Page 20 – Claire Jefford

This Is Why Homeowners Hire Designers

As an interior designer, you should always be seeking out new ways to elevate your client projects to give them that ‘WOW’ factor.

After all, it’s the subtle yet exquisite details that set you apart as an Interior Design professional and that’s why your clients are paying you the big bucks, right?!

In this post I’m featuring two sponsors from the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS).

First up, Metrie!

Known for their quality craftsmanship and beautiful designs, Metrie was founded in Vancouver, Canada more than 90 years ago.

Every house has trim, doors and baseboards (obviously). But if these are the ‘builder basic’ moldings, then this is where there is opportunity for you to show your clients the possibilities of how they can enhance these elements in their home while consulting on a renovation project.

To watch my latest video, click on the image above. That stunning bathroom design in my YouTube thumbnail is a design by the very talented Lisa Mende, of whom I had the pleasure of meeting, as she too was on the Modenus Blog Tour.

You’ll want to be sure to see the other side of that gorgeous space in my video, as well as truly awe inspiring designs by Sophie Burke Design and Atmosphere Interior Design. Click here to watch it now.

Here’s some teaser shots in case you are not convinced to press play on my video just yet…

Metrie’s shiplap series (like Joanna Gaines uses). They are also introducing a new line which will be pre-painted!!!

Bohemian look with custom built in bench seat

The pink and black doors below remind me of the Pink Ladies’ jackets from Grease. 🙂

Get inspired daily by Metrie (feed shown below) , follow them here on Instagram.

Metrie Instagram Feed

Now let’s skip to the loo!

Did you know that based on a study done in America, those who live to be 79 years old will spend an average of 1.5 years of their life in the bathroom?! Weird statistic, I know.

Though it makes you give some serious consideration (and it could be a great selling point to your clients) to just how important it is to ensure that if we are spending that much time in one place, we need to enjoy our time while we are there.

Our next sponsor of the KBIS Blog Tour is a powerhouse of many brands that can help you achieve great design in an array of style for any bathroom project. My video shows you just some of the ways that the Lixil Group have incorporated technology and beauty to enhance the moments we experience in most personal and private room in the home.

Crucial design elements in the washroom can often be overlooked by homeowners & builders, so that’s where you as the interior designer extraordinaire can really shine!

You will no doubt recognise these well known brands that can be found under the Lixil umbrella – American Standard, Grohe and DXV.

In the video I feature the Spectra+ Touch shower head which has 5 different spray options that can all be changed with the touch of your finger, even when wet. (shown in image below)

With the Spectra+ eTouch, you can mount the remote control on any shower wall. This is ideal if you (or your clients) have trouble reaching the shower head due to age, mobility restrictions or height – like me at just 5′ tall!

Easy peasy touch system

You will also see the new Spa Let Toilet from DXV. This is an all in one, hands free toilet and bidet. Yes, this beauty will rinse & dry you…it even has 4 different temperatures settings for the dryer!

I bet you are probably wondering if it can do your groceries and put your kids to bed as well, right? Well, not yet. But if we ask DXV nicely, they may consider this for the remodel. HAHA!

Lastly, I couldn’t write this post and not mention the super talented designers that were part of the DXV 2017 Design panel. Below is the extraordinary design created by the talented Michele Alfano, who I had the pleasure of meeting on the 2016 Modenus Blog tour.

Mid Century Hygge style by Michele Alfano Designs (the image in my thumbnail is also by Michele)

On a side note, Michele is in my Video For Profits (VFP) Facebook group which is exclusive to anyone who bought my VFP course. She has made some great marketing videos and I’m really proud of how my peeps there are embracing video! If you are ready to attract better clients and make more money, click here to find out more.

There were also 3 other fabulous designers who participated in the panel that you will want to see. You can see their designs and learn more about the DXV panel event here.

So many amazing products to see at KBIS! Click here to see my entire video series from the show so you can see the latest trends in interior design.

Sexy & Smart?! It is possible…

What makes a kitchen?

I’m not talking about you as the fabulous one who designs it and chooses the finishes. Nor am I referring to our talented contractors who actually build it.

I mean, what really makes a kitchen? It’s the ‘hub of the home’. The place where everyone comes together when there’s a party. The place you make memories baking cookies and licking the icing off of the spoon with your little ones.

