Designed by Wingnut Social | Interior Design Business

How Interior Designers Can Get Featured in Magazines with Sara Lynn Brennan

Getting published in magazines can be huge for an interior designer’s business? So how has one designer, who’s only been in the biz 18 months, been published so much? Find out on today’s episode!
Sara Lynn Brennan is an award-winning entrepreneur, CEO and Principal Interior Designer at Sara Lynn Brennan Interiors, the first and only full-service interior design firm in Waxhaw, North Carolina who specializes in transitional design. She and her design-build team take spaces from bare bones to beautiful by utilizing her exclusive, approachable and stress-free design process, transforming and renovating homes from start to finish. She’s also been published in magazines a bajillion times.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[5:30] How much is a bajillion?
[7:25] Why Sara niched her design style
[10:23] What do you do if your client doesn’t like your style
[14:15] How Sara landed her first publication
[18:50] Sara still sends out her own pitches
[21:15] Patience with editors
[24:00] Send your vision boards
[28:05] What Sara does to promote her publications
[30:30] Credibility boost
[34:00] Applause for Sara
[37:12] Whut up, Wingnut?
Connect with Sara Lynn Brennan
Sara Lynn Brennan
Sara on Facebook
Sara on Instagram
Resources & People Mentioned
LuAnn Nigara
Amy Flurry
The Lean Startup
Wingnut Social Media Lab
Build relationships
Sara first got started publishing her work in magazines by first focusing on her own home. Her very first feature was her own house, and from there she was able to establish a relationship with that editor so her client work could be featured as well. And how did she do that? By making it very easy for the editor to work with her. She keeps in touch with editors to foster a relationship, and she lets them in early in the process, sharing vision boards so they know what she’s working on for their upcoming editorial calendars.
How does getting published change things?
The short answer from Sara is that it doesn’t. That doesn’t mean it hasn’t been good for business, but she says she hasn’t seen any clients come through her door saying, “I saw you featured in this magazine.” But the benefits go beyond direct client bookings. For instance, Sara throws events in her hometown, so people can “meet the designer” who has just been featured in a magazine. And getting into magazines has helped her establish her aesthetic in a clear and easy-to-communicate way.
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

The Top 4 Apps for Interior Designers

Apps make life easier for you in 100 different ways. But for interior designers, there are four that can really be game changers. Darla and Natalie break them down on this episode.
The first app the two recommend is a graphic design program that is cop- and firefighter-proof: Canva. Canva is an online app that’s plug and play and allows you to make pro-level graphics with a minimum of sweat. Up next is a task-tracking app that has made a huge difference at Wingnut Social, allowing everyone to see who needs to do what to keep a project moving. 
The third app Darla and Natalie recommend is Slack. If you’ve never used Slack, it’s like a group-text for work, where everyone can see what’s happening. It’s a really powerful tool that allows you to discuss projects even if some of your staff are remote, you can create different channels for different clients or topics. You can DM and you can have public conversations. It really does change how a workplace communicates. And the fourth app? Well, you’ll have to listen to find out what that is (and don’t scroll down any further).
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[0:55] Can a plug not be shameless?
[1:35] The #4 app for interior designers
[2:40] The #3 app
[6:00] The #2 app
[8:45] The #1 app
Resources & People Mentioned
Cheryl Kees Clendenon on the pod
Canva
Asana
Slack
Mydoma Studio
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

Could A Showhouse Be In The Future Of Your Design Career? with Corey Damen Jenkins

