The vast majority of designers already know that it is important to know how to sell what is produced, but still a great majority lives selling the service (of intellectual material, above all), categorizing as graphic pieces, simply.
This isn't exactly wrong at all, considering that the final product is graphic pieces. However, the idea of conceptualization has not yet been a reality for a range of enthusiasts in the area and that, unfortunately, contributes to the class not moving further.
A good example of how we do not clearly understand the value that design has for the market is when we see discussions with incisive critics to the ABRADI type tables, for example, and it is that perhaps the values that the table brings are not really a reality of the current market, but it just is not because there is no market imposition for it to be.
And yes, you have agencies and designers out there doing covers for fanpages at 30 euros (the point is that it could be you and I also who could be earning that money). The difference in this question is that the client knows that it is worth investing that value in that service, especially for a series of issues not only of design, but also of the market and that implies understanding and perceiving the market, in order to sell to and within it, interacting directly with your possibilities.
What is the part of the problem? Many people (designers, among them), continue to see the designer as simply a function within an agency, as that person subordinate to Creation and who exactly follows the guidelines of the sector, together with the Drafting and / or Art Direction.
But you should know that there is an urgent need to understand design as a universal scope element in the life.
In other words, it is important to think that the Design has always existed and it was always the most important frame in human history, both for being function before form, as for assuming a fundamental role in the race and for offering what humanity needs. In clearer focus, directly assist the action of making a wish necessary and thus, a consumer hook.
I have actually invested in the expenses that involve my personal production, such as acquiring a Premium image bank, with suitable images for each work developed (such as the Adobe Image Band, Fotolia, etc.), since all this represents quality materials, which provide me with a good work experience, but is it really interesting to charge by the hour?
The answer is yes. Your work has a value and if you really want to be respected for the quality of this, you should charge by the hour, if I do not advise you to go to make fanpage covers, as we have mentioned before.