Designed by Wingnut Social | Interior Design Business
The interior design business podcast for interior designers, architects, and home professionals. Hosted by interior design and digital marketing pro, Darla Powell. #interiordesign
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Episodes
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Should my brand style be the same as my design aesthetic? How can I go beyond aesthetics and form an emotional attachment with my audience? And what really is a brand besides just logos and fonts? Brand designer and strategist Katie Saunders is here to answer all of these questions and more.
Brand designer and strategist Katie Saunders combines artistic talent with marketing strategy to create effective brands and websites for interior designers and other creative businesses. Using a collaborative approach, Katie provides her clients with strategy and implementation, creating custom branding that's authentic to their story and speaks to their ideal clients. Katie lives, works, cooks and plays a mean game of backyard basketball with her husband and two daughters in North Carolina.
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📲CONNECT with Katie:
Website: https://www.popandgrey.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/popandgrey/
📲CONNECT with Darla:
Darla’s Interior Design Website: https://darlapowell.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlapowellhome/
📚Resources & People Mentioned: “Atomic Habits” by James Clear
🏠FOLLOW Wingnut Social:
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/wingnutsocial
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Wingnut Webinars: https://wingnutsocial.com/webinar
Get Wingnut Academy Updates: https://wingnutsocial.com/wingnut-academy/
🎧SUBSCRIBE to The Wingnut Social Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3RJzmtK
Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/designedongooglepodcasts
TuneIn: https://bit.ly/designedontunein YouTube: https://bit.ly/designedonyoutube
Monday Oct 10, 2022
Monday Oct 10, 2022
Has Instagram gone too far this time with its latest and greatest features, and are you about to lose thousands of followers? Darla is joined by Emily Lisi, the Head Creative Wingnut at Wingnut Social, to discuss a new Instagram feature in the works that will allow you to Message or share your favorite posts directly with your followers.
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📲CONNECT with Darla:
Darla’s Interior Design Website: https://darlapowell.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlapowellhome/
🏠FOLLOW Wingnut Social:
Website: http://www.wingnutsocial.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WingnutSocial/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wingnutsocial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wingnutsocial/
Wingnut Webinars: https://wingnutsocial.com/webinar
Get Wingnut Academy Updates: https://wingnutsocial.com/wingnut-academy/
🎧SUBSCRIBE to The Wingnut Social Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3RJzmtK
Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/designedongooglepodcasts
TuneIn: https://bit.ly/designedontunein YouTube: https://bit.ly/designedonyoutube
Wednesday Oct 05, 2022
Wednesday Oct 05, 2022
Curating art is one of the most fun, exciting, and difficult aspects of putting together an interior design project for your clients. Today's guest, Liz Lidgett is an art advisor, collector, and gallery owner - and she is going to help us through the process!
Liz Lidgett is an art advisor, collector, and gallery owner based in Des Moines, Iowa. Liz is on a mission to change the way people feel about and experience buying art. She wants you to know that you don't have to be a millionaire to buy original artwork. She represents over 50% women and BIPOC artists in her gallery, and uses social media to market gallery art in a post-pandemic world. The gallery has an international reach, and Liz has been featured everywhere from Forbes to Martha Stewart.
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📲CONNECT with Liz:
Website: https://lizlidgett.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizlidgettgallery/
📲CONNECT with Darla:
Darla’s Interior Design Website: https://darlapowell.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlapowellhome/
📚Resources & People Mentioned:
“Joyful” by Ingrid Fetell Lee
🏠FOLLOW Wingnut Social:
Website: http://www.wingnutsocial.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WingnutSocial/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wingnutsocial
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Wingnut Webinars: https://wingnutsocial.com/webinar
Get Wingnut Academy Updates: https://wingnutsocial.com/wingnut-academy/
🎧SUBSCRIBE to The Wingnut Social Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3RJzmtK
Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/designedongooglepodcasts
TuneIn: https://bit.ly/designedontunein
YouTube: https://bit.ly/designedonyoutube
Monday Oct 03, 2022
Monday Oct 03, 2022
Can you repost someone else's pictures and videos on Instagram? Darla is joined by Abby Coots, Social Media Manager at Wingnut Social, to discuss Instagram's upcoming repost feature that will allow you to share content from other accounts, similar to a retweet.
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⭐️Instagram is testing a repost feature. What does this mean?
