7 reasons you shouldn’t work with me
1. You’re looking for the cheapest price.
“If you pay peanuts, you’ll get monkeys,” is never truer than a botched branding project.
As a brand designer of 27 years, I’ve seen it all. Brands so far removed from reality that they don’t relate at all to the business they represent. Names that haven’t been checked to ensure they’re not already being used by a direct competitor – true story! Brand guidelines that aren’t worth the pages they’re typeset on. And tone of voice that’s a complete turn-off.
Don’t even get me started on shit logos…
Many people have come to me to repair the damage that’s been done by so-called ‘brands’ that have been created for them. In the end, for them, buying cheap meant buying twice.
You don’t wanna pay twice. Do you?
If cheap is what you’re looking for? I’m not your person. Off you pop to fiverr, or Upwork.
2. You don’t know if you want to work with me.
No worries.
Go and check out some of my case studies, google reviews, and LinkedIn recommendations.
You’re also very welcome to speak directly with any of my clients. I have absolutely nothing to hide.
Still not sure? Trust your instincts. I trust mine. Which means I tend to work with nice people.
3. You just want ‘a new logo’
Let’s be clear. A logo isn’t a brand.
There are plenty of people who’ll design a logo for you. If that’s (really)? all you want. But if that’s the case. I’m not your person.
WTF is a brand? I wrote a post about that, have a read…
Now ask yourself this, are you still dead set on ‘just’ a new logo?
4. You’re too busy to be involved.
If we’re going to work together, ‘together’ is the operative word.
Whether yours is an exciting new brand or a rebranding project, your participation in the process is essential, not optional. Of course, this begins with key stakeholders, but your whole team needs to be right on board.
And I'll be digging deep into your business by asking questions, lots of ‘em.
Yeah, of course, there’s a bloody good chance I’ve worked in your sector before. But your business, its team, and your clients or customers are unique to you.
I don’t replicate or rehash.
If you’re not going to be comfortable with this? It’s a non-starter. I need to understand your business to brand your business.
5. Are you patient?
If you’re coming to me for a rebrand, it’s not going to happen overnight.
There will likely be times when you’re frustrated because you just want to show the world your awesome new branding.
Whoa!
There’s a sequence of events that needs to happen before we go public with your new branding, with good reason. As your brand designer, I’ll guide you through the process. Then, when it’s time to unveil your exciting new brand, I’m all in, guns blazing!
Not to mention that like you, I have existing clients and projects so, of course, I must honour my commitments to them. I’ll look at my schedule and propose a timescale for your project, with clear milestones and deliverables.
You want a brand a month from now? That’s not very realistic. Successful branding projects take time to plan, design, and implement. A branding project for a start-up can take as little as three to four months. Whilst a rebrand for a large organisation can take up to a year, or more.
You want it now? That’s not going to happen. Not with me anyway.
6. You’re much more concerned with cost than return on investment.
Branding, or rebranding, isn’t cheap.
A properly conducted branding exercise will pay for itself many times over. But not overnight. In the year following their rebrand, my clients see an increase in profit which averages 15-25%. And that’s just in year 1.
If you’re prepared to invest now in the cost of your branding project and wait a little while to see a return, we’re on the same page.
7. You’re not passionate about what you do.
By now you may have guessed that I LOVE what I do. Which is probably just as well, given I’ve spent almost 3 decades as a brand designer.
I live by the motto that I’m ‘only as good as my last project.’ Meaning I want the best outcome for every single client.
I get the best results for clients who are passionate about what they do because it’s so much easier for me to interpret that passion into purpose. And a purpose-driven business is far more successful than those that aren’t. It’s your brand’s superpower.
But I don’t take myself too seriously. So, if you don’t know any jokes, and you think ‘fun’ is dress-down Friday? We’re probably not gonna hit it off.
