𝗔 𝗡𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀

Hey guys!

Now, I don't want to sound preachy so please take this with a grain of salt.

If you're a fellow designer (amateur or professional, doesn't matter), some of my words will resonate with you. I think you'll understand this little article the best.

The online space is so competitive. Especially the service-based space. Where the quality varies and scammers can gain entry to rob people blind.

I think that's the worst part about the online space.

It's littered with evil, greedy people looking to cheat others which in turn, hurts us as potential customers become more and more unwilling to trust the genuine artists out there which means that they're not willing to pay what they would've probably paid before. They fear being burned again despite seeing a sprawling portfolio and a super professional and legitimate service.

And that's fine. It's a trauma in itself when you realize you haven't gotten your money's worth.

However, I also believe that genuine, honest creatives deserve to be paid for their time and hard work. They don't deserve to be shaken down just because someone lost their money and decided that every artist isn't worth their salt and thus, doesn't deserve a penny more than what they (the client) can afford.

(In some cases, these clients can't really afford it. Professionals know how to handle service delivery and turnaround times based on payment plans.)

One can argue that most creatives give these services out of a passion for design.

So why are they offering up their skills for sale?

If it's a passion, if it's a genuine joy to do it, then does that mean they must do it for free? Are they not allowed to appropriately charge for their services? Should they not get a fair and just reward for their time? Is it conscientious that the long term returns of such high-quality artwork came from someone paying an insignificant amount to an artist who poured their blood, sweat and tears in it?

The online creative industry has become so extremely saturated that individuals who produce high quality work are settling for peanuts in return because people are looking for the best at the lowest possible price. So these artists become stuck in a vacuum, expanding their portfolio and unable to charge more because the minute they do then that's potential clients looking elsewhere.

Due to the massive glut of creatives clamoring for sales, these freelancers will typically earn less than minimum wage which means that they'll earn way more if they took up a full-time job.

Which they should because not meeting an income goal is a quick way to burn out in this business.

Despite being paid, they're still starving while customers bleed and benefit from their talents for little to nothing and knowing fully well that they're getting high-value work for peanuts.

It pains me, to say the least.

And I hope I can get through to enough creatives to help them get over their 'starving artist' mentality. Exceptional art is what makes people pay up. You shouldn't have to suffer or starve for your art. You deserve to be paid for your work.

Now, there are people who recognize that great quality work doesn't come cheap and are willing to pay whatever the amount BUT they're also less likely to commission a breakout artist unless the hobby pieces are exemplary.

Artists are left with two choices (in relation to book cover design):

1. Practice design covers and start an online portfolio.

2. Offer a certain amount of free covers to build the portfolio from which they can receive testimonials.

But there's a slight problem with 2.

Most designers who start out are using completely free resources and even using demo versions of extremely popular fonts so it's a Catch-22. You can't take money for something without buying the proper licenses and if you don't have a capital investment (which is usually recommended if you're pursuing this as a serious business), then you're toast.

Wattpad — or any writing site, really — is your best friend here. There are a ton of talented writers whose book could use a face-lift. A personal-use book cover will work just fine and helps give the portfolio credibility. If a certain book's premise catches your eye but the cover isn't really hitting the vibe of the book, create a nice cover and then message them. Let them know you did a bit of a fan piece because the premise or story (read a few chapters, if you can) captured your interest.

Send them a mockup and wait and see if they ask you to use the cover. It's a great way to build relationships and your name also appears on a couple more books as the cover credits.

Sometimes you may not hit the vibe of the book yourself, no matter how pretty but that could be due to not reading further than the premise. Even if it's just one chapter, read the book to get an idea.

However...

Don't get too carried away doing this. Only do it if you genuinely like a story or it's premise. If it's truly in nee of a facelift. One thing you never want to do is burn yourself out or indicate to others that you'll work for nothing. Even the hobby designers ensure that they get their proper credits for their work, which is the next best payment after money.

Let this be like a little treat or privilege that is randomly bestowed. It would make the person feel all the more special when you do reach out to them.

If you're approached by a friend, this is totally your call but I'll give you some options to help guide your decision-making:

1. Tell them you don't have licenses and will not be able to do it.

2. Tell them you don't have licenses BUT you will take a detailed testimonial and you expect that they give you proper credit for whatever they use your work for.

This is in the case of personal-use book covers for Wattpad writers.

3. If they're willing to pay, you'll probably have enough money to purchase the necessary licenses BUT you won't be rewarded for any time you dedicate to the artwork.

You can cut your losses and do it out of the kindness of your heart BUT ensure that they give you a detailed testimonial of your services and proper credits for your website and portfolio.

4. This one is a wild card.

You have to be really, really good without having a portfolio. You need to have faith and belief in your skills and work; knowing that you are capable of delivering professional level work despite being green in the industry. Your work has to be of outstanding quality for the following suggestion:

You give them a price and let them know that if they agree then they'll also have to give you a testimonial and proper credits.

Don't go lower than that price. Stick with it and don't budge lower even if they beg you to. Because you'll know what you have to pay for but they won't know the hassles behind ensuring the artwork is cleared for commercial use.

If they're unwilling to pay, feel free to direct them somewhere else.

Unless you're okay with going lower. Totally your choice.

But if the thought of doing that makes you feel like you're wasting your time or like you're doing too much for too little, listen to your intuition. It never leads you wrong.

Which brings me to my last suggestion.

5. Tell them you won't do it. Period.

No personal relationship is worth the risk of mixing with business. I've refused countless times, despite having initially agreed, and I will continue to do so. It doesn't even have to be a money issue, especially if you care about your relationship (see suggestions 2 and 3).

Besides, I believe relationships are true once they are willing to pay your price. This is relevant to any type of business as well. It's a sign of respect for your hard work so please always be on your alert and be open and accepting of doing the same for their business.

It's a dog eat dog world, but we can choose to thrive without losing our moral compass and tearing each other down for the sake of money.

Balance.

There's too much money in this world to be fighting and haranguing each other to accept less than what they're truly worth. It's unethical, no matter how legal it may be.

If you don't have the funds to hire someone, save up until you do.

If you don't have the experience to deliver quality designs and meet design trends in the market, sharpen your skills until you do.

It's that easy and that hard.

My last note, don't ever let anyone make you feel that your work isn't worth the price you're asking for.

It's a fast track to having insane money blocks as you go along your business and let me tell you, money issues that make you feel like you're not good enough aren't nice to deal with.

Save yourself, believe in your talent and start charging. You must believe you are worth it before others can.

If you've been trying to break that ceiling of income but can't despite the piling bills you have, take a chance.

Raise your rates. Send out a notice, if you have to, to let clients know that future jobs will have a small price increase.

Let the increase be enough to help you get closer to your goal without alarming your customers.

Some clients might pull away, but those clients aren't the ones you want anyway. You want clients who respect your work and your time.

To take a page out of Denise Duffield-Thomas' book: There's always more money.

Don't put yourself into a corner to satisfy others when you also have to eat. Trust me, they will make you feel bad about it when you know they have to eat too.

Sympathize but stick to your guns.

You can try to please everyone but you'll lose steam. You'll begin to hate everything and everyone around you. You might even lose your love for design because the pressure is crushing you. It's not worth it.

I speak from experience.

Besides, as you move up and clients retreat, you're also giving less experienced designers a chance to shine and get more experience.

A huge win, in my eyes.

It's a dog eat dog world but your time has come to reap the rewards in a healthy way.

I wish you all the best.

– HEAVEN