Have you ever wanted to repost someone else's Instagram pictures or videos? You probably had to download an app (like Repost: For Instagram), search for the content again, and then when you finally posted it, there was a huge watermark on the picture. Well, this may no longer be a necessary process, as Instagram is currently testing a repost feature that will function similarly to retweets on Twitter!
⭐️Why should I care about Instagram's new repost feature? What are the pros and cons?
For interior designers, this feature can be extremely helpful for your social media presence! Allowing others to share your content with the proper tags and crediting can lead to more brand awareness. What if you don't love the idea of your content being shared? Abby explains that, if and when this feature is released, it will be built into the app, so you won't be able to opt out or deny others from reposting your content. Another possible issue is whether or not the high amount of reposting will be flooding users' Instagram feeds.
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📲CONNECT with Darla:
Darla’s Interior Design Website: https://darlapowell.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlapowellhome/
🏠FOLLOW Wingnut Social:
Website: http://www.wingnutsocial.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WingnutSocial/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wingnutsocial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wingnutsocial/
Wingnut Webinars: https://wingnutsocial.com/webinar
Get Wingnut Academy Updates: https://wingnutsocial.com/wingnut-academy/
🎧SUBSCRIBE to The Wingnut Social Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3RJzmtK
Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/designedongooglepodcasts
TuneIn: https://bit.ly/designedontunein
YouTube: https://bit.ly/designedonyoutube
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Today we're talking about building community through interior design - spoiler: it's great for your bottom line. Interior designers Maryline Damour and Jennifer Salvemini share some tips on finding your community, building connections, and keeping an open mind when it comes to your career path and growth.
Maryline Damour is a founding partner and principal interior designer of Damour Drake. Her work has been featured in magazines including House Beautiful, Architectural Digest and Elle Decor and on PBS and The Drew Barrymore Show. Maryline is also the founder of the Kingston Design Showhouse, an annual showcase that celebrates Hudson Valley design and connects the design/build industry in the region.
As a student of anthropology and philosophy, Jennifer Salvemini's academics evolved into a passion for aesthetic expression in all areas of culture. She developed an intense appreciation for deep sensory experiences and finds great satisfaction in fostering meaningful experiences for others. Jennifer's professional life straddles careers in hospitality and fashion spanning over 15 years in New York City. She began her interior design practice 5 years ago and has been creating happily in the Catskills ever since.
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⭐️What does “building community through interior design” even mean?
Today we’re discussing building community through design. What does that mean? As interior designers and entrepreneurs, we often find ourselves living in “business bubbles,” feeling isolated and that we’re constantly reinventing the wheel when starting our businesses. Jennifer explains the goal of community-building is to connect people to each other - makers to makers, builders to makers, designers to makers, designers to builders - to bridge all of these networks and create larger infrastructure, so we can support the individual work of one another while simultaneously creating opportunities for collaboration. When we work together, more interesting products get created. More projects emerge. There are more solutions to problems. And of course…it’s more fun! Plus, collaborating with other creatives and artists can have a positive impact on your local economy.
⭐️How can I build my community and connections without a show house?
Jennifer finds that using Instagram to connect with other locals, whether it be restaurants or building communities or artists, has been wildly successful. What about growing your Instagram? Marilyne says the way to get a million followers is via targeting. If you target the people who are interested, they will amplify the message to others who are interested. Marilyne’s audience has grown by appealing to other creators. By targeting, you can grow your social platform in a way that matters to you and can ultimately feed your business.
⭐️Is it weird to have another interior designer in my community?
It’s important to stay connected with your fellow designers. Marilyne thinks that competition is only a thing if you make it a thing. There are more opportunities when you collaborate, and the market is so diverse in need that your clientele is likely different from that of your collaborators.