One of the most prestigious showhouse projects in the nation is the Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse - a project that benefits the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. This past year Corey Damen Jenkins received a personal invitation to participate in the project - and the work his team did in that house was UH-MAY-ZING!
In this episode of Wingnut Social, we talk with Corey about how he became involved with the project, what is typically involved in doing a showhouse project from a practical standpoint, and what he recommends you do if you are considering participation in a showhouse project as part of your business strategy. You’ll learn what is needed in terms of budget, participation, marketing, and more - and hear why we politely declined a showhouse invitation early in our design career.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[1:12] Our 4th of July recap (and the PTSD and K9 terror that ensued)
[4:18] The amazing Corey Damen Jenkins on this episode!
[6:18] Corey’s experience doing the Kips Bay Showhouse
[9:56] The uptick in business since doing the showhouse project
[14:14] How can local designers get started working on showhouses?
[20:11] When a designer should NOT participate in a showhouse
[27:39] How Corey determined the design for his room
[33:26] The marketing balance needed when participating in a showhouse project
[38:50] The Whatup Wingnut round
[44:01] Wrap-up and summary of the conversation
[47:54] Blooper reel
Connect with Corey Damen Jenkins
Corey’s website: https://coreydamenjenkins.com/
On Instagram: @CoreyDamenJenkins
On Facebook
On Pinterest: @CoreyDamenJ
On Twitter: @CoreyDJenkins
Resources & People Mentioned
Leathercraft
Hudson Valley Lighting
HGTV: Showhouse Showdown
The Kips Bay Showhouse Corey worked on
Corey’s spread on Traditional Home Magazine
Junior League
Holiday House
Design on a Dime
Theodore Alexander
Kravet
Courier Company
Arteriors
Lee Industries
The Fisher Mansion showhouse Corey worked on
BOOK: The Bible
Participating in a showhouse project can radically grow your business
As you might expect, a showhouse project as prestigious as the Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse can garner a lot of attention for the designers who participate, and Corey made the most of his opportunity by being on-site during the tour. He stayed in his room the whole time, interacting with those who came through, discussing his inspiration and purpose for the room, and answering any questions those touring the house may have had.
As a result, the phone has been ringing off the hook ever since. That’s what you’d hope for but given the quality and stunning nature of what Corey was able to create, you’d also expect that to be the case. On this episode, Corey generously shares how he made the most of the opportunity and gives sensible and practical advice about how to get your foot in the door with showhouse organizers in your neck of the woods.
The strength of your showhouse participation is your relationships
While the prestige and notoriety of being involved with a showhouse are typically very beneficial to you as a designer, you can’t do it alone. Corey explains that much of his success with the Kips Bay project flowed out of the existing relationships he had with General Contractors, photographers, manufacturers, and more. In his mind, the real strength behind your participation will come from the relationships you’re able to forge.
Corey explains why you should work to ally yourself with reputable vendors and manufacturers long before a showhouse project comes on your radar, how to go about it, how to negotiate donations or cost-splits for the showhouse design, and what it takes to work as a team to pull off an incredible effect from your room(s).
The secret behind successful press coverage for your showhouse room
When Corey approached the design of his room in the Kips Bay project - the library - he approached it from a very different angle than you might expect. Historically, the library would have been a gentleman’s office or “man cave” of the day, so Corey wanted to bring a 21st-century approach to the room. He reversed that traditional approach into a way to pay homage to the significant role women have played in society.
He suggests that designers have a very clear plan and inspiration behind their room design in a showhouse so that they can easily and passionately talk about it with those who are interested - including the press. There’s nothing more un-press-worthy than a designer who only talks about color palettes and furniture choices for their room. Engaging with reporters about your room’s theme and inspiration provides a spin on the work that interests a wider audience and attracts press coverage.
Listen to hear the entire conversation. Corey is a gifted, generous guest who made this episode a delight for both of us… and we’re confident you’ll feel the same as you hear it.
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

Is Your Design Business Missing In Google Local Search? You Need Google My Business

