Deb Mitchell Writing

design, well written.

content

How to Make the Most of a Copywriter’s Day Rate Services

by

So. Many. Questions.

A writer-for-a-day service – seriously? How the heck does that even work? What writing projects can actually get done in a day’s time?

I know it sounds crazy. It did to me too when I first saw other writers taking this approach in their businesses. And it sounds doubly crazy to you since in the interior design world, a day rate service means you give the advice but the client does the actual implementation. That’s so NOT how you want to tackle your writing projects!

But that’s not how a writer-for-a-day service works (unless you happen to be the rare client who does want to do their own writing after consulting with a pro).

Why bother hiring a content copywriter on a day rate?

Because you might be getting a better value for your money (and time!) than you think.

With my day rate service, I’m taking the functionality of a full-service writing project and condensing it down into a concentrated block of time. You get all of my focus on you and your project for a full day. Certain smaller projects can take just a half-day, while we can string together a few writer-for-a-days for some larger projects (but only if that makes sense from a value perspective as compared to just going with a full-service approach).

So how much can a writer like me do for you under a day rate service?!

If you ask Wanda S. Horton of Wanda S. Horton Interiors, the answer is A LOT!

After working for months on end to get the copy for her new interior design website written, Wanda came to me for help.

Her web designer was chomping at the bit for her to give them copy to place on the site, so Wanda gave him what she had.

Seeing the copy she’d written on the new site, Wanda was torn. While the site’s design conveyed exactly what she wanted it to (that she’s a knowledgeable, seasoned designer who offers a warm, friendly, signature approach to design services). But because like so many of my other clients she’d taken advantage of tons of business and branding education and coaching, her copy was rooted in input from multiple resources.

Everything she included was true and accurate, but it felt piecemealed and “half-baked.” Wanda wanted another set of eyes on the copy from someone who really understands the design industry, as well as how to render nuances in her copy that would hit the right notes and check all the boxes with her prospects and clients. And so she contacted me.

In talking with Wanda over the phone and looking at her copy, it was clear to me that what she’d written was a solid start. It accurately represented where her business is now and where she wants to take it in the near (and not so near) future. What was lacking was a laser focus that would hit home with the kinds of clients she works best with – clients who’ll appreciate her subtlety and warmth as much as they appreciate her design expertise. It needed details that would make them feel fully at home and understood innately, as all her clients do when working with this amazing lady.

Because web copy involves loads of strategy and market positioning work, it’s not always ideal for a day rate service. Opt-ins, email funnels, editorial calendar planning and blog posts, and other standalone projects are often a better fit for a single day of work. But since Wanda had solid messaging and positioning already in place and there wasn’t a need to start her copy from scratch, I knew a Writer-for-a-Day was the way to go.

What does a writer-for-a-day look like?

I usually conduct my Writer-for-a-Days over Zoom, which works beautifully. But Wanda happens to be local to me (we’re both in the Charlotte, NC area), so she graciously invited me to come to her cozy studio.

These Writer-for-a-Days are always super intensive – but mostly just for me, as the client can essentially go on about their day after a video call to kick off the project in the morning. While they do have to be available to review copy and answer my questions by email or text at any time throughout the day, I’m working on it on my own for most of that time. We wrap things up at the end of the day with another call, but as long as they’re not stuck in client meetings or vendor showrooms where they can’t respond to me promptly, they’re free to get other work done while I take care of their writing project.

However, at Wanda’s studio, she graced me with a day filled with her warm hospitality, complete with tea, beautiful snacks, and even fresh flowers – which she sent home with me. This lovely lady knows how to take care of people!

In her case, we worked together all day, with me spearheading the process honing her brand messaging, dissecting her copy, and zeroing in on the exact words that would resonate with her ideal clients and that Wanda could be proud of.

We brainstormed, bounced ideas off one another, and tried out different combinations of words and phrases. Throughout the process, I took copious notes to capture all the details of changes, additions, and subtractions to her copy.

When we were finished, we were both exhausted with a capital “E” and Wanda had fully finished website copy that conveyed the exact feeling and messaging her prospects crave.

There are no shortcuts to great copy, but by putting our heads together and digging in deep, clients like Wanda can get A LOT done for them in the space of a single workday.

As I gathered up my laptop (and my flowers!) to head home, Wanda said the two things I most love to hear from a client: “Deb, I feel such a sense of relief! I’m so glad I called you. You’re worth every penny!”

