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If you are struggling to charge higher prices, this could be the missing link you are looking for.

We know that so many designers pour their heart and soul into their work and business, but are still struggling to convert quotes at higher prices.

We truly believe that you deserve to be compensated for your skills, talents and value you provide as a designer!

One of the most important things you can do to successfully charge premium prices is to position yourself as an expert in the design world. This will help you earn the respect of your potential clients and make them more willing to pay higher prices. We want the decision to be an easy YES for your clients!

How do you go about being seen as the expert? Read on for our top 10 (tried and tested!) ways to position yourself as a leader in the design industry.

1. SHARE & CREATE CONTENT THAT POSITIONS YOU AS AN EXPERT

Share your passion for design! Are you obsessed with typography, colour theory, or the latest design trends? Or maybe you love delving into the history of design (midcentury modern anyone?). Whatever it is, get comfy about sharing your knowledge and insights on aspects of your design process that you love.

Remember that as designers, we operate in a bit of a bubble. Many clients may not be familiar with the latest happenings in the design world, and the insights you share will be brand new to them. When you share your opinion and point of view, they will see you as the leader and will know they are safe hands.

One way to do this is to share case studies of your past client work. Keep it simple—you don’t need to write an essay. Just give a quick rundown of what the client’s situation was before working with you, how you helped them (the process of working with you), and the final result you achieved together. This will help potential clients understand your value and get excited about what you can do for them.

If you’re not confident about sharing your design perspective or past case studies just yet, that’s ok! There is a world of information out there that you can reference. For example, you could look for examples of published industry research that shows the positive impact of design and branding on small businesses. Get creative with your research – keep digging until you find the info you need. Summarise, reference, and share! Show the world that you are in the know.

We mentioned some accounts to follow for design history, here they are:
https://twitter.com/LogoArchive
https://twitter.com/logohistories
https://twitter.com/DesignReviewed
https://twitter.com/365posterblog1

2. BLOGGING

Continuing on from the first point, blogging is still a great way to showcase your thoughts and expertise. Blogging is not dead, people! We love blogging because it boosts your website’s SEO and helps you stand out to potential clients. Imagine a client searching for a designer and finding your blog – it’ll make you look like the ultimate design pro.

Plus, when clients visit your website and see your interesting blog articles, they’ll know you have a unique voice and are an authority in the design world.

If a potential client clicks through to your website and sees all your interesting blog articles, this will immediately show that you have a voice and that you are an authority on the subject of design.

Blogging is also super helpful for creating more content. One blog post can turn into multiple pieces of shorter-form content from Instagram to TikTok to LinkedIn. Repurpose, repurpose, repurpose.

3. CREATE A LEAD MAGNET

A lead magnet is basically a way to show off your expertise and knowledge, while helping your audience see the benefits of working with you.

When creating your lead magnet, don’t worry about what other people are doing – just focus on what you’re good at and what makes you unique. You’ve got a voice that’s all your own, and your people are waiting to hear from you!

Keep it simple. Don’t worry about what other people have created. YOUR people are waiting for you to create your helpful content, using your unique voice. Believe that yours is the only voice they will respond to.

Think about it like you’re at a BBQ with your friends, and someone asks you about an aspect of your business – what could you talk about all day long? That’s the kind of thing you want to focus on when creating your lead magnet.

For five ideas graphic designers can use for lead magnets, be sure to check out episode 12: https://designandprosper.co/5-easy-lead-magnets-to-reach-graphic-design-clients/

4. EMAIL YOUR COMMUNITY

So you’ve got your lead magnet in place and are steadily growing your very own community on your own platform. This is a beautiful opportunity to connect with people who are genuinely interested in what you have to offer, so be sure to email them regularly!

By building and nurturing your email list, you are essentially creating your own community that you can lead and guide. Unlike other platforms, this community is yours and cannot be taken away from you.

You don’t need to send an email every week — even monthly check-ins can show your community you are engaged and ready to share your insights.

Don’t shy away from infusing your brand voice and personality into your emails. Your community has signed up because you are uniquely YOU. Whether it’s sharing your latest project, favourite fonts, or even your music playlist, share what’s currently inspiring you and have fun with it.

Make a commitment to yourself about how often you are going to show up for your community and be consistent with it.

5. BE A KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Yep, you read that right. We’re asking you to step out of your comfort zone here, however if you want to position yourself as an industry leader, this is a really powerful way to do it.

We totally get how intimidating (and terrifying!) it can be to speak in front of people, let alone a bunch of business people. It’s 100% normal to feel nervous, but with each presentation you give, it will get easier. We promise!

Start small. Have you got a friendly local business group where you could do a presentation on a topic you’re passionate about? For example, the importance of consistent branding, or the top 5 things a high converting landing page needs to have.

If you’ve already got a lead magnet, this info could unpacked into a great slideshow and presentation.

