⭐ Invest in your image
Let’s ease into it. This is a biggie, one of those things people always talk about, but let’s be honest – how much attention do you really give to your professional image? What do your social profiles look like? Your website? 🌐
Think about it – all the places a potential client might find you and think, “Wow, nailed it! This is exactly the person I need!”. We know you’re fantastic, but your client needs to know that too. And if you don’t show up, how will they find out?
If you’ve got your digital footprint sorted – hats off to you 🎩, skip ahead to point 2️⃣. But we know a lot of people let this slide, usually because of time. The good news? You don’t have to go all out straight away. Start simple – sort out your LinkedIn profile, get a decent cover photo, and a professional headshot. While you’re scrolling through your feed, share posts that interest you – with a short comment or even none at all. Or drop a thoughtful reply under someone else’s post.
Once you see it’s not as scary as it seems, you might even try a content calendar. Start with one post a month – maybe about a workshop that inspired you. Then two – perhaps a bit of industry news or a project you’re proud of? You’ll see, it can actually be quite fun! ❤️
This is your first step toward serious invoices and confidence when it comes to proposals and quotes. If you want to build a brand that stands out, investing in your personal image is key. 🤝
🏋️ Think twice – is it worth it?
When it comes to proposals, it’s a classic case of go big or go home – either don’t bother or go all in.
If you’re aiming to earn thousands (or tens of thousands) from your projects, offering isn’t just about replying to an email. It’s about starting a whole process that involves relationship building and developing the project from that very first contact.
So it’s worth asking yourself – is it even worth pursuing? Take a closer look at the person reaching out to you. Are they serious? It’s good practice to share your rates straight away – it acts as a filter, saving you from wasting time on those who aren’t serious about working with a designer.
Watch out for a few red flags 🚩:
1️⃣ The person reaching out isn’t the decision-maker but someone lower down the ladder.
2️⃣ The client goes way overboard with compliments about your work and seems too excited about collaborating.
→ In these cases, being upfront about your rates is crucial.
Over-the-top enthusiasm can sometimes be used to manipulate you later on: “We had such a great chat, your work is amazing – I was hoping for a lower price though…”. Not exactly a rare scenario, is it?
Sometimes, it’s worth being blunt. “What’s your budget?” – see how they respond. If you’re not seeing the potential, wrap up the conversation quickly. But if you do spot an opportunity, it’s time to go all in.
👞 Step into the client’s shoes
Are clients difficult and stingy with creative ideas? Do they refuse to pay for creativity? It’s a common complaint, but is it true? Try looking at it from the client’s perspective. ⬇️
Imagine you’re commissioning a visual identity for your personal brand. Think about how many emotions and risks come with that decision. The client always takes on far more risk than the person they hire.
In a business relationship, the word partner gets thrown around a lot. But we’re not really partners – because we don’t shoulder the same risks.
Clients are the ones investing significant sums. If they’re unsure about the outcome or how it’ll look, they won’t commit to bigger budgets.
Thoughts like these run through their heads: Can I trust them? Is it worth paying that much for a few designs? Is this small studio (or freelancer) in Poland up to the task internationally, or should I just go with a big agency?
💡 Pro tip: This is why it’s worth creating a pitch deck – a short, slick presentation (PDF works well) that addresses all those worries and questions in your client’s mind. Who are you? What do you do? What have you achieved? How can you reassure the client and prove your quality? What are your strengths? Include this info and send it during the first contact. And, of course, make sure it looks top-notch. Professionalism sells.
🕧 Respect your time
“That much for a few pictures?!” 🤯 This question won’t send you spiralling if you’ve got a detailed price list, say, in an Excel spreadsheet, to back up your rates. List and price every single element of what you do.
Designing a logo isn’t just: “Right, got it, I’ll sketch it out and send it over.” With that mindset, you’ll end up selling logos for pennies or resorting to AI-generated solutions.
Higher rates are justified because designing a logo involves a whole management process – meetings, research, strategy – which all needs to be priced properly.
Designers need to learn to respect their own time. You wouldn’t call a lawyer at midnight with random questions, would you? And if you did, you’d probably say: “Sorry to disturb you, I know your time is valuable. I’ll only take 15 minutes – how much do I owe you?” That’s how we should treat design professionals too.
Clients shouldn’t be ringing designers at all hours or changing their minds endlessly. They need to respect you and your work.
Remember, designing isn’t just about meetings – it’s the research, the concepts, the sketching, and then the design itself.
And that’s not even the end of it! You also have the testing phase, ensuring the logo works in different contexts and sizes. Will it look good as a profile picture on Instagram? Can it be turned into an app icon? These steps are all part of the design process – so make sure you account for them in your pricing.
💅 Sell ✨ Yourself ✨, not just the service
Remember, design isn’t some automated process. A person buys the project, and that person wants to work with another human being.
In that designer-client relationship, who you are as a person can influence the budget. Because ultimately, the client is paying for a product – and the experience that comes with it.
Here's a handful of tips: 👇
1️⃣ Talk, don’t just email. Small talk works magic! 🪄
Don’t waste time on idle chatter, but do take a moment to build rapport. Breaking down barriers makes communication smoother and helps you both focus on what really matters. It also makes clients more likely to stick with you long-term.
2️⃣ Be prepared for client meetings. After your initial email exchange, show that you understand their industry, offer insights, and discuss what they’ve shared so far. This makes your conversation far more valuable – and productive.
3️⃣ Ask questions and, most importantly, listen! There’s a fine balance to strike here – so don’t overdo it.
We could go on about this forever! Hopefully, you’ll find something in this email that makes talking about money that little bit easier.
And as always – let us know what you think! ❤️
