Little White Lies My Clients Have Told Me-Part 1
Author of this post: Jacqueline McCarthy | About Blog Authors »
I know this title may sound quite cynical-especially as my first post as a guest blogger, but I heard many little white lies as a fresh-faced freelancer that most designers seem to encounter during their careers. I fell for many of them too. Maybe you won’t have to.
Little White Lie #1: Give me a cheap price on this project and I’ll have lots more work for you in the future.
Hmm, lots more work. That sounds great. However, ask yourself, lots more work at what price — at this cut-rate? Can I sustain that pricing past the initial project? Do I want to? And will those future projects ever come to fruition? Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
Price your work so that it is fair for you. If you offer a lower rate than your usual fee, negotiate for something in return. If you design a poster for an event, get extra tickets to it. Designed a brochure for a hot new product? Get a box of that hot product. Giving away something for nothing is usually what it’s valued at…nothing.
April 5th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
[...] Read Jacqueline’s previous post [...]
April 10th, 2007 at 11:40 pm
The worst part is that you believe them when they say it and you are so interested in the business that you’d do anything. I remember bartering a lot when I started and also hoping to get the referrals. Now I know better.
April 11th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Very true. Especially good information for freelancers trying to build your business over the internet. It’s the same principle that drives people to shop online for things, the chance to get a “great deal” on something. That is exactly why people go through the web to find freelancers. In addition, charging “discount prices” does not only potentially hurt you, it also potentially hurts others in the same business, as well as the whole creative freelancing industry.
April 11th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
The only time I discount deeply if it is PROVEN 501(c)(3) organization. I tell people where to go online if they are interested in price rather than a full time person whose ONLY job is web design.