Sell Yourself and the $$$ Comes Easy — Part 2

A key  step on the road to higher compensation is to present yourself as an “expert.” And why not? One of the dictionary definitions of that word is “skilled person.” You already are an expert.  In the words of talk show host Larry King, “Everyone is an expert on something.” Write articles,

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Dare to Double Your Fee!

Dare to Double Your Fee!

.!.   Don't just raise your fee. Double it. That was a key theme of my "Dare to Be Different!" keynote presentation at the recent Business of Design conference in Las Vegas. Fees are the great "differentiator,"  I told the audience of more than 200 design professionals. And, few things would set y

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New! 2 Steps to “Price Objection Protection”

How can you reach a point when you never have to cave in on price, fee, markup or margin? What will it take in the future to turn those price bellyachers into believers? It will take the kind of cutting edge strategies I'll discuss in my presentation at the Business of Design Conference Sept. 6-7 in

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Early Bird Deadline: Business of Design Conference

24 days. That's how long you have to save $150 off the registration fee for the 2007 Business of Design conference Sept. 6-7 in Las Vegas. Register at www.designingprofits.com by the July 15 Early Bird Deadline and enter"fred" when you're asked for a discount code, and you'll save $150. If you're se

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A Costly Contract Dispute: Can You Help?

Do you - or someone you know - know contracts? I ask because I've been contacted by the spouse of a designer who's been unable to collect  the thousands of dollars owed to her under a cost-plus arrangement with a high end client. Simply put, the client refuses to pay. Here's the rub: there were

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"There always will be those who say you take too long and you charge too much." The words of Alex Chapman, one of Toronto's best-known residential designers. And  wise words they are. If you're a design professional, you're going to run into price objections. They come with the territory -- and t

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Price Objections: Don't Sweat 'em When You Get 'em

Price Objections: Don’t Sweat ‘em When You Get ‘em

What do you say when they say you're "too expensive?" If there's one thing that design trade professionals dread, it's price objections. It's gotta be the No. 1 frustration they express when I coach them, or speak to them at my programs around the world. That's why dealing with price objections

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