Table of Contents
Humans are visual creatures. It takes more than written content to catch our eye and entice us to dig deeper into social media posts. Businesses depend on imagery and graphics to create scroll-stopping content. Creating your graphics and social content doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive if you have a good eye for design (and yo, not everyone is good at this, so please, know when you aren’t!) Here are five free design apps I’m checking out that you can use to create some impressive social media content for your business.
Logo Creator
Every business needs a great logo. Your logo will represent you online and off, so this is an important first step. I generally recommend working with a professional graphic designer for logo creation and branding…it’s more than just popping text on an icon. However, if you’re just getting started, you might want to DIY this, too.
A helpful, free tool for creating a logo is LogoCreator. Just upload your chosen icon (or check out Vecteezy to browse their free selection). Next, choose your color and design with the Logo Creator tool. Before you know it, you’ll have a fresh logo, ready for all of your social media content.
Pablo by Buffer
This tool is great for creating a quick and simple visual with images. With Pablo, you can overlay photos with your logo and text for a simple but effective image design. Perfect for Pinterest, for example. Hey, sometimes you just need an uncomplicated design, so why bother with more complicated options?
Desygner
It’s said that entrepreneurs are never really off the clock…although I definitely encourage you to take time away from the business regularly. Today, sharing content regularly is essential for business and you may not always have access to your computer. Luckily we always have our cellphones!
Desygner’s free tool is there for you during those on-the-go times. It’s super mobile friendly compared to most design software. Create your designs, share, print, edit and more–all from your phone. This app is extremely versatile and can be used for just about any design project you have.
Gravit Designer
Not all of your projects will be completely straight-forward. You may encounter a project where it’s useful to have a combination of features to get your design to your liking. For instance, in designing your website, presentations or your business card.
For a full featured vector art design app, try Gravit Designer. This tool has the flexibility to design graphics from scratch, exactly how you want them. It definitely requires a creative eye, but the infinite possibilities make Gravit Designer a great addition to your toolbox.
Pixlr
Having your own images can be both a money saver and add a more personal touch to your social media content. Photo editing tools can help turn your ordinary photos to striking, eye-catching images. Unfortunately, some photo editing software can be expensive and complicated to use if you’re not a professional photographer.
This is where the Pixlr app can come in handy. It’s a free app with several of the editing features used in Adobe Photoshop. You have complete control over modifying, overlaying, and adding effects or filters to your images. If this version is too complex for you, there’s even a more simplified version called Pixlr Express.
Starting a business is an investment, for sure. An investment of both time and money. What sets the smart entrepreneur apart is knowing when to scrimp and when to splurge. Remember, there is a trade off in DIYing your design work: it may not be as professional looking and it will definitely eat up some of your valuable time. If you decide to try the DIY design route, be sure to ask your business besties if your designs are good! The last thing you want is to THINK you’re good at this when you really aren’t! Asking a friend can help you see when it’s time to outsource some of this work.