Let’s do a little experiment: search for “Interior Design YOUR CITY” right now on Google - and you’ll see Google Local Search listings right at the top. Is your business shown there? It SHOULD be… but if it’s not, never fear. This minisode is all about helping you get set up on what’s now called “Google My Business.”
Listen to learn what Google My Business is and where it appears on search results, why it’s a good idea for you as a designer, how to set it up so that it’s accurate and helpful to searchers, AND why it’s important to stay on top of the details of your GMB profile so that you can always be found in Google Local Search.
What You’ll Hear On This Monday Marketing Minisode of Wingnut Social
[1:41] What IS Google My Business (and why is it important)?
[3:40] Why GMB is a good idea for interior designers
[4:58] How to set up your Google My Business account
[7:57] Why you need to stay on top of your GMB profile
Resources & People Mentioned
Google My Business (set yours up NOW)
You do design work in a particular area, so you need to be sure you can be found in that area
These days most people find everything they need through a web search. That includes interior design services like yours. It’s important that your business shows up in the local results when people search for a local designer.
Google My Business is a special service that you have to tap into beyond just having a website. When you go to their site, you can actually submit your information and get listed in their results for local businesses - stuff like your address, phone number, hours of operation - you get the idea. On this episode we share the quick and easy way to get your interior design business listed. 
Once your business is listed in Google My Business, stay on top of it
Just a few days ago we referred someone to an architect we’ve worked with before. He does fabulous work. That person called us later in the day saying that our friend architect looks like a great person to work with but that his business is closed. We were shocked because we’d just talked to him the day before.
The problem is that when she searched for him on Google, his local search results page said that the business was permanently closed - because he’d changed physical locations and had not updated his Google My Business profile. The same thing could happen to you if you’re not able to stay on top of your GMB listing. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot by failing to keep your business in the public eye through Google local search results. Listen to find out how!
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

Why You Should Be a DesignHound with Veronika Miller

Ever see pictures of an incredible event with, say, brands, designers, and a cupcake buffet? That was probably hosted by today’s guest, Veronika Miller, and you probably want to be a part of it.
Veronika Miller is a kitchen and bath designer, and marketing specialist, who combined those two superpowers when she founded Modenus Media in 2010. Modenus is a marketing platform that seeks to pair designers and bloggers with forward-thinking brands. After years of hosting wildly successful blog tours, Veronika founded DesignHounds, an events and touring company that connects bloggers, designers and brands at amazing events.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[2:25] Consultations from Instagram
[6:02] The Veronika Coup
[7:33] How she got started
[12:10] Twitter’s early days
[16:00] Veronika is not a business strategist
[21:15] Release the DesignHounds
[28:00] How designers get picked for events
[31:10] How to become a DesignHound
[26:10] Rendering converts
[35:00] Whut up, Wingnut?
Connect with Veronika Miller
Modenus
DesignHounds on Instagram
Veronika Miller on Instagram
Resources & People Mentioned
DesignHounds
The Goldfinch
Wingnut Social Media Lab
Making Social Media Social
Veronika was a pioneer when it came to proving the value of social media to brands. She took to Twitter when many still weren’t sure what to make of it, and was able to forge relationships there that turned into real-life friendships. Those friendships then formed the basis of what she does today: Bringing people together in real life, and connecting them at amazing events.
One of the things Veronika became best-known for were her blog tours, that would allow designers and bloggers to connect with brands in meaningful ways. As blogging has risen and fallen over the years, she’s faded out the blog tours and moved on to creating DesignHounds, a platform that connects brands, design pros and bloggers on trips around the world.
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

How to Get Your Trades on Instagram (Seriously)

How to Get Your Trades on Instagram (Seriously)
It can be hard to find the right general contractor or tradesman for your interior design projects. So today, Darla and Natalie give tips on how to find trades on, you guessed it, Instagram.
On this week’s Marketing Monday Minisode, Darla and Natalie admit that when it comes to working with trades, they’ve kissed a few frogs and have the warts to prove it. But they found their current general contractor through Instagram. And that’s vital because then Darla can say that her firm has vetted the workers who will actually execute the project.
Finding a great general contractor can feel impossible, but Darla did it through social media. She opened up Instagram and started searching for trades in Miami, Florida, and found contractors whose work she admired. She then DM’d them and asked them for coffee. And the important, crucial step: She trusted her gut when meeting them. And now one of the GCs she works with came from one of those meetings. But don’t ask her or Natalie who that contractor is. Those are fighting words.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[0:55] Natalie’s birthday wishlist
[2:00] Question from the media lab
[3:00] You have to make out with some frogs
[5:10] Don’t share your trades with your mother
[6:45] Working with the trades goes both ways
Resources & People Mentioned
Julie Lampe
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