We as interior designers can make a kitchen sing with a carefully thought out design and stunning aesthetic, that’s for sure. But when combined with innovative products that function for our clients’ busy schedules; everyday rituals & entertaining needs, now that is the secret behind the magic of great design.

Earlier this month, I was in Orlando at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) as a part of the Modenus Blog Tour. This was my second time attending KBIS as a Designhound and I was privy to see many of the latest products and trends in kitchen & bath design.

If you’d prefer to dive right into my video & all the eye catching goodness I’ve packed in there for you, click here or on the image below.

Thermador was one of the sponsors of the tour and it was especially exciting to be there this year because it was the largest launch in the company’s history with over 300 new products!

I couldn’t possibly fit them all into a 3 minute video, but I do share the appliances of theirs that stood out for me the most.

If you are in Canada like me, go to Thermadors’ website here to see more. For my friends south of the border in the US, here is the site you want.

My video will tempt your taste buds. It will give you a sneak peak of what’s available and how you can totally up your game and wow your clients when specifying these appliances for your next amazing kitchen renovation project.

Gas cooktop and down draft from Thermador

What I love about all the brands who sponsor the blog tour is that they truly care about the end consumer. Thermador is a leader, a brand that others in the industry look up to. They pride themselves on listening to feedback from those who use their products, in order to improve upon them.

Plus, they sure know how to throw a freakin’ party! Below, rocking out with design besties to One Republic at the private launch party.

Jana Rae of Jana Donohoe Designs and Sheri Brunea of GITYYC

When I can finally convince my husband to renovate our kitchen, even though I don’t cook, Thermador will definitely be the first place I go. I am purely thinking about my husband of course.

Okay, that may be a slight white lie. It’s important for me to know that a kitchen is going to look good too. It needs to be functional, without compromising on look, that’s the best way to put it. Without a doubt, Thermador is leading the way at ticking both of those important boxes and much more.

Please note that according to FTC rules, I need to disclose that my trip to KBIS was a free trip. My hotel, airfare & some meals were covered. It was fabulous, I won’t lie. Plus, I got to escape the -40 degree temperatures here in Toronto, so I was thrilled about that. However, all views expressed in this post are my own, no body tells me what to do…nobody puts baby in the corner!

Next up from KBIS, Metrie! Stay tuned for that video soon.

Claire xo

Interior Design Marketing Brochures

How do you get the word out about your business? What do you provide to potential clients or business partners such as your trades or kitchen companies to show them all the amazing services you offer? If you don’t have anything yet, don’t sweat it, that’s why I’m here!

In this post, I want to share with you my latest marketing brochure for my interior design business & tell you:

Why I created this brochure?
Who will I give it to?
What am I hoping to accomplish with it?

Check out the video below to find out answers to those questions and more.

I decided to design a marketing brochure to be able to share it with my contractors; other trades; my kitchen company and also with clients.

On the cover of my brochure, I wanted to have a ‘WOW’ factor to grab attention. So I used a professional photograph of my infamous white bathroom. I also added my logo and tagline to tie in with my branding. (it looks blurry here because I copied the cover photo rather than grabbing the original..but you get the idea!)

Inside, it has information about my services with a quick synopsis with bullet points. Creating this professionally printed brochure allowed me the the opportunity to meet with trades for a catch up and I made sure that I also met up with the kitchen company who built my clients’ custom kitchen that is shown inside my brochure.

So consider how you can continue to build on the relationship that you already have with your suppliers or with your trades as well.

Not only does this feature what we can do, but it also has a client testimonial which is always powerful to include and share with others. (see below) Remember, if you don’t toot your own horn, ain’t no one else gonna do it for ya!

As we do a lot of 3D designs, I wanted to include this as a featured service. This is great because when I give this to my contractor, he can show this to his clients and confidently recommend why they should hire our interior design or decorating services.

The brochure lists what our packages includes & who would benefit from hiring our services. PLUS, with the rendering and then the after photo, then can also SEE what magic we can do for them!

On the reverse side of the brochure, you can see all the other services that we provide. Adding photographs are great visual tools so potential clients can see the fabulous work that you do and you’re also setting the standard for your level of professionalism.

When you are designing a similar marketing product, be sure to add in any awards you have received; memberships you are a part of and a professional headshot of you – so potential clients can connect with you on a more personal level.

