The Empowered Client: Editing Files Yourself
Chapter 9: Editing Files
Editing Files
Lesson 1 of 6
I am so excited (and proud) when clients ask me for files they can edit themselves.
While many aspects of the design process cannot really be templatized, I always want my clients to feel empowered by their brand. I want them to give them the confidence in their own skill so that when create a PowerPoint deck, document, newsletter, or social media post, they know represents their brand well.
That said, editable designs are a risky game. There are a lot of factors that go into creating a branded and well-balanced design, and even the best-crafted template does not necessarily yield consistent results without proper training. Editable files can help save you money and time, and help you feel empowered. But if they’re not set up correctly, they can also undermine your brand, and even make more work for you in the long run. It’s also important to know the differences in approaching a design made to be edited as opposed to editing an existing design. The better prepared you are for the editing process, the more likely you are to create designs that support your brand and help you more efficiently reach your goals.
A thorough understanding of client-editable files is essential to ensuring…
Your designs come out beautifully every time.
The editing process is efficient and saves you money.
You are empowered to use your brand assets.
Your templates are easy to use.
You know which files can be safely edited.
You choose the right editing software for your needs.
Everyone knows the latest version of each design.
You are able to customize your assets to your exact needs.
Going into the editing process without this understanding can mean…
Broken designs.
Design that undermines your brand standards.
Confusion in future editing.
Inconsistencies in file versions.
Templates that don’t support your needs.
Design that needs to be redone multiple times.
More money and time wasted than saved.