In last month’s survey… soooo many of you asked this question, in one way or another, I thought I’d answer it for you here.
Q. What marketing strategies are most effective in this economy?
A. That depends!
There are so many great ways to market your interior design business that WILL bring you the results you want, even today. However, a much better question to ask yourself is… “Am I fully maximizing the marketing strategies I’m already using, to their greatest potential?”
Oftentimes when working with my private coaching clients, I find that before working with me, they tried several different marketing strategies all with with less than stellar results – like Facebook, a website upgrade, LinkedIn, networking groups, etc.
After digging deeper, what I find happens most often is they haven’t fully optimized one strategy before giving up on it and moving on to something else. This only puts them further behind because they’ve already taken the time (and expense) to learn, dabble and try it with limited knowledge, only to abandon it because it ‘didn’t work’.
Do you see yourself in that scenario? Frustrated? Overwhelmed? Confused? If so, you’re in luck! Keep reading and solve that dilemma.
My Recommendations:
1. Because as you know… I’m a BIG believer in only working within your giftedness ie doing what you love – interior design, art, photography, etc… NOT sitting behind your computer trying to be the next fantastic social media expert… invest in a specialist in your chosen strategy and let them do their magic for you!
2. If that isn’t feasible just yet, then take the time to learn ONE marketing strategy at a time inside and out. Fully learn it. Set it up. Use it. Invest in training programs. Maximize it. And like a lemon… ‘squeeze’ absolutely everything out of it that you can, and add it throughout the rest of your marketing plan. Get it working for you, bringing in potential clients, then automate it and move on to the next strategy.
For example…
Facebook – IF your ideal clients are there, then take the time and invest in an online course on how to use Facebook for your business. Hire a specialist to
a. set up your business page
b. develop a strategy
c. establish an automated marketing system to maximize your presence there
If you did this, one step at a time, you will have so much work coming in you won’t know what to do.
1. Start with one
2. Invest in a specialist
3. Stay with it until you make your investment back
4. Repeat with the next marketing strategy – Twitter, LinkedIn, Postcards, Ezines, etc.
What have you tried and been successful with? Have you juggled too many strategies and not gotten the results you wanted? Let me know in the comments below.

Great advice. This is exactly what I’ve read and I’m definitely guilty of trying to dabble in more than one strategy at a time.
Thanks,
Cheryl
Thank you for your insight. I think this is great advice and I am going to apply this for myself. Like everyone else. I am working at making my business a great success!
Hi Barbara, i so much appreciate your answers to these questions. it’s like you covered my open wound with a gauze. really i am a face book fan, and i have been using the platform to market my cushions, pillows and bedding designs as an upcoming designer, really the responses have been so low. So how do i go about achieving all your recommendations with a very minimal price as opposed to your high-dollar rates, that is my fear now.
Thanks a lot for the advice. I found you through Linkedin. So,I suppose, I should stay with linkedin to use it as my social media.
Yes, LinkedIn is a GREAT social media resource for Interior Designers and one I highly recommend!
~ Barbara