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
Monday Sep 23, 2019
Monday Sep 23, 2019
Instagram statistics can be pretty boring to wade through - so never fear, we’ve waded through them for you! In this mini-poddy, we’re bringing the most valuable takeaways of a recent Instagram study to your earbuds, so you can make better decisions about the way you use Instagram to highlight your brand.
You’re going to learn about video, carousel image groups, optimal caption length, and get our take on the infamous Instagram hashtag debate. Listen, learn, and apply what makes sense to you - and make Instagram a powerful traffic driver to your design business.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[1:50] Where we found some interesting Instagram Statistics
[4:01] Do you know what outperforms static images on Instagram?
[5:06] Does caption length matter?
[8:31] Should you use hashtags inside your Instagram posts?
Resources & People Mentioned
www.Info.Quintley.com/Instagram/Study/2019 - Instagram stats you may find interesting
Our High Point Market Minisode
The Highpoint Market Pre-Tour (from Linda Holt)
Darla’s upcoming presentation at High Point
Instagram statistic of interest #1: Images are great. Video is better
For a few years now the social media gurus have been telling us that video performs better than static images. It's true because video provides the benefit of communicating your personality and “vibe” a lot better than images. Having said that, here’s the weird thing: 48% of brands are only using static images, not video. What?!!!!
If you are not using video on Instagram, these stats show that you’re missing the boat. Video gets 48% more engagement from followers than static images alone. That means you have more opportunities to interact with potential design clients simply by using video regularly. Listen to learn more.
Instagram stat of interest #2: The sweet spot for captions
When you scroll through Instagram, you’ll see that some images and videos have accompanying captions, others don’t. You know what captions are, right? They are those descriptions or comments that go along with the images or videos you post. Some Instagram users who make use of captions write books in the captions (we don’t have time to read books on Instagram). Other’s keep them short and sweet.
The Instagram statistics revealed in the recent Quintly study say that the sweet spot for captions is not so much about how long they are, but what you do with the first 125 characters. 125 is the magic number because once you write more than 125 characters, Instagram truncates the caption and users have to tap the “read more” ellipsis thingie. So if you’re going to use captions, make the most of that first 125 characters. Hook your followers with that text. Make your copy so good they can’t HELP but tap for more.
Go ahead and hit the play button on this episode. We also talk about how 10 or more emojis could help your Instagram efforts be more effective, and give you our opinion about the infamous hashtag debate (in the post, or in the comments?) - based on the Instagram statistics we discuss on this episode.
Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social
www.WingnutSocial.com
On Facebook
On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
Darla’s Interior Design Website
1-877-WINGNUT (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 Sep 18, 2019
Wednesday Sep 18, 2019
A while back Darla noticed this gal - Alisa Popelka - EVERYWHERE on social media. She was especially rocking Instagram. It was like she had the Interior Design Instagram formula for success. And it turns out that wasn’t far from the truth.
As the two got to know each other via social media they struck up an online friendship. That's when Alisa decided to crank up her Instagram strategy even more by signing up for the Wingnut Social strategy package. The results of adding what she learned to what she was already doing have been astounding. Alisa says that 50% of her existing clients first contacted her through Instagram. FIFTY PERCENT! What would it do for your business to KNOW that you can generate more clients using ONE platform?
But it's not only about clients. Alisa has learned to use Instagram to get the attention of strategic partners in her area and those in her industry who she believes will be an asset to her business. Don’t miss this episode. It’s short, but it’s super sweet. Alisa’s advice is GOLD.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[1:22] Response to our Highpoint Market Minisode - and an additional tip
[3:06] A personal story about Alisa Popelka, the ubiquitous designer
[5:57] The social media marketing focus of Alisa’s interior design biz
[7:16] Sharing the work of other designers to increase your own reach
[9:57] How the social media light bulb went on for Alisa
[10:55] 50% of her clients come from Instagram: Here’s how it happens
[14:32] The consistency rule: Why you have to stick with it
[17:48] How much time does Alisa put into Instagram each week? A lot
[20:23] Social media strategy tips Alisa learned from her Wingnut coaching
[25:36] Alisa’s #1 piece of advice for designers not investing in social media: do the work
[26:38] The What Up Wingnut Round
Connect with Alisa Popelka
Alisa’s website: https://www.alisacristineinteriors.com/
Alisa on Instagram: @AlisaCristineInteriors
Alisa’s work on Facebook
And Alisa on Pinterest
Resources & People Mentioned
Our High Point Market Minisode
The Highpoint Market Pre-Tour (from Linda Holt)
Darla’s upcoming presentation at High Point
Instagram
Planoly app - an Instagram curation app
BOOK: Start With Why by Simon Senek
The RESA Edge chat Darla will be doing
50% of Alisa’s clients come from Instagram. Seriously
There are many Interior Designers who don’t believe that social media can do much for their business. It’s a hassle, it takes too much time out of the day, and it’s more about vanity and showing off than it is truly connecting with legitimate clients. That’s what THEY say. But Alisa Popelka would say something FAR different.
