Dear BAKERY: Pricing List?
Dear BAKERY,
I am a graphic designer and I’ve been told (by professors and mentors) that listing your rates/pricing online is tacky. I am noticing more and more lately, prices for design of a web site, brochures or other collateral materials being listed like a restaurant menu on designer’s websites or blogs.
I see the benefit of both positions but the word “tacky” sticks in my mind. Although, consumers do seem to be geared toward “value meal” decision making so, maybe it’s “less tacky” now?
Love,
PriceLine
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Hi PriceLine!
What a great question! I tend to agree with your professors and mentors in this case, actually. I don’t necessarily see listing prices online as tacky, but I do think that graphic design is more of a service and less of a product, which calls for a detailed explanation of pricing. Two reasons for this:
1. Graphic design is complicated and prices can vary, so I think any potential customer would understand that a menu of services may not be the right approach. What you’re offering doesn’t always fit into a nice little package that can be easily duplicated from client to client. Most graphic work is custom and client-specific so no one price will fit all. After all, no one likes to think that their project will be anything less than 100% custom, so pricing should be included in that!
2. If a customer contacts you for pricing, rather than simply looks online, you now have the potential for a personal relationship with that customer, which is always a good situation. Responding to price quotes is your opportunity to shine and really showcase your work and personality. You can’t get that in an online menu of pricing!
So yes, I’m going to agree w/ your mentors. Keep the pricing off your site and add a contact form for easy communication.
Good luck!
Love,
BAKERY
I have to respectfully disagree.
As a business owner and the person who makes the spending decisions, I find it increasingly frustrating when vendors (of any kind) don’t give me some idea of their pricing up front. If I’m shopping around, gathering info online, etc I really appreciate it when prices are stated on the website. My time is valuable and it takes a lot of the guess-work out.
While design services are tricky to price, it would even help to have some examples and estimates for commonly used apps, etc- SOMETHING that lets me compare to other vendors. I don’t want to engage in a huge dialog, spending my time and theirs, describing what I need only to find out that this designer is way over my budget; that wasted both our hours. However, if there are some ballpark prices listed I can know in an instant if this is a business relationship that might work for both me and the designer and then pursue a more detailed discussion.
Thanks for allowing my 2 cents!
Kat
I can see both sides here.
As a designer, you are offering custom services with custom pricing. Design isn’t like a happy meal, right?
Plus, it’s good to maintain flexibility in your pricing strategy. You could limit yourself and your potential earnings if you list “hard and fast” prices on your website. Keeping prices offline allows you to adjust them to the needs of specific clients.
On the flip side, I can totally understand Kat’s point.
Emailing to ask for a price estimate is just another step separating your potential customer from purchasing your services.
Now, I don’t think you don’t need to have a detailed “menu” online. But is there a way to provide ballpark estimates online to easily educate potential customers? Perhaps minimums? Like: Brochure design starting at $XYZ.
I have to agree with Kat. I think providing an example or a “starting at” price gives customers a vital piece of information that can steer them quickly towards making a purchasing decision.
I’m all about breaking down any & all barriers in making a sale – whether it’s a service or a product. There is a great deal of misinformation about pricing out there and I for one am the kind of person that would rather not bother someone who’s service I can’t afford. If you have to ask, it’s too expensive, right?
I also think it helps keep the service provider true to themselves in pricing. If it says on my website that a custom Wordpress website starts at $1K, I can’t exactly quote them $500!