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  15. great post! i was so lost when i was trying to pick a designer because i didn't know what i wanted. then i saw your glitter-bomb blog and knew you were my design lady :) but you're right that people should definitely pick whose designs they most relate to. i chatted with a few other designers before going with you and they were so sweet to let me know their info but not be upset when i didn't choose them. ok, this comment is too long, so imma stop now.

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  16. I like it a LOT! It's definitely fun and that blue is beachy. The whole thing look amazing!

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  17. Oh heyyy.. it looks amazing! That being said, I CANNOT FREAKING WAIT TILL YOU DESIGN MY SITE! Ahhh I'm so excited :) OH and that blue makes me want to skip work right now!

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  18. haha this is a good guide. my faveorite part is: And for the record, I can design blogs that don't have glitter on them, I just prefer not to. :)

    I decided to pretend to know what I am doing and just make my own page, but for a while when I wasn't flat broke i considered having a design done and of course wanted to use you but then thought to myself, uhhh i am not a glitter person. True story.

    ALso, if i ever do decide to have a pro take over my blog I would want it to be you!

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  19. I love the new site. You do great work. Nice layout!

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  20. So clean and so inviting, great post and congrats on your new look!

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  21. Amen to this. All of my clients have been angels and so easy to work with so far but I can only imagine how horrible it would be to not get specifics. And I said a whole ago that I could tell a blog was made by you just from the first glance haha. Job well done!

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  22. I was really specific with my blog designer. So specific that I felt like I was driving her nuts! But I wanted what I wanted and she wanted to give me what I wanted so it worked out.

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  23. Absolutely loved this post! And I checked out your new design site and love it- I think your prices are fair without supplementing any amazingness! I actually just recommended you a blogger today :)

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  24. how perfect! I have just decided this week to HIRE YOU! I know i emailed you the other day and BAM this post comes about for your new design site :)

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  25. LOVE IT! This is so exciting for you!

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  26. Congratulation on the site, everything looked fantastic!! Your style is great!

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  27. I must say that I am an excellent blog design client. I come with a list of examples, colors, details, what I like, and what I don't. Easy peasy!

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  28. i seriously find myself clicking to your blog design site at least once a week, just haven't pulled the trigger! i definitely need to sign up for you to do my design soon...baseball themed of course!

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  29. The new site looks reaT I am really proud to be a part of your portfolio, and I keep getting compliments on my design!

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  30. Yay for the new blog design site! Love it! Already referred you to a friend of mine who is looking for the cutest glittery blog design ;)

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  31. SARAH GIRL. That is your body. And that is a ring. Again. Time to spill the beans lady love!

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  32. LOVE it . I love glitters that are all around your site .When someone says to me not to put glitter in design , it makes me feel like "dude , are you really wanting a design"? Go go go!
    Noor @ Noor's Place

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  33. I remember back when I blogged as a teeanger, everyone designed their own blog (pretty much). So when I started mine again, I designed it all myself.
    However, I think it's great there is not an acceptance in the community for purchased designs and I personally think some of them look great - I think it's important people have tips to guide them to a good designer to ensure the design reflects their personal message with their site :)

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  34. LOVE the blog designer page! Quick question, do you do work with Wordpress or just Blogger?! Because I have been debating an update and your price is perfect and you do amazing work!

    Thanks!!

    -AJ
    FitTravelerAJ.com

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  35. Perfect timing! I've had 'find blog designer' on my to do list for the past couple of weeks but I've been unsure of what direction to go in, your tips have definitely helped me :)

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  36. Awesome post! Makes me feel a lot better about how specific I was about stuff when I was working with my designer. I was worried I was just being a big pain in the butt!

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  37. Sca a really awesome blog i really like to see this post thanks for shared! best web design company

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