How Outsourcing Renderings Can Save You Time and Money with Kelly Fridline

Rendering can be key for communicating with a client on how a space should look. But it’s also time-consuming and resource-intensive. Should you outsource it, and how does that work? Ace architectural artist Kelly Fridline tells Darla and Natalie.
Kelly Fridline is an architecturally trained interior designer who specializes in providing 3D-renderings for interior designers and their clients. Kelly partners with interior designers, architects and contractors to help their clients see their vision in all its 3D glory prior to implementation. Kelly is based in Texas but works with designers from all over.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[2:25] Consultations from Instagram
[4:59] How Kelly got her rendering business started
[8:48] Laurie’s first business
[10:05] How Kelly works long-distance
[11:50] When should renderings be used?
[15:05] Should you let clients keep drawings?
[18:00] When to work with a chief architect
[21:10] Renderings for marketing
[26:10] Rendering converts
[35:00] Whut up, Wingnut?
Connect with Kelly Fridline
Kelly Fridline Design
Kelly Fridline on Facebook
Kelly Fridline on Instagram
Resources & People Mentioned
RevIt
Kick Ass with Mel Robbins
A Knight in Shining Armor
Wingnut Social Media Lab
How to work with a rendering pro
Kelly obviously doesn’t fly around the country to visit every site for which she’s creating a rendering. So how does she create accurate renderings without being in the room? She says the more information she can get from the designers the better. So that’s room dimensions, product information, etc. She’s actually gotten pretty good at figuring out dimensions off a few bits of information, but the more you can provide the better.
When are renderings a good thing?
In addition to rendering designs in 3D, Kelly provides an extra layer of quality control for designers. So a designer may have a great idea, but once it’s rendered, it may look a little wonky, which allows Kelly to flag that for the designer, or the designer to change it on the fly. It’s also really great for a designer (or client) who’s having a difficult time making up their mind. By creating a 3D rendering, they can see how something would look and make a switch if necessary.
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

How Facebook Pixels Can Help You Find Your Ideal Client

Have you ever been shopping online, and then suddenly the only ads you see are for the things you were just shopping for? Find out how that bit of technology can help your interior design business.
On this week’s Marketing Monday Minisode, Darla and Natalie dig through the world of Facebook Pixels. That’s the tiny bit of code that you can put on your website and connect with your Facebook Ads Manager. Once you’ve done that, the people who visit your site will begin to see ads for your services when they visit Facebook and, if you want, Instagram.
It may sound a little creepy, but it’s actually an incredibly effective means of advertising. The people you’re targeting are already interested in your services, so all you’re doing is staying in front of their eyes. And there’s even an option for a “lookalike audience,” which means you can serve ads to people who may have never visited your website, but share the same profile and interests as your audience. It’s a way to really zoom in on your ideal client and get your ads in front of them.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[0:55] Does Natalie know what a Facebook Pixel is?
[2:00] What is the Facebook pixel?
[5:30] The steps to getting a pixel up and running
[6:10] How it works for Darla
[7:05] Lookalike audience
[8:42] Pixels and Instagram
Resources & People Mentioned
Facebook Pixel
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