I couldn’t possibly ask for more than knowing my clients are breathing a sigh of relief because I’ve lifted a weight off their shoulders, whether working with them under my Writer-for-a-Day or my Full Service model.

There’s something truly magical in that kind of partnership between my clients and me. Making their copy come to life so it does the work of selling for them is my joy and privilege.

Wanda, I *heart* you! And if you want to see an example of a fantastic interior design website with ideally crafted copy, look no further than Wanda’s.

Do you feel like you could use a big sigh of relief? Book me for a Writer-for-a-Day to collaborate with you on your website copy or other marketing projects.

Let’s do this!

What Should Your Interior Design Business Be Posting to Instagram Stories?

by

Last week, I took a look at Instagram Stories and how you should be incorporating them into your design business’ digital marketing strategy.

Instagram Stories is essentially a mini-social media network piggybacking on Instagram. These stories feature short-form video and photo content that only has a 24-hour shelf life. After that, poof, they’re gone! This gives you a ton more room to experiment and put more interesting content on your Instagram Stories than you would your other social media.

The big question is, what should you be posting to your Instagram Stories?

What Should You Post?

As always, this is probably the hardest part. When you think about it, all stories (good and bad) have one thing in common: They take the audience on a journey, from Point A to Point B.

I’m not saying your IG Stories should always be in 3-distinct parts – though you certainly can choose to do it that way. Wouldn’t a little 3-part “cliffhanger” story posted over a few days be fun for your audience? Imagine teasing them with “Before” and “During” shots of a home, making them wonder what the “After” space gonna look like?! Or even you talking to the camera giving a great design how-to tip in a “First, Next, Last” 3-post format.

But another way of making sure you tell a story in the truest sense of the word with your IG Stories is by thinking each post through like this:

“BEFORE my audience sees this Story, they know me as ________, and so DURING this Story, I should show them ______, so that AFTER they see this Story, they see me as _______.”

Another way of planning your IG Stories strategy is to think through your Stories in groups of three, even if they don’t tell a serialized story like the examples above. For instance, if you want your audience to know how professional you are, but also that working with you is a fun experience, you can post a video of you personally inspecting a newly arrived piece of furniture at your warehouse; then one of you walking a job site with the builder, and finally one of you and your team pouring champagne and getting snacks ready for a client meeting in your offices.

Of course, IG Stories lends itself really well to giving your audience a virtual tour of your projects. It would be fun to show a 15-second video, showing off a specific room, then another 15-second video afterward walking them to the next spot, and so on. You can even intersperse these short videos with professional photos of each room so they can see them in their most perfect state!

While IG Stories are fantastic ways to build narratives and take your audience on a journey, try to keep it in the “short story” genre. 15-second videos are not conducive to grand epic videos that expound on a topic for 15 minutes. They should be quick and simple!

Take advantage of IG Stories as a way to try things out that you normally wouldn’t. Are you nervous about directly addressing your audience in a longer format like a Facebook Live? Give it a try with IG Stories, secure in the knowledge that it will be gone only 24 hours later! “Direct address” or a “talking heads” video can be a fun way to create and strengthen connections with your audience. When people can see and hear you, they feel like they know you, and that’s always a good thing for getting clients. In fact, some interior designers are so good at this that, when their clients “meet” them for the first time, they are told that they feel like they’re already friends! Win-win!

What NOT to Post on IG Stories

While IG Stories can be fantastic methods to market to your audience, the people who use them aren’t looking for “marketing.” If you tailor your content solely around an advertising mindset, chances are that your users are going to skip your Stories rather than watch and enjoy them.

This is why you may want to switch things up and make some IG Stories that aren’t about your design business at all. Instead, talk to your audience about something else. Maybe you just had a funny encounter with an old friend or ran into a past client or a favorite vendor. Or something crazy happened to you through the course of your day. If you have pets, trust me on this, SHARE VIDEOS OF THEM! People love that, and it helps create personal connections that bring people further into your world. Just don’t overdo the cute cat or playful pup posts – too much of a good thing is never good!

Don’t treat IG Stories like a passive form of media. A lot of marketing is you speaking to your audience without them being able to answer back. The trick with IG Stories is that you can and should add interactive elements like polls and questions. Ask users what design choices they prefer. Post photos of two rugs, two lamps, and two paint colors and have your users vote on which they think is best. They’ll love the chance to chime in with you!

