How to Get Found Online & Get Interior Design Business

You have a nice website, yet you’re not getting the calls you want or need to have a profitable and sustainable business that provides the lifestyle you deserve. Why is that?

Just because you have a website doesn’t mean consumers can find you. Have you searched for interior designers in your metro area? Do you come up on the first page of Google or Yahoo? If not, you need to do some work. 80% of the calls go to the top three listings on the first page of the search engines.

List your site with the search engines. If you do this yourself, this can take many hours, but it is free. I really recommend outsourcing this to someone who does this all of the time.

Optimize your site for the keywords that people use to search for interior designers in your area. Keywords could be “interior designer new york,” or “kitchen designer San Francisco.”

Your website should be optimized with your keywords, in what are called anchor links within the text of your site. An anchor link is text that the search engines see that indicates relevance to a search by someone looking for your services.

For instance, one search term you might use to look for me is “value based fees.” If you’re looking for information about growing a more profitable and passion-filled interior design business, the link takes you right to another site we own. (Be sure to download the complimentary eBook!)

Make sure you anchor link keywords to secondary pages within your website. This is called “deep linking.” The search engines reward you for this because you have more content that makes the search on your site more relevant.

Here are examples you might use on your site:

• Interior design city
• Interior designer city
• Kitchen design city
• Bathroom design city

If you’re really on top of the game, your website address, or URL, should include the main keywords someone might use to find you. For example: http://www.interiordesignorinteriordesigneryourcityyourcompanyname.com.

If you don’t have a website address like this, you can register a new domain that uses this naming convention and forward it to your current website address.

Be sure to list your site on Google, Bing and Yahoo! maps. This is free, and extremely important to help you get found. These days, over 70% of all people who look for any service look online and view your website before calling you. If you’re not on Page 1, you’re not very likely to be found.

Add a blog to your website, and post articles at least once a week with the main keywords for your site. Search engines “crawl” the web every day looking for new content. Fresher content gets higher rankings in the search engines. If you don’t have a blog attached to your site, then at least update your website as frequently as possible.

I recommend a blog because you can update the site yourself. There are many qualified web developers who can set up a template for your site and teach you how to use it. You can even use a hybrid blog template that looks more like a website. Just search on Google for WordPress templates and take a look at the options available.

Every website or blog can be customized with your logo, branding and graphics.

Remember to write your content to appeal to the emotions of the potential client. Don’t use a laundry list of what you do. Tell your visitors how you improve their lives.

Use alt-tags for all photographs on your site. Alt-tags are the text you see when you roll your mouse over a picture or image.

Use similar naming conventions that I mentioned above. “Master Bedroom Interior Design NYC” is a good tag if you want your images to be found in the city of New York. Images are more likely to be found than your website.

Talk to your webmaster about your H1 tag (Title Tag), Meta Description and Meta Tags. These must be relevant to the keywords that your prospects use to search for you on the web.

If you really want to get found, use a video about your business. Few designers use videos yet, so you’re very likely to get a high search ranking if you use a video with keywords and your URL in the description.

Gail Doby, ASID, is co-founder and Chief Vision Officer of Design Success University. DSU is your shortcut to a more profitable and passion-filled interior design business. Click the link to get your complimentary copy of the Interior Design Fee & Salary Survey eBook now ($79 Value). This article was originally written for Decorati.

Sera o Benedito ~ Recycling Truck Tarps From Brazil

For designers that have a retail space and sell gift items this could be a great product to add to your store. I found SOB, Sera o Benedito at High Point Market. For more information on purchasing these products email orivan@seraobenedito.com.br. They recycle old truck tarps and create everything from duffel bags, totes, floor coverings, bean bags to clothing.

Above is an example of an actual tarp. To see all the patches that a trucker added double click to enlarge the image.




Love these totes and duffel bags.


These shoes are made from a truck tarp and the soles are from the truck tires.


These are the colorways from the tarps.




The bean bags were the cutest! The tarps are so soft and of course very durable and washable.

iPad 2 Releasing March 11th

Someone stop me from getting out my credit card! I love my iPad, but I love the new features in the iPad2. The new iPad 2 is faster. Now who doesn't want more speed? It now includes a front and rear facing camera. I want that too. It is lighter and thinner. I like thinner . . .

Love the new cover design with the magnets. Very innovative. Watch the video, they always do fabulous presentations and make them look so effortless.

