How Designers Can 10x Their Fees
7 easy ways you become your client’s Creative Partner and stop being a low-value order taker.
As designers, we are often seen as a creative bunch. We insist that we are not artists, but designers, and business problem solvers. With a proven approach to branding and design, we can become the expert. We can get paid to diagnose, not just to iterate. We can position to solve business problems.
A Creative Partner is not another order taker. Fundamentally, being your client's Creative Partner raises your value and sets you on a higher step than your competitors. Becoming the Creative Partner is about positioning yourself as the expert.
Let's get straight into it…
Experts use processes
We’ve all heard about value-based pricing. Let’s elevate this one more step. Let’s get paid to think, let’s position ourselves as an expert.
Experts work methodically. Experts have processes and proven approaches.
Creating an approach with proven processes has been our tried and tested route to positioning as an expert. Implementing a unique, strategic approach to every branding project took our small agency from being seen as just another design order-taker to a small but niche and expert branding agency.
Using a brand strategy template from the beginning when onboarding new clients, through the discovery and strategic phase, before the branding phase, illustrates your expertise.
Level-up
Learn new skills. Learning to run workshops, speaking, writing, photography, and software skills, all add value. Learn something that compliments your design work.
Utilize your network
Become an agent to your industry contacts, and refer projects to your network for a small kickback. Get to know local printers, photographers, illustrators, web developers, and product and other designers to who you can refer projects.
Share in your client’s successes
Genuinely care about your client, not just your project. Treat your client’s successes like your own and watch as your client brings you closer to the inner team.
Diagnose, then solve
Step back. Ask questions. During discovery with your client, ask a lot of questions. Ask everything you can think of. Understand their business model, industry, customer, and competitor, and ask them why should people care about their business.
Get to know their business deeply. If a client comes to you asking for a rebrand, quite literally ask why they want this, and what problem are they hoping to solve with the new branding? Diagnose, be honest. Is this really going to help? Is a new website going to generate more leads, or would repositioning the brand first be a better, longer-term solution? Speak your mind, let your experience show, and don’t simply take orders if you feel there would be a better solution.
Consistently over-deliver
This goes without saying. Deliver more than you promised by 10% consistently. Going above and beyond shows your work ethic, and commitment. It’s a fine line with every client, to deliver more than agreed, but not too much so they take it for granted.
Communicate with radical honesty
Empathize and care about their business. Be kind but be honest with your opinions. Practice boundaries. Don’t work evenings/ weekends. When you need to, don't be afraid to push back on bad ideas. Clients respect honesty. To be paid for your thinking, you first need to share how you think.
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About BrandWerks —
BrandWerks is a design resource company focused on advancing the practice of brand strategy.
We know that brand strategy can be a difficult beast to master. We create brand strategy templates and resources that help designers, agencies, and brand strategists master brand strategy.
Our tools are actionable and fully customizable and founded in a commercial approach that helps guide you and your clients through the process.