You can also ask questions that can get direct responses from your audience. They slide the story up, and they can send you an instant message, reaching out to create an actual dialogue with you. That’s definitely something you don’t get with most static ads.

Most of all, you should be having fun with IG Stories. While it is a valuable marketing technique, it’s also something that people love playing with for fun. You should be doing the same! The reason that IG Stories are so popular is that they are a fun alternative from the old, boring newsfeed. Don’t just create stories that are copies of the same content you have on Facebook, Twitter, and your other social media channels. This isn’t the place to efficiently repurpose content. Instead, have fun being creative with your IG Stories. After all, if you aren’t having fun, your audience isn’t having fun, which means you’re missing the point and not reaping the benefits.

While there isn’t a ton of copy involved with IG Stories, the hope is that users will want to head to your website to see more of you. Once there, you need to present them with great content quality and engagement. If they check out your blog and find only lifeless, boring, or old content, they’re going to be disappointed. But if they discover your website is full of interesting, fun, and valuable content that gets them excited about you and your work, you might just have a new client!

If you’d like to super-charge your marketing with excellent interior design copy, contact me today. Together, we can collaborate to build a website that perfectly reflects the personality and passion that you show off in your Instagram Stories! In fact, you can schedule a call with me immediately!

Using Instagram Stories to Market Your Interior Design Business

by

OK, I admit it! I’m coming to this IG Stories party fashionably late, and holding up the wall for a while so I can adjust to the faster-paced scene.

Getting up to speed with these things can take me a minute! But if you’re like me, once we get over our stage fright, we’re ON IT!

You may already get the gist of what IG Stories is and how it works, but just in case, let me catch us both up!

Instagram Stories in a Nutshell

IG Stories let you post a photo, series of photos, or short-form video. Videos can be up to 15 seconds long, but if you want to post something longer, you can use a third-party app like this one to break a longer video into 15-second segments so you can post them all.

Once you post a Story, it stays on your profile for 24 hours.

These are meant to be candid, casual, and representative of what’s happening in real-time, as opposed to being planned ahead (but as my husband says, I’m probably the least spontaneous person on the planet, so I like to fudge that just a bit – more on that later).

Of course, businesses have already picked up on how fantastic IG Stories are to promote their brands in quick bursts. Not surprisingly, you can purchase an IG Story as an ad that will be shown to hundreds of people you target. But if you want to save a little money, you can, of course, post Stories to your interior design business’ profile for free while still making them strategic to your brand.

How Do You Create IG Stories?

This part is easy!

Just like regular Instagram, you pretty much have to create IG Stories on your phone (although more and more third-party software platforms are developing IG Stories-planning capabilities. So as per usual for social media, everything might all change soon). This means the better your phone’s camera, the better quality your IG Story will be. It’s way more appealing for your Stories’ audience if you use candid iPhone pics and videos, as opposed to your IG feed where you might rely more heavily on pro images or produced videos to keep your feed looking prettier and more polished.

Here’s the step-by-step for creating an actual IG Story.

  1. Head over to your Instagram profile on the app
  2. If you’re making the video or taking the pics right then and there, simply tap the camera icon in the top-left hand corner of the app. Your camera will pop up.
  3. Tap on the circle quickly to take a photo or hold down on the circle to create a video (remember the 15-second limit).

And… that’s it. No post copy to write; no hashtags to research (although you can use hashtags in Stories to some extent – read about that here). It’s a little too simple for my overthinker brain to process!

If you want to put a little more thought behind what you post, just like I do, then take pics and video of little things you think might make good Stories and save them on your phone. When you’re ready to post:

  1. Open your IG app and tap your profile picture in the circle at the top left of the screen on the home page OR on your profile page – either will get you there.
  2. If you still have another Story up from the past 24 hours, you’ll need to tap the profile picture circle at the top of that screen, as well, to open up the post-creator screen.
  3. Tap your camera feed at the bottom left of the screen and select the photo(s) or video you want to post.

Of course, if you want to have a little more fun with your Stories, there are a ton of customization options that can also help you promote your brand and interior design business.

Create a Unique Look

There are a ton of ways to customize your Stories to create a unique look that exemplifies your brand’s personality.