I was hoping they would include the ability to use their Magic Mouse as well as the ability to view Flash websites and videos, but it appears they didn't include those features.

The Power of Marketing (A Guided Tour) Launches March 8th

Marketing is too important to be left to chance; it is the driving force behind your company's success. A meticulous plan is critical to effectively communicating your company's services, priorities, and unique abilities.

As we've all seen, innate talent and hard work are not enough to sustain a healthy pipeline of clients. Every business needs to build brand recognition, expand their business, and generate substantial profits. So here are a few questions to ask yourself...

-Are you sure your clients know what makes you unique and of high value?

- Do you know what works, or more important, what doesn't work when it comes to marketing?

-Are there things that you could be doing to create a more balanced flow of income?

If you paused when answering any of the above questions, it is probably time to rethink the way you're communicating with your potential clients. The Power of Marketing by Minutes Matter will guide you through an intense four-week curriculum developed to inspire creative marking ideas and breathe fresh air into your business. The Power of Marketing reveals the secrets of three of the industry's award winning innovators, Debbie Green, Casey Green, and Jackie Von Tobel.

The weekly sessions are live and will include our unique Power of Marketing book in electronic format. Recordings of each session will be sent to every person who registers. Register by March 3rd and save $50. Note: Even if you can't attend the live sessions you will still receive all the recordings.

The Power of Marketing (A Guided Tour)

1st Session: 03.08.11 at 1:00 pm (EDT)

• The Power of Identity
• Develop Your Own Pitch
• Create a Marketing Plan
• The Power of Branding
• Build a Strong Brand
• The basics of fonts, colors and graphics
• Branding everything from business cards to napkins

2nd Session: 03.15.11 at 1:00 pm (EDT)

• The Power of Successful Tools
• Showing off your work
• Storyboard - a new and innovative approach
• The Power of Publicity
• Make yourself famous
• Build your credentials
• Showcase your talent
• The Power of Blanket Marketing
• Magazines and newspapers
  

3rd Session: 03.22.11 at 1:00 pm (EDT)

• The Power of Generating Leads
• Create a powerful and systematic referral system
• Build partnerships with non-competing businesses
• The Power of Qualifying Clients
• The Power of Lasting Impressions
• Did you remember my birthday?
• Say thank-you in a unique way
• Get that in writing
• The Power of the Internet
• Websites, Blogs and Facebook

4th Session: 03.29.11 at 1:00 pm (EDT)

• The Power of Budgeting
• How much money do you need to spend?
• The Power of Getting it Done
• When will you be done?
• How will you know what works?
  

The Power of Marketing (A Guided Tour) includes:

• Four live sessions
• Recordings of all live sessions
• Electronic Storyboard (in Studio format) (see preview below)
  
• Avatars (in Studio format) (see sampling below)
  
• Power of Marketing book in electronic format (chapters sent in conjunction with live sessions)
• Design Articles (for use in blogs, magazines or newspaper)
• Design Contracts
• Resource Documents
• Worksheets

| Preview of Electronic Storyboard |

|Sampling of Studio Avatars to be used in blogs, magazines or newspaper articles |

| Buy now |

Register before 3/03/2011: $347 (Save $50)
Use Promo Code: POM50

Price after 3/03/2011: $397

Marketing is our passion,

Co-Authors
Power of Marketing (A Guided Tour)

The Relevant Classics: Kristin Drohan

This article by Kristin was posted on Decorati's site today. Kristin is an interior designer who designed her very own furniture line, which launched last spring at High Point Market, with Minutes Matter Studio. Her style of furniture is unusual, comfortable and beautiful. Way to go Kristin!

Here's the post:

Keep reading to learn how Kristin Drohan designs invigorating environments filled with color and texture balanced with functionality and eco-awareness.

How would you describe your design style?

My design style is relevant classic traditional. I provide my clients with timeless style that functions for today. My spaces are edited neutral backdrops where accessories provide color, texture and personality. Having lived all over the US (7 cities in 17 years of marriage), I’ve been influenced by various geographic regions, so I have a lot of “likes”.

What do you do, or where do you go, for inspiration?

Designers will tell you, travel provides inspiration. I agree, but I also get lots of inspiration from High Point and Maison Objet (Design Trade Shows). Traveling with my design peers and attending industry market shows, is so stimulating. You get completely invigorated by the creativity at these forums. I love that energy and try to attend several each year.