Alisa has been doubling-down on her Instagram strategy for some time now, and she’s got carefully documented stats to show that at least 50% of her current clients have come to her directly from Instagram. As a result, she’s a very busy designer. She’s convinced that it’s more than worth the effort to make Instagram the primary way of marketing her business. She even refers to Instagram as a “free marketing tool” every designer should be using. Listen to learn more of her secret sauce.
Being intentional is vital to an effective interior design Instagram strategy
If there’s one secret to Alisa’s success using Instagram to generate more client leads, it’s this. Be intentional and consistent. OK, that’s two things - but they are both important.
Lisa doesn’t do anything on Instagram in a haphazard way. She spends two days every month to plan out her content, including the captions that will go with and on her photos. She uses a curation app to schedule it all out at regular intervals. She determines what other designers and local events she will share. And she budgets time into every day to engage with the comments and activity surrounding her posts and the posts of those she follows.
If that sounds like a lot of work to you, you’re right. But it’s the kind of work required to put your design work into the orbit of the exact people you want to work with. If you’re willing to take an intentional, disciplined approach like Alisa has, you’re going to win at Instagram. No question.
Listen to this episode to hear every detail Alisa shares about her Interior Design Instagram strategy!
Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social
www.WingnutSocial.com
On Facebook
On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
Darla’s Interior Design Website
1-877-WINGNUT (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
Monday Sep 16, 2019
Monday Sep 16, 2019
You may not have grabbed a copy of Pat Flynn’s new book, “Superfans” yet - Darla has it but hasn’t made space in her busy schedule to read it yet - but you need to understand the term all the same.
A superfan is exactly what it sounds like - a person who truly loves the things you do, whatever that might be. They comment on your social media posts. They share your stuff with others, they even reach out to you directly from time to time via DM or email or whatever.
This episode is about handling superfans the right way because when you do, they provide something you can’t buy.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[0:55] What are superfans and why do you need them?
[4:30] The simple (but not easy) way of attracting superfans
[7:50] A simple example of a missed opportunity to create superfans
[8:59] One of the best social media superfan builders out there (MoonPie)
[11:30] Pay attention to the details of your engagement with people
Resources & People Mentioned
Pat Flynn’s book “Superfans”
The Ivy Design Group
MoonPie’s Twitter account
BOOK; Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook
Brittanie Elms episode on Wingnut Social
Simply taking the time to respond to people could create superfans
We’ve all been there - charging through a busy day and spinning all the plates when a random email from a random person pops up in our email inbox. It’s long. Really long. And the message raves about your last blog post or social media image or latest design portfolio. It might even ask very specific questions you don’t feel you have time to answer.
Don’t ghost that person. Don’t hit “delete.” You need to respond to them - not necessarily right at that moment, but you have GOT to get back to it soon. Why? Because that person is telling you that they are a superfan of your work. That means their influence on your behalf could be HUGE.
Listen to learn how to make the most out of interactions with superfans once you hit the “reply” button on that email.
Superfans are born from treating people like they deserve to be treated
Yes, a good relationship with a superfan could benefit you and your business. But that’s the secondary issue. Uppermost in importance is that those people used their precious time to correspond with you, and they are people worth caring about.
They are not a bother, or irritation, or inconvenience. They are human beings who deserve your attention and care. How you respond to them is a reflection of your character, which is the thing they care about most, even more than the great work you do.
In this episode, Darla and Natalie give a handful of examples of the quality relationships they have been able to build with superfans in just the past few years, and how those relationships in and of themselves have become very satisfying - even if they never lead that person to do business with them at all. Listen to hear how the superfan thing works - and how you can make the most of it relationally and for your design business.
Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social
www.WingnutSocial.com
On Facebook
On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
Darla’s Interior Design Website
1-877-WINGNUT (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 Sep 11, 2019
Wednesday Sep 11, 2019
As you’ll hear during the first part of this episode, just the thought of hiring an interior design virtual assistant stripped Darla’s gears a bit. That’s because there’s so much specialization, so many moving parts, and a ton of location-dependent stuff involved in design work. She couldn’t see how an assistant who’s not on location could be effective.
But now she’s seen the light - thanks to Brittanie Elms.
On this episode of Wingnut Social, you’re going to hear how Brittanie became an interior design VA, how she has learned about the design industry enough to provide tremendous value to designers of all stripes, and how her service turns into a cost savings instead of an expense for most designers.
It’s an amazing concept - and one our team is likely to take advantage of very, very soon. Don’t miss this incredibly practical episode.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[1:15] Impressive results from Darla’s Tequila diet (to get ready for Highpoint)
[2:28] Darla’s speaking at The RESA Edge and Highpoint Market
[7:39] Brittanie Elms: The decision to start a virtual design assistant company
[13:02] How is it even possible to work with an interior design virtual assistant
[19:58] The benefits of hiring a virtual assistant for interior design
[23:20] How robust can this really be for interior designers?
