5 Simple Graphic Design Tips for Marketers

Marketers are often creative types, and this is often what drives new and innovative campaign ideas. However, many professionals feel their weakest attribute is graphic design, which can be a key part to making your online content engaging.

You don't need to be an expert in graphic design to make the most of it, though, of course, it helps. Here are five simple graphic design tips for marketers of any level to give your next campaign a boost:

Less is more

If you're not an graphic design specialist, it's best to focus on a few key elements to avoid it looking too crowded. Often, a couple of different type faces or fonts with a plain background can be the most effective way of getting your message across. The more colors and elements you add in, the higher risk you've got that they'll clash with each other and the last thing you want is for your content to be an assault on the senses.

Symmetry is key

One of the most basic design principles is to make everything symmetric. This ensures it has balance, as well as helping to keep your design simple. You may worry that this will make your content look amateurish, but keeping it basic is much better than looking bad because you don't know what you're doing.

Use your brand guidelines

It's likely that you have brand guidelines that dictate the colors, fonts, and even tone of your marketing efforts. Make sure you are using these throughout your graphics too. Often it can seem like there are too many elements, fonts, and colors to consider, but sticking to your brand can focus this and ensure you stay consistent.

Look for broader themes

Although thinking outside the box with graphic design should be mostly left to the professionals, looking for broader themes can help your designs look less incompetent. For example, if you are delivering a proposal to a client, picking a stock photo of people shaking hands will look cheesy, not to mention presumptuous. Instead, choose an image that reflects your work or the agreement in a less obvious way. Perhaps two people enjoying a coffee together, or working as a group.

Use whatever tools you can

There are loads of tools that help make graphic design easier for the average professional. From ones that teach you about color theory and help you identify the right tones, to those that make the process of designing graphics easier, there are loads of tools out there to help you. In addition, there are also plenty of tutorials to help you improve your skills and how to use these tools.