Dose 108: Top 6 DIY Design Tools for Small Businesses

Social media marketing has become a crucial element for small businesses looking to expand their reach and engage with potential customers. With 59% of the world's population being online users, digital marketing experts leverage social media platforms to market products and services effectively.?

One essential aspect of social media marketing is creating visually appealing content. This is where DIY design tools come into play, offering small businesses an opportunity to create stunning graphics without needing extensive design skills. Here are the top six DIY design tools for small businesses:

Canva

Canva is a simple yet powerful graphic design tool known for its user-friendly interface and vast array of customizable templates. Small business owners can choose from thousands of templates for various needs, including social media posts, business updates, and comparison charts.?

Canva's drag-and-drop functionality allows users to add text, stock photos, or upload their images effortlessly. Canva is available in both free and paid versions, with the "Canva Pro" offering additional features and increased storage capacity.

Adobe Express

Adobe Express, formerly known as Adobe Spark, is a versatile tool designed for creating social media graphics. It offers a range of features such as typography designs, iconic images, and professional themes.?

Adobe Express also integrates seamlessly with Adobe's other tools, making it an excellent choice for users familiar with the Adobe ecosystem. The free plan includes thousands of images and icons, while the paid plan offers premium fonts, team collaboration, and watermark removal.

Snappa

Snappa is an easy-to-use graphic design tool perfect for creating quick social media posts. It offers hundreds of templates tailored for different platforms and allows users to add text, graphics, and effects with ease.?

One standout feature is the background removal tool, available in the paid version. Snappa’s free version permits three downloads or shares per month, making it ideal for businesses that need occasional designs without a significant investment.

Piktochart

Piktochart specializes in creating infographics, but it also excels at producing social media graphics, flyers, and presentations. Users can quickly create posts that align with their brand colors by simply uploading their logo or a screenshot of their website.?

Piktochart's segmented templates cater to various social media platforms, making it a versatile choice for small businesses. The tool also supports team collaboration, depending on the chosen plan.

Pablo by Buffer

Pablo by Buffer is a minimalist tool designed for placing text over images. It’s perfect for creating quick, visually appealing posts without the need for an account. Users can choose from stock images or upload their own, apply filters, and add text with a variety of customization options.?

Although Pablo lacks the depth of features found in other tools, its simplicity makes it a great choice for businesses looking to create basic but effective social media graphics.

In conclusion, these DIY design tools empower small businesses to create professional-quality graphics with minimal effort and cost. Whether you need detailed templates, advanced editing options, or simple text overlays, there’s a tool on this list to suit your needs. Which ones have you used so far??

This article is part of my weekly newsletter Dose of Digital where I share tips, tricks and growth strategies. Subscribe & share!