For example, you can add stickers, text, or a filter on top of your video to give it its own flavor. While Instagram provides a ton of options here, you can also design your own stickers, overlays, and templates with apps like this one. With these graphic options, you can tell a story in an ultra-creative way that static images and written descriptions on your Instagram newsfeed can’t.

And since – unlike your IG feed – your Stories won’t last forever, you may feel more freedom to experiment. See what you like and what your audience responds to. Oh, did I mention your audience can engage with you on IG Stories by tapping the “Send Message” field at the bottom of the screen and either tapping one of the Quick Reactions emoticons there and/or by sending you a DM? You should engage with the Stories others post in this way, as well, for a 2-way social experience.

Of course, knowing HOW to create IG Stories is one thing, knowing WHAT to post is something else entirely! In next week’s blog, I’m going to be talking about the kinds of content that you should be posting to your Instagram Stories to get the best bang for your buck! And on top of that, it will be fun too!

If you’d like to talk more about creating a comprehensive content plan for your interior design business (one that can include IG Stories), then feel free to contact me today. As popular as Instagram Stories are, they should only be one piece of how you market yourself online and the kinds of content you want to promote. If you’d like to talk about creating some fantastic interior design copy that will catch your audience’s attention, you can schedule a call with me immediately!

CTAs 101 for Interior Designers: How to Keep it Classy While Getting Them to Click

by

Do you ever feel “dirty” after reading a piece of sales copy?

Yeah, me too. Marketing can sometimes be so in your face and pushy that it can leave you feeling talked down to, insulted, or even less-than-human. Honestly, that kind of tone probably works sometimes, depending on the industry. But you know where it never ever works? The interior design business.

You already know that. The real challenge for designers like you when writing copy is maintaining a soft touch (i.e., not being sales-y or sleazy) but still actually getting your audience to do the thing you want them to do.

Because regardless of what industry you’re in, studies still show that people want and need to have their actions guided when they’re perusing websites. Without direct instructions of where to go and what to do next, they tend to feel lost and aimless.

You wouldn’t invite a guest into your home and then just stand back expecting them to wander through the rooms alone, would you? No! You’d tell them to follow you, have a seat, help themselves to the refreshments you’ve laid out for them, right?

Same goes on your website. Your site visitors expect you to guide them. And if you don’t, things can get a little, shall we say, awkward.

So what’s the best way for you to guide them without coming across as sales-y? Carefully crafted calls-to-action, also known as CTAs.

A CTA is usually a simple instruction that tells the person reading what they need to do next. “Buy Now” and “Call Today!” are perfect examples of traditional, sales-y CTAs.

If you don’t include strong CTAs on your website pages and at the end of your marketing copy, your reader can feel that they are left hanging. Sure, they know they COULD fill out your contact form, but they’re not sure they SHOULD. They might want information about your pricing, but don’t know if you want them to send you a message through your contact form for that or if it’s reserved for people ready to hire you on the spot. And you know what? That’s the kind of uncertainty that can result in them giving up and moving onto another interior designer’s website.

Customers WANT you to tell them what they can do next. They need you to guide them to a next step (ideally a step that brings them that much closer to working with you) and the way to do that is with buttons and compelling CTA copy.

Hear me out on this. I know big celebrity designers don’t use CTAs on their websites or blog posts. And I know you want to emulate them. But the fact is that they don’t need to work to get clients – but you do. As long as you do it right, your website and blog will still be just as classy as theirs, even with CTAs everywhere!

So, how do you sprinkle calls-to-action around your copy without coming across as pushy, bullying, rude, or cheesy?

Be Clear About the Next Step

If you want your CTAs to be effective, you need to be clear about precisely what you want the reader to do.

Rather than thinking about a CTA as a piece of sales copy, think about it as a simple instruction. If you want your contact form filled out, say so! If you only want calls – not emails – tell them that! Generally speaking, people don’t want to annoy you, nor do they want to waste your time or theirs. If you provide them with clear directions, they’ll be happy knowing they’re doing exactly what you prefer. Forget about “making the sale” at this point. Just concentrate on making them feel comfortable enough to take that next step with you.

What Action Do You Want Them To Take?

Of course, there is a time and place for calls-to-action that lead to a purchase. But, again, you need to make sure that it’s a soft sell rather than a bullying push to an “Add to Cart” button.

