http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/ Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:52:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/#comment-4624 Bob Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:39:30 +0000 http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/#comment-4624 If a client tells me they can get something cheaper elsewhere, I don't stop them. More often not they come crawling back, and end up paying more than they would have in the first place. I am here to offer a quality service, not a CHEAP service!.
I am here to offer a quality service, not a CHEAP service!.]]> http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/#comment-4583 Mokokoma Mokhonoana Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:31:38 +0000 http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/#comment-4583 Barbara, The one thing I love about design is solving clients' challenges and in most cases the size (small) of the budget contributes in making the challenge harder – as you're required to achieve something with fewer resources. I'm open to trying to work within the client's budget, but when they start giving me the <em>"we can get it else where cheaper"</em> speech — I let go of the prospect. I'd rather work with a client that values design and my expertise but has a tiny budget than someone who affords me who is only developing a logo for the sake of having one. Thanks for sharing your views.
The one thing I love about design is solving clients’ challenges and in most cases the size (small) of the budget contributes in making the challenge harder – as you’re required to achieve something with fewer resources.

I’m open to trying to work within the client’s budget, but when they start giving me the “we can get it else where cheaper” speech — I let go of the prospect.

I’d rather work with a client that values design and my expertise but has a tiny budget than someone who affords me who is only developing a logo for the sake of having one.

Thanks for sharing your views.]]> http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/#comment-4578 Barbara Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:58:09 +0000 http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/#comment-4578 When a client says, "I can get a logo off the internet for $_____," I respond with, "I sure can't argue with that price. We all know what our work is worth." http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/#comment-4545 A simple analogy on how much it cost to hire a graphic designer » Mokokoma Mokhonoana || Logo designer, Graphic designer and Website designer. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:17:00 +0000 http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/#comment-4545 [...] like I mentioned before, I am not of a fan of design packages. As I believe when practiced, it’s unfair to at least one of the two parties, client or [...] http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/#comment-4449 Student work showcase from University College Falmouth » Mokokoma Mokhonoana || Logo designer, Graphic designer and Website designer. Wed, 27 May 2009 12:17:29 +0000 http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/#comment-4449 [...] that’s getting harder and harder to come by in a graphic designer nowadays — since every second person with a computer calls themselves a [...] http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/#comment-4385 Shortest logo brief ever; just don't copy other logos! » Mokokoma Mokhonoana || Logo designer, Graphic designer and Website designer. Mon, 25 May 2009 12:50:16 +0000 http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/#comment-4385 [...] the thousands possible design solutions presented by a community — of which, the majority of the participants are not even graphic design students, they just have a copy of Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, GIMP or a trial version copy of [...] http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/#comment-3340 Briefing questions: Help to gather as much information as possible Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:09:54 +0000 http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/#comment-3340 [...] also key in helping the designer understand the project scope, which is essential for working out what the designer will charge for the [...] http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/#comment-3167 Mokokoma Mokhonoana Sat, 14 Mar 2009 10:16:15 +0000 http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/#comment-3167 Pragasan Naidoo, Design illiteracy is the root of all this, some clients don't really know what makes an effective design, effective - so they usually make pricing their major factor when choosing a designer. A common mistake I see, is a lot of business people make it their problem when a prospect doesn't afford what they charge, which tempts them to lower their initial cost estimates. Welcome, and thanks for sharing your experience.
Design illiteracy is the root of all this, some clients don’t really know what makes an effective design, effective – so they usually make pricing their major factor when choosing a designer.

A common mistake I see, is a lot of business people make it their problem when a prospect doesn’t afford what they charge, which tempts them to lower their initial cost estimates.