How Communities Can Grow Your Design Business with Laurie Laizure

Interior design is a competitive business, and it can often feel like you need to keep your cards close to the vest in order to survive. But today the Wingnut Social Podcast looks at how a community can help your business thrive.
Laurie Laizure is the founder of the Interior Design Community, a social media group that has more than 100,000 followers, where designers connect, learn, and share ideas for how to grow their businesses. Laurie loves to connect people who might learn from each other. She’s used Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to help connect designers from all over the world. If
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[1:00] Natalie has a new gig
[4:45] Laurie’s giant mastermind
[8:00] Laurie’s first business
[10:05] Fostering a sharing community
[14:58] What Laurie had to learn
[18:05] Top tip for building a community 
[24:00] Times when designers have collaborated through the community
[26:10] Gaining confidence
[31:20] The future of the community
[35:00] Whut up, Wingnut?
Connect with Laurie Laizure
The Interior Design Community on Instagram
The Interior Design Community on Facebook
interiordesigncommunity.com
Resources & People Mentioned
AVS Forum
The Interior Design Community
A Knight in Shining Armor
Wingnut Social Media Lab
Communities help businesses grow
Laurie has been doing online communities for so long that she started out in the now-defunct Google Plus. And lucky for her, Google Plus was initially full of tech geeks, who taught her all about how to use different social media platforms and really grow the community.
And surprisingly, Laurie hasn’t had to “train” the members of her Facebook group to help each other. The community naturally attracts people who get it, who want to go online and share their knowledge because they know they will receive help in kind. The trick has been creating easy-to-follow rules for the community, and recognizing when an argument has kicked up and how to nip in the bud.
Why join a community?
Natalie asked Laurie for an example of a time when designers collaborated through the Facebook group, and Laurie couldn’t come up with one. Because there are hundreds. She has connected designers in different parts of the world who share an aesthetic, or whose skills complement each other. She’s connected early-career designers or students with industry veterans who have been able to mentor the newbies. And when a company reneged on pricing it had offered a group of designers, the community was able to share that info and warn others off doing business with that vendor.
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

Are You a Designer or a Decorator?

What’s in a name? Pretty much everything, if you ask your favorite interior designer. On today’s Marketing Monday Minisode, Darla and Natalie dig into designing versus decorating. 
The inspiration for this discussion came from a discussion in Claire Jefford’s Facebook group (link below), in which interior designers who earned degrees in the field took umbrage with people without degrees calling themselves designers. But of course the debate didn’t start there, and in fact, Darla recounts a conversation she had with a designer at a recent event in which the issue came up.
But a good question to ask is: Why do you care? Is it a good use of your time as an interior designer to worry about what other people call themselves? If you have the credentials, then by all means use those credentials to differentiate yourself in the field. Use it as a marketing tool. Darla gives her 10 cents on the question in this week’s episode, and if you have any disagreements, you should email them to Natalie!
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[1:00] A bone of contention about a bone of contention
[2:00] Degrees of separation
[3:30] Policing language
[5:15] If you can do it, go to school
[7:15] If you’re not on board
[9:12] Natalie gives a bit of marketing advice
[9:50] What’s on the next minisode?
Resources & People Mentioned
Interior Design Business Strategies Facebook Group
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

How to Take Photos Like a Pro with Stephen Karlisch

Photography is the currency of interior designers online. But if you can’t afford to call a big-time photographer, there are things you can do to make the shots you take on job sites look pro. How? Find out from pro Stephen Karlisch.
A professional photographer who has been published in Architectural Digest, Veranda, Elle Decor, House Beautiful to name a few, Stephen has consistently helped designers pitch stories to get published in local, regional and national publications for over 15 years. As a former architecture student, Stephen learned how to see space in an orderly way. That education has been invaluable in his pursuit of photographing interiors. 
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[1:15] Natalie can’t complain, but will
[6:50] Take two for Stephen
[8:48] How to start out working with a photographer
[16:04] The pros and cons of hiring a real estate photographer
[23:25] How do photographers shoot little vignettes
[27:00] What lenses should you get for your own camera? 
[29:40] Some lighting tips
[32:30] Phone photo tips
[35:00] Whut up, Wingnut?
Connect with Stephen Karlisch
Stephen Karlisch
Stephen Karlisch on Instagram
Resources & People Mentioned
Vanessa Helmick on WSP
Snapseed
Do the Work
Define your brand before finding a photographer
If you’re just getting started, or ready to finally budget for a photographer, the first thing you need to decide is what style of photos you want. If your brand is casual, or high-end, or you want to evoke a certain lifestyle, then you need to define the style of photography that captures that lifestyle. And once you know that, you can start looking for the right photographer who shoots in that style.
You can also look at your competition, and see what photographer they are using. It’s also important, when you hire a photographer, to know what kind of shoot you want, what kind of photographs you’re looking for (lots of detailed close-ups, more sweeping real estate photos, etc.) 
Why not just hire a real-estate photographer?
Sometimes designers trying to save money will hire a real-estate photographer because it can be slightly cheaper. But Stephen broke down for Darla and Natalie the difference between an interior photographer and a real-estate photographer. The real-estate photographer is going to show up and shoot a room the way it is. But an interior photographer is going to have a much stronger sense of what an interior designer has done to a room. Maybe it’s keying into the fabric that was used or a particular design choice. So an interior photographer is going to be able to partner with you on really highlighting your design and the products, not just the space.
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