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📲CONNECT with Marilyne:
Website: https://kingstondesignconnection.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingston.design.connection/
📲CONNECT with Jennifer:
Website: https://www.jenniferlsalvemini.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jls.lifestyle/
📲CONNECT with Darla:
Darla’s Interior Design Website: https://darlapowell.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlapowellhome/
📚Resources & People Mentioned:
Marilyne's previous episode: https://youtu.be/gEes3uhw7gU
"The Bone People" by Keri Hulme
"Jitterbug Perfume" by Tom Robbins
"A Natural History of the Senses" by Diane Ackerman
🏠FOLLOW Wingnut Social:
Website: http://www.wingnutsocial.com
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/wingnutsocial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wingnutsocial/
Wingnut Webinars: https://wingnutsocial.com/webinar
Get Wingnut Academy Updates: https://wingnutsocial.com/wingnut-academy/
🎧SUBSCRIBE to The Wingnut Social Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3RJzmtK
Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/designedongooglepodcasts
TuneIn: https://bit.ly/designedontunein YouTube: https://bit.ly/designedonyoutube
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Are you ready to trade in your iPhone for the brand new iPhone 14 Pro? Listen to this first! Darla is joined by Gavin, an SEO Manager at Wingnut Social, to break down the features of the brand new iPhone 14 Pro, and determine whether or not this is a worthwhile upgrade.
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📲CONNECT with Darla:
Darla’s Interior Design Website: https://darlapowell.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlapowellhome/
🏠FOLLOW Wingnut Social:
Website: http://www.wingnutsocial.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WingnutSocial/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wingnutsocial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wingnutsocial/
Wingnut Webinars: https://wingnutsocial.com/webinar
Get Wingnut Academy Updates: https://wingnutsocial.com/wingnut-academy/
🎧SUBSCRIBE to The Wingnut Social Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3RJzmtK
Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/designedongooglepodcasts
TuneIn: https://bit.ly/designedontunein YouTube: https://bit.ly/designedonyoutube
Wednesday Sep 21, 2022
Wednesday Sep 21, 2022
Do you need to worry about trademarks if you're an interior designer? Attorney Nicole Swartz (Sprout Law) shares all the secrets about the trademarking process, costs, and what to do if you find someone using your brand name online.
Nicole Swartz is the attorney behind Sprout Law, a law firm for women business owners. In 2015, she started a skincare line that was featured in hundreds of stores around the world and the Golden Globes giftbags. After two years, she had to rebrand the business because she didn't have a trademark. Now, she helps other women trademark their brands to avoid the same situation. Nicole is featured as an expert in Forbes, the Washington Post, Girlboss, and speaks at events like Alt Summit and SXSW.
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📲CONNECT with Nicole:
Website: https://www.sproutlaw.com/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sproutlaw
📲CONNECT with Darla:
Darla’s Interior Design Website: https://darlapowell.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlapowellhome/
📚Resources & People Mentioned:
"Unleash Your Inner Money Babe" by Kathrin Zenkina
🏠FOLLOW Wingnut Social:
Website: http://www.wingnutsocial.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WingnutSocial/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wingnutsocial
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Wingnut Webinars: https://wingnutsocial.com/webinar
Get Wingnut Academy Updates: https://wingnutsocial.com/wingnut-academy/
🎧SUBSCRIBE to The Wingnut Social Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3RJzmtK
Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/designedongooglepodcasts
TuneIn: https://bit.ly/designedontunein
YouTube: https://bit.ly/designedonyoutube
Monday Sep 19, 2022
Monday Sep 19, 2022
Emily is joined by Gavin, an SEO Manager at Wingnut Social, to discuss best practices for Instagram Reels and what types of videos get boosted by Meta's algorithm.
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📲CONNECT with Darla:
Darla’s Interior Design Website: https://darlapowell.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlapowellhome/
🏠FOLLOW Wingnut Social:
Website: http://www.wingnutsocial.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WingnutSocial/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wingnutsocial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wingnutsocial/
Wingnut Webinars: https://wingnutsocial.com/webinar
Get Wingnut Academy Updates: https://wingnutsocial.com/wingnut-academy/
🎧SUBSCRIBE to The Wingnut Social Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3RJzmtK
Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/designedongooglepodcasts
TuneIn: https://bit.ly/designedontunein YouTube: https://bit.ly/designedonyoutube
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Mindset is the difference between success and failure in life and business. Trauma coach Michael Unbroken is here to discuss overcoming your trauma, how your trauma impacts you as a business owner, and the importance of investing in mentorship (and yourself).
From homeless to hero, with an ACE Score of TEN, Michael Unbroken found his way from stuck, hurt, and broken to being THE HERO of his own story. Today, Michael has coached thousands of Trauma Warriors around the world to learn to love themselves, get unstuck and to BE UNBROKEN. Michael is the author of the best-selling book Think Unbroken and is a coach, mentor, and educator for adult survivors of child abuse.