Welcome, and thanks for sharing your experience.]]> http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/#comment-3165 Pragasan Naidoo Fri, 13 Mar 2009 23:36:48 +0000 http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/#comment-3165 I experienced the similar issue but mainly with website design and development in durban. Customers call me up to quote them for a website which I then give them based on what I think would benefit the company and then I never hear from them again. One day I decided to call some of my potential customers back and ask them why they did they not go with me (I quoted them on an average 10 page website). The most common answers I got was 1. I managed to get a the website done for less than R 1000 2. I managed to get a free website design I just have to pay for hosting for not more than R 100 pm When I queried what the specifications of their website was I found out it was completely different from what I offered in my website brief. This proves that businesses in South Africa (especially small businesses ) who are for the first time going onto the web don’t care what they get as long as it cheap. They don’t know the difference between a website that works and the website that doesn’t. When looking closer I found out that they were lured into taking a cheap website or a free website that really did not fit their business. No SEO, No Contact Forms, Terrible Design. It seems like a company just got someone to sit and do a production line of website packages and marketed it to the mass. When customers wanted to cancel because of bad service they find out that they were trapped in a contract and the free website was not free after all. Most of the businesses that go online for the first time go through this cycle and most get scared to go back. On another note I was also forced to go the cheap route because I was losing out to the cheap competitors. What I then found was shocking. If a customer takes a website for R 800 at the end of the day he still expects a R 5000 service. He still asks for those extra iterations on the design and when you tell him that he reached his limit he gets angry and threatens that he would go elsewhere. Now imagine if you get 10 customers a month who would come to you because you are cheap. Your work load increases by your costs increase as well. Also if you are used to offering good service and quality work it is hard downgrade. You therefore find yourself offering your customers R 5000 value for just R 800. It’s just not worth the effort. Since then I stopped and went back to my old ways. The lesson I learned from this is that price determines your company’s value and worth. Don’t budge for customers on your price. If they want something cheaper point them to one off your cheap competitors and if you are lucky they may learn a lesson and come back that’s if pride doesn’t get to them first. If all software, web and graphic design companies in South Africa start marketing themselves by service and not price we would all be more valued. Then customers will be forced to choose who they service provider will be based on the quality of service they offer.
1. I managed to get a the website done for less than R 1000
2. I managed to get a free website design I just have to pay for hosting for not more than R 100 pm

When I queried what the specifications of their website was I found out it was completely different from what I offered in my website brief. This proves that businesses in South Africa (especially small businesses ) who are for the first time going onto the web don’t care what they get as long as it cheap. They don’t know the difference between a website that works and the website that doesn’t. When looking closer I found out that they were lured into taking a cheap website or a free website that really did not fit their business. No SEO, No Contact Forms, Terrible Design. It seems like a company just got someone to sit and do a production line of website packages and marketed it to the mass. When customers wanted to cancel because of bad service they find out that they were trapped in a contract and the free website was not free after all. Most of the businesses that go online for the first time go through this cycle and most get scared to go back.

On another note I was also forced to go the cheap route because I was losing out to the cheap competitors. What I then found was shocking. If a customer takes a website for R 800 at the end of the day he still expects a R 5000 service. He still asks for those extra iterations on the design and when you tell him that he reached his limit he gets angry and threatens that he would go elsewhere.
Now imagine if you get 10 customers a month who would come to you because you are cheap. Your work load increases by your costs increase as well. Also if you are used to offering good service and quality work it is hard downgrade. You therefore find yourself offering your customers R 5000 value for just R 800.
It’s just not worth the effort. Since then I stopped and went back to my old ways. The lesson I learned from this is that price determines your company’s value and worth. Don’t budge for customers on your price. If they want something cheaper point them to one off your cheap competitors and if you are lucky they may learn a lesson and come back that’s if pride doesn’t get to them first.

If all software, web and graphic design companies in South Africa start marketing themselves by service and not price we would all be more valued. Then customers will be forced to choose who they service provider will be based on the quality of service they offer.]]> http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/#comment-3157 Asking for a client's budget: an opportunity to 'milk' the client or not? » Mokokoma Mokhonoana || Logo designer, Graphic designer and Website designer. Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:59:11 +0000 http://mokokoma.co.za/2-reasons-why-clients-will-always-expect-to-pay-r99-for-a-logo/#comment-3157 [...] could easily say: “ the design will cost you ‘this much’ with 3 revisions ” - but I’m not a fan of ‘design packages’, as I strongly believe every client’s design challenge differs thus it will require a design [...]