When you’re writing a CTA, try to focus on what the customer will get by taking the action you want them to take. By emphasizing what they’ll receive when they click (even if it’s just more information about your services), it will feel classy and appropriate to them rather than sleazy and selfish. Remember, when writing interior design copy (or any copy, really), it isn’t about you. It’s about them. You want your copy to be about what you can do for THEM, not what they can do for YOU. It’s a subtle shift in attitude that causes a HUGE shift in tone.

Don’t Forget About Your Blog Posts

We all know the point of your blog posts is to share useful, relevant, free content with your audience that shows you as an expert. But they’re also one of the most potent tools in your marketing arsenal – if you include CTAs in them.

It’s precise because your posts are showing you as an expert in your field that you shouldn’t be afraid to use CTAs in every blog post. By being the expert, you are providing the reader with solutions, ideas, and inspiration. But you never know when there could be a fantastic prospective client reading your post, and unless you help guide them to a final step (such as contacting you), they may leave the blog wiser, but with no real way to move forward. So, help them by providing a CTA! It’s a shame that too few designers do this, as it’s a very effective way to move readers/fans into the client category.

In fact, you can (and should) also use CTAs in a lot of creative places, like your email signature, website bio, business cards, portfolio, and even branding collateral. The more people you guide to “the next step,” the more clients you’ll be bringing in the door!

What Are Some Great Examples of CTAs?

Personally, I break CTA ideas for designers down into three categories: Cute & Creative, Direct But with a Soft Touch, and Pretty Darn Direct But Still Perfectly Appropriate!

Cute & Creative

  • Yes, please!
  • Right this way!
  • Hit us up!
  • Let’s get started! / Let’s do this! / Let’s get this party started! (depending on how cheeky you want to be!)
  • Get the 411
  • I want in!

Direct, but With a Soft Touch

  • It all starts with an email/call
  • Learn more
  • Let’s talk about your project
  • Let’s chat
  • We can help!
  • See how it works
  • Read more

Pretty Darn Direct!

  • Schedule a call with ___
  • Request a free quote (this is a great one if you actually give quotes over the phone OR if the button will take them to an online scheduler where they can set up an in-person meeting)
  • Fill out our contact form
  • Check pricing and availability (should take them to either an explanation of your fees and timelines OR to a contact form that expressly says you need to find out more about their project in order to give them an idea of pricing and availability; If you have a waitlist, don’t say so here – tell them over the phone after you’ve won them over with your charm and professionalism!)
  • Talk to __ about your project

You can also mix things up by using CTAs on blog posts, white papers, emails, and other kinds of marketing copy if you want them to do something other than just contact you:

  • Want more design ideas? Click here to get a free copy of “MY OPT-IN” and to sign up for our newsletter (or “emails” if you don’t send a regular newsletter)
  • Want more inspiration? Click here to see our project portfolio!

And how about just one more example of a great CTA? You got it! Contact me today to get started revitalizing the copy on your website? I’ve worked for years figuring out the exact tone and style that appears to interior design audiences. With that experience, I can tailor your web copy and blogs to reach out to the kind of customers and clients you want to connect with. You can even schedule a call with me right now so we can chat about your business’ copywriting goals!

(See how that works!?)

How to Tap into Your Clients’ Emotions with Your Interior Design Website’s Copy

by

“People don’t buy for logical reasons. They buy for emotional reasons.”

  • Zig Ziglar

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know that a few years ago, I made the decision to work exclusively with interior designers (although I also work with a good many designer-adjacent folks like fine artists and product designers). One of my biggest reasons for making that switch was that I knew how hard it is for interior designers like you to find writing help that actually fits your unique marketing challenges.

How is your marketing needs different?

Sure, you need copy for your site that sells your services just like any other business, but you’re also firmly in the lifestyle space. Copywriting for interior designers isn’t like writing copy for other industries; it’s way, way more challenging because you have to weave marketing messages into your copy subtly! People don’t want to read web copy from you that’s a straight-up sales page – you need to take a softer approach while still delivering powerful marketing messages.

Your business also differs from the others because yours is a luxury service. That’s not to say that what you offer isn’t important, but it would be inauthentic (if not completely tone-deaf!) to try to sell your interior design services as something customers NEED to save them/make them feel loved/give them happiness/health/economic stability, etc.

But it’s Marketing 101 to try to connect with buyers by using their emotions to inform your copy (this is a HUGE aspect of the Know, Like and Trust Factor that’s crucial in marketing any business online).

