How to Grow Your Interior Design Business

Create a strategy

A business strategy will help you plan what you want to put into action and how to successfully approach it. To create a strategy, start by writing down where you want your business to be in 5 and 10 years time. From there you can work backwards to figure out what you need to do to make this happen in the coming year of business. Using this, you can begin to understand exactly how you can work effectively to achieve your goals.

Build a plan

Once you have established your goals for the next year of your business, you can formulate a plan. Work through each month and consider what you will need to do to be at your goal by the end of the year.

For example, if you want to increase your turnover by 25% answer the following questions:

• How many jobs/projects will you need to complete in order to increase your turnover by that amount?
• How many proposals do you need to submit to win that amount of new work?
• How many potential clients do you need to speak to in order to submit that number of proposals?

Find the right people to help

As your business begins to grow, you may find that you are spreading yourself too thin and you’ll need other professionals to help you get things done. In order to deliver a consistent service, you need to create a team that can help you provide the best design services for your clients. There are always plenty of freelance interior designers looking for work, so take the time to interview potential designers to find the right fit for your business. Make sure that whoever you hire adds something to your team and you are able to define what value they are providing in relation to your goals.

Refresh your branding

It can be easy to get stuck in the same routine, but when it comes to business, it’s important to stay on trend and appeal to your current and future clients. Your target demographic might change as your business moves and evolves, so you should be aware of what people are looking for the services you provide. It’s a good idea to review your branding regularly and consider what kind of clients you’re looking to attract within the next six months so it’s aligned with your core target clientelle.

Promote your services

Effective marketing activities and PR engagements can help you increase the reach of your business and raise awareness of your brand among new audiences and potential clients. Social media is of course a powerful, cost-effective tool – but make sure you’ve got a clear strategy in place for your marketing efforts so you invest in the right communication mix to grow your business.

TIP: Don’t overlook your credentials! Gaining relevant industry accreditations, certifications and entering awards can go a long way in showcasing your work and expertise, as well as enhancing your reputation in the industry. They can also offer great press and media opportunities to increase your external exposure and elevate the profile and credibility of your practice to the general public.