You’ve crafted the perfect public relations (PR) campaign, but your visuals look like everyone else’s. Sound familiar? In today’s crowded digital landscape, Philippine business-to-business (B2B) brands face a critical choice: invest in custom illustrations or leverage template libraries. This decision shapes how your audience perceives your brand and whether they remember it at all.
1. Match your visual strategy to your business stage
Early-stage startups often need to move fast with limited budgets. Template libraries offer a practical starting point which are professional designs at a fraction of the cost. For newly launched ventures, this approach lets you establish a visual presence while allocating resources to core business development.
But here’s the shift: once you secure funding or establish market traction, custom illustrations become a strategic advantage. Companies that delay this transition risk looking generic when they need to stand out most. Consider a hybrid approach which is using templates for everyday materials while investing in custom visuals for key brand touchpoints like pitch decks or campaign launches.
2. Calculate the real ROI of your visual investment
Filipino businesses invest between ₱25,000 to ₱37,250 monthly for full-time designers, which is significantly less than their Western counterparts. However, the real question is not cost but return. Research shows that 75% of visitors judge credibility based on visual design, and customers who feel connected to a brand tend to increase spending by 57%.
For template users, subscription services range from $399 to $1,699 monthly for unlimited designs. Custom illustrations start around $250 per piece but offer long-term value through reusability across campaigns. Track engagement metrics like sharing rates and time spent on visually-enhanced content to measure actual impact.
3. Leverage custom illustrations for complex B2B storytelling
B2B communications often involve explaining complex concepts or building trust in intangible services. Custom illustrations excel here, they can visualize abstract ideas, simplify technical information, and create emotional connections that stock images can’t match.
For PR campaigns targeting Filipino businesses, custom visuals help you own your narrative. They ensure your crisis communication infographics, thought leadership pieces, or stakeholder reports carry your unique visual signature. This consistency builds recognition across media placements and social channels.
4. Use templates strategically without looking generic
Templates don’t have to mean boring. The key is customization: adjust colors to match your brand palette, swap generic icons for industry-specific ones, and maintain consistent typography across all materials. Many Filipino businesses successfully use template frameworks while adding custom elements that reflect local culture or industry nuances.
Focus template use on high-volume, low-stakes content like social media posts or internal communications. Save custom work for materials that directly impact reputation like media kits, executive presentations, or campaign hero images that journalists will use.
5. Align visual choices with emerging Filipino market trends
Filipino audiences are among the world’s most active social media users, making visually shareable content essential. Current trends favor minimalist designs with bold accent colors, motion graphics for LinkedIn engagement, and culturally-relevant visual elements that resonate locally.
Consider how your visual strategy supports your PR objectives. Data visualization for earned media reports? Custom illustrations make complex metrics digestible. Building thought leadership? Unique visuals help your executives stand out in crowded news feeds. Managing stakeholder communications? Consistent visual language builds trust across touchpoints.
Making the visual decision that drives results
The choice between custom illustrations and templates isn’t binary, it’s strategic. Smart Filipino B2B brands evaluate their current needs, growth trajectory, and communication goals to build visual strategies that evolve with their business.
Start by auditing your current visual assets. Which materials directly impact your reputation? Where do generic visuals weaken your message? Use this insight to prioritize where custom work will deliver the most value while templates handle the rest.
Ready to elevate your brand’s visual communication strategy? M2.0 Communications helps Filipino businesses craft compelling narratives through strategic PR and creative visual storytelling. Check our blog for industry insights and innovative ideas in public relations and social media.
Let’s explore how the right visual approach can amplify your brand’s impact.