I’d love to hear if you’ve done something similar and if you found success with it. Let me know by commenting below.

Want more one-on-one advice for your business? Did you know that I offer Coaching?

Find out more about my 90 minute video coaching call here.

‘A Well Designed Business’ Podcast

Earlier this year at the Las Vegas market, I had the pleasure of meeting LuAnn Nigara, the host of a ‘Well Designed Business Podcast’. If you are familiar with the podcast, you already know how fabulous LuAnn is!

What I especially love about the way LuAnn conducts her interviews with guests on her show, is how she asks the hard hitting questions that we all want to ask. She’s so great at taking a step back to fully understand the scope of any issue or topic, before digging deeper to find out more.

I was so excited when I got the request to be a guest on her show!

LuAnn’s podcast focuses on many aspects of the business side of interior design (hence the name of the show AND another reason why I love her so!).

While we obviously discussed business strategies & marketing during my interview, it will probably come as no suprise to you that our conversation had a great deal of focus around video and how it’s been invaluable to growing my business.

To check out the podcast, click here. Normally I’m the one doing the interviews, so this made for a nice change!

If you aren’t already subscribed to a Well Designed Business podcast, you need to go sign up here.

For an idea on what we discussed, please see below for the Show Highlights:

Claire’s incredible level of interaction, leadership, and expertise, on her Facebook Group, Interior Design Business Strategies.
What Claire’s career in Human Resources involved and how it’s informed her career in Interior Design.
Claire explains how she manages to produce her really professional looking videos- all by herself!
The difference between doing a Facebook Live and doing a Youtube video.
The importance of having a plan, ahead of time, for your video.
How and where Claire uses her videos on the services she offers. People really relate to them.
Claire explains some of the technical aspects of how she makes her videos.
You really don’t need a fancy setup to make professional looking videos if you’re using a smartphone.
If the content is good, people are going to watch, even if you don’t look your best.
How Claire edits her videos and the software she uses to do that.
The numerous things that you can do with the Camtasia App.
Creating a moving video out of still pictures with Camtasia.
How long it took for Claire to become adept at using Camtasia. It really isn’t that complicated.
How Claire cues herself when making her videos.
How Claire manages to re-use her video content from Youtube to Facebook Live, Instagram, or even to send to a client.
How to let people know where to find your videos.
The benefits of not being perfect.
The marketing value in producing a body of work on Youtube.
Why you need to keep asking your clients for reviews for your videos.
How Claire goes about asking her clients for reviews.
Claire’s great, actionable tips for new Designers who don’t yet have a portfolio.
Claire’s course on making videos.
The great resources available for those of you who are looking for more in-depth information from Claire, on how to market your business through video.

Are you ready to take your business to the next level via video marketing? My Video For Profits course is available now! Find out more about it here or by clicking on the image below. What are you waiting for?

Learn more here about this dynamic course that will elevate your business.

Make More Money In Your Interior Design Business

Making more money is something we all want to do, right? We are running a business after all, so even though we love what we do, working for free is not an option – not for this gal anyway and it shouldn’t be for you either!

There is a simple way to make more money in your interior design business and I’m sharing this with you today in my latest video. What is the secret sauce, you ask? Watch my video below to find out and start making more money TODAY!

So here’s the secret, in case you decided to jump past my video and keep scrolling.

Charge for your time.

I know what you might be thinking, “Claire, I do charge for my time.”

But do you really? Do you charge for ALL of your time?

As entrepreneurs, we have many outgoings to consider such as bookkeeping or website services and business insurance, just to name a few. This all adds up, so we need to be profitable at the end of the working day, to be smart business owners.

So, how are you going to make more money in your interior design business?

Let your clients know how you charge

You have to be upfront with your clients from the offset. We can’t assume that people know how we work. We may do what we do everyday, but our clients do not. We need to educate them on our processes and this includes being up front, confident and clear about our billing methods.

In order to manage expectations, you first explain to them on the initial discovery call, how you work.

Hang on though, let me back up for a second. A potential clients first touch point with you, is likely going to be through your interior design website. Your website should clearly convey your brand message; the services you provide; give a good indication of how you work with clients; and the value that you can bring to a renovation or decorating project. (like I do in this video)

This is a whole other topic for a blog post, but to manage expectations in the best way possible and to find your ideal clients, adding video content to your website will help you with that 100%. To learn more about how to do this effectively, click here.