[26:43] Can a design virtual assistant service truly keep up on design trends?
[34:47] Brittanie’s best advice to designers looking for a virtual assistant
[37:22] The channels Brittanie uses to market her services to designers
[38:40] The Whatup Wingnut round
[44:14] Should we do it? Would the leap be worth it?
Connect with Brittanie Elms
www.MyDesignAssistant.com - Brittanie’s company
Brittanie on Twitter: @mydesignassist
Brittanie on Facebook
Brittanie on Instagram: @MyDesignAssistantBusiness
The MDA Collective (Brittanie’s Facebook Group)
Resources & People Mentioned
The RESA Edge chat Darla will be doing
Highpoint Market
A Well Designed Business Podcast
Trading Spaces
The Kelly Fridline episode on Wingnut Social
My Doma Studio
Designer Inc
Pinterest
BOOK: The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog
A design VA is for when you need to keep your sanity, but you don’t have the cash to hire full time
We have plenty of people working full time as a part of Wingnut Social and as part of the Darla Powell Interior Designs team. It’s great to have a staff that can run with projects and get things done. But sometimes you have small little things to be done that don’t justify another full-time hire. And you don’t want to add to the already-full schedule of some poor soul on your team, either. What do you do?
Hire a VA to take on that task. Not only is it cost-effective it’s also a way to tap into the brilliance and giftedness of someone who is an expert at exactly what you need to be done.
As you listen to this conversation you’ll hear Brittanie explain how various Interior Design Virtual Assistant roles might look, and how each of them could benefit your design practice. She’s already got Darla thinking about things unrelated to design but that are integral to our business - like email and other correspondence. Listen up! There’s good stuff here for you.
How does hiring an interior design virtual assistant impact the bottom line?
Naturally, when you have a task or two that don’t fit into the job description of one of your full-time staff people, a VA makes sense. But how do you ensure that the cost you incur in bringing on a VA is worth it?
The answer is this: You need to be VERY intentional about the work you pass to a VA.
Give them the things that drain you, that you don’t like to do, that slow down your creative process and drag out design jobs. That way you will be freed up to do your best work and deliver for your design clients in a bigger way.
And consider this too - you may need more than one VA. One person is not likely to be skilled at every one of those small things you need to offload, so don’t expect them to be. Bring in multiple people who operate in different zones of genius so that you have a team of specialists rather than one or two generalists. The difference could be huge.
And finally, there’s the practical part of it all. When hiring a VA you’re hiring a contractor. That means you don’t have to pay for unemployment insurance, contribute to taxes or social security, or any of the other hoopla the government requires for full-time employees. That alone could be enough cost savings to pay for the VAs fees in the first place.
Listen to this episode to get all the details about working with an Interior Design Virtual Assistant - and if you want to reach out to Brittanie you’d better do so quickly. We have a feeling her schedule is about to fill up with new clients.
Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social
www.WingnutSocial.com
On Facebook
On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
Darla’s Interior Design Website
1-877-WINGNUT (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
Monday Sep 09, 2019
Monday Sep 09, 2019
Turn your prospects into super fans with Bonjoro
When it comes to making a real and personal connection with clients, video connections beat email, text, or instant messenger, hands-down. And the impact it can have is powerful.
But creating a personalized video is tough, from a time and technology standpoint. Until now. On this mini-poddy episode Darla introduces you to a fun new app she’s using called Bonjoro. You’re going to love this!
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[1:10] A cool new app: Bonjour-O - to make personalized videos
[4:49] Using this as a designer or to serve clients in a personal way
[7:46] Examples of how Darla has used it so far
[9:12] We are speaking again: October 19th, 4PM - at Creative Touch Rugs
Resources & People Mentioned
The Bonjoro app
What if you could send every new client a personalized video?
What would happen in your head if you signed up for a newsletter or free PDF download and instead of the usual blah-blah-blah email, you got a video - and the person making the video connection used your name as they spoke to you personally, by name. You’d wonder, “How did they do that?!!” Then you’d hang on every word they said.
That’s what YOU can make your clients or prospects feel by using this cool new app - Bonjoro. Darla’s been trying it out and has discovered that it’s pretty easy, quite simple to use, and that the tech part actually works! Listen to find out more.
Darla’s already making video connections -and she’d love to receive one from you
As Darla mentions on this episode, she’s already used the Bonjoro app to send videos to a few Wingnut Social prospects, has connected with existing clients using the app, and has even used it to reach out to a few of her interior design leads. It’s too early to tell exactly how impacting it’s going to be, but the cool way it makes HER feel to get a Bonjoro message gives her reason to believe her clients will feel the same way.
And she’d like to invite you to give it a try. There’s a free version of the app and a full-featured free trial so you can test it out. If you do, send Darla a Bonjoro video. She’d love to hear from you and be inspired by seeing how you are using the app.
Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social
www.WingnutSocial.com
On Facebook
On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
Darla’s Interior Design Website
Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn
Audio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com
Wednesday Sep 04, 2019
Wednesday Sep 04, 2019
Many times, design projects need something special, something unique to set off the entire vibe of what you’re doing in a room. Enter custom furniture design.
Yes, it sounds intimidating and like it might require skills you don’t have, but there are ways around that. Darla and Natalie’s guest on this episode is going to explain how you can pull it off.
Kelley Bishop is the owner and designer behind Steel and Plank furnishings, a custom design furniture company that she started as a second business while she was still working as an architect (she’s still partner in an architectural firm even now, BTW). Kelley has developed a custom fabrication shop that enables her to create both entire structures or custom pieces that delight her clients.
Join the conversation to hear how Kelley made the transition from architect to custom furniture designer, how she’s getting her custom wares out into the world, and how she suggests you think about offering custom-designed furniture to your clients and developing the partnerships that will enable you to do it.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[1:51] Darla’s upcoming speaking gigs you don’t want to miss
[5:02] What you’re going to hear from Kelley Bishop on this episode
[7:10] The frustration that moved Kelley from being an architect to a furniture designer
[14:10] How can designers get started creating custom pieces for client homes?
[17:34] The best ways to offer custom furniture design to clients
[21:50] Is it possible to design furniture that could lead to licensing agreements?
[26:32] Kelley’s newest ventures: curating and manufacturing her own lines
[30:13] The “What Up Wingnut” round
Connect with Kelley Bishop
Steel and Plank - Kelley’s business
Kelley’s Instagram: @SteelAndPlank
Steel and Plank on Pinterest
Steel and Plank on Facebook
Resources & People Mentioned
Darla is speaking at Highpoint Market with Nicole Heymer
She’s also speaking at the RESA Edge chapter - https://ResaEdgeBroward.4stagers.com
The Design Influencers Conference
Wingnut Social episode with Nicole White
Auburn University’s Rural Studio
Widell and Boschetti
Furniture Branding
BOOK: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
From architect to custom furniture designer? How did THAT happen?
In this episode, Kelley shares how she got into designing custom furniture - and the story goes way back to her childhood. Her father both modeled and encouraged her to figure things out so that she could do them herself. He was always fixing or building things on his own instead of hiring someone to do it for him. Kelley learned the lesson so well that she partnered with her Dad to rebuild an MG motorcar as a teen. Fast forward from there and apply that attitude to the design of furniture, and you’ll see how her creative, industrious bent could create some amazing pieces.
If you take the time to listen to this episode, you’ll see how Kelley's “figure it out” attitude has lead to an entirely new and profitable business that she absolutely loves, and how Steel and Plank has become a showcase for her work and the work of others who offer complementary wares. It’s a great story you’ll want to hear..
Why would you want to suggest custom furniture as a designer?
As designers, most of us are busy enough with all the moving parts of the typical design project. But we have to admit that we come across situations when something else is needed for a project, something special to bring things into focus and alignment. Could that “something” be a special piece of furniture that is truly one-of-a-kind?
Naturally, not every client is going to be interested in custom furniture pieces as part of the design package you put together for them. But some will be - and “custom” means “cha-ching” for your bank account. The beautiful part is this: Clients who are interested in custom pieces typically know that fact - and are willing to pay the extra money to have something unique in their homes.
What’s the best way to talk about custom furniture design with clients?
If you’re going to offer custom furniture design, you’ll need to be able to describe it in a way that is appealing to clients and that explains the process that will take them from concept to construction to placement in their home. It may sound simple but it’s not. Many things can easily go sideways along that path.
Darla was curious about how to approach the messaging regarding custom furniture options so she asked Kelley to share her best advice for designers who want to start offering custom furniture to clients. Kelley says it’s a process of knowing the client’s desires, exploring those effectively, and having the right relationships and resources to pull it off. You’ll have to listen to get all the details.
Clients need to connect with the furniture you create as much as they need to love that it is custom
We easily understand how a client would feel to have a true one-of-a-kind piece in their newly designed home. Excited - unique - special. But much of the time, “special” is not enough. People want to have a deeper connection to the pieces they select - and it’s your job as their designer to help them make that connection.
How? You do it by learning the story behind the piece - and you do that by developing a great working relationship with the furniture designer. Kelley believes this is one of the most important aspects of selling custom furniture design to clients. You want to connect them to the furniture, not just its uniqueness. This lady has a wealth of insight to share and provides many details that will benefit you, so be sure you listen.
Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social
www.WingnutSocial.com
On Facebook
On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
Darla’s Interior Design Website
Get the Wingnut Social custom services package: www.WingnutSocial.com/services or call 1-877-Wingnut
Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn
Audio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com
Monday Sep 02, 2019
Monday Sep 02, 2019
Tailwind is an incredibly helpful app that enables auto posting and more for Pinterest.
Yes, Pinterest - we’ve been a bit neglectful of the platform for a while but since Instagram appears to be in kind of a lateral stall lately, Darla decided to jump back on to see what it might have to offer.
