You stumbled upon 99designs and decided that it’s worth the try. At first, you got seemingly good results until you realized the final design didn’t meet your expectations. You want a full refund and wonder, how does 99designs money back work?
Basically, this refund guarantee is similar to Delesign’s 15-Day money back which gives clients peace of mind that their investment will not be put to waste. They will give you a full refund of your initial payment in case you are not satisfied with results.
This article will discuss more about the system but will attempt to introduce you first to what the platform is all about.
99Designs Money Back and Other Reasons to Get Professionals Design Your Logo
The money back guarantee is surely appealing to any businesses wanting to outsource their digital marketing needs. Yet, there are also other reasons why opting to hire professionals to design your logos is a smart decision as follows:
1. A Logo Is an Essential Part of Your Business
A logo is an essential part of your business. Notice that through a logo, you can predict the nature of a business. That is, of course, if you did the logo right.
A logo is usually the first thing a customer notices about your company. An excellent logo design can convey that your company is trustworthy, excellent, and can give high-quality products and services. In short, a logo can help you get a professional image.
2. There Should Be a Concept Behind
For a logo to leave an impression, it should be unique and straightforward enough to understand.
There should be a concept behind your logo, something that professionals are good at doing. If you’ve played around with software to design your logo, you’ll know that this isn’t an easy feat.
3. A Premium Logo Gives Your Company Identity
A logo is not your brand but it surely gives your company identity since it is usually the first thing a customer notices. To easily establish a brand identity, your name and logo should work together.
4. You Can Use the Logo Across All Media
To market your business across all media, it should be available in different formats (e.g., .eps, .png, .psd, .indd, and .ai files) and sizes. It should not, however, compromise its professional look.
5. A Long-Term Investment
If your logo looks amateur, how can you expect your customers to trust you and your business?
However, if you decide to go for a professional look, you’ll attract the right customers. Meaning, you’ll get to see a return on your risk and investment.
99designs Money Back Guarantee Explained
If you’re a business owner who is tight on budget and needs graphic work done, then you probably heard about 99designs.
Competent and professional graphic designers from all over the world make up the 99designs community. This platform helps small businesses to obtain high-quality web and logo designs at an affordable price. One of its key selling points is the 99designs money back guarantee that gives you a full refund of your money if you’re not satisfied.
How Does 99designs Work?
If you’re curious about how 99designs work, here are the three major phases involved before you can have your logo designed:
- Propose a Brief
- Connect with a Web Designer
- Collaborate with the Designer
We’ll discuss these three phases with more details below:
1. Propose a Brief
The first step you should do as a client is to propose a brief. The brief is basically an outline of what you think about how your logo should look. It should at least contain the basic elements such as style, color, etc. This step is easier than you can imagine since 99designs will provide you with a web-based brief creation.
2. Connect with a Web Designer
The next step is to connect with a graphic designer or create a contest. By creating a contest, several graphic designers will compete to create an appropriate design for you. And the last thing you need to do is to choose the winning design.
3. Collaborate with the Designer
Once you’ve chosen the design, it’s time for you to collaborate with the designer. This step will allow you to provide feedback while the designer makes the necessary changes. Once done, you have to release the payment. Afterward, you’ll get a custom logo with legal copyrights in various formats and sizes.
How to Create a Design Contest on 99designs?
All contests conducted on 99designs will run for as long as seven days except for web designs. Here are the steps you need to do to start your designing journey with this platform:
1. Visit 99designs.com
2. Click “Get Started”
3. Select Category. Categories include the following:
- Logo and Identity
- Web & app design
- Business and Advertising
- Clothing and Merchandise
- Art and Illustration
- Packaging and Label
- Book and Magazine
4. Each category has sub-categories. Select the sub-category you’re looking for.
5. Choose between “Hire a Designer” or “Start a Contest”
6. Create a brief.
Five Stages of a Contest
If you choose to start a contest, it will consist of five stages:
1. Qualification Round (around four days)
After the client chose a category, budget, and created a brief, designers must submit their designs. Take note that the bigger your budget is, the more submissions you can get.