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📲CONNECT with Michael:
Website: https://www.thinkunbrokenacademy.com
Instagram: @MichaelUnbroken
📲CONNECT with Darla:
Darla’s Interior Design Website: https://darlapowell.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlapowellhome/
📚Resources & People Mentioned:
“Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha” by Tara Brach
🏠FOLLOW Wingnut Social:
Website: http://www.wingnutsocial.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WingnutSocial/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wingnutsocial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wingnutsocial/
Wingnut Webinars: https://wingnutsocial.com/webinar
Get Wingnut Academy Updates: https://wingnutsocial.com/wingnut-academy/
🎧SUBSCRIBE to The Wingnut Social Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3RJzmtK
Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/designedongooglepodcasts
TuneIn: https://bit.ly/designedontunein
YouTube: https://bit.ly/designedonyoutube
Monday Sep 12, 2022
Monday Sep 12, 2022
Do you want to win some prizes with your sick eDesign skills? Jenna Gaidusek (Mydoma/Edesign Tribe) is in the studio today to discuss Mydoma's Designer Virtual Home Tour Contest. Interior designers can enter for a chance to win thousands of dollars worth of prizes, including a trip to HPMKT Spring 2023! You can enter the contest here.
Jenna is an interior designer that has worked remotely since 2016 in her business Jenna Gaidusek Designs. She is also the founder of the eDesign Tribe community on Facebook as well as eDesign u and the eDesign Platform- recently acquired by Mydoma studio. Jenna is now the director of education and community for Mydoma studio bringing design professionals together and providing educational tools and resources to help them expand their business in a way that works best for their lifestyle.
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What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social:
[0:00] - Jenna Gaidusek is here - again?!
[1:49] - The origin story of eDesign Tribe
[3:39] - Jenna's one stop shop for project management, eDesign, and education
[6:23] - Electronic design is becoming the new normal
[8:26] - The Designer Virtual Home Tour Contest (powered by Mydoma)
[11:12] - The benefits of electronic design and visualizers
[11:57] - How to enter the contest for a chance to win thousands of dollars worth of prizes
[12:56] - Free learning opportunities with Mydoma
[14:37] - The What Up Wingnut Round!
[16:03] - Get a free trial with Mydoma and enter the contest
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📲CONNECT with Jenna Gaidusek:
Website: https://www.mydomastudio.com/vhometour/
Jenna's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenna.gaidusek/
Mydoma's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mydoma/
eDesign Tribe Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/eDesignTribe/
📲CONNECT with Darla:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlapowellhome/
📚Resources & People Mentioned:
Ubersuggest: https://app.neilpatel.com/en/ubersuggest/
Enter The Designer Virtual Home Tour Contest: www.mydomastudio.com/vhometour
🏠FOLLOW Wingnut Social:
Website: http://www.wingnutsocial.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WingnutSocial/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wingnutsocial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wingnutsocial/
Wingnut Webinars: https://wingnutsocial.com/webinar
Get Wingnut Academy Updates: https://wingnutsocial.com/wingnut-academy/
🎧SUBSCRIBE to The Wingnut Social Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3RJzmtK
Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/designedongooglepodcasts
TuneIn: https://bit.ly/designedontunein
YouTube: https://bit.ly/designedonyoutube
Wednesday Sep 07, 2022
Wednesday Sep 07, 2022
You want to deliver an exceptional experience for your clients, right? So, what has to happen on the back end to make it happen? Systems and processes. You need to craft standard operating procedures. When you’re familiar with your foundational processes you’ll make informed decisions for the rest of your company.
You’ll be able to walk your client through your process (including how long the project will take). When you have standardized systems and processes in place so that you can do this, it will help you build relationships and trust with your clients.
Katie McFarlan is the owner of Dakota Design Company, where she helps her clients refine, streamline, and simplify business processes and systems so they can grow in a sustainable way. She shares how she builds systems and processes in this episode of Wingnut Social!
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[1:12] Housekeeping: Wingnut Webinar!
[1:58] Mini News Sesh: Instagram’s pinned comments
[4:35] Katie McFarlan and Dakota Design Co.
[6:21] Why you need systems and processes
[7:59] The depth and scope of systems and processes
[10:33] How to develop systems and processes
[16:02] What happens when you break your rules
[19:03] Here’s where you should get started
[22:58] Why SOPs are important for solopreneurs, too
[25:39] The importance of project management software
[30:31] Scale your business with software—or a team
[32:00] The What Up Wingnut Round!
