Pros and Cons of Canva for Your Small Business

14 Dec Pros and Cons of Canva for Your Small Business

In the world of digital marketing, creating visually appealing content that resonates with your brand (strategically and visually) is crucial. For small businesses, tools like Canva have become a go-to platform for DIY design solutions. However, like any tool, Canva comes with its own set of pros and cons. Let’s explore how Canva can elevate your small business design game, as well as some pitfalls to watch out for, and why it might be beneficial to hire a designer to help you out!

Cons

1. Template Overload: The countless templates available on Canva can be overwhelming. It’s easy to get sidetracked and choose a design style that doesn’t align with your brand. Careful consideration is needed to ensure that your marketing materials stay true to your unique identity. Tip: Use your brand kit! 
2. Limits to Creativity: Canva, while user-friendly, has its creative constraints. Compared to professional design software like Adobe, Canva might not provide the same depth of features. If your design needs to go beyond the basics, you might find yourself longing for the advanced capabilities of more robust software.
3. Pixelated Frustrations: Designing a logo on Canva? Be cautious. Canva doesn’t allow you to export your logo as a vector, leading to potential pixelation issues when resizing. This limitation could pose challenges if you plan on using your logo across various platforms and sizes, such as a billboard, on the side of a vehicle, or when making T-shirts.
4. Design Deja Vu: One drawback of Canva’s accessibility is that everyone has access to the same asset library. You do have a few more options if you pay for the Pro version, however, there’s a risk of using the same design or design elements as another small business, which might make your brand look like every other player in the market.

Pros

1. Brand Kit Magic: Canva’s Brand Kit feature is a small business owner’s dream. It consolidates all your design elements – fonts, colors, logos, and styles – in one convenient place. This not only streamlines the design process but also ensures consistency across all your marketing materials, fostering a cohesive brand identity. Use this to your advantage! Tip: Hire a designer to help you create your brand identity and brand guide ahead of time to ensure consistency. 
2. Inspiration Hub: Need a spark for your next social media post or marketing campaign? Canva’s extensive template library serves as a wellspring of inspiration. It’s an excellent starting point for those moments when you’re staring at a blank canvas, providing layouts and design ideas that can be customized to fit your unique brand aesthetic. Tip: If you’re scrolling through the templates, focus more on which layout you like best instead of the colors and graphics. Once you open the template, customize it with all of your own brand elements to make it unique to your business.
3. Brand Templates: Stand out from the crowd by creating brand templates within your account. This personalized touch not only saves time but also sets your brand apart, ensuring that your marketing materials don’t blend in with the competition when using Canva’s pre-made templates.

Canva is a powerful ally for small businesses diving into the design world. Its user-friendly interface, plethora of templates, and personalized branding features make it an attractive option. However, it’s crucial to tread carefully, ensuring that your design choices align with your brand identity and business goals. If you find that the pros outweigh the cons, and you’re interested in incorporating Canva into your small business, we suggest working with a designer or marketing team, such as ourselves, to create those design assets to avoif feeling overwhelmed with Canva’s extensive asset library. We’d be happy to help you navigate and use Canva effectively!

Visit www.em3rgemarketing.com/request-a-quote to get in touch about a potential project!