Boy! There is a lot that’s happened with Pinterest in our absence! Take a few moments to listen, learn about Tailwind, Tribes, and Pinterest - and find out how you can join our new little Design Tribe on Tailwind to help you get your Pinterest shares rocking!
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[0:50] The Pinterest Design Bloggers United Tribe - wanna join us?
09:01] What is Tailwind?
[6:11] The amazing benefits Pinterest Tribes made with just a few tweaks
Resources & People Mentioned
Tailwind (look for Tribe - Design Bloggers United)
Melissa’s episode about Pinterest (episode 16)
Join our Tribe!
Design Bloggers United
Hurricane Dorian missed us - but we’re catching the Tailwind (see what we did there?)
When Darla jumped onto Tailwind to see what was going on with the app she discovered something amazing. You can now become part of a “tribe” - or make your own! What is a tribe? It’s a group of people who share pins oriented around the same topics - like design work. Those people rally together to share each other’s pins and give everyone involved a boost in the Pinterest algorithms in the process.
Dara’s created her own tribe - Design Bloggers United - and is inviting you to be a part of the tribe. Just grab the Tailwind app, find the Design Bloggers United tribe, ask to join, and once you’re approved you’ll be able to get in on all the Pinteresting fun (see what we did there, too?).
Why Pinterest? Why now?
This little PInterest experiment comes about because of an encounter Darla had with a new Wingnut Social client. As she shared her social media status, Darla noticed something - there were plenty of social platforms our team could definitely help her with, but she was rocking Pinterest in amazing ways all on her own. A little bit of prodding later, and Darla found out it was Tailwind Tribes at the heart of the action. Nothing like a little bit of humble pie to give you a new obsession, huh?
Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social
www.WingnutSocial.com
On Facebook
On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
Darla’s Interior Design Website
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 28, 2019
Wednesday Aug 28, 2019
You may be aware that some designers choose an interior design niche, but have you ever considered doing the same in your business? There are many reasons (fears) NOT to niche down, but are they valid?
This episode is a conversation with Jen Obermeier, a professional organizer who has learned how fulfilling and profitable it can be to drill down into a niche that enables you to do the specific kind of work you love, and to work with the exact type of people who fit you. Sound too good to be true? Then you’ll have to listen to this episode to understand how it might work in your business.
AND, as a special bonus, you’ll get to hear from the Jedi Master himself, Yoda. We’re not kidding.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[2:35] Darla’s Yoda impersonation: REALLY!
[7:29] Why organizers are the nerdy little sister of interior designers
[10:38] Is niching going to reduce your pipeline?
[12:47] Is there such a thing as a niche that’s too small?
[14:58] Marketing approaches to help you find your niche client
[19:41] A searchable niche is important for finding new clients too
[21:03] Show me the money! Is it truly profitable? How does pricing figure in?
[25:59] The “What Up Wingnut” Round
[29:30] We may have accidentally niched and didn’t know it
Connect with Jen Obermeier
Pro Organizer Studio
The Pro Organizer Studio Podcast
Inspired Organizer Course
BOOK:Clockwork: Design Your Business to Run Itself
BOOK:Profit First
BOOK:Ask And It Is Given
Resources & People Mentioned
Stacey McKenna’s episode on Wingnut Social
Entrepreneur On Fire
Sara Lynn Brennan episode on Wingnut Social
Marie Kondo
Is an interior design niche something you should consider?
As you consider the possibility of choosing a niche for your design business you likely have quite a few reservations. Among the most important is this: Doesn’t choosing a niche eliminate a lot of potential business from my pipeline?
The answer is: “Yes, it does.” But that can be a GOOD thing. Seriously.
Jen explains that to your potential clients, a niche means “specialization” - it puts you into a class of professionals who are in demand and highly desirable. It’s like becoming the “brain surgeon” of designers in your area, you get the unique jobs, the special situations, or better said - the jobs that require the specialized touch and expertise that ONLY you can give. How does it feel to think about your work THAT way? And what do you think that kind of specialization could do for the prices you're able to ask for your stellar work?
Once you get clear on your interior design niche and find the clients you love, you’ll get more
Here is one of the most exciting things about choosing a niche for your interior design business. Once you find a client who is your “ideal” and do great work for them, they will be eager to talk about the work you did (because they are so delighted with your work, right?). When they do, who will they be talking to? Other people who are like them.
That’s more ideal clients hearing about your work. More fun projects for you to work on (and they’re fun because they FIT your preferences and skills). More niche clients to work with. And once you’re done with that next project, you have yet another ideal client who is willing to refer you to others - and the cycle continues, and the influence of your niche grows broader. See how it works?
Niche marketing tip: Choose a specialty you’re willing to talk about forever
When you’re considering a niche you want to focus on, make sure it’s an area of interior design that you especially enjoy or are especially good at. When you take the time to do this, you’ll discover tons of energy for your work that overflows into your marketing.
