Just last week, I told you that you can’t make money on small interior design projects. But like most things with running an interior design business it’s not always black and white. So while you may not be able to make money on projects with small budgets, there may be other benefits that you may want to consider.
Read MoreCan you make money on small projects? I’ll share what I see in working with thousands of designers because I know that this is a touchy subject for many designers.
But the short answer for me is ultimately: no. You don’t make money on small interior design jobs. The amount of time that interior design takes does not lend itself well to small projects with small budgets. Plus…
Read MoreOne of the problems with interior design is the long timeline. A lot of money is invested before clients see much progress. It can be scary for clients. To lessen the fear, you want to create fast results.
When I was working full-time as an interior designer, I was hired by a couple to help turn their track home into their home. This was at the beginning of my business and I was still feeling out how to run it. About a month into the project, after I’d done the design plans, had contractors come out for quotes, and we’d met a couple of times, I got an email from the client.
Read MoreThere are several dozen psychological triggers that can help increase your sales and one of my favorites is scarcity. For interior designers we have a limited amount of time and creativity to service clients, without wearing ourselves out or bringing in help. We naturally have a limited bandwidth. This is where you can use scarcity and a wait list to your benefit.
I have to mention, because I know that many people are going to feel a little resistance on this topic, that many designers I know have a scarcity mindset. It’s a bit of a natural state when you own your own business.
Read MoreI’m a huge fan of creating an on-boarding process for new clients. It makes attracting and signing new clients so much easier, efficient, and professional. A large part of my system involves a detailed client questionnaire. This helps me get to know the client before work begins. But, what happens after the work is complete? Do you have a process with an end-of-project survey?
Read MoreHave a client that keeps changing their minds? That selection after selection they want to see more options and it’s stalling the process?
While you may want to chalk this up to being your client’s personality, there are steps that you can take before and during the process to help curtail this.
I’ve presented you with some ideas below that you can use to keep clients focused, keep your project on schedule, and get to that beautifully designed home that you both want.
Read MoreI have seen this question come up a few times lately and you know what that means! Time to write about it!
This question kind of baffles me, because, yes, you should have project minimums. To me, this comes from an insecurity of putting limits on your work and a fear of turning work away. You all know you should have a minimum budget for working with clients. So right now I am giving you permission to implement project minimums.
Read MoreWhen you're known for something, people will come to you to get it. When the keywords and text on your website is what your potential clients Google, more clients will find you. When you try to appeal to everyone, it makes marketing much harder. But someone looking for New England meets Palm Beach will certainly find Meggie H Interiors. A client wanting to decorate their kids room in Massachusetts? They'll find Boo and Rook. You'll book more clients if you have exactly what they're looking for.
Read MoreWith the holidays around the corner, I've rounded up the best gifts to give your interior design clients. Your marketing plan should include regular contact with clients - current and past. This could include a yearly holiday card or a card on their birthday or anniversary at minimum. It is also nice to send cards to vendors you work closely with or who had great customer service this year.
If you'd like to go beyond a card, here are some ideas:
Read MoreSometimes you begin a project and a few weeks or months down the road you realize this isn't the project for you. Something isn't right, maybe there are red flags, maybe you have too much on your plate, maybe the client is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. There are many great reasons that you should get out of a project. And it is perfectly okay to get out of a project. But, getting out of a project shouldn't be a decision taken lightly. You want to honor your commitments, just not at the expense of your personal well-being.
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