Now back to my point at hand.

In order to be sure that you are billing for your time, it’s imperative that clients understand your processes. You can clearly outline this in your letter of agreement (LOA.) For our clients, we review the LOA at the end of the initial consultation before commencing design services.

This one page contract keeps everyone on the same page. Now, when you charge for your time – no matter how small of a task – your client understands that you batch your work in time-based increments, and they’ll know what to expect from you in terms of invoicing for your time. It’s always best that there are no surprises when it comes to invoicing your client.

How does this work in my business?

I bought a simple agenda from an office supply store that has each day broken up by time. I prefer to use the style of agenda that includes 15-minute blocks of time. I log everything that I do for each client in the appropriate time block.

Why do I do this?

Because in the past, there were many times that I was sat at my desk for hours, diligently working away before I realized that I hadn’t charged a single client for my time!

Every email that you reply to; conversations with your contractor about details of a project; phone calls to follow up on orders – all of this is billable time. You are working on behalf of your client, offering your amazingly invaluable services in order to make their life easier. All of this time needs to be logged and billed for.

It might seem like you’re just clearing out your inbox, but if you’re not charging for your time, you are simply doing free work. Don’t give away your billable time for free!

For example, when I’m working on a project for clients and I see emails in my inbox from the painter, my electrician, and my clients themselves, I will pull the file for this project, note the time in my agenda, and start working on the clients’ project.

When I’m finished doing these necessary tasks, I write down the details of what I did in my agenda, and then I log this information into QuickBooks immediately as well.

PRO TIP: Do not wait until the end of the week to log your time in your accounting software. If you do, you’re more likely to question the tasks that you did or forget to add everything that you did. Do it that day and you won’t miss out on the income you’ve made.

What does this look like in the long run?

Let’s look at it over a stretch of time, as that’s when you can see how this really adds up and how you may be leaving a lot of money on the table.

Let’s say you charge 5 extra hours a week for billable administrative or travel time that you are currently not billing for, and for that time you charge $100/hr. This means you could be making an extra $500 a week! Think about that over the course of a year – or let’s say 50 weeks because you are going to take 2 weeks vacation. (yes, you deserve and should be taking vacations – if you didn’t think you could afford to, after reading this you will know that you can!)

That’s $25,000 a year! Wowzers!

That’s enough money for a new bathroom or a new car or an incredibly lovely holiday with your family. Even if you half that and bill for 2.5 hours a week more for time that you are currently letting pass you by, that’s still $12,500!!

As I mentioned before, everything that you do in your business adds up – your website, advertisements, assistants, bookkeeping, outsourcing CAD or 3D designs, membership fees, coaches, etc. When you charge for your time, you’re making more money which means that you will be more profitable.

This is your business, not a hobby. So, run it your way and make sure you get paid for the hard work you do and for the hours you put in.

Are you charging for all of your time?

Where are you giving your time away for free?

Go grab my Letter of Agreement and confidently charge your worth and bill for your time & hard work.

BOLD: Business of Luxury Design = Bloody Brilliant!

Ever dreamed of being a Luxury Interior Designer?

After attending the BOLD (Business of Luxury Design) Summit in Chicago this past September, I can tell you that the BOLD Masters were down to earth, friendly and willing to openly share their expertise and knowledge.

I was thrilled to attend the summit with fellow #Designhound Michael Ryan, representing both Modenus – The Design Directory and also on behalf of the BOLD summit. I was invited by Veronika Eagleson (Modenus) & Julia Molloy (BOLD). What an honour it was to attend and cover this event!

BOLD has a reputation of being one of the most prestigious interior design business conferences in the world & after attending, I can see why! Not only was the event held at an awe inspiring setting – the Historic Auditorium Theatre in downtown Chicago – but also, many of the panelists and presenters were A-list designer celebrities.

Can you believe that this was my first time in Chicago?! What an amazing city! I had no idea that this wonderful city was famous for their architecture and skyscrapers, but I quickly learned this after setting out on the Architectural Boat Cruise for 1.5 hours on the Sunday before the show. It was truly fabulous for me to experience this adventure to start off my trip.

I’m spoiling you here because I have not just one video to share with you from BOLD, but two!