So do those differences in your business rule out you using web copy that taps into your buyer’s emotions? Not at all!

The problem is, if you were to follow most of the marketing advice you find online for how to leverage people’s emotions with your copy, you’re going to get it all wrong for the clients you’re trying to speak to.

Here are some examples of that typical advice, and how you should approach your copy to connect with your clients and their emotions around hiring an interior designer.

The Usual Marketing Advice: Speak to their deepest, darkest fears and tell them how you can help them avoid having those fears come true.

Interior Design Marketing Advice: Here’s the truth: Your clients know their lives aren’t going to completely fall apart if they don’t hurry up and hire you. That said, they DO have worries. They’re worried about making sure their families have a warm, comfortable, functional home and that guests feel welcomed and taken care of whenever they visit.

So, instead of thinking about your design marketing copy from a “fear” angle, base it on your clients’ real concerns and show them you’re the one to resolve those for them!

The Usual Marketing Advice: Speak to their envy and desire to be the “-est” (thinnest, richest, whatever-est).

Interior Design Marketing: Like all of my clients, you probably aren’t someone who cares to spread an icky “keep up with the Joneses” message. It’s not congruent with your personal or business values, nor with your clients’ values (or at least not the clients you want to work with!)

But there is a nugget of truth in the idea that your clients might be feeling a little insecure about their home’s design. I’m not talking about the insecurity that their home isn’t “good enough,” but a worry that they don’t have the ability to make their home look and feel beautiful, stylish, and comfortable. They’re concerned that they’ll make costly mistakes with their design project if they go at it alone.

Weave messaging into your copy that assures them they’re not alone in feeling this way and that you won’t judge them. Then outline exactly how you and your services provide the help they need!

The Usual Marketing Advice: Create a sense of urgency.

Interior Design Marketing Advice: It’s a little too “in-your-face” to deliver a “Hurry! Act now or you’ll miss out!” message to your prospects.

On the other hand, your clients may not realize they could, in fact, miss out on time- and money-saving help by starting their projects without you. And they’re painfully aware that the last thing they want is to spend more than they should or to slow their projects down!

You can capitalize on that pain and gently nudge them toward bringing you onto their projects sooner rather than later. Paint a picture with your copy of what you can do for them as an advisor and safety net for their projects – someone who will be there to save them money during the planning stages by preventing mistakes and ill-advised design choices.

How? Simply agitate their fear of wasting time and money by telling stories of problems other clients ran into because they didn’t bring you into the picture soon enough and tell them how you’ll be there to help them avoid those issues if they call you now!

The Usual Marketing Advice: Give them hope by showing them you have the solution.

Interior Design Marketing Advice: OK, so this one’s pretty much the same whether you’re selling a toothbrush or interior design services! You always want them to know that you have the solution to their problems. Start by building positive emotions by talking about 1) the aspects of the experience you know they’ll love and 2) in what ways they’ll enjoy the results.

From there, talk about how your services are the path to those positive emotions.

This should be infused into all of your marketing copy, no matter the topic or strategy you’re using to connect with them.

As you can see, a different approach is needed for writing marketing copy for interior designers than for other industries. That’s one of the reasons you may not have had luck with general copywriters in the past – and it’s why I work love working with you. I love this industry and the unique marketing challenges it poses. I want design professionals like you to make the best impression on clients you possibly can. If you want interior design marketing copy for your website that truly connects you with your audience, please contact me today!

My Favorite Interior Design, Marketing, Business + Copywriting Podcasts

by

Podcasts are taking over the world.

It seems like everyone and their BFF has a podcast these days, doesn’t it?! For a lot of people, they’ve taken the place of talk radio and audiobooks. For me, podcasts are a great way to multitask. I can run errands while I’m absorbing great information through a podcast to help me grow my copywriting business (and if I’m lucky, get a few belly laughs in along the way!) I listen to podcasts while I’m working out, while I’m driving, while I’m cooking – even while I’m drying my hair! And though I tend to hop around from podcast to podcast, I do have some perennial favorites that I return to over and over again.

  1. A Well-Designed Business with Luann Nigara

If you’re involved in the interior design world, then you’ve probably already heard of Luann. She’s a big name in the design world and her podcast reflects her stature. Every episode features other huge names in design, as well as business, marketing, and financial experts to help designers move their businesses forward. On a personal level, everyone I know who’s met Luann says she’s a true delight, so I love listening to her all the more!

