This year, one of my goals was to create some new marketing materials for my business with a logo that was uniquely mine, but would still complement my brokerage’s Royal LePage branding.

I turned to the company 99 Designs based on the positive experience of one of my relatives, and it was a great decision.  They have a full range of pricing options depending on your needs (whether you want a new logo created, or whether you already have a logo but need promotional materials designed, etc.), and once you’ve set a price point, you launch a contest on their website:

www.99designs.ca

A number of designers will submit ideas based on the guidelines you provide (colour preferences, slogans, elements to include), you can provide further direction to the designers whose work you like best, and then you select a winner (or cancel the contest if nothing fits the bill).  The website brokers the formal agreement where copyright in the final design is transferred to the buyer, and the payment is forwarded to the designer.

The higher the payment you offer, the more designers will participate in your contest.  I chose a mid-range package and was absolutely thrilled with the results in just a few days!