The first is a montage of photographs and video footage, showcasing all of the fabulous designers at the event including the panelists; those who participated in the round table discussions; many of the presenters & of course, all of the amazing networking that takes place.

Oh, and did I mention that we also attended a Black Tie Dinner Affair on the 96th floor atop the Hancock Building in the Signature room? Pretty fancy schmancy, eh?!

Lots of valuable business talks, but plenty of fun too!

At BOLD, one of the unique elements that sets this conference apart from other networking events, is the opportunity to ask questions about business practices and marketing strategies with talented designers who have made it big & with other influencers and top leaders in the industry.

But don’t think for one minute that this means you are going to feel inferior or intimiated, quite the opposite actually. It’s very empowering and inspiring to be involved in these discussions and to also hear that many others have struggled with the same issues that we do in our smaller design firms or as single entreprenuers.

Julia Molloy also likes to lighten things up by injecting the occassional dance break where everyone is up on their feet and shaking their booty! She also organised a game that was similar to the Dating Game Show from the 1970’s, but with a focus on Interior Design.

BOLD Masters Pamela Babey, Jamie Drake and Barclay Butera make fabulous contestants as Ray Langhammer hosts the panel and Julia has to guess the answers to the questions asked. You can see that, in the video below!

Did you attend the BOLD summit or would you like to attend? Post below and share your comments.

Before I leave you, I want to say thank you so much for voting me #3 in the Top 100 Influencers contest by Modenus! What an honour and I totally appreciate all your support.

Go here to see all Top 100 finalists, they are a great bunch of designers and very talented group, so I am thrilled to be a part of it.

Make Video NOW! My 10 Video Tips For Beginners

Making video is a must! People are very visual and creating video is one of the best ways to make your point to your audience. If you’re new to video, I have some quick tips to help you get started and to shed the excuses.

Here are my 10 video tips for beginners:

1. Invest in a selfie stick or a tripod

It’s much easier to focus on filming a great video if you aren’t worried about holding up the camera. The holder for my selfie stick attaches to my tripod to help stabilize the camera.

If you don’t have a selfie stick or a tripod, just pull out your phone and hold it up. You could also use the webcam that is built-in to your computer.

2. Invest in a lapel microphone

You simply plug one end into your phone and very quickly you have upgraded to record great, quality audio. I use my mic in all of my videos to give you, the viewer, a better experience.

If you’re curious about the gear I use, you can check out and purchase it here.

3. Hold your phone horizontally

If you’re making video for YouTube or to upload to Facebook natively, hold your phone horizontally. This will eliminate the two black frames around the video and will make you more center stage for a better viewpoint.

4. Position the camera directly in front of you (or a little bit above)

The position of the camera is important because you want the viewer to be focused on you. You don’t want to be looking down on the viewer or to show off your fabulous double-chin.

It’s a more complementary angle for you, and you can look directly into the lens of the camera more easily.

5. Turn notifications off

The last thing you want is to hear the little ding letting you know someone sent you the pizza emoji.

Eliminate distractions by silencing your notifications. This will go a long way in helping you create the best video possible and not to lose your mind when you realise you need to start recording from the beginning.

6. Use a flip chart to keep you on track

You can’t see it in the video, but right behind the camera is a flip chart with a few bullet points. I make notes for myself to stay on track, avoid forgetting what my next point is, and to make sure I’ve covered everything on my list.

You can pause during the recording of your video to refer back to your notes and simply edit out that dead space in post-production.

7. Don’t waste time

When you start your video, get right to it. Begin with your content from the very beginning.

Someone has clicked the play button because they are ready to consume your amazing content, so give them what they ask for. (This is a bit different to Facebook Live, where things are a little more relaxed.) Here’s an example of a video you can check out to see what to do!

8. Be you!

This is my most important tip!

I know it might seem like you need to be made-up and looking very professional, but truthfully, you just need to be you. Don’t compare yourself to what other people are doing, just do what feels right for you and the best way you know how to connect with your audience.

Be yourself and have fun!

9. Ask for feedback

There’s no shame in asking for comments. You should end all of your videos with a call to action. Consider directing them to your website; asking them to subscribe to your youtube channel or hitting the ‘like’ button…just don’t ask them to do all three or they will get confused and not bother to do any.

