We’re tempted to take a Weakest Link approach to this article  but we have a feeling that won’t be helping. If you’re reading this, then you’ve either just lost a potential client, or you have in the past, and are genuinely curious why. Either way, if you failed to secure a design job, there isn’t some massive enigma that prevented you from doing so. Not being able to get work is a quantifiable process that can be improved upon, no matter what anyone tells you. With that in mind, take heart, and know that you can better your methods! With a little practice, you will never again hear that most awful of phrases: “We’ve decided to go in a different direction.”

  • Remember the Pitch: First off, remember exactly what kind of pitch you threw at the client, and exactly how it came off. Though you may think you nailed it, if you didn’t get the job, odds are you were way off. This isn’t the end of the world, though! Think back, and analyze potential weak points. Did the client mention anything in particular that perturbed them? Perhaps those errors were made in your pitch, and if so, remember to compensate for these failings in future meetings.

 

 

  • Price Is Right, Bob: Next, think back to your initial estimate. How did the client react to your rates? Were they immediately pleased, or was there a fair bout of obvious awkwardness. If the latter, then reevaluate your charges. If you were spitting too high, it makes sense that the client might be unwilling to compromise, especially if another designer is offering similar services for cheaper than you. However, if you shot too low, you may have unintentionally underrated yourself. Sure, people want a bargain, but if you come across as cheap, you aren’t likely to get business, either!

 

 

  • Chemistry, No Chemistry: Lastly, how well did you really hit it off with the client? Did you have any conversation before or after the pitch, or was it stone cold sober and cut-and-dry? There’s a fine line between being professional and engaging, but if you do nothing to relate to your client on a personal level, they’ll feel alienated, and much less likely to give you the job. We hate to say it, but shmoozing is part of the territory, and you’d do well to get used to it.