Consider reaching out to the organisers of online business summits where your ideal client is likely to attend. Online summits can be an easier entry into the world of public speaking as you can often pre-record your presentation.

Don’t forget about the power of networking at these events. Take the time to talk to people and make connections. If the event has a pop-up facebook group, engage in there. You never know who might be able to help you out in the future.

We know it takes courage to put yourself out there, but we really want to encourage you to give it a try. It’s a brilliant way to expand your reach, discover new leads and establish your authority.

6. JOIN PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Joining professional associations is a great way to stay on top of the latest studies and best practices in the design industry.

Whether you’re a graphic designer, web developer, or illustrator, there are likely to be associations in your country. Check out:
Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA)
Design Council
American Institute for Graphic Arts (AIGA)

You can sign up to these professional bodies no matter where you live in the world, however the benefit of being local is that you can attend live events, like dinners or conferences. There’s nothing quite like hanging out with a whole bunch of designers to elevate and get you inspired.

Joining an association is an investment, but you’ll get access to all sorts of resources such as studies, research, and ethical guidelines. This is great intel you can share with your community to communicate your expertise. You might also like to add the association’s logo to your website, which will let prospective clients know your commitment to design excellence.

7. COMMUNICATE YOUR PROCESS

Are you communicating your elevated design process to potential clients? When people know exactly what to expect and feel confident you’ll be able to deliver results, they will be more likely to pay premium prices. They want to feel like they will are safe hands and they want to be reassured that you know what you are doing.

In the clearest language possible, show potential clients how you work and what they can expect when they work with you.

How to do this? First up create a customer journey on your website, outlining what will happen at each step in your process. Even your initial touchpoint form can give clients an insight into what to expect next. For more info on initial touchpoint forms, see episode 70.

You can also share your process on social media, as pinned posts or story highlights. By presenting your process as a beautiful story, you can create a sense of excitement and anticipation for the client.

There may be parts of your creative process that you want to keep secret. That’s okay! We all have our secret spices and herbs that make our business (and design solutions) unique. But when it comes to your workflow and the client journey, being transparent is key.

8. ON-POINT MESSAGING

In order to be perceived as a design leader your messaging needs to be spot on. As a high-end creative service provider, you’re not just another product or commodity (like an avocado at the grocery store!). You transform businesses and create results such as confidence, clarity and business growth,.

So allow your messaging to reflect the incredible value you offer! This needs to be beyond the aesthetic results you provide —  your words need to communicate the transformation and richness of service you provide. If you are generic with your messaging, you are going to be perceived as generic too.

Stuck on how to make your brand messaging stand out? This is a something we cover extensively in our business course for graphic designers, The Academy. We love seeing the incredible, diverse messaging our students create for their businesses—no two brand voices are ever same.

9. BE HELPFUL IN PUBLIC FORUMS

You can use public groups and forums (such as facebook groups) to answer questions and offer thoughtful perspectives to conversations. Have a point of view!

Even if you have a potentially controversial opinion or alternative take on a topic, that’s ok! Pushing boundaries can definitely position you as a thought leader. But do it with kindness and respect because no one likes an asshole (the whole point is to get lovely new clients, right?).

People will be curious about who you are, and they may visit your profile to find out more about your business. Make sure your personal profile is optimised with all your business details!

Be sure to choose platforms and groups where your ideal clients are hanging out in good numbers.

So get out there and engage, and you could make great connections and generate some new business. So many of our designers have found success in Facebook groups and you absolutely can do this too.

10. BE FIRM ON YOUR PROCESS

Do you have clients who don’t want to follow your processes? Designers tend to be really lovely, kind people, however if you please your clients by bending and swaying to their demands it can lead to your client imposing their own business model onto you. Not good!

Don’t let clients dictate how things should be done just because they appear to be older and wiser or have worked with another designer before. Stick to your guns and reiterate your process.

Remember, it’s your business, your way. Make sure to gently bring your client back to your process and explain how things need to work in order to get the best results possible.

Think about other professionals—if they waiver on their process you will be less likely to trust them. We all love to work with people who have confidence and stand by the way they do business.

If you’re unsure about your processes, don’t worry! You can always join a community or business school like the Design and Prosper Business Academy to learn what the best practices are.

Remember, it’s okay to give excellent customer service without compromising your process. So stand in your power, trust your process, and your clients will be more likely to trust you too. The minute you start bending and swaying, it can lead to a weird dynamic and ultimately, crappy results for both you and your client. Remember, clients can be a lot like dealing with kids — give an inch, and they’ll take a mile.

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Ok gorgeous ones, we hope you are inspired by these 10 ways to help position yourself as a leader in the design industry. Send us a DM over on Instagram to let us know how you go. We believe in you!

Much love,
Kris & Donna xo

For full transcript click here