Are you just another Interior Designer that takes any project that comes along?

When you are interviewed for a project and the client says we are looking for someone who specializes in (fill in the blank) and you say “I can do that.  I can design any space.”

Well of course you can design any space, but if you are marketing your services this way, then you are using the “ME TOO” marketing method.

This is a tough way to build an interior design business, or any business for that matter.

Now the designer who focuses on a niche and markets to that niche will be more successful than the designer who is a me too marketer.

Let’s look at an example of narrowing your focusing.

If you find that you have a passion for medical design, then you should focus on that.  Now that your niche is medical,  you can start marketing your services to the medical industry.  By narrowing your niche into the medical field you will begin to develop all of your marketing towards medical design giving you a leg up on the me too marketer.

This also allows you now to know how to better spend your marketing dollars, because you will be focusing on marketing to prospect in the medical field.  You may even find it beneficial to do exhibit at medical trade shows, or perhaps begin blogging about medical design.

By educating those medical practitioners in interior design, you will set yourself apart from other designers, and will not be “just another designer.”

Now that you have narrowed your focus into the medical field, you could narrow your focus even more.

You could now become an interior designer specialist for pediatric offices.   Or cardiologist.  Or Dentists.  And the list goes on.

What will most likely happen is that once you start narrowing your focus, you will eventually continue to do so until you get into a space that you love, and that fits you and your business.

This will not happen overnight.

This is a process.

It will take time.

Be Patient. (Sorry I could not resist that one)

How are you marketing your interior design business in the internet age?

Are you still using the MBWA (marketing by walking around)  method? Or perhaps you are still interrupting people by cold calling.

If your are networking how are you following up with those interested in your services?

According to the Kelsey Group, 77%  of US adults use the internet as an information source when shopping locally for products and services.

80% of all leads are not followed up after initial inquiry.

As an interior designer, what are you doing about these marketing issues?