If you have a natural aptitude for home decor, you may well have thought about becoming an interior designer. The great thing about a career in interior design is that anyone can start at any age, and you don’t necessarily need qualifications to build a portfolio. The downside is that interior design is a saturated market, which makes it difficult for newcomers to stand out.
Luckily, working in interior design can be highly lucrative, so it’s worth the time and effort it takes to set up your own business. With this in mind, here are five tips for launching an interior design business and making it a success.
Create a Website
As a designer, your website is like your showroom; therefore, no one is going to take you seriously unless it is professional, eye-catching and easy to navigate. It’s understandable you might not want to splash out on a web designer to create your site when you are just starting out, but this investment is worthwhile if it attracts high-paying clients.
If you can’t afford a top quality website right away, spend some time researching how to build one yourself. If you choose to go down the DIY route, you can use an affordable platform like Squarespace or WordPress to achieve a slick, professional look.
Build Your Portfolio
Your portfolio is the first thing clients will look at for examples of your work. Every new designer has to start somewhere, but you will probably need to complete a few free projects, at least at the beginning, so you have something for your portfolio. Make sure you work with a client who gives you some creative control so you can show your unique style – this will make your portfolio stand out from other interior designers.
Hire a Photographer
You need images to show off your interior design work, but grainy photos on your iPhone camera simply won’t cut it. If you’re trying to attract high-paying clients, you need to show that you are a professional, and the best way to do this is through your portfolio. Your work needs to look the absolute best it can, whether that means adjusting the lighting, editing images or taking shots from stylish angles, so it’s best to hire an interior photographer who knows the industry.
Seek Business Advice
If you’re not sure how to brand your interior design company or you’re new to the world of business, it’s a good idea to find a business consulting service to help you launch. Starting out as a designer is tough, and you can avoid making many mistakes along the way by hiring an expert to guide you.
Promote!
Now that you’ve put time and effort into your website and portfolio, it’s time to promote your business. This means being active on social media, sending marketing content to your subscribers and working on your SEO ranking to feature high up in search engine results. Again, if you’re not sure how to promote your business online, it’s best to do some research before you start or hire an Internet marketing agency to take care of this for you.