If you love interior design and you have skills in creating gorgeous homes, you might decide that starting your own interior design business is exactly what you should be doing. However, to be successful, you need to have a lot in place before you begin. Here are some things to think about before you start your interior design business.
Be Online
All businesses can benefit from having a website, but a visual business like interior design simply cannot exist without one. Potential clients need to see how you work and they will want to look at examples of what you have done in the past. If they can’t see this from looking through your website, they won’t know whether or not you can help them, so they will most likely look elsewhere.
Although it is possible to create a website yourself, when it comes to website design, you may wish to speak to an expert and spend some money in this area. Without a great website, your business might not get off the ground, so investment can certainly be worth it.
Find A Great Photographer
You may have an eye for design, but can you also take photographs that do that design justice? Using a smartphone or cheap digital camera and taking some nice snaps might be a handy way to keep a log of your work, but it’s not going to be good enough to show your clients and use on your brochures or website. This is why it is far better to find an excellent professional photographer whose services you can regularly use as they will know exactly how to light a room and which angles work best, for example. Those pictures will look much better and will show your skills off at their best.
Create A Brochure
Although your website is crucial, you will be meeting up with people in person as well, and this is where a brochure can be essential too. It’s great to discuss plans and ideas with your clients and then leave them with a brochure that shows your potential and gives them your contact details. Having something physical to hold onto will make them more likely to remember you, especially if they have multiple quotes and discussions with different designers. Creating a brochure design can easily be done online for free, and printing costs will be minimal, but having brochures to give away to clients, or even at trade shows, can make a big difference.
Marketing
When you are ready to go, you will need to market your business. To do this, market research is essential. This way, you will know exactly who to target your advertising towards, and what to say to them. Marketing can be done in any number of ways depending on your budget and style. Online advertising through social media can work wonderfully, as can leafleting or holding workshops and talks. Whatever you choose to do, remember that your design ideas must be at the heart of it all, and show them off wherever possible.