Why You Should Be Charging for Brand Workshops

We all WANT to charge more, right? This quick read by the team at Brand Discovery Kit shows us not only how you can charge more but also why you SHOULD be! It’s full of actionable tips and takeaways to help you offer brand workshops that’ll knock your client’s socks off.

Enjoy! — Em x

Why you should be charging for brand workshops

by The Team at Brand Discovery Kit

The most effective and recognisable brands know who they are, and what they stand for. They’re considered, consistent and intentional in their markets. As a creative, you know just how much thought and research goes into constructing a new brand, or even rebranding an existing one. You also know that to get the gold nuggets of intel that informs the creation of a brand, you need to speak to the right people and ask the right questions.

A well-executed brand discovery session should leave you with the insights you need to develop a brand that resonates with your client’s target market. It’s also a way you can take your clients along on the journey with you, so you’re all on the same page and working towards the same goal.

4 reasons to start charging for brand discovery workshops

So, you know a brand workshop is pure gold. But are you getting paid for the value you’re bringing to the table?

Whether you’re a new freelance graphic designer, or you’ve run more brand workshops than you can you can count on both hands, there are a few irrefutable reasons you should be charging for your expertise.

Reason #1: It will help you demonstrate the value of the work

The groundwork that goes into understanding an organisation’s personality, goals and brand identity is substantial. It’s far more than just logo creation or good design. When you attribute a cost to this work, it helps communicate to your clients just how important it is.

Reason #2: There’s a tangible output

Your post-discovery report will form the foundations of your client’s brand, on which everything else will be built. Sound important? You bet it is. The outputs from your brand discovery workshop are something your client will be able to keep and refer to as a record of the decisions and direction taken in developing their brand.

Reason #3: It will set the tone for future work

Once your clients have seen what they get back from a brand discovery workshop, they’ll be blown away. As someone who now intimately knows their brand, they’ll know they can trust you with maintaining it in the future.

Reason #4: You’re worth it!

Remember, you’re great at what you do. Putting a dollar value on your work means you’re acknowledging this, and instils confidence in your clients. After all, you get what you pay for.

How to show your value and start charging

It can be daunting to have a conversation about charging for creative consulting – especially if you’re just starting to charge for your brand workshops. There are some things you can do to help make the conversation easier.

Package your offering

By creating a package for your brand workshops, you can start to demonstrate exactly what’s included and what your clients should expect to get out of the session. It can help break down the different elements so you can articulate the steps that are involved in creating a truly effective brand.

Show examples of the outputs

You know what your outputs look like, but a potential client doesn’t. There are a few ways you can show your client how great the end result will be. You can talk through all of the outputs they should expect to receive, and also show images that have been de-identified.

Ask for endorsements

Have you run a great brand discovery session that your clients loved? Don’t be afraid to ask if they’d be comfortable sharing a short endorsement – this can help your future clients get a picture of what the experience will be like when they say yes!