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Dear Readers,

I hope everyone had a nice and relaxing weekend, and that all of you are looking forward to a productive week! Today, I would like to share what I wish clients knew before sitting down and discussing cost. I am not sure if you have had the same experiences, but roughly 90% of my clients present a list of wants with a total that far exceeds what they are willing to pay. I must confess, my clients and I have this in common. Never once have I gone shopping, not even for clothing, when I have not wanted those high-end shoes for less.

Has this ever happened to you?  You get a client, are very excited to be working with them, and design a concept based on the budget they provided you only to have them express their disappointment. They wanted much more. The truth is that we cannot blame our clients. In most cases, I think this comes down to a lack of knowledge and understanding of how the design process actually works. In today’s blog, I would like to share my top tips for most (not all) clients.

I. We are artists who have gone into business to make a profit. Please refrain from placing us in a position where we feel you are trying to get us to give away our services. It is disrespectful, and leads to resentment of both the client and the job itself.

II. Our main goal is to make you happy. We have the utmost respect for you and your budget, which is why we are willing to be honest about what you can and cannot afford. Please remain flexible with your budget, if you want “more” than what your budget allows.

III. We are artists. Please allow us the room to create a brand new design that is unique to you and trust our promise to keep your vision in mind. We do not find it exciting to design what’s already been done time and time again.

IV. Last-minute changes are costly and time-consuming. Please make sure that you are clear with what you want from us and the design itself to avoid constantly changing your mind.

V. Last but not least, know that we value and respect you. Without you, we do not have a chance to design, and we do not have a business. It is for this reason that we are always willing to go the extra mile, and further. Please be generous and responsive with your feedback, as it is the only way we can learn and grow.

I look forward to hearing your responses!

Preston

(Photo courtesy of 3 Blogspot)