| I think the problem comes down to the kind of market and audience you're attracting. As a freelancer you really have to position yourself for the right market that corresponds to your rates. HN is a very designer/entrepreneur driven community. my guess is that people on HN would want to spend less money on design and more on development. I would update your website itself also. To me your website doesn't speak the same level of sophistication as the piece you see in the portfolio. Your website represents your self and your identify as a designer. Dress it up a bit, this is your best chance to really showcase your design sense and originality. As many other people mentioned before, package your product well. As a full time freelancer, you should spend at least 30-50% of your time marketing yourself and networking with potential clients. Building a solid customer database and having these customers refer you to perspective employees are most important if you want to have a consistent flow of work. Are you really putting your work out there? Here's a quick checklist to get the ball rolling. 1. Do you regularly update your portfolio with new pieces?
2. Do you have a profile on all the designer networks? (behance.net is a good one to start with).
3. Do you keep in touch with your past clients and make sure they're happy with your work?
4. Have you considered starting a blog that would attract potential customers with valuable information about graphic design and design theories that they could use for their own projects? I think with the quality and level of work in your portfolio you certainly deserve to get that rate. I've worked with other designers who charge twice as much as you do, but then again, they all presented their web presence really well. When a customer tells you your rates are too expensive, it doesn't necessarily mean that they don't have the budget. It could mean that they don't perceive your value at the price you quoted. As long as you can convince your clients that you're worth every penny and MORE, you should have no problem getting the rates you want. |