6 Effective Digital Marketing Tips for Interior Designers
Gone are the days when people used to explore magazines or books to get ideas on interior decoration. Today, the internet is the #1 source for consumers to get inspiration and education on any topic. This means a number of potential customers browse Google, social media, Pinterest and blogs regularly to either learn about interior design or are on a search to find a designer to hire.
The very first question from interior designers is usually, “How can I get in front of new customers online with the exploding competition on social media and google searches?” Short answer: the most effective way to accomplish this is through strategic digital marketing. By incorporating some digital tactics into your marketing plan, you can separate your interior design business from your competitors. With online strategies, you can increase your business visibility and awareness, showcase your work with a professional platform, engage with potential customers, and obtain new business leads. However, a major challenge you may run into is making sure your marketing strategy is effective enough to achieve your business goals and prove long-term results.
So you’re probably looking for effective online marketing tips and tactics for your interior design business. Great, you’ve already reached the right place! Here are some marketing essentials you should use in your business to maintain your lead flow and obtain a profit. A strong digital presence takes a lot of time, effort, and resources to develop, but these building blocks of online marketing strategies will provide positive results when implemented correctly.
1. Build an Effective Website
In digital marketing, there is a range of marketing channels consumers can obtain information on. However, the first point of interaction between businesses and consumers is a functional website. This is where people go to learn more about your brand, who you are, and what services you provide. For interior designers, your website is an introduction to your business, a portfolio of your work and a hub for client kudos. Your portfolio on your website should include professional images that highlight your wins and successes. Also, adding in a section that features client quotes and praise from your services is a great way to prove your success. Often your website is the first impression to a potential customer, therefore, having an attractive site that provides knowledge and is simple to navigate can easily convert to new business.
2. Start Blogging
Blogging is one of the best ways to show your expertise and talent in your field. You can easily add a blog to your website or create a free blog site that you can update weekly. Your blog is where you can get creative and give perspective on different topics in the industry. Whether you provide readers with tips on interior design, highlight your services or tell a story from past experience, your blog can be as casual or professional as you’d like. Blogs can also improve your SEO by using keywords and phrases and identifying them in your blog platform. Many platforms such as WordPress, Wix, Squarespace etc. have this feature to identify SEO tactics. We suggest posting on a blog once a week or at least twice a month to keep your page updated and improve your search relevancy.
3. Use Social Media
If you don’t have your business account on social media, it’s time to get on the bandwagon! Social media should be a secondary platform to showcase your portfolio, next to your website. Creating social media accounts is completely free for almost every platform and is a great way to engage and attract potential clients. You can use these pages to post photos of your work and lifestyle images that relate to your business. Whether you are utilizing Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, make sure your content is attractive, thought out, and grabs the attention of your followers scrolling through their feeds. It’s also important to interact with followers by commenting on their posts, liking their posts and responding to any messages you receive. For interior designers, Pinterest is specifically worthwhile since this platform is dominated by home, DIY, and design interests.
Whether you are utilizing Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, make sure your content is attractive, thought out, and grabs the attention of your followers scrolling through their feeds. Click To Tweet4. Utilize Video
Videos today are more crucial than ever in the digital marketing world. One major benefit of using videos is that they can rank well in search engine results and capture consumers’ attention longer than a static photo. Videos also create a sense of entertainment with music and cinematic features. To start out, you can make an introductory video of yourself that is personal to your approach and tactics to interior design. It doesn’t have to be high production or use fancy equipment, just grab your iPhone and hit record! You can then upload the video to your website and any social media pages you’re using.
5. Improve your SEO
One of the most effective tactics to improve your brand exposure online is through strategic SEO. SEO stands for ‘search engine optimization’ and includes a set of strategies and campaigns designed to optimize your online presence to make sure it’s more visible on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. SEO is primarily centered on a business owner’s website but it can also include social media, Google platform, listing websites, and other such factors. SEO can involve a ton of bells and whistles, but to get started simply create a list of common words or phrases that are associated with interior designers. You can search the SEO strength of your keywords and order them in most common to least common. From there, start inserting these keywords into your website, blog, and social media content. All of these efforts make your web content easier to find on search engine sites.
6. Maintain your Reputation
There is no doubt that the most influential marketing content for your business is created by your clientele through reviews and recommendations. Online reviews from your customers are honest assessments of their experience with your business. Although it’s still common practice for word of mouth referrals, many reviews are posted online by past or current customers on Facebook, Google, or Yelp. It’s important to remember that each and every project you take on will have lasting repercussions on your business reputation. Always put your best work forward and offer above and beyond what your customers expect. Going that extra mile for your customers will result in them returning for additional services or a referral to a new client. Always take the time to respond to feedback, positive or negative, in a professional demeanor. Reach out to your past clients and request they leave their review or experience online. You can’t be perfect 100% of the time. You can, however, take steps to help other people believe their business is important and appreciated.
