💰 How to Charge More as a Web Designer · The Bunker #81
In today's post, I will teach you how to charge your clients more, and how I went from 500 to 3,000 euros per project.
Hi friend 👋🏻!
Welcome to The Bunker.
A Newsletter in which we talk about UX Design and the Freelance Journey, dedicated to those who are starting out in both worlds and who feel identified.
From The Bunker, we accompany you on the way.
Today we're going to talk about a somewhat complicated topic for many of us.
The topic of money.
Complicated because money is a delicate matter, especially when it comes to other people's money.
If you're reading this post, it's probably because you're not yet generating enough income, and you might be stuck between 500-2000€ per project or even much less.
1. Shift Your Focus to Results, Not Market Value
Instead of basing your pricing solely on what the market dictates, start emphasizing the results and outcomes your web design services can deliver.
Often, the market is stuck on something erroneous, and even if you say, "the client will focus on the competition's price," that means the client you have will be focused on finding the best price.
The type of client you're looking for will come asking how we can make the best possible project, based on the cool projects you have in your portfolio.
Leave the market value for iPhones, not for your work. Just because the market says 2,000 doesn't mean you can't charge 10,000.
Furthermore, clients are willing to pay a premium for solutions that solve their problems and drive tangible benefits for their business.
Higher price, higher perceived value too.
Begin by understanding your client's objectives and pain points.
What are they looking to achieve with the website?
How can your expertise help them reach those goals?
2. Communicate Value Throughout the Process
From the initial consultation to project delivery, make it a priority to continually communicate the value of your services.
Avoid getting bogged down in discussions about the total cost; instead, focus on the outcomes and benefits your client will receive.
It's possible that the client keeps mentioning the topic of money, and use that to your advantage. If you see that it's mentioned a lot and keeps devaluing your worth, they might not be the most suitable client.
A good client will try to seek the best outcome, being open to paying for it.
During the discovery phase, delve deep into your client's needs and aspirations.
Ask probing questions to uncover underlying challenges and opportunities. Then, tailor your proposal to address these specific areas, highlighting how your approach will lead to measurable results.
Asking a lot shows interest, and this will give you more chances of ending up working with them. Because the client will see "this person asks a lot, he must be interested."
3. Emphasize Long-Term Value
Beyond the initial design phase, emphasize the long-term value you bring to the table.
A well-crafted website is an investment that continues to yield returns over time.
Whether it's increased visibility, lead generation, or enhanced user experience, emphasize the ongoing benefits your client will enjoy well beyond the project's completion.
Consider offering additional services such as maintenance, optimization, and digital marketing to further enhance the value proposition.
Positioning yourself as a trusted partner in their online journey, you solidify your role as an indispensable asset to their business.
When considering higher-priced web designers, it's crucial to recognize the inherent risk reduction that comes with investing in experience.
While it may be tempting to opt for a cheaper alternative, the long-term consequences of subpar work can far outweigh any initial cost savings.
Experienced professionals bring a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and proven strategies to the table.
They've navigated a myriad of challenges and honed their skills over years of practice.
Entrusting your project to someone with a proven track record, you mitigate the risk of costly errors, delays, and dissatisfaction down the road.
Focusing on the long-term is, in fact, cheaper.
4. Know Your Worth and Be Confident
Recognize your worth as a skilled web designer and be confident in your pricing.
Your expertise, creativity, and dedication are invaluable assets that deserve to be compensated accordingly. Don't undersell yourself out of fear or self-doubt.
Educate your clients on the value of professional web design and the positive impact it can have on their business.
Share success stories and testimonials from past projects to illustrate the tangible results you've achieved for others.
This will give confidence to the client; if you've achieved this with others, you can do it with me too. If you've already solved that for that client, you can do it with me too.
5. Dare to Be Surprised
One often overlooked aspect of charging more as a web designer is the element of surprise – both for yourself and your clients.
It's easy to become stuck in a pricing rut, accepting the same rates without considering the potential for growth and innovation.
You open the door to new opportunities and possibilities.
Challenge yourself to push beyond your comfort zone and propose higher rates that reflect the true value of your skills and expertise. You may be pleasantly surprised by the response.
Remember, stagnation is often a sign that you haven't dared to ask for more yet.
Something that usually works for me is to increase the price a little for each project I accept. Usually, I tend to raise the price every time, and so far, no one has told me "you're too expensive."
And if they say, "you're too expensive," it's the price of the result and the experience. Otherwise, there are cheaper options that I assure you will give you more problems in the long run.
You want a good result, I can give it to you.
How important is a good result for you? I understand it's top priority.
If you try to invest as little as possible, it means you care very little about the result, otherwise you would focus on how to achieve that result, instead of how much it costs.
Cheers, Jordi Espinosa.
✨ This Week’s Sponsor
Koala UI is a Design System built for users who are looking to create uniquely beautiful websites with highly converting structures and SEO optimization.
✽ 10+ About pages
✽ 10+ Blog article
✽ 10+ Blog page
✽ 10+ Career Pages
✽ Ecommerce products display
+24 More
Get 20% off by being a The Bunker reader: “THEBUNKER20” koalaui.com
If you are interested on making a living with Content Creation, I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve recently release my book: From $0 to $10.000 on client projects with only 10.000 followers on Instagram”.
🔖 The Bunker Bookmarks
🖊️ My portfolio
📕 The Ultimate Guide to Choose the Right Typeface · Workbook
🧠 Second Brain for Creatives · Free Download
📕 Typography is for everbody™ · Free Download
💖 Favorite icon pack.
🎨 Favorite Color Generator.
🤹🏻 My Equipment
✱· Most Productive Designer Mouse
✱· Office chair
✱· Sony A7IV