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Logo Design Buisness Outsourcing to 99 Designs

by zendao
17 replies
So I'm starting a Logo design business and I'm wondering if you guys think it's a good idea to use 99 Desgins.com to outsource all the work. Any thoughts?! Thanks!
#buisness #design #designs #logo #outsourcing
  • Profile picture of the author webmonopoly
    99designs is too expensive. Why not use freelancers on odesk...?
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  • Profile picture of the author MouseandMice
    I completely and TOTALLY understand the thought behind "reselling" services... but you need to offer something novel and useful if you want to do that.

    I say this both from an ethical standpoint as well as a 'realistic" standpoint.

    You need to RAISE your prices so that they are above that of those you purchase from... and you need to do so at a level that makes it worth the legwork and hassle associated with your company. Right?

    So, if you are charging a premium, you need to offer a premium.

    Just a bit of advice to help you on your path.
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    • Profile picture of the author johndetlefs
      Originally Posted by MouseandMice View Post

      So, if you are charging a premium, you need to offer a premium.
      You're also assuming that your customer won't have access to 99designs themselves which is the first step down a slippery slope.

      If you said something like "With my x years of experience in graphic design I'll shepherd your logo project through 99designs and make sure that you get the best logo that you possibly could" then you're safe.

      But if you make out like you're doing the logo yourself, or that you have a "team" and you get caught out, it'll smell too much like you're doing something dishonest IMHO.

      I get it though, arbitrage is very tempting!
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  • Profile picture of the author KabirC
    Don't use 99designs, first off it will be public that shows you aren't designing it and secondly it's way too expensive. Use logonerds, check out their thread on this forum.
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  • Profile picture of the author MrArr
    or better yet use fiverrr. There are cheap but quality designers over there and yes odesk too!
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  • Profile picture of the author MouseandMice
    ^Exactly!!!!!
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  • Profile picture of the author zendao
    Well that is why I would get the Private Contest Option, I doubt people would find out then. In any case, I wouldn't specify about the logo. I was also thinking if it can be a problem with 99 desings themselves? They would have no problem with it right?
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  • Profile picture of the author johndetlefs
    I think you may be missing my point. Again, you are assuming that nobody will find out, which is a dangerous assumption.

    Secondly, any business that begins with the premise "they won't ever find out" is probably not a business that you want to enter into. For a variety of reasons, both ethical and logistical.

    That, definitely, is just my opinion and I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who think I'm being a bit of a fuddy duddy by harping on about it.

    As far as 99 designs go, no I don't believe that they would have any problems with that, because you are simply running a competition for a design with them, just remember that the customer would have no legal recourse with 99designs if they didn't like the logo, but they would have legal recourse with you.

    That said, I'd have a thorough scan of their T&Cs first to make sure.
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    • Profile picture of the author zendao
      Originally Posted by johndetlefs View Post

      As far as 99 designs go, no I don't believe that they would have any problems with that, because you are simply running a competition for a design with them, just remember that the customer would have no legal recourse with 99designs if they didn't like the logo, but they would have legal recourse with you.

      That said, I'd have a thorough scan of their T&Cs first to make sure.
      Hey, thanks for your advice, yeah hoping people won't find out is not a good way to start a business.... but anyway I found this on the TOS, I don't fully understand what it means but do you guys think it can be trouble?

      "Customer may not: (a) Run a Design Contest if Customer is tendering the creation of the same design through a service other than the Site;"
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      • Profile picture of the author Gambino
        Originally Posted by zendao View Post

        Hey, thanks for your advice, yeah hoping people won't find out is not a good way to start a business.... but anyway I found this on the TOS, I don't fully understand what it means but do you guys think it can be trouble?

        "Customer may not: (a) Run a Design Contest if Customer is tendering the creation of the same design through a service other than the Site;"
        That just means you can't run a design contest with 99designs AND another provider/service (oDesk, logonerd, etc) for the same logo, at the same time.
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  • Profile picture of the author writeaway
    Interesting. Kind of the reverse of what some people do: Buy stuff on Fiverr and enter logo contests. The difference is wide enough to cover many contest losses.
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  • Profile picture of the author johndetlefs
    Ha, I hadn't heard of that one. What a great way to devalue what is a pretty good website.

    In some ways I think the world would be a much better place if people focused a little less on arbitrage or being the middle man offering little or no value other than to profit, and actually took up a trade or skill and gave back something of value.

    They'd get more satisfaction out of their work too, one would think.

    Anyway, I'm getting off my soap box now, and I'm off to do some work!
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    You only get one shot at life - make it awesome.

    Everyone else also gets just one crack at it - help make theirs awesome too... or, politely step out of their way.

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    • Profile picture of the author SurrealPSD
      Thankyou. Im glad Im not the only one who finds this an incredibly douchey way to make money.

      This premise assumes that both the logo designers and clients are incredibly stupid.

      Try getting revisions sorted out with this model. Ha!! :rolleyes:




      Originally Posted by johndetlefs View Post

      Ha, I hadn't heard of that one. What a great way to devalue what is a pretty good website.

      In some ways I think the world would be a much better place if people focused a little less on arbitrage or being the middle man offering little or no value other than to profit, and actually took up a trade or skill and gave back something of value.

      They'd get more satisfaction out of their work too, one would think.

      Anyway, I'm getting off my soap box now, and I'm off to do some work!
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      • Profile picture of the author Meharis
        Originally Posted by SurrealPSD View Post

        Thankyou. Im glad Im not the only one who finds this an incredibly douchey way to make money.

        This premise assumes that both the logo designers and clients are incredibly stupid.

        Try getting revisions sorted out with this model. Ha!! :rolleyes:

        SurrealPSD,

        "Try getting revisions sorted out with this model." Ha!!

        Good point. That's exactly what I meant by:

        Furthermore, I encourage you to design a system to keep tracking the different
        stages of logo development. Otherwise you could run into trouble very fast.

        Meharis
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  • Profile picture of the author drewfioravanti
    People do this all the time.
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  • Profile picture of the author Meharis
    Originally Posted by zendao View Post

    So I'm starting a Logo design business and I'm wondering if you guys think it's a good idea to use 99 Desgins.com to outsource all the work. Any thoughts?! Thanks!

    zendao,

    I believe you already have enough comments to guide you in the right direction.

    I would like to contribute to this post with my personal point of view.

    You can outsource the logo design but, you'll be the one dealing and responding
    to your clients. Notice I said clients and not customers. Big difference.

    What I'm trying to say?

    It wont be one of those 20 minutes a day working business.
    If you don't have the time, you also can outsource the customer/client service.
    Anyhow, keep close supervision under daily basis.

    Furthermore, I encourage you to design a system to keep tracking the different
    stages of logo development. Otherwise you could run into trouble very fast.

    If you do it professionally, you can make good money, but will work involved.

    I wish you the best in your project.

    Meharis
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  • Profile picture of the author JamesW3
    As a graphic designer and owner of a successful firm, I suggest you just hire someone. Do not cut corners and do not use false advertising. Additionally, you are not going to find many quality designers on 99 designs.
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