Then, whether it’s print media or social media, you’ll be talking about what you do non stop because it’s fun for you and because you have the enthusiasm about what you do. And THAT attracts clients.
Don’t miss what Jen has to share on this episode. Her insight into the benefits of niche-ing (is that even a word?) go deep and will help you decide if choosing a niche for your interior design business is going to be worthwhile or not.
Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social
www.WingnutSocial.com
On Facebook
On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
Darla’s Interior Design Website
Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn
Audio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com
Monday Aug 26, 2019
Monday Aug 26, 2019
There’s lots of complaining out there in social media land about buying followers. On some level we all kinda resent it, because getting followers used to be kind of automatic or organic. But no more - organic is going away.
So instead of swimming against the tide of the inevitable Darla decided to go surfing - and tried out a 2 day experiment using Instagram’s promotional feature. And she reeled in 70 followers in two days.
How? Glad you asked…(but you should listen to hear all the nuance of how this works)...
This approach only works from the mobile app, not desktop (no clue why)
Go to your Instagram profile and click on the “promote post option”
You’ll see a gathering of your best posts, so pick one to promote and click “next”
Then you’ll be asked where to send people who see your post - and you have three options - your profile / your website / or a Direct Message (Darla did the profile)
Next, select your target audience from the two options - automatic / or custom (Darla chose specifics relating to her geography, etc.)
Then you set a budget and duration (Darla did $5 daily for 2 days)
Click “next,” wait for approval, then sit back and wait for the follower floodgates to open
Is it worth it?
Darla got 70 followers in two days - so you have to gauge how much each follower is worth to you to know, But besides helping you build your followers this approach enables you to dial in who those follower ARE through targeting the post. That means more of the people seeing your posts are the kind of people who might buy from you.
So you figure it out. And listen. And subscribe. And join our Wingnut Social Media Lab.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[0:37] The stuff that went down in the Wingnut Social Media Lab (and why you should care)
[2:34] Engagement on Instagram is getting more difficult - there’s a reason for that
[3:48] How we got 70 new followers in just 2 days - here’s how to do it.
Resources & People Mentioned
The Wingnut Social Media Lab (on Facebook)
Get in touch with us: 1-877-Wingnut
Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social
www.WingnutSocial.com
On Facebook
On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
Darla’s Interior Design Website
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 21, 2019
Wednesday Aug 21, 2019
Wingnut Social is an interior design podcast for designers - but there are other types of podcasts produced by designers that go at it from a different angle. Kendrac and Kole have been producing “Inside Design” (their podcast) for just over a year and are using it to a different end - to make themselves known for speaking opportunities and other industry-level events.
Have you considered starting your own podcast? Should you? This conversation is laser focused - we’re talking with Joann Kendrac and Kelly Kole about the why, what, and how of starting a podcast. They had never considered it but when they continued to get encouragement that they’d be great at it, they took the plunge. Should you?
Joann and Kelly share their experience, tell how they got started, explain the equipment and help they need to pull it off (and you WILL need help at some point), and more. Don’t miss this conversation. We promise, you’ll have no smoke blown up your you-know-what. They tell you the truth about the hard work of starting your own podcast - but encourage you to do it all the same. Find out why - listen now!
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[2:35] Our first confirmed speaking engagement at High Point Market
[5:14] Why we’ve invited Kandrac and Kole on the podcast
[8:17] The motivation behind starting “Inside Design” (Karma involved)
[12:33] Why a podcast? What’s the ultimate goal of the show?
[17:51] The challenges that came with starting the show
[24:40] Should new designers even consider a podcast?
[27:06] Recommended gear and services
[31:00] How a blog helps you promote and support a podcast
[33:27] The “What Up Wingnut” round
[39:51] That was a nothing-held-back conversation - no smoke blown up your butt
Connect with Kandrac-Kole
Kandrac Kole website
Inside Design Podcast
K & K on Facebook
Twitter account of K & K
Instagram of K & K: @KandracKole
K & K Youtube channel
Pinterest too!
Resources & People Mentioned
Our High Point Market Mini-Poddy episode
Textures podcast
The Design Mastermind
Produce Your Podcast - K & K’s preferred production house
Audio Technica 2100 (NOT 2700 like Darla said)
Libsyn - media host
Podbean - media host
Podcast Fast Track - OUR production house (We love them!)
Curry and Company
Zoom H6 Digital Recorder
BOOK: Living A Beautiful Life
BOOK: Things I Want My Daughter To Know
BOOK: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
BOOK: Excellence Wins
The Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast
YOUR interior design podcast should reflect YOUR experience
During this conversation Natalie asked Joann and Kelly if a newer designer should even consider starting a podcast and they had a very interesting response: Maybe, but not likely. What does that mean? They could see situations where someone with a very specific niche with very specific skills within the industry might be able to add value to an audience as a beginner, but in most cases they feel that a new designer simply wouldn’t have the experience needed to add value to their listeners.
