How Can I get Clients for my Interior Design Business?
Whether you are new to the Interior Design industry or are already established, asking yourself “how can I get clients for my interior design business?” has led you to this article. The good news is, there are several ways to attract new customers and grow your business.
Being your own boss can be an exciting and rewarding endeavour, but can also be challenging when it comes to getting clients. The interior design industry is highly competitive, and it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd.
Here are some sure-fire ways to help you get clients for your Design Business:
Build a Portfolio
A portfolio showcases your previous work or design ideas, showing potential clients what you can do and why they should pick you and how you can help them achieve their design goals.
It should be enriched with the same level of detail and creativity you devote to your interior design projects. Showcase your work that aligns with your niche.
Portfolios can either be physical – books or binders filled with pages of photographs, visuals, and credentials, or digital.
Nowadays, digital format portfolios are the most common type used by interior designers and the most effective. They are easy to share with clients no matter where they are located. Clients are able to browse your work at their leisure instead of only when you are in the same room with them.
If you are still building your portfolio, there are great resources online that can help you.
Networking
One of the best ways to get your name out there is by attending industry events and connecting with other professionals in the field. This includes architects, builders/tradespeople, estate agents, and even other interior designers. Not only will you make valuable connections, but you’ll also learn about upcoming projects and opportunities.
Face-to-face networking events are a useful way of promoting your business and can often open up unexpected opportunities for promoting yourself. Check your local Chamber of Commerce for relevant networking events for local businesses.
Building a network with other businesses that serve the same target market as you is a great way to gain new clients. This can be an excellent way to introduce your business to a new audience and establish a mutually beneficial relationship with other professionals.
Niche Down
Narrowing down your focus as an interior designer can help you establish your expertise, target your ideal clients, and stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Niching down means identifying who your ideal client is and what services you will offer them, and then discarding anything that falls outside of those things.
Some Interior Designers fall into the trap of focusing on too broad a range of client types because they don’t want to limit themselves. The reality is that this actually results in fewer enquiries for your services. If you are too general, people struggle to relate their needs to what you offer.
By niching down, you will:
- More frequently attract your perfect client
- Reduce the number of time-wasting leads
- Enjoy working with your clients as you’re doing the exact projects you love.
Ask yourself exactly who your ideal Design client is.
Consider the type of client you would like to work with. Are you interested in residential clients or commercial clients? What is their budget, style, and personality? Knowing your ideal client can help you tailor your services to meet their needs.
Don’t be afraid to get very specific.
Next, think about your interests and strengths and expertise.
Think about the aspects of interior design that you enjoy the most and are good at. Are you passionate about sustainable design, luxury interiors, or commercial spaces? Do you excel at colour theory, furniture layout, or lighting design?
I would add that ideally, it’s best to find a balance between your interests and strengths. Pursuing something you’re passionate about can make the work feel more fulfilling and enjoyable while leveraging your strengths can help you perform at a high level and achieve success.
When you have worked these things out, you will be able to work out what your Interior Design niche is.
You will be equipped to create a marketing strategy that is specific to your area of expertise, and to the businesses and people you can work with. You will then be able to develop targeted marketing materials that will talk directly to your ideal clients.
Marketing
A strong marketing strategy is essential for any business, as this is what enables your target clients to find your business in the first place! As a business owner, you will need to develop a marketing mindset in order for your business to thrive and attract clients.
Please remember that all marketing does not necessarily equal effective marketing. As outlined above, you must determine who your target client is and tailor your marketing accordingly. Otherwise, your efforts and precious time will be wasted on those who will not benefit from your hard work.
It is crucial to have a comprehensive marketing plan in place from the get-go. Your plan will depend on your target audience and niche, as well as your budget. While there are plenty of free marketing ideas, you may also opt for some paid advertisements.
Referrals
Let your existing clients know that you have space to take on new clients and encourage them to spread the word. They’ll be more likely to recommend you if you’ve asked them to.
Word-of-mouth is one of the most effective forms of advertising. According to Nielsen, 92% of consumers believe recommendations from friends and family over all other forms of advertising.
Ask your happy customers for reviews and testimonials that you can post on your website and social media. Their followers, as well as yours, will see these. This is the online equivalent of word-of-mouth recommendations and is a great way of reaching lots of new potential clients.
The more Business Reviews you have on Google not only lets your potential clients know you’re up to scratch but helps your website rank more highly on google search results.
Online Presence
In today’s digital age, the majority of people looking for an Interior Designer will search online before anything else. In fact, 97 per cent of consumers now search online for a new business or service – either by searching social media or by performing a google search.
This goes to show that having a strong online presence is crucial when it comes to finding new clients. A great, regularly updated website and social media pages are essential. Your online presence helps you reach a wider audience and showcases your work to potential clients.
Keep in mind that your website and social media should be regularly updated with your latest projects and should reflect your design style and aesthetic. A well-designed, easy to navigate website is a must for all businesses, but the aesthetic element is especially important for your business. Clients will make judgements about your interior design capabilities based on the look of your website.
It’s possible to design a good website yourself without being an expert using free or low-cost templates that you can individualise. Alternatively, if you don’t have the confidence or time, you can call on a website designer to do it for you.
Social Media
This relates to my above point but is important enough that it bears repeating! Social media marketing is one of the best tactics for your interior design business to attract new clients. There are over 4.48 billion social media users worldwide, which is almost 57% of the total global population and the number of active users is increasing every month.
Social media is excellent platform for promoting Interior Design businesses due to its visual nature, With its ability to reach a wide audience and facilitate engagement, social media can be an effective tool for creating brand awareness and driving business growth.
Regularly posting beautiful pictures of your work or designs allows your potential clients to get a feel for your style and expertise. Here is a breakdown of all the social media platforms you might consider using:
Facebook:
The most popular platform, reaching 81% of the digital population, so a highly effective way of reaching potential clients.
Pinterest:
Excellent for sharing visual content, and with categories like Home Decor and Design trending, you’re bound to find your audience here.
Twitter:
If you’re looking to connect with other interior designers and keep up with industry news and trends, Twitter is very useful.
Instagram:
With the focus being on visuals, Instagram is a great place to showcase your work. It is also a great way to connect with potential clients.
Behance:
A platform that allows you to connect with other designers and showcase your portfolio, as well as find potential clients in the jobs section.
Houzz:
A place to discover and share design ideas. In excess of 100,000 clients are matched with professionals on Houzz every month, so this could be a rich source of new business for you.
Remember to reach out to people in your network and invite them to like and share your social media content. This is an effective (and free!) way of marketing your Interior Design business to as many people as possible.
So, How Can I get Clients for my Interior Design Business?
I hope you have found some useful answers to your question in this article. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to nurturing a successful interior design business. It’s worth noting that it takes time, consistency, and patience to get clients, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results, keep pushing and you will see the fruits of your labour.
Get in touch to book a free 30-minute Strategy consultation to find out how I can further help guide you on your journey to success.
