My Amazing Experience with 99 Designs

For the past several months I have been planning to upgrade my online presence – especially right here at JeffKorhan.com.  

Full Big Logo on White

My commitment to helping small businesses make the most of their online marketing has been and still continues to be my 100% committed focus. 

Nevertheless, for the five years that I have been dedicated to this craft, I've learned quite a few things that when put into place will enable me to more effectively help more entrepreneurs and small businesses like you. 

More on that later this month.

Working With 99 Designs

One of my first steps in this process was to create a new logo that reflected my purpose and vision. John Hawkins at 9Seeds.com (no relationship to 99 Designs) recommended I swing on over to 99 Designs to get some expert help.  I did – and what I got in return was more than I could have imagined. 

The way things work at 99 Designs is pretty simple. You select the type of design work you are looking for, load up your desired specifications, pay the minimum fee (or more if you want to attract more designers), and then guide the process by actively responding to the conceptual designs your receive. 

Almost immediately I began receiving some nice quality designs, many of which would have worked out fine. However, what tipped the scales toward one designer in particular was a comment I made on the day before the seven day contest expired. 

Just as a coach asks his players to finish strong, so did I – by simply asking everyone to stop looking at the work that had already been created – and maybe even some of my comments as well, and draw on their unique capabilities.

I was really hoping someone would break out of the pack.  Sure enough, one did.

Understand Your Customer and Trust Your Expertise

Jefferson Pasqual, a young man from the Phillipines, was the only one that took my comments to heart. While I absolutely loved one of his early designs, he had the courage to explain that while he also loved that design, he intuitively knew from my last comment that it wasn't right for me. 

That's something we all need to do more of in our businesses.

My final comment emphasized that the new logo had to be simple – consistent with my endeavors of simplifying online marketing for small businesses who are already stretched thin, and who may be challenged with this technology.

I was also hoping for a human touch that communicated my belief that all marketing, and especially social media marketing, is first and foremost about people – building mutually beneficial relationships that serve the needs of everyone in a community. 

If you take a close look at the icon to the left of Jeff Korhan in the logo above, you may be able to discern my initials – JK are a creative abstraction of a man jumping for joy.

That's a human touch.  Brilliant!

Even if nobody else notices this – I do.  

This is an amazing example of what happens when you listen to your customers and apply your expertise to give them what they don't even know is possible.

If you would like to see more of Jefferson's work you can do so by viewing his portfolio of winning designs here at his profile on 99 Designs. BTW, there he uses his nickname Peper.

What made this experience amazing?  Small businesses put their heart and soul into their work.  When you can capture some of that magic in your marketing, it brings out that passion – for you and those you serve.

A big thank you to Jefferson and 99 Designs.

Thanks for reading and let me know what you think of my new logo.

If you have enjoyed this, please leave a comment and share with your community using your favorite share button below.  My favorite is Facebook Like.

Until tomorrow, Jeff

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