IG: @luannnigara (not to be confused with @countessluann, ha!)

  1. Hot Copy Podcast

Hot Copy Podcast is a podcast (wait for it!) about copywriting, hosted by Australians Kate Toon and Belinda Weaver. You’d think that with the subject matter, it would be super boring, but it’s not. Even barring the truly fantastic advice about copywriting and other marketing, it’s well worth a listen. These ladies are hilarious! Plus, they really know their stuff when it comes to copywriting, SEO, and business in general. It can be a little “inside baseball” for non-copywriters, but you may find a few episodes you will get something out of if you’re planning on creating content for your website.

IG: #hotcopypodcast  @katetoon of the @recipeforseosuccess and Belinda Weaver of @copywritematters

  1. Problogger Podcast

Darren Rowse of Problogger is pretty much the OG of content marketing. He really knows his stuff, people. Just about the only problem I can think of with this podcast is that it’s almost 300 episodes! When you reach that number, it can be intimidating to figure out where to jump in. But that’s why I’m here! If you’re looking for a fantastic gateway into the Problogger Podcast, listen to Episode 277: 31 Days to Build a Better Blog. It’s fan-flipping-tastic!

IG: @darrenrowse

  1. The Chaise Lounge with Nick May

While Nick May isn’t an interior designer, his podcast certainly speaks to his passion about it! His smooth-as-silk voice is just the beginning of this podcast’s merit as he interviews and hosts a bevy of design industry influencers to ask them a range of questions, from deep dives to fun conversation-starters. By listening, you will not only get insights into what drives some of the premier interior designers in the world, but also learn about tools that will help you push your own business forward.

IG: @thechaiselounge

PS, look for panel discussions hosted by Nick at High Point Market. They’re incredible!

  1. The Copywriter Club

Unlike most of the other podcasts on this list, The Copywriter Club isn’t necessarily applicable to interior designers looking to up their DIY marketing game. Instead, it’s focused on copywriting as a whole and how it can impact and draw in customers. If you’ve ever been curious about how professional copywriters approach building your website and writing your marketing copy, just listen to a few episodes of TCC. It might give you a better insight into exactly what kind of online content you want to offer your clients – or even what to look for in a copywriter if you’re thinking of hiring out your copy and content writing.

IG: @thecopywriterclub

  1. The Get Paid Podcast with Claire Pelletreau

Being an online business owner isn’t easy. If your interior design business is primarily online, then you know firsthand the challenges that digital entrepreneurs can face. Claire has met those challenges and channeled them into her podcast. Aimed at online business owners, it puts a spotlight on what it takes to build and operate an online business. I highly recommend it, even for those who have brick and mortar locations (because, after all, EVERYTHING is online nowadays!)

IG: @clairepells

Random Podcasts

Ok, I know you’re here for interior design marketing advice and brilliant copywriting, but… I can’t help but share some of these non-interior design-related podcasts that I’m just crazy about! (This is a no judgment zone, right???!)

My Favorite Murder

True crime podcasts are huge! Comedy podcasts are huge! So why not mix the two into one true crime comedy podcast!? Because that’s weird, you say? Yeah, I know, but this podcast somehow manages to be totally respect of the topic and to be funny at the same time. Plus, the two incredibly relatable hosts have built a multi-million dollar empire out of their weird little podcast. Pretty amazing, right?!

Two Judgey Girls

One of the most popular genres of podcasts is “two guys talking” about pop culture. Well, the heck with that; I want to hear “two girls talking!” And that’s precisely what you get with Two Judgey Girls podcast (if you got the Countess Luann reference above, this is for you!).

Pink Shade

Reality TV is one of those guilty pleasures that everyone watches, but no one will admit to liking. Not Erin! In Pink Shade, she gets to talk about all of the terrible reality TV shows she’s addicted to. I highly recommend it! And, ahem, I’m not addicted to those terrible shows too. No way! Not me… cough, cough.

Podcasts are quickly becoming the go-to content for many interior designers looking to learn more about digital marketing. Of course, a great podcast needs to be combined with an equally great website with interesting, engaging interior design content that will draw in listeners and clients. If you want to get started building a new interior design website that exemplifies you and your business, please contact me today!

Up Your Website's Game By Finding Your Brand Differentiators

I want it!