What is your favorite furniture piece of all time ? How were you able to use it in a particular project?

I love the Allie bed from my Kristin Drohan Collection. I have it in my own bedroom. It is one of my top selling pieces. A Chippendale wing back chair I inherited from my Grandmother provided the inspiration for the design. I upholstered it in a high performing eco vinyl for durability, but it still maintains a luxurious look. (See above)

In your opinion, what makes a great room?

In order to have a great room, I think you need an efficient space plan, an interesting focal point, accurate proportion and scale, a mix of old and new, and items with various price points.

What is your favorite Benjamin Moore paint color to use for walls, ceiling, and trim?

My favorite Benjamin Moore walls colors are HC 28 Shelburne Buff, HC 29 Dunmore Cream, HC 34 Wilmington Tan, and HC 144 Palladian Blue. I use Decorator or Atrium White for Trim and do 10 to 25 percent of the wall color for the ceiling. Most of my clients have kids and dogs so I use an eggshell finish. Eggshell goes on smooth, cleans up easily, and doesn’t look chalky.

Is it lifestyle that has generated the design changes, or is design the driving force that affects how we live?

Lifestyle defines product design. Considering how someone lives is crucial to designing a space that fits their needs. If a space is gorgeous but your client doesn’t use it, is a big design failure. All of my furniture designs in the Kristin Drohan Collection were based on a functional client need I could not find in the market place.

Do you see part of your role as designer being that of educator, expanding your clients’ awareness of green products? How informed do you feel you are on the subject?

Designers are the ultimate educators in green products. Being one of the first 100 Interior Designers in the US to be a Green Accredited Professional, I’m passionate about the subject but also realistic. I think a related goal is providing décor choices that are safe and made in America. Avoiding products that are manufactured with high levels of VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) and supporting our US economy is a responsible choice designers should make.

What is the ultimate goal of all your projects?

The ultimate goal of all my projects is to improve or enhance my clients’ lives. If I can provide them with an environment that improves their lifestyle and provides comfort, I have done my job.

Hunter Douglas moves to the clouds!

I subscribe to Google's blog so it comes right to my inbox. You know me, I like to be "in the know." I quickly skim over the blog posts gleaning any pertinent information that might be useful to us. I thought it was interesting that Hunter Douglas (read the article) was listed as a company that was moving to the clouds.

Below is an excerpt from Google's blog two days ago. Looks like lots of businesses are packing their bags and moving to clouds.

"Who’s gone Google?
Recently we’ve seen a surge in new public sector customers—including the Administrative Conference of the United States, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and the City of Rochester Hills. These organizations are not only saving taxpayer dollars with Google Apps, but also boosting the productivity of their ranks.

More than 50,000 businesses have also started using Google Apps in the last three weeks. Pithy Little Wine Co., DeyFischer Consulting, Manna on Main Street and Hunter Douglas are just a few of the businesses we’ve profiled recently who are are going 100% web."

In the last six months Google has added some major enhancements to their Calendar, Google Docs, Google Spreadsheets and Google presentations. I especially like how they made it easier to share all Google files. You can choose to share a Google file with one person, a group of people, make the document public or keep it totally private. Below is an example of an email that is sent to the person you are sharing the document with. In this example, I am sharing a presentation with just one design client, all the client needs to do is click on the hyperlink to view the presentation.


I absolutely love the ability to have all these documents online and in a central location. I don't use Excel or Word anymore, I have given all that up and moved to Google Apps. We've been in the clouds for over a year now and loving every minute of it. I can access all of our information from my Mac desktop, my Dell Laptop, my iPhone or my iPad.

Could life get any easier or better?

A New & Unusual Way to Use Studio

Now, that's is a mound of snow! This winter has certainly had record amounts of snowfall. In a previous post you seen an amazing 10' snowman, but this photograph caught my eye because our software, Minutes Matter Studio, was used to measure the mound of snow. Lynn of Wakefield, MA posted this photograph on the CHF forum to show other forum users the height, to the inch, of the snow mound in her driveway. I can't imagine how long it will take to melt.

Using our unique Set Scale tool and our Dimension tool quickly allows users to scale a photograph. Lynn reminds us all the uses for Studio are only limited by your imagination.

Thanks for sharing Lynn!