But - they could be wrong.
Listen for yourself and decide if you agree with them, and to hear what it takes to get your podcast started, keep it going, market it, and more. If you’ve been considering a podcast of your own to support your interior design work, this may be the resource you’ve been looking for.
You don’t need a ton of fancy equipment or crazy audio editing skills to start a podcast - honest
If you’ve got something to say and think you have an audience that’s eager to listen, you really need to put in the work to serve them well through a podcast. But don’t let that statement scare you away - it’s not that you need to develop an entirely new skillset (in most cases). There are services out there to help you with the audio and writing and even the publication of the podcast once you get it started. That allows you to focus on your area of genius - the great content you have to share.
On this episode we cover all of that and more - telling you how we (and our guests, Kendrac and Kole) organize and prepare for recordings, how we get the recording sessions done in a simple way, and then hand it off to be done by professionals (who fix all our mistakes). If that sounds like something you could do then you need to make sure you hear what we share on this episode. It’s worth your time - and your future podcasting audience will thank you!
Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social
www.WingnutSocial.com
On Facebook
On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
Darla’s Interior Design Website
Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn
Audio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com
Monday Aug 19, 2019
Monday Aug 19, 2019
Everyone needs a good book recommendation, but the problem is that everyone always recommends the same five business books. Today Darla makes some off-the-beaten-path recs that will help your interior design business.
While Natalie loves the open seas and the sun, Darla would much rather be curled up with a book, so this episode is her five favorite books that have helped her in life and in business. The episode starts off with Do the Work by Stephen Pressfield, a book that will help you stop procrastinating and get the big projects you’re dreaming of done.
The other books on the list are designed to help you get over other mental blocks that might be keeping you back. The Alter Ego Effect, for instance, is a book about how you can create another persona to help you dodge your fears about, say, public speaking. All of the books contain great advice, but none have as many words in the title as Why Quantum Physicists Play "Grow a Greater You": Learn How to Live the Most Truly Fulfilling Life Humanly Possible. But you’ll want to hear the story of how this book helped Darla, in a personal way, achieve professional success.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[1:33] Darla can be plied with food
[3:12] Book #5
[4:42] Book #4
[5:42] Book #3
[7:20] Book #2
[9:30] Book #1
[13:40] A little Amish wisdom
Resources & People Mentioned
Naviphobia
Do the Work
Eat that Frog!
The Alter Ego Effect
The Big Leap
Why Quantum Physicists Play "Grow a Greater You": Learn How to Live the Most Truly Fulfilling Life Humanly Possible
Natalie Reddell on the Wingnut Social Podcast
Wingnut Social Media Lab
Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social
www.WingnutSocial.com
On Facebook
On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
Darla’s Interior Design Website
Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn
Wednesday Aug 14, 2019
Wednesday Aug 14, 2019
There’s an old saying in business: If you don’t have a system for it, it doesn’t get done. Or we just made that up. Regardless, Mydoma Studio’s Stacy McKenna is on the show today, talking about how automation can help your bottom line.
Stacy McKenna is an account executive with Mydoma Studio, a project management suite made by interior designers for interior designers. She has 12 years experience as both a design consultant and a furniture store owner. She has firsthand experience growing a business, and loves to work with designers on helping them systematize their processes and become more profitable. And unlike Darla, she is able to say the word “packages,” without dissolving into giggles.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[1:05] The crime-fighting giraffe is in the studio
[3:00] Should Natalie become a GC?
[4:53] About Stacey
[6:15] Stacey comes off a red eye
[9:10] What beginning designers struggle with
[10:30] Pros and cons of packages
[12:35] Using packages to onboard clients
[17:05] How packages can make you money
[20:30] The Mydoma learning curve
[25:00] Differentiating your packages
[31:20] Whut up, Wingnut?
Connect with Stacy McKenna
Mydoma Studio
Mydoma on Facebook
Mydoma on Instagram
Resources & People Mentioned
LuAnn Nigara
Sara Lynn Brennan on the podcast
Nancy Ganzekaufer on the podcast
Start with Why
Wingnut Social Media Lab
How to use packages for your interior design business
Some interior designers may be hesitant to adopt packages, because they think it may be difficult to attract high-end clients using them. But as Stacy says on this week’s episode, there are many different ways to present your packages, or even to use them for very narrow purposes. For instance, you could use Mydoma just to onboard clients, and as a way to communicate with them all in one place (no more email chains).
Packages can also keep some of the guesswork about payment out of your meetings with clients. All of the information is upfront for the clients to see, which can be particularly useful when working with someone who has never hired an interior designer before.
Figure out what problems you’re solving
One way Stacy recommends interior designers use packages is to think about what problems they’re solving for their clients. Once you identify the four or five ways you help clients, you can design your packages around those problems. You can even create a ladder of services for potential clients to choose from, ranging from “designer for a day” consultations to full-service work.
Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social
www.WingnutSocial.com
On Facebook
On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
Darla’s Interior Design Website
Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn
Monday Aug 12, 2019
Monday Aug 12, 2019
You’ve heard about it, you’ve seen the Instagram photos, but is hitting up High Point Market worth it for interior designers? The answer, yes, on this week’s Monday Minisode (not poddy).
Today, Darla and Natalie issue a public service announcement. High Point Market may not be until October, but you should be thinking about it and booking your hotel, etc., now, because lodgings go quickly. In fact, if you’re new to High Point, you can do what Darla and Natalie did their first year there, and use High Point’s concierge to book a room and dinner reservations.
But beyond the logistics, why should you go to High Point, and what is it? High Point is a giant furniture showroom, and they open it up for interior designers at a massive conference. There are events, speakers, etc., and it’s a rare opportunity for designers to test out furniture you only see online. Of course there’s also ample opportunity to learn, to take photos for your Instagram accounts, and to network like crazy. Darla and Natalie went to their first High Point two years ago, and now they both might be speaking at it again (details coming soon). High Point should be on every interior designer’s calendar, and this episode shows why.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[0:33] Never call this a minipoddy
[2:18] High Point basics
[3:31] Why it’s worth it
[5:30] Get your room booked
[7:35] The High Point app
[10:18] Networking at High Point
Resources & People Mentioned
High Point Market
High Point’s app
Wingnut Social Media Lab
Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social
www.WingnutSocial.com
On Facebook
On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
Darla’s Interior Design Website
Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn
Wednesday Aug 07, 2019
Wednesday Aug 07, 2019
General contractors are a necessary partner when hiring trades to complete the project you designed. But what if you were a general contractor? Today, on the podcast, heading back to school with Nicole White.
Nicole White is the principal of Nicole White Designs, which was recently voted a top Southern Florida design firm and one of 10 designers to watch by the Black Interior Designers Network. Nicole and her team specialize in renovation work and transforming client spaces. Nicole was born in Jamaica, and is constantly inspired by the bold colors of the Caribbean. She’s also the #renovationqueen.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[1:15] Get yourself a handy ginger
[4:05] Should Natalie become a GC?
[7:03] Nicole and Darla may have met in the streets
[12:15] Why it was good to smell like a dump
[15:50] GCs drive you nuts
[19:44] Nicole does the work on her projects
[22:00] The savings from becoming a GC
[26:05] The renovation queen
[31:30] Natalie’s hangup
[34:40] Whut up, Wingnut?
Connect with Nicole White
Nicole White Designs
Nicole on Instagram
Resources & People Mentioned
LuAnn Nigara
Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now
Wingnut Social Media Lab
Getting your hands dirty as a general contractor
Nicole is first and foremost an interior designer, but when she first got into the business, her partner was a general contractor. That meant that often times, she was pitching in and helping out with some of the tradecraft on the job. She cut tile, she help put up walls, everything. So this type of work is in her blood.
And as she says on the podcast, she manages her projects as a pseudo-general contractor already (no phone calls, please). She has her own trades, so while the GC still needs to be there to get the permits, etc., Nicole sees becoming a GC herself as the next logical step.
Being a general contractor allows interior designers to be one-stop shops
Nicole specializes in renovations, which often means clients are out of the house while she and her team are doing the work. So, as she points out, if she can say she’s a general contractor, then the client can just hire her, and not have to worry about signing more contracts and managing more work with a general contractor.
There’s also a cost-savings to becoming your own general contractor. How much does Nicole estimate she’ll save by becoming a GC? And did she convince Natalie to head back to school? Find out on this week’s episode.
Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social
www.WingnutSocial.com
On Facebook
On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
Darla’s Interior Design Website
Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn
Monday Aug 05, 2019
Monday Aug 05, 2019
On this week’s Marketing Monday Minisode, the Head Wingnut and the Hungry Ginger talk about the first time they delegated work. Darla was asked to do a 3D rendering of a room, and it took her way longer than could be financially justified. And after hiring out that work, and consulting with a copy of The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks, Darla realized she should be focusing on the work that leverages her strongest talents.
And nearly two years ago, Darla Powell Interiors made its first hire of an interior designer, without actually having the financial means to do so. And that was because they were juggling so many clients, they needed someone to not only take some of that work, but fill in gaps in the company’s skills. It’s worked out great, and now that they can work with so many more clients, that hire has paid for itself again and again. But this episode isn’t just about hiring designers, Darla and Natalie also give tips on small ways you can delegate so you’re doing what you should be doing.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[0:33] Natalie’s a hungry ginger
[3:00] Juggling clients early on
[7:57] When to hire without the means
[11:10] What’s your vision for your company?
[13:45] Other ways to delegate
Resources & People Mentioned
The Big Leap
Wingnut Social Media Lab
Connect With Darla & Wingnut Social
www.WingnutSocial.com
On Facebook
On Twitter: @WingnutSocial
On Instagram: @WingnutSocial
Darla’s Interior Design Website
Subscribe to The Wingnut Social Podcast on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or TuneIn