In a creative business like web/graphic design or video production, pricing and budgets fall into a rather large “grey area”. We try to get away from that as much as possible at doubleswirl, and be very upfront about general pricing guidelines. However, each project is unique, and with that comes a price that must be custom-fitted to the client’s needs. We are accountable to stick to that price in the future, so a great deal of thought and preparation has to go into it.
In an effort to create the ideal web site, print design or video, it is always among our first objectives to understand what the client is looking to spend. Is this our way of manipulating clients so we can charge as much as possible for as little work as possible? Absolutely not! But still, many clients protect this information, as if it does not become clear eventually anyways. So here, we are going to set the record straight about budgets using a simple illustration.
Let’s say you want to buy a ring for that special someone in your life. Once you have done the research and have a good idea of what you would like, you visit a jewelry store to see what they have to offer. Keep in mind that there are tens of thousands of jewelry stores to pick from, and each diamond in the world is unique. Along with the stone(s), there are thousands of settings to choose from. So it is safe to say no matter what ring you choose, it will be unique.
Within the first two minutes of talking with a salesperson, they will mention the ‘B’ word. They will ask for your budget. They ask not to offend you, but simply because it is the best way for them to understand what you are able to purchase. If your budget is $5,000, they won’t waste your time trying to sell you a $15,000 ring. Conversely, they also won’t try to sell you a $2,000 ring when you can afford a much better quality product. You and the salesperson can instantly communicate on an honest level and find something that is just right.
So what if you are unwilling to give the salesperson a budget? Then most likely, trying to sell you a $15,000 ring will cause you to leave, even though that store could have had the perfect ring. Or even worse, they could sell you a $2,000 ring that you ended up displeased with after it was all said and done. In either case, not talking with the salesperson about the budget ends up hurting you, the client.
A creative project is like a diamond, in that a number of characteristics make it unique. The service doubleswirl offers is absolutely unique, which makes it difficult to compare with another company based solely on price. Diamonds have the 4 C’s, Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat weight. doubleswirl has experience, quality, creativity and service (not as sexy as 4 C’s, I know). Knowing the budget is the best way to come up with the perfect combination of each in order to make everyone happy.
Failure to communicate clearly about this kind of thing can result in losing a project, or either side not really getting what they bargained for. That’s why any creative company that has been doing this for a while is smart enough to work with you on an honest level with regards to budget.
If your budget is $10,000, then chances are that our proposal will be within that general range. Why? Because if you go to the jewelry store ready to spend $10,000, then you don’t want to leave with a product that costs half that. You want the very most for your dollar! And it is our job to give you the very most bang for your buck, in the form of a great quality product. Sometimes we can fit in all the specifications and be significantly cheaper, but it seldom happens.
Despite popular belief, knowing your budget does not change our pricing whatsoever. It simply gives us an idea of what kind of product would suit you in the end.
Understanding money and budgets is simply part of the process when working with ANY creative company. Our promise is to be fair and upfront about pricing, but we will not do a proposal without understanding your expectations. It is only fair, and it is designed to help you. Then you can rest assured that the end result will be worth what you care to spend, and hopefully a great deal more, for years to come.
The moral of the story is that in order for you to get the product you are looking for, you must be honest with your budget expectations, and not be afraid to share those expectations with us.
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