Facebook vs Instagram: What’s Better for Interior Designers

You gotta have them both, but which one should you devote the most time to? On today’s Marketing Monday Minisode, Darla and Natalie help you pick your favorite kid: Facebook or Instagram.
Facebook just isn’t what it used to be when it comes to organic traffic. But there are still ways you can make it valuable for your interior design business. The first is to create a group. If you can start a group and get users into your group and sharing ideas and asking questions, then you can really engage them and boost your organic reach. The links you’re able to put into your Facebook posts are also pretty valuable, whereas Instagram really limits the ways you can bring traffic off their platform to yours.
However, for Darla and Natalie’s money, Instagram is where it’s at. If you only have the time for one platform, it should be Instagram. Instagram is a more visual medium, it allows you to really boost your presence and, most importantly, Instagram is where the clients you want are. Darla and Natalie break down the numbers when it comes to Instagram users, and the numbers may surprise you.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[1:10] Join Instagram and Natalie will take you fishing
[3:00] Making Facebook work for you
[5:06] Nurture your Facebook group
[5:35] Links make FB pretty valuable
[7:09] Facebook and clients
[8:23] Treating Instagram as a mini-portfolio
[11:00] Landing clients through Instagram
[13:04] Platform v platform in terms of clients
Resources & People Mentioned
Susan Wintersteen on the WSP
Linktree
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

The Magic of Lead Magnets for Your Interior Design Firm with Sandra Funk

There are a million ways to market your business, but if you’re not putting together some sort of lead magnet, you’re essentially selling yourself short. Luckily, the queen of lead magnets, Sandra Funk, is here to tell you how it’s done.
Sandra is the founder and principal designer of House of Funk, a full-service and online interior design firm with offices in NY and NJ. House of Funk creates thoughtful homes with an emphasis on clean lines and soulful touches, all rooted in tradition. Sandra’s award-winning design work has been featured in numerous publications, including Elle Decor, The Huffington Post, Apartment Therapy and Luxe Interiors + Design.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[1:00] The dangers of Don Julio
[5:25] Explaining lead magnets to the Amish
[6:50] Sandra’s first lead magnet
[8:48] The first step of creating a lead magnet
[10:25] Why quizzes rule
[12:43] How soft yesses are worth it
[16:30] Keeping subscribers from unsubscribing
[21:17] Where to get started with your first lead magnet
[28:15] Sandra’s newest quiz
[35:00] Whut up, Wingnut?
Connect with Sandra Funk
House of Funk
House of Funk Design on Instagram
House of Funk Design on Facebook
Resources & People Mentioned
The Celestine Prophecy
The Whats and Whys of Lead Magnets
Natalie needed a Lead Magnets for the Amish tutorial, so Sandra broke down what a lead magnet is in its most basic form: It’s a means of collecting email addresses of potential clients, by giving them something they value. You’ve probably seen lead magnets 100 times in the last week, whether they be quizzes, surveys, PDFs of guides or handbooks.
And so getting that email address is vital, because it’s the one place where you know you can get in front of a potential client over and over again. That also means you have to be very careful that you don’t abuse that privilege, and that you’re providing value within those emails, so the clients don’t unsubscribe.
The soft yes vs. pre-qualifying clients
Some lead magnets will pre-qualify a potential client by letting them know how much something might cost, so by the time they talk with you, the sticker shock is gone and you know you have a better chance of closing the deal. Sandra’s quizzes, which often stick closer to “what’s your design style”-type questions, don’t pre-qualify clients necessarily, but they get them to what she calls a “soft yes.” And by that she means the people are interested, they’re informed, and they want to know more.
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

Are Instagram Pods Worth It?

