Price only wins over quality when there's zero relationship with the customer (as with 99 design).
You don't have to win solely on the innovation/creative front; clients want to feel safe in hiring you, they want to feel heard. You can project authority by blogging, speaking at conferences, open source work. Sometimes you can win a gig simply because you project the attitude that you can get shit done.
There are so many other ways to win besides quality of work (with much larger payouts!) and it always starts with building relationships.
You don't have to win solely on the innovation/creative front; clients want to feel safe in hiring you, they want to feel heard. You can project authority by blogging, speaking at conferences, open source work. Sometimes you can win a gig simply because you project the attitude that you can get shit done.
There are so many other ways to win besides quality of work (with much larger payouts!) and it always starts with building relationships.