[36:24] Blooper Reel!
Connect with Katie McFarlan
Dakota Design Co.
Connect on Instagram
Resources & People Mentioned
Calendly
Acuity
ClickUp™
Trello
Asana
DesignFiles
Ivy by Houzz
Giftology
The Pumpkin Plan
The depth and scope of systems and processes
Creativity and design are part of the process—but a small part of what a business owner has to do every day. So Katie talks about the client-facing steps of the process as well as the back-end side of what happens in each phase (for the designer, designer’s team, and clients).
Systems and processes can help you scale your business properly. Once you document your processes, you can identify opportunities to make each phase of your process better. You can see where you need to be more efficient, where you can delegate, and more.
Here’s where you should get started
Katie believes that developing systems and processes comes down to how you work and what services you deliver. You can structure services a million different ways but it HAS to work for you.
Once you choose a structure for your services, then focus on industry best practices for screening leads, onboarding clients, and delivering results (design discovery, how you design, presentations, etc.).
If you’re spinning your wheels and getting overwhelmed, write everything down:
What does your inquiry phase look like? What happens step-by-step? Do you send an email? Do they book a call?
What is your onboarding process? What do you do for a new client? What do you need from them? What can they expect from you? How long does this phase take?
What does the design phase look like? How do you go from concept to final design? Do you offer order management? Project management? Construction management?
How do you install? What is the offboarding process? Do you ask them for a review?
Every designer and what they offer is different. But the way you deliver services can fall into these categories. Writing everything out helps you map out the process and how long it will take so you can inform your clients.
After you map out your phases, look at where there’s confusion, pushback, and overwhelm. Identify where the challenges are. That’s where something needs to change.
Katie believes that every designer needs project management software. Tune in to this episode to hear what she recommends to keep your business on track!
Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social
www.WingnutSocial.com
On Facebook
On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
Subscribe on YouTube
Darla’s Interior Design Website
Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group!
786-206-4331 (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)
Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn
Audio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com
Wednesday Aug 31, 2022
Wednesday Aug 31, 2022
Andrea Liebross has started three successful businesses and ultimately became a certified business and life coach. Her goal is to help bold and ambitious women create their own custom secret sauce for success by combining mindset and systems. In this episode of Wingnut Social, Andrea helps nail down some goal-setting strategies for interior designers. Don’t miss it!
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[1:07] Housekeeping: Wingnut Webinars and Wingnut Academy
[2:07] Mini News Sesh: Pinterest releases a new collage app
[6:37] Learn more about Andrea Liebross and her business
[9:09] Shiny object syndrome: Why you need to focus on your wheelhouse
[13:28] What is the importance of goal-setting in your business?
[22:02] How Andrea helps clients remain consistent to reach their goals
[26:38] How do you know when you can pay attention to a shiny object?
[30:36] Why Andrea likes to layer in risky goal-setting
[33:24] Why making confident decisions will 10x your results
[36:06] The What Up Wingnut Round!
[40:10] Blooper Reel!
Connect with Andrea
Andrea Liebross Coaching
Take the quiz on Andrea’s website
Andrea’s podcast: Time to Level Up
Follow Andrea on Instagram
Resources & People Mentioned
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
Shiny object syndrome: Why you need to focus on your wheelhouse
Andrea has a client that’s an interior designer. They’ve been working together for 18 months and her business has doubled. This client loves a brand of exercise clothes sold directly to customers and asked Andrea if she thought it was okay if she got her foot in the door with network marketing.
She thought it would be fun and exciting. But what about her business? Isn’t that fun and exciting? So Andrea asked her, “What if we just stick with that?” People are looking for fun, exciting, new, and adventurous. That is the trap of shiny object syndrome.
Andrea helped her focus on the three-year vision for her business. Then they got even more granular and focused on what she needed to do this quarter. However, Andrea believes that your goals need an element of shiny object syndrome built into them. Why? To give you the excitement you’re craving. Listen to find out what that could look like.
Goal-setting strategies for interior designers
You need to set goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound, AND exciting and risky (the SMART-ER framework). If you believe in those goals, they can ground you. They can also prevent you from constantly stumbling over roadblocks. Goals are your priorities that are written down so that you can plan from and schedule your time around.