Are Instagram Pods Worth It?
Today’s Marketing Monday Minisode dives into the mysterious and somewhat delirious world of Instagram pods. Are they worth it? Do they work? Do they glue you to your phone? Find out.
If you’ve never heard of an Instagram Pod, it’s when people who are in a similar industry or share a similar interest join one big group direct message on Instagram. And when a member of that group posts something, they post about it in the DM. Then the rest of the members go to that post and like and comment on it, thus raising the post’s profile. Natalie breaks down why people join pods, and Natalie’s big brain breaks down all the reasons it works.
But there are a lot of reasons they don’t work, too. Instagram’s algorithm has changed over the years, and the app has wised up to how people use pods. So you could be spending a whole lot of time in your pods commenting and liking and asking for comments and likes, and Instagram knows what you’re up to. But there are ways that pods could be helpful if you follow Darla’s and James Brown’s very sophisticated “hit it and quit it” approach. Find out more on this week’s episode!
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[0:45] You’re in a pod, aren’t you? Aren’t you?!
[1:30] What is a pod?
[2:54] Why are these podpeople in a pod
[4:00] Natalie’s big drawback of pods
[5:05] Darla’s big drawback of pods
[6:12] The true drawback of pods
[7:15] Pods haven’t brought in money
[8:54] Hit ‘em and quit ‘em
Resources & People Mentioned
Telegram 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

How Interior Designers Leave Money on the Table with John Dupra

When designers need to buy products for their work, they often buy them through third-party middlemen. But why? Today we talk with John Dupra of Revel Woods hardwood flooring about how he works directly with designers, and how that saves them big bucks.
John Dupra is the co-founder of Revel Woods fine hardwood flooring. Growing up, he watched his dad work in the flooring business, and after leaving to work in other areas, he came back to the family business and brought some serious project management skills with him. Inspired by high-end fashion sites, Revel Woods is dedicated to making the buying process of expertly curated, high-quality hardwood flooring as easy as possible.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode of Wingnut Social
[2:00] Never lie to an orangutan
[4:00] Why D&N started a podcast
[9:30] Don’t leave money on the table
[13:25] John reveals the hideous trait he was born with
[14:35] Why big-ticket items have not always been easy to buy for designers
[18:15] How to cure the headache
[22:01] Are designers working with more wholesalers?
[24:25] How does working with a wholesaler make you more marketable
[28:35] Designers have a lot of buying power
[30:43] What about samples?
[35:00] How to do this even if you’re not the flooring expert
[40:10] How to avoid getting shopped
[44:00] Whut up, Wingnut?
Connect with John Dupra
Revel Woods on Instagram
Revel Woods on Facebook
pros[a]revelwoods.com
Resources & People Mentioned
Revel Woods
Revel Woods Pros
Mark Twain
The Art of Money Getting
How designers can look to improve their margins
As John tells Darla and Natalie, the business has changed a lot in recent years, and with consumers being able to buy directly from suppliers, that’s meant that interior designers have turned to the one cost they can control: billable hours. But that’s tough to scale.
The wood flooring industry in particular is still stuck in the stone ages. Traditionally a flooring company sells to a regional wholesaler, who sells to a flooring dealer, who sells to the consumer. And because wood flooring is a very expensive and very technical product, that structure has always stayed in place, because getting it wrong can be catastrophic for a project. So why would direct sales be worth what seems like a headache? John breaks it down for Darla and Natalie.
Sometimes it’s about control
John said that one of the things he’s learned about working with interior designers is that it’s not always about making more money for them. Sometimes it’s about control, and being able to make the right choice the way they want. And being able to tell a client that they are going to have full control of the project from start to finish can be a big bonus. You’re able to say you’re a full-service shop with no middlemen.
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