Another great call to action is to ask your viewer to leave a comment. Pose a thoughtful question that is relevant to the video’s topic, so your viewers have a reason to leave a comment and can join in the conversation.

This will make hanging out in your YouTube or Facebook comments much more fun for everyone!

10. Engage with your audience

If someone took the time to comment on your post or on your video, reply back to them. This shows your viewer that you’re a real person, you care, and that you want them to come back and spend time with you.

It’s all about engagement.

Click on the image below to find out more about my course, so you can start making more money and attracting better clients with video too!

There’s no excuse for you not to do video. I started making video in 2013, and I have connected with more of my ideal clients and have made more money as a direct result of my video content.

Are you ready to start making more money in your interior design business?
Click here to order Video for Profits now!

Video is not the future – it’s the NOW!

Embrace it and your business will boom!

Subscribe to my Colour & Interior Design YouTube channel here to see how far I’ve come in creating video over the years. Hey, you’ve got to start somewhere!

Client Newsletters Made Easy

Getting new projects for your interior design business doesn’t have to be as difficult as you may think. There is a simple way to work smarter: sending out email newsletters to a curated list of current and past clients.

Click on the video below where I walk you through my process and why the ROI on this clever and easy marketing tool, is well worth it.

Why is an email list important?

An email list is super important in your business because it gives you a personal way to keep in contact with your favorite clients. It’s also YOUR list.

You may think it’s great to have all your followers and likes on other platforms such as facebook, houzz and instagram, (just to name a few) but those platforms do not belong to you. If those platforms folded tomorrow or changed up the way they show or share your content, you have no control over that. But what you can control and what is yours, is your email list.

Checking your stats is also imperative to ensure that all your hard efforts are well worth your time. My open rate on average is over 50% for each campaign I send out, so I know this works.

What is a newsletter?

A newsletter in the way that I’m describing it in this post, is different from your blog. It’s written like a micro-blog post, and it’s sent out to your best clients as a way to stay in in touch.

A newsletter is not a sales pitch. You are simply giving past clients a reminder that you exist and an update on the business without asking for anything in return.

What should you say in a newsletter?

Start your newsletters off casually, remember, these are people you’ve worked with before so you’ve already built a rapport with them. If it’s around the New Year, talk about the holidays. If it’s spring, let readers know that you’re excited about the warmer weather (hopefully!) on its way. You want to invite your readers in with a simple welcome.

Share with your readers what’s new in your business, including upcoming events or milestones you’ve achieved.

This graphic shows my 6 years anniversary in business and was created in Canva.

Build on the credibility that you already have with your clients and let them know if you’ve been featured in magazines, share your latest projects & shout about any awards you’ve recently won.

I won first place for a bedroom design in a recent contest, so I let my clients know about this achievement!

Give value & remind clients about ALL your services

Next, I give value. I share what I’ve done recently like posted a video on YouTube or if I’ve written a blog post. If I have updated my services, I tell them that too. It’s easy for people to forget all that you do, so make sure you remind them of this when you can.

As I said, newsletters are like mini-blog posts – they still need a call to action at some point. You might have them “click here to read more” or “send me a photo of your remodel.” Whatever you choose, make sure you give the reader something to do after they finish reading the newsletter…hopefully they want more anyway!

How do you do it?

MailChimp is the email-marketing platform I use, and it’s great for beginners. I make sure to include the first name of the reader to add an extra dose of a personal touch.

Consistency is also very important. Keeping in constant contact is important to keep the trust you already have with those past clients. You could do weekly, I prefer monthly for my clients.

I try not to get too fancy with emails. I keep the formatting simple and keep it valuable. That’s it.

Does email marketing work?

I keep a log showing how many inquires and bookings have come just from sending out email newsletters to past clients.

I am projecting to make $10,000 so far this year just from sending out newsletters with 10% of those clients hiring me back or referring my services!

What you need to remember

The best way to keep the eye moving down the page is to include images. Our business is all visual, so make your content visually appealing. Share some of your professionally photographed images of your designs in your newsletter.

Industrial Dining room design by Claire Jefford, Creating Contrast Designs

Be real, be you…and get personal.

My family in Mexico earlier this year.

You are not doing this to make a sale. If you do, your readers will see right through you. Newsletters are simply to keep you and your business top of mind for when past clients need you next. Sure, you can add in a promo every now and again, but you don’t need to be too ‘salesy’. Your clients already know and trust you, so your goal here is to stay ‘top of mind’.

