7 Innovative Ways for Graphic Designers to earn MORE!

Did you know that graphic designers can earn more doing what they do best? No guys, I'm not talking about doing other jobs or side businesses. I'm referring to the fact that graphic designers can earn more while working in the field of graphic design. Since graphic designers are a specialized lot, they need to understand how to get the maximum out of their expertise. While it is still a question of debate that graphic designers are value and paid, there are some creative ways that graphic designers can employ and earn more than what they are earning right now. Here are 7 innovative ways through which you can rake maximum benefits out of your graphic designing careers:

1. Add more value to your work:

The concept of adding value is extremely helpful for graphic designers. Value addition is the price that your clients are willing to pay more than your standard price. Suppose you charge $200 for a logo design, you can increase the value of your work by adding more quality or speed and charge $200 for the same project. The most important part of adding value to your work is to differentiate your style and methodology so that your clients are willing to pay you more than before. There are many clients that value quality over money.

2. Maintain a healthy network of designer friends: Social media for graphic designers has been more or a blessing and has allowed them to interconnect with the graphic design field. Popular social media sites like twitter and facebook help designers build a healthy network of designer friends from all spheres of the world. For example, if you a logo designer, a web designer friend of yours could refer his clients to you for a logo. Similarly, you could refer your clients for a website to your developer friend.

3. Keep long-term relationships with client:

On many occasions graphic designers underestimate the benefits of a stable and long-term relationship with their clients. They just focus of the relationship till the end of a single project. There is a concept of retaining your potential clients. Instead of trying to earn more by finding clients, graphic designers should develop a long-term relationship with their existing clients so as to retain them for future endeavors.

4. Provide extra services: Although this can be called adding value to your design services, but I would like to call it supplementary services. For example graphic designers can entice their clients by offering them multiple services at the cost of one, or a bundle package like get a website design and obtain a complimentary logo free of cost. Not only will this attract more clients, but will also act as an incentive for retaining existing clients as well.

5. Segment your clients: Another mistake that many graphic designers make is that they keep a static fee for all clients. That is they charge each customer on the same basis. Instead of keeping universal charges, designers must learn to segment their clients. Opt on charging more from big clients like multinationals and less from small business owners. This type of technique is known as market segmentation, dividing your clients into niches. To get an idea of how high can multinationals be charged, refer to my 'famous rebranding cost' post. On the other hand, keeping charges less for lower segments will earn more clients who have tight budgets.

6. Be a Jack of all trades:

Although the saying is "Jack of all trades, master of none", I believe in the 'Master of one, Jack of all" philosophy. Being a master at your area of expertise will earn you more, but having command over all aspects of the business will earn you more prospects. For example, if you are a web designer, don't stick to being just that. Learn other concepts of the graphic design field and develop into a versatile designer. Keep knowledge about logo designing, brochure designing and other aspects of graphic designing as well. This will earn you more clients and projects.

7. Spread your knowledge and expertise: So you're a professional graphic designer? Share your knowledge and expertise by writing articles related to your areas of interest and specialization. Not only will this rake additional money, it will add credentials to your graphic design portfolio. Moreover, spreading knowledge broadens you horizons and you get to learn more and harness you skills more. If believe that you have the ability to teach others, you can also opt on delivering lectures on graphic designing which is a well paid work as well.

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