Pamela is also a business coach who runs Elevate! Interior Circle, through which she helps interior designs run a better business and utilize magnetic marketing techniques to attract their perfect client rather than chase them.

In our conversation with Pamela, she hits on a crucial attribute embraced by the best in the industry, but unfortunately gets overlooked by most: becoming a steward of your client’s money.

Business owners need to ensure, even before meeting potential clients, that these prospects are educated on what to expect should they decide to enter into a three-year partnership with them. Marketing via great storytelling, rapport-building, and the ability to put yourself in your client’s shoes are three foundational skills to master in order to forge successful relationships.

Pamela goes on to offer her best practices for becoming magnetic to affluent clients, which involves gaining clarity on your vision-mission as a business owner, creating an avatar for your perfect future client, and using the power of the “shock-and-awe box” when meeting with promising prospects.

Episode Sponsors:

• Visit https://buildertrend.com/aft/ to get a 60-day money-back guarantee on your Buildertrend account!
• Pella Windows & Doors - https://www.pella.com/

Topics Discussed:

• [02:06] Pamela’s passion for interior design
• [05:53] Putting yourself in the client’s shoes
• [11:35] Educating clients
• [21:19] Becoming magnetic to an affluent client
• [30:13] Getting clear on your perfect future client
• [31:45] Buildertrend
• [33:06] Pella
• [38:44] Leveraging your network to qualify leads and find better opportunities
• [43:55] The power of sending a “shock-and-awe box” to potential clients
• [50:29] Maximizing the lifetime customer value of a client
• [54:05] Why Pamela got into business coaching and what she offers
• [58:54] How Pamela juggles her two businesses and sets healthy boundaries
• [1:04:22] What’s next for Pamela

Connect with Pamela Durkin:

• Website - www.pamela-durkin.com
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pameladurkin/
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/indemanddesigner
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamdurkin/
• Download Book “Elevate” - www.elevatethebook.com

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

• Website - https://www.aftconstructionpodcast.com/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/aft_construction
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aftconstruction
• Houzz - https://www.houzz.com/pro/aft-construction/aft-construction
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.ph/AFT_CONSTRUCTION/
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzB4R_DHPVV1SPh7RUfR5jg

Key Quotes by Pamela Durkin:

• As creatives, we tend to be intuitive; but, we don’t use it to further our business—and we should.
• One excellent way to educate clients before they come to you is through marketing. We need to be telling more stories. I find, whenever I follow a designer on social media, we’re reporters. I hate reporters. There is no storytelling going on.
• I have learned that when you get really clear on what kind of projects and what kind of people you want to deal with, it changes everything. First of all, you feel awesome, and you feel appreciated. And when you feel appreciated, you go above and beyond for those clients. So, you’re doing your best work.
• You can’t give your best self if your tank is empty.