How specific should you be with goal setting? Andrea believes that goals should be broken down quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily. Start with what you’re doing today. Andrea is a believer in the “Big Three.”
What are the three things that you’re going to do today that get you a step closer to your goals? The key is that they need to be things you have some resistance to. It may be reaching out to a client, closing a deal, or sourcing something that’s been impossible to find.
Those three things must align with your ultimate revenue goal and impact your bottom line. The goals are your north star. The big three ground you every day. Then you can plan out your week with a weekly big three. What do you want to happen that won’t happen automatically?
Why is it so important to write it down? What’s the best way to track your goals? Listen to hear Andrea’s thoughts.
How Andrea helps clients remain consistent to reach their goals
Action and inaction are driven by how we feel. You might feel stressed or anxious. Writing down a list of tasks may be the last thing you want to do. You have so many things to do that you just want to get going. What do you want to happen? How do you want to feel at the end of the day? What do you want to have accomplished?
Everyone wants everything on their list checked off. If you write things down at the beginning of the day and decide what to work on, you’ll get more done. You have to focus on the endgame to take the initial action.
Are you doing the things on your list that have the most impact? Do they align with where you want to be? Your brain likes the hit of dopamine when you knock out the easy things. When you do that, your brain thinks you’re being productive when you’re not.
Why aren’t you writing down what you should be doing? Andrea shares 3 common reasons. Listen to find out what they are!
Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social
www.WingnutSocial.com
On Facebook
On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
Subscribe on YouTube
Darla’s Interior Design Website
Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group!
786-206-4331 (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)
Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn
Audio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com
Wednesday Aug 24, 2022
Wednesday Aug 24, 2022
This isn’t the first time Darla’s talked about Mike Michalowicz’s Profit First formula (and how interior designers can apply it in their business). But this IS the first time she’s had a conversation with the man himself!
If you don’t know who he is, Mike Michalowicz is the author of The Pumpkin Plan, Clockwork, Fix This Next, Get Different, and a Wingnut favorite—Profit First. In this episode of Wingnut Social, he shares how you can flip the script and turn your business into a money-making machine.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[0:45] Housekeeping: Wingnut Webinars + Wingnut Academy Updates
[1:32] Mini News Sesh: LinkedIn is testing link stickers
[3:26] Learn more about Mike Michalowicz
[5:16] The story behind the first cover of Profit First
[9:10] Why entrepreneurs struggle to make a profit
[11:21] The pay yourself first principle applied to business
[13:55] What happens if your business is carrying debt?
[16:12] The optimal number to contribute to profit
[18:00] Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
[20:45] Using tacking to make quarterly adjustments
[25:06] How service-based industries should grow
[28:10] Why you should work with a Profit First coach
[30:13] The What Up Wingnut Round!
Connect with Mike Michalowicz
Check out Mike’s Website
Clockwork, Revised and Expanded
Resources & People Mentioned
Younger Next Year
Profit First for Interior Designers
Creating a Sustainable Design Business through Profit First
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Why entrepreneurs struggle to make a profit
Cyril Northcote Parkinson studied human behavior. His thesis was that as supply increases in availability, consumption increases. If Mike is given one chocolate chip cookie, he’ll eat it. If 20+ chocolate chip cookies are placed in front of him, he’ll likely eat more than one because the supply has changed. The same is true for money. When there’s more available, there’s more to spend.
It becomes a trap. Many businesses make tens of millions of dollars but are still struggling to get by because the more they make, the more they spend. They see money in the bank account and go, “Finally, I can do X, Y, Z.” Parkinson also points out that if you constrain supply, you can force frugality. You also become more innovative. You find ways to stretch it. When you have one cookie to eat, you savor it. When there’s less money available to spend, you’re more selective with how you spend it.
The pay yourself first principle applied to business
If you take a portion of your income and put it toward savings, you will have a future of savings. Why not apply that to business? The first thing you do is allocate money to profit. With Profit First, the equation is sales minus profit equals expenses. Money comes in, you take profit, and then you know what’s truly left available for expenses.
Profit isn’t an event or eventuality. Profit is a habit. When money comes in, take a portion and allocate it toward profit. You use the profit to pay yourself first. You preallocate money to its intended use. It’s a mindset shift. When you see what money’s intended use is before you spend it, you work within the confines of that.
How do you operate if your business has debt? Listen to hear Mike’s thoughts!