You can give feedback so that you can get your desired results.
2. Selection of Finalists (maximum of four days)
After the qualification round, you (as the client) need to choose six designs. After choosing six designs, the contest becomes guaranteed. This means that you can’t ask for a refund after this round.
Guaranteeing the prize is only fitting because by now, you already invested eight days giving feedback. And most importantly, the designers already invested their time editing their design according to your vision.
If you chose six designs, then this means that you’re happy with the designs, and you’re committed to selecting the design you want.
3. Final Round (around three days)
In this round, the client can work with qualified designers. This way, designers can change their designs accordingly.
4. Choose a Winner (maximum of 14 days)
The client has up to 14 days to decide whose design to choose. At this stage, you can also run a poll or select several winners.
5. Finalization
The client will choose the final design. Unless the design needs additional changes, the designer will send the output to the client and give you the full copyright.
How Does 99designs Money Back Work?
99designs ensures smooth transactions between clients and designers. They hold the money at escrow and release it only when the client accepts the output.
99designs ensures that you can get your money back for poor designs. According to Section 1.3 of the 99designs Terms of Use: “If designs have not been accepted by Customer, Customer may request a refund of the Customer Payment from 99designs, at any time up to 60 days after the date of invoice payment, or 10 days after delivery of Designs, whichever happens sooner.”
This money-back guarantee is applicable on all contests except for the following situations:
- A guaranteed contest--meaning the client opts to guarantee the prize for the winning designers;
- Contests that are already in the third stage (a.k.a The Final Round); and
- A contest wherein the client has already declared a winner.
Also, if you’re working with only one designer under the 1-to-1 project, you cannot refund your money in the following instances:
- The project is on-going; and
- The project is completed.
To make a refund, you should first have the go-signal from the designer. Then, the platform’s Customer Support can process a refund for you.
Take note that if you ask for a refund, you’re not entitled to use any of the designs in the contest you created.
In case you’re not satisfied with the submitted designs, 99designs will help you create a brief and reopen the contest. Contact them at 1-800-513-1678. If you’re still not satisfied with the designs after reopening the contest, you can get a full refund.
The 99designs money back guarantee shows the platform’s confidence in the quality of the service they offer. Also, the clients are more inclined to purchase their service because it’s risk-free, and they’re entitled to a refund if they are not satisfied.
How Much Is 99designs?
99designs usually offer four options you can choose from if you opt to start a contest. These options include Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
Tips to Conduct Contests Successfully at 99designs
1. Have Your Profile Set Up
Setting up a profile will convey the message to the designers that you and your business are legitimate. As a result, many designers will want to collaborate with you.
2. Be Thorough in Creating Your Brief
Having a well-written brief will not only get you closer to the design you visualize but also attract a lot of designers.
3. Guaranteed Prize
If the prize is guaranteed, more high-quality designers will want to participate in your contest. This is because they know that you will reward them for their efforts at the end of the contest.
4. Provide Clear Feedback
Providing clear and fast feedback will make the process faster and easier for both parties.
5. Opt for a Private Contest
In contrast to a public one, a private contest will not allow competitors to see each other’s designs. As a result, you’ll get several unique takes of the design you visualize.
6. Run a Poll
If you’re having difficulty choosing a winner, you can run a poll.
7. Refund
If you’re not happy with the designs being submitted after three days, you can opt for the 99designs money back guarantee.
99designs is a popular crowdsourcing platform and among its selling points is its money back guarantee. Unfortunately, it is also among the costliest. If you’re looking for best deals without sacrificing the quality of the design, consider Delesign. It matches you with the suitable designer to complete your project at a more affordable price. Its service also comes with a 15-day money back guarantee.
Maria is a Content Writer with keen interest in eCommerce and Internet Marketing. She is a Communications graduate and understands what it takes to write persuasive copy and blog posts. Outside of work, you can find her mini-blogging about her life on social media.
