In this engaging discussion, guest Michael Janda, a seasoned ad agency executive and author of 'Burn Your Portfolio,' shares invaluable insights on pricing for creative work. He breaks down the essentials of production costs, market value, and client budgets, guiding listeners on how to navigate the tricky bidding process. Through humorous anecdotes and practical techniques, Janda emphasizes building confidence in pricing strategies and fostering clear communication with clients to enhance financial negotiations. It's a must-listen for creatives looking to level up their pricing game!
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Pricing Variables
Know your production cost, market value, and client budget to price your work.
This structured approach replaces guessing with informed decisions.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Calculate Production Costs
Calculate production costs by multiplying your hourly rate by project hours, then add hard costs.
Hard costs include outsourced work, stock photos, or other external expenses.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Find Market Value
Determine market value by surveying clients, designer friends, and industry surveys.
Leverage past experience, tracking project bids and win-loss records.
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Burn Your Portfolio provides actionable advice for creative professionals, focusing on real-world practices and unwritten business rules that are often learned through years of experience. Michael Janda shares insights from his successes and failures in running his own design firm, covering topics like teamwork, client management, and production processes. The book is designed to be humorous and engaging while offering valuable tips for designers, photographers, and other creatives.
The Psychology of Graphic Design Pricing
The Psychology of Graphic Design Pricing
Michael Janda
Pricing Creativity
Blair Enns
This Is Marketing
You Can't Be Seen Until You Learn To See
Seth Godin
In 'This Is Marketing', Seth Godin presents a transformative view of marketing as a generous act of helping others solve problems. The book focuses on key principles such as targeting the smallest viable market, delivering anticipated, personal, and relevant messages, and building trust through permission marketing. Godin argues that effective marketing is about creating positive change and helping people become who they want to be. He provides actionable insights, case studies, and a strategic focus on storytelling, tension, and customer-centric approaches. The book is designed for entrepreneurs, small business owners, freelancers, and marketers looking to reframe their marketing strategies and connect meaningfully with their audiences.
This deep dive episode comes from a livestream we held way back in 2019 on The Futur’s YouTube channel.
Our guest, Michael Janda, is the author of the best-selling book Burn Your Portfolio. He’s also a seasoned ad agency executive who helps creative entrepreneurs make more money with less stress.
In this episode, we aim our focus on pricing creative work. A topic that every creative professional has struggles with. Michael walks you through a step by step process on how to price your work and how to parse all the variables that come with it. Things like production cost, market value, and client budget, to name a few.
If you ever find yourself lost in the bidding process or pulling numbers out of thin air, then get ready to get schooled. Because you’re about to get a crash course in pricing creative work.
The Futur with Chris Do 