Using tacking to make quarterly adjustments
What is your five or ten-year vision? What can you do in the next 90 days to best get there? Tacking is a strategy that’s used by sailors. The boat has a desired destination. But you can’t go in a straight line to get there because you have to take advantage of the winds. So sailboats zigzag to capture the wind to get to their destinations.
Businesses are the same. You don’t beeline straight to the end goal. Obstacles, like the economy, will present challenges. So take things one quarter at a time. What are the biggest movements you can make in your business to get to your end goal?
You also have to get into a quarterly rhythm of distributions. The only way you can grow is with fiscal discipline. The #1 rule of publicly-traded companies is to distribute profit to shareholders every quarter. They do that to maintain engagement and award risk-takers. Your business needs to follow the same pattern. It keeps you emotionally engaged in your business.
Why shouldn’t you re-invest your profit? Why should you work with a Profit First coach? Listen to learn why!
Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social
www.WingnutSocial.com
On Facebook
On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
Subscribe on YouTube
Darla’s Interior Design Website
Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group!
786-206-4331 (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)
Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn
Audio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com
Wednesday Aug 17, 2022
Wednesday Aug 17, 2022
Meredith founded the “House of Huck” in 2020 as a passion project. She gave herself an ultimatum: If she wasn’t successful in three years, she’d go back to the corporate world. But in one year, she transformed her business into a full-time career.
She’s leveraged her unique background in corporate sales—and some genius social media marketing tactics—to build a thriving business. In this episode of Wingnut Social, Meredith shares some business tips for new interior designers that you just can’t miss!
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[1:16] Wingnut Webinar: Let’s Get Real About Reels
[2:56] Mini News Sesh: Native scheduling on Instagram
[5:06] Learn all about Meredith Huck and the House of Huck
[11:08] Marketing House of Huck on social media
[18:03] When Meredith sought out an interior design coach
[20:43] How Meredith handles pricing and fees
[23:22] Why Meredith doesn’t want to grow and scale a team
[28:13] Business tips for new interior designers
[35:55] The What Up Wingnut! Round
[41:10] Blooper Reel!
Connect with Meredith Huck
House of Huck
Connect on Instagram
Resources & People Mentioned
Wingnut Webinar Aug 25, 2022 11:00 AM: Let’s Get Real About Reels
Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
Dakota Design Co.
The Brownstone Boys
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Why House of Huck grew quickly
95% of Meredith’s clients have come from social media. How does she leverage various platforms to gain visibility?
Meredith got in front of the camera. It allowed people to learn about herself and her life. She also embraced a unique social media marketing strategy: Throwing a scavenger hunt.
Meredith chose 5 local businesses, bought gift cards, and hid them around town. You had to follow her on social media and answer a riddle to find the gift card(s). Once someone found one, they had to tag her in a post.
She gained followers, gave back to her community, and it even led to a request for a design consultation.
Why Meredith doesn’t want to grow and scale a team
Meredith is struggling with a great problem to have: Getting too many requests for her design services. She’s learning how to take discovery calls, explaining how her process works, and scheduling out (sometimes weeks or months).
She sets the expectation that it may be weeks before she can connect back to work on their project. But then she communicates via email, notes in the mail, etc. She’ll have those clients work on creating a Pinterest board to fill in the gap during those weeks.
Meredith is busier than ever, but she isn’t interested in growing and scaling a team right now. She loves what she does and chooses to outsource when necessary. She works with a virtual assistant and outsources renderings and sourcing tasks.
Business tips for new interior designers
What has Meredith learned from her first couple of years as a new interior designer?
Tip #1: It’s not just about charging a design fee. Whenever you can, open up wholesale accounts and purchase furnishings directly from them. A large portion of Meredith’s revenue has come from the margin she makes on furnishings.
Tip #2: Trust your gut. Meredith agreed to do some design work for a couple despite seeing numerous red flags. Meredith requires her clients to request revisions within one week of her design presentation. After her design presentation, this client asked for more than a week to decide. Two months later, they asked her for a refund of her design fees.
Tip #3: Don’t take every job that comes your way. Only work with people who appreciate what you’re doing for them.
Meredith shares more tips, tricks, and business strategies in this episode of Wingnut Social. Check it out!
Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social
www.WingnutSocial.com
On Facebook
On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
Subscribe on YouTube
Darla’s Interior Design Website
Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group!
