By focusing on quality clients, simplifying the design process, and charging higher prices, designers can achieve success and work fewer hours in a design subscription service.
Being good at what you do and being quick are crucial for the success of a subscription-based model, as it allows designers to deliver high-quality work, maintain a healthy workload, and attract higher-end clientele.
Charging higher fees actually attracts clients who value design, resulting in better working relationships, greater trust, and the ability to work fewer hours while making good money.
Deep dives
Transitioning to a Subscription-Based Service
The podcast episode discusses the transition from traditional design services to a subscription-based model. The speaker shares personal experiences of starting a design subscription service called Design Joy and explains how it differs from the agency model. By offering a fixed monthly fee and unlimited design requests, the speaker attracted higher-end clientele while managing workload efficiently. The key point is that by focusing on quality clients, charging higher prices, and simplifying the design process, designers can achieve great success and work fewer hours.
The Power of Productized Services
The podcast explores the concept of productized services and their potential to bring in significant revenue. The speaker shares their own journey of creating a productized service and the unexpected viral tweet that doubled their revenue in one month. They emphasize the importance of being good at what you do and being quick in order to make a subscription-based model successful. By providing a clear structure, prioritizing individual requests, and constant communication, designers can deliver high-quality work to clients and maintain a healthy workload.
The Value of Pricing Yourself Higher
The podcast highlights the fear designers often have of pricing themselves out of the market and the misconception that higher prices lead to less demand. The speaker challenges this notion, explaining that pricing higher actually attracts a better market of clients who appreciate the value of design. By targeting specific sectors, such as B2B SaaS companies, and charging higher fees, designers can work with clients who are willing to pay for quality work, resulting in better working relationships, greater trust, and the ability to work fewer hours while making good money.
Understanding the Subscription Model for Lower Budget Clients
Working with lower budget clients who are still in the early stages of their businesses requires a different approach. These clients are often looking for quick and affordable solutions to validate their business models and achieve product-market fit. They have limited resources and are time-conscious, resulting in demanding and needy behavior. While working with them can be challenging in terms of profitability, it offers an opportunity for focused attention and a chance to build longer-term relationships.
Benefits of Working with Established Businesses at Higher Budgets
Working with established businesses that can afford higher budgets brings different advantages. These clients are educated buyers of creative services and prioritize quality over volume or hours spent. They have a shared language and understand the value of high-quality design in driving their business's success. These clients provide stability and trust, allowing designers to focus on delivering excellent work without excessive micromanagement. While the expectations may be higher, the potential for long-term partnerships and positive outcomes is greater.
Brett Williams is a designer and entrepreneur who runs DesignJoy, a design subscription service. He is essentially a one-man design agency that operates at scale and earns upwards of $1 million in annual revenue.
In this podcast episode, Brett gives us a peek into how his business operates, the tools he uses, and what he’s learned after running a design subscription service for six years. It’s not for everyone, but to make something like this work you need two things: to be good and to be fast.
