Notes from the Interior Design Summit:Everything Designers Need to Know about Staging

Here are some notes and ideas from Craig Schiller's class, "Everything Designers Need to Know about Staging"

When staging, designers need to know that the HOUSE is the star. Not the design. Not the designer. The HOUSE.

What designers need to give up is the need to add flair, drama, personality, ego.

What designers need to ADD is speed.

Staging design is disposable, it's quick, it's all about marketing.

Craig Schiller is the founder of Real Estaging, Chicago’s premier home staging company. He has staged 100’s of homes in the greater Chicago market. His staging work was highlighted in Home Magazine. He writes the #1 blog in the country on home staging. Craig has spoken to numerous audiences about staging. And in November 2006 he founded www.StageItForward.com - with over 2,400 members nationwide it is now the largest FREE home staging industry site providing home staging tips, marketing ideas, and success stories on home staging.

Notes from the Interior Design Summit:Using Technology to Save Time & Increase Profits

Here are some important tips from Will Franco's class, "How Designers Can Increase Profits & Save Time with Technology"

75% of interior designers do NOT have a website!  Yikes!   If nothing else, you must get a blog! No web presence = no business.

A website is a social validation tool. Add testimonials and before & after photos, and you will see results.

You need to connect and stay on top of prospects minds.  How can you do this? With an Ezine.

Designers should be on Twitter.

Video emails allow you to connect with your clients and prospects.  The more you can do to establish a relationship - allow your prospects to KNOW you, the more likely you will create a customer for life.

For more information about launching a profitable ezine campaign, visit:

www.eNewsletterBlitz.com

Notes from the Interior Design Summit:It's All About Attitude

Today's post gives you a summary of notes from Debbie Green's class, "It's All About Attitude"

"A good attitude is the foundation for a successful design business."

The more you ACT happy, the more you FEEL happy.

Attitude Improvers: 

• create and stick to a budget for your business
• clean your desk
• smile

You must earn a prospect's trust before you can ever expect to get a sale.  Even after you earn someone's trust, they may not buy from you. But if you don't start with creating a trusting relationship, there will NEVER be a sale.

How to earn trust:

• Never violate your integrity
• Always be on time
• Share your knowledge
  
• Send a regular ezine

Do what you say you will do. Deliver what you promise. This seems obvious, right? Unfortunately, it's not often done!   (If you go beyond this, you really stand out.)

Thanks for an uplifting class, Debbie!

Debbie Green is the founder of Minutes Matter design software.  You can find out more about Debbie and her products at www.minutesmatterstudio.com

Inspiration from the Interior Design Summit

For the next few weeks, I am going to post inspiration from the Interior Design Summit. Using just ONE of these ideas will boost your design business. If you implement a whole bunch, you will be so far ahead of the pack!

We had 12 amazing experts sharing powerful, valuable ideas for skyrocketing your design business in this market. What I loved is that there were many commonalities. When you hear the same thing from so many experts, you know it's gold!

The Most Important Success Strategies for Designers:

1. Blog, blog, blog. You MUST have a blog. Even if you don't have a website, please go start a blog. It is free. It is easy. Do it now!

Then make sure you post at least twice a week. Search engines love updated material, so the more you blog, the more potential clients will find you.

2. Marketing is all about connections and relationships. Don't try to promote yourself or sell your products. Just join a conversation online, share valuable information, or help someone out. It's amazing how much better this works to boost your bottom line!

3. (to be continued...)