786-206-4331 (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)
Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn
Audio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com
Wednesday Aug 10, 2022
Wednesday Aug 10, 2022
How do you navigate the remote hiring process for your interior design business? What should you include in the interview process? How do you retain a remote team once you hire them? Anna Shcherbyna joins Darla in this episode of Wingnut Social to tackle these questions head-on.
Anna Shcherbyna has over 10 years of experience in international operations and recruitment. She is the CEO of Remotivate, a recruitment agency that helps remote-friendly companies hire top remote management and leadership via a done-for-you service. Don’t miss her expert insight!
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[1:24] Housekeeping: Wingnut Webinar Announcement
[2:25] Subscribe to Designed by Wingnut Social on YouTube!
[2:52] Mini News Sesh: How to Boost Instagram Reels
[6:55] Learn all about Anna Shcherbyna
[8:30] How the pandemic accelerated remote hiring
[12:03] The best places to hire remote employees
[14:00] What to look for in a remote candidate
[16:41] How to screen candidates remotely
[22:27] The advantages of hiring internationally
[26:49] How remote hiring can apply to designers
[28:43] How to nail the remote hiring process
[32:32] Ways you can retain your remote employees
[34:48] The What Up Wingnut! Round
Connect with Anna Shcherbyna
Remotivate
Book a demo call with Anna!
Connect by email at Anna@LetsRemotivated.com
Connect with Anna on LinkedIn
Resources & People Mentioned
August 24th at 11 am: Wingnut Webinar on Instagram Reels
VideoAsk
Remote
CliftonStrengths (formerly StrengthsFinder)
The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
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Why hire a remote workforce?
As of early 2022, 50% of applicants on LinkedIn have been for remote jobs, but only 20% of the jobs posted are actually remote. The #1 reason why candidates are applying for new jobs is because they’re being forced back into the office. Why are employers still resistant to remote work?
Anna points out that when people work remotely, productivity goes up, flexibility goes up, happiness goes up, and morale goes up. But the one thing that you do lose out on is that quickness of communication.
How to screen candidates remotely
Anna recommends that you screen for soft skills. It isn’t just about experience anymore. You can’t just look at someone’s resume and LinkedIn profile and determine if someone is a good fit. You need to look for a hunger to learn, time and effort, independence and drive, and someone who is self-motivated.
Obviously, you still want to screen candidates to make sure they’re a good fit for the position you’re hiring for. To do this, Anna loves using VideoAsk. You can see if a candidate is comfortable on camera and better assess their passion and interest in the role.
Anna also recommends using some personality tests (DiSC and Clifton Strengths, which was formerly StrengthsFinder). CliftonStrengths asks direct questions, such as what you enjoy—and what you don’t—and how you act in different scenarios. It’s harder for you to answer questions from the lens of what you think the potential employer wants.
Lastly, she always recommends a test project that is actionable and strategically related to the position being hired for. Give them an actual scenario you’re facing within your business and ask them how they’d resolve it. What steps would they take? Have them create a strategic plan.
What are the advantages of hiring a remote employee internationally? Anna shares a few factors you might not have considered!
How to nail the remote hiring process
Step #1: Start with a questionnaire that tackles what a candidate has experience in, the tools they’ve used, industries they’ve worked in, and more. It’s about covering the logistics. Doing this can eliminate 70% of the people applying.
Step #2: Ask the remaining 30% to record a short video where they present themselves and answer a couple of questions that you’ve provided.
Step #3: Set up a conversation with the potential team member, interact with them, and conduct an interview.
Step #4: Give them a test project to complete. This will allow you to more fully understand what their skills are, how they communicate, and what their experience is. Plus, you get to see them live in action.
Step #5: Finally, complete reference checks. Ask them to prepare some previous clients or employers that they’ve worked with for at least 6 months, within five years, and no longer than five years ago. It needs to be with a supervisor who can speak to their character and growth.
If you set up the remote hiring process correctly, it creates a seamless experience for you and the new hire.
How do you retain remote employees? How can you set them up for success? Listen to the whole episode to hear Anna’s thoughts!
Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social
www.WingnutSocial.com
On Facebook
On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
Subscribe on YouTube
Darla’s Interior Design Website
Check out the Wingnut Social Media Lab Facebook Group!
786-206-4331 (connect with us for your social media marketing needs)
Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn
Audio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com