Include some family or personal photos too, this adds a nice personal touch & makes you more relatable.

Email marketing works. You don’t have to work so hard to get new clients if you have a pool of past clients that you love. Keep in touch with those clients, and they’ll come back to you!

Are you sending out newsletters?

Comment to let me know how they are working for your business!

Want to stay updated with all of my latest blog posts? CLICK HERE to sign up for lastest updates!

Six Tips to Being A Stand Out Professional

Stand out. Get noticed. Here’s How.

To attract your ideal clients & acquire projects that get you excited to jump out of bed in the morning, you need to set the bar high & work hard.

I know, you were hoping for an easy alternative. There isn’t one. However, the rewards can definitely be worth all your blood, sweat and tears. I pinky promise.

So what is the secret?

Well, it’s no secret at all. In fact, when you know these steps, they all make perfect sense. It’s implementing them and being consistent that is the tricky part. But I know you can do it, after all, you are an entrepreneur who goes after what you want and let’s nothing stand in your way, right?!

In my latest video, I share with you 6 crucial elements that will elevate your interior design business and your brands’ reputation. Sound too good to be true? It’s not, but you need to get ready to take action. Click on the video below and let’s do this!

Below are my six tips for building a successful interior design business & brand, which I share with you in the video. I’ve also included images and examples of how I’ve done this in my own business.

As you gain more experience with each client project, you will also be building your confidence. This will get easier, I guarantee!

Six Tips for Building Your Professional Brand & Image

#1 Portfolio

A professional portfolio of your work is a must if you want to be taken seriously and get fabulous clients. Don’t be resentful when a potential client doesn’t hire you because they can’t see the value in the service you provide at the price point you offer it, only to turn around and do the exact same thing when it comes to photographing your design projects.

That is one of my biggest pet peeves! Quality photos = quality clients. Period. See my portfolio of professionally photographed spaces here.

Design by Claire Jefford, Creating Contrast Designs. Professional photography by Stephani Buchman

#2 Presentation

Dress for Success.

Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

You’ve heard all the cliche’s before and they are true. Look your best and get noticed. Invest in some nice key pieces for your wardrobe & get professional head shots done for your site & to use in promotional materials.

Professional photography by Romy Riley.

#3 Processes

If you have a great portfolio and you look amazing, but your processes are all over the place, then you’re in trouble. Especially in this business, as there are so many different details to be aware of for every task that we do.

Click here to see what I take in my bag to be best prepared for the initial consultation meeting with clients.

Click here to see what products I have to offer on my ‘shop’ page to help get your processes set up to make your life easier.

Earlier this year I released my ‘ROCK the Initial Consultation Processes Package’ and it has received RAVE reviews.

Want to find out more? Click here or on the image below.

I offer a 30 day money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the incredible value that I offer in this package. What have you got to lose?

Finally, if you need to update your packages for the services you offer, go get my free download with coaching video of my services and rates sheet here.

#4 Posts

Consistently posting on social media, while creating engaging content for your audience is essential. Not only is it a great way to show your work; latest interior decorating and design trends as well as share testimonials and achievements, but it’s also imperative for staying top-of-mind.

Even if someone following you isn’t in need of Interior Design Services now, they will likely be the first to refer you to a friend or think of you as the trusted expert when they do.

#5 Perception

Perception is everything. If you are not going to put yourself out there to show people what you do and why you are someone to watch, while looking super slick and providing advice as the expert that you are on the craft that you do, then you may as well go work for someone else.

You want your potential clients to see you as the busy professional, creating beautiful spaces and staying on top of all the latest trends with organised processes that give them confidence in your abilities. After all, it’s the truth. Share testimonials and any work you may be doing in your local community. Even if you’re not there yet, you are taking the necessary steps in positioning yourself & will get there soon.

#6 Professionalism

If you actively do all of the tips I’ve listed in this post, then you are showing the world that you are a force to be reckoned with and someone who they do not want to miss out on an opportunity to hire for their next renovation project. Now that is something you DO NOT want to miss out on.

Which of these six do you do best? Which one do you struggle with the most? Share with us, comment below!

Want my weekly no-nonsense advice on creating a successful interior design business? Click here and let the games begin my friend. I’m ready when you are.