Clients: Arguments List
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- popovich
What is your argument for a client, who says "why should I pay so much, if anyone could draw the same [insert your job name here]"?
It's not a bad client of mine. I just want to make the designer's job more feasable to him. Any charts? Any short articles on the subject? Why should someone pay [this sum of money] for [this kind of job], if it looks so simple, that anyone could do this.
- harlequino0
My tactic has always been to talk about quality and experience.
For example"Well Mr. Client, while technically anyone else may be able to create a [insert job] for you, it is unlikely that at a nominal fee, they would have the skill and vision to produce the top notch work your company deserves and needs to compete in the marketplace. You've chosen to work with us/me because of the quality and value of our services, and the experience we have to back it up. Not to mention the care and responsiveness with which we regard your business. While our fees may be higher compared some others, that is reflective of value."
- +1itstimefortea
- aewsomemarychain
- -1. too vague and not practical. how's that going to help their bottom line? really, not just in theory.zarkonite
- What about that is vague? They're your client, not a prospect. They know your work and your service.harlequino
- jamble0
If someone asks the question, you typically have 3 possible responses.
1. What harlequino said.
2. Ask them what they do, unless it involves rockets and science together, tell them you think what they do is overpriced and that any monkey could do it. (works well with recruiters and estate agents)
3. Tell them to fuck off and walk away happy that you've saved the hassle of a client from hell.
- stewdio0
When a potential client says the above I abort the project. A question like that is not merely a single question, but an indicator of a very long and painful relationship that will yield no fruit and eat up more of your time than more fulfilling interactions. You only have so many work hours in your life. Why waste them on bad clients? (Unless of course you are in a tough financial spot.)
- d_rek0
Just had this conversation with a client of ours last week.
client: "Well why shouldn't we just handle the layout of these in our office? We have microsoft word."
us: "Ok, well, we have accounting software, but would you trust us to do your taxes?"
- GeorgesII0
Me: can you pay me, please. You're 3 weeks late
Client: my head is made of pancake your argument is invalid
Me: :(
- the old pancake head, eh? A real conundrum.Gucci
- I don't understand this.waterhouse
- solution: barter for pancakesjonturi
- popovich0
You are right, stewdio, however leaving a human in ignorance, when it is in your power to clarify something, is not humane. :)
I mean some kind of this arguments, when I was asking the question: http://www.designfactfinder.co.u…It's about the value of good design.
More?
- dMullins0
I've said it here before many times, and I'll say it again now.
If you walk away, you do a disservice to your industry just as much as the client's ill-advised perspective.
If you don't educate your client, you allow yourself to be lumped into the very category you're discussing. When you give a sound, intellectual rationale for what you do for a living, not only does it make more sense to them (the value you bring as a smart individual with strong concepts and great executions), it gives them an actual appreciation for it outside of just, "Oh, this looks really nice."
Just my two cents...
- popovich0
Sooo... any advice, dMullins, what I could send to a client of mine to let him understand more on the subject of design?... Maybe?...
- d_rek0
I'm trying to get a feeling for your client here. It sounds like they have uncertainty and/or hesitation to use the creative services you or your studio offers.
There are many ways to justify a cost, but ultimately, if the client doesn't believe that the value you bring to the table is worth the dollar amount you're asking for, there's probably not a lot that you're going to be able to argue that will convince them otherwise.
On the other hand, there are myriad arguments in your favor as someone offering up creative services. It can be as simple as "you get what you pay for" or you can get fairly deep with the subject and find some studios/firms that have actively tracked their clients ROI by utilizing their creative services (think Pentagram, Landor, and there is a british studio - although the name escapes me - that has case studies with reports on profit increase and such).
The website you posted above also provides some good counterpoint to your clients argument. However, in the end, it probably boils down to the type of project and how much you're asking for in regards to what argument to best put forth for your services.
- d_rek0
This may be of some use:
http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/…
- FredMcWoozy0
There is no 'magic' button.
- popovich0
There is no need to "get the feeling" for my client, as the quotation is quite generic. In my case he said something blunt, like, "I could do that myself", though, certainly, he couldn't.
ROI is good for big projects and clients, who know what ROI means. How about smaller subjects and clients, where words like "corporate", "international" and "point of sale, shop-in-shop" is too complicated? What kind of argument would one use? What is the value of professionally executed design, when it is about a small regional business?- They want to project a good, business-like image, not look like a bunch of cheap jerks.boobs
- zarkonite0
tell them that anyone can get a nice big sublime pair of fake tits but you can't buy class and you, sir, will make their big tittied logo classy as fuck.
- plash0
i've never been ask to justify my job.
and if i ever do. ask them if they (the monkey who can do my job) has a 450 thousand dollar degree from a prestigious art school. has put over 10 thousand hours into it and has a *stable* business doing it.
then show them the door.
- ETM0
"Would you trust any other segment of your business to people or companies that have minimal experience, education or track record?"
No? Then why look at your online presence any differently? Today more than ever, its a valuable, relevant and measurable element to your business. It's more than just being found online, it about finding new audiences, promoting your products and expanding all aspects of your business from these brick and mortar walls or your geographic location."Or some other BS I pull out on the spot.
- If they are skeptical at this type of conversation... see stewdio's post above.ETM
- RIZ0
This is a great thread, I've pondered a decent answer for this many times, but can see a lot of good responses here, nice.
- moural0
Was this an open competition or something? I don't understand.
Hasn't this client already chosen you? There must have been a reason why, right? Why do you have to justify their OWN decision to choose you?
That's like going to a restaurant, ordering something, and then asking the chef why you've ordered that something. How are they supposed to know?
- noneck0
If you haven't already, you should watch this talk by Michael Bierut. He explains why it's pointless to educate clients.
Also, there's this short parable on the value of experience:
Legend has it that Pablo Picasso was sketching in the park when a bold woman approached him.
“It’s you — Picasso, the great artist! Oh, you must sketch my portrait! I insist.”
So Picasso agreed to sketch her. After studying her for a moment, he used a single pencil stroke to create her portrait. He handed the women his work of art.
“It’s perfect!” she gushed. “You managed to capture my essence with one stroke, in one moment. Thank you! How much do I owe you?”
“Five thousand dollars,” the artist replied.
“B-b-but, what?” the woman sputtered. “How could you want so much money for this picture? It only took you a second to draw it!”
To which Picasso responded, “Madame, it took me my entire life.”
Borrowed from: http://www.1099.com/c/ar/ta/HowT…
- d_rek0
noneck,
I've heard a similar parable about Paula Cher from Pentagram.
It goes as follows.
Paula was in a meeting with Citibank discussing their new corporate identity and speculating on what it might look like.
She had in front of her a notepad, a glass of water and a napkin...
While the client was rambling on and on about their grand ideas and how great the creative process was going to be and how they all looked forward to it Paula quietly pulled her napkin closer to her and quickly sketched on it.
After the client quieted down and asked her what she though she simply walked to the front of the table, held up the napkin with the sketch on it and told the client that the identity was done and that will be $120,000* check please thank you.
The client fumed, 'But it only took you 5 minutes to make that!"
Paula retorted, "No, it took me 30 years to create this."