What is most important is that you start to recognize the value of your time. Discovering the value of your time includes understanding how important it is to manage, control, and protect it while still remaining flexible as a business owner.

In today's episode, we dive deep into time-saving tips tailored specifically for interior designers that will help you handle minor inefficiencies so that you can spend your time in your zone of genius and the areas that are revenue-generating. We'll cover the top areas that tend to take up time - sourcing, email management, and general time management.

Here’s a glance at this episode…

• I share my top 6 productivity hacks for sourcing including how I use SketchUp, buying groups, and vendors to streamline my design processes.
• I share how I have created a trade directory over time, how I handle shipping rates, and the method behind how I organize my materials library.
• I dive into my top 4 tips for managing your email without getting stuck in the rabbit hole of checking email all the time.
• I discuss how I use automation, time blocking, time tracking, and extensions/add-ons within Google to streamline my processes and my calendar.
• I share with you how I protect my "white space" so that I can have dedicated deep work time.
• I share my best tips for creating SOPs, managing meeting scheduling, and communicating with my clients and team.

Mastering the art of time management and creating more space for true productivity and creativity is crucial for achieving success as an interior design business owner. By implementing strategies such as whitespace scheduling, leveraging productivity tools, and embracing efficient communication methods, you can enhance your productivity, reduce stress, and ultimately achieve your business and design goals with greater ease and efficiency. So, whether you're a solopreneur or part of a growing team, investing in effective time management practices can help to create the space you need to do your best work while also increasing your revenue and time for your personal life.

Mentioned in this episode: 

• Blog Post: How to Organize Your Materials Library
• Blog Post: Makeover Your Week with Timeblocking
• Blog Post: How to Capture Systems with Loom
• Shop: Email Template Suite
• Join Sketchup - SketchUp
• Join Danielle House Club 
• Join Designer's Inc.
• Check out Design Trade Service
• Start using Boomerang for Email
• Dubsado
• Honeybook
• Use this Visual Timer: Time Timer
• Start using Loom for Video Recording
• FREE DOWNLOAD: 7 Habits of Highly Profitable Interior Designers
• FREE Masterclass: 6 Park Framework for A Thriving Interior Design Business
• JOIN: Designer's Oasis Membership
• Sign up for The Brief today!

🎯 Learn More: Interior Designer’s Business Blueprint - https://www.designersoasis.com/join

WANT MORE? 

🛒  Template Shop - 10% off the shop PODCAST10 (Limit one use per customer)

🔖 Interior Design Business Articles  

⬇️  Free Resources

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📺 YouTube 

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Episode Page: designersoasis.com/episode/20-time-saving-tips-for-interior-designers

 

 

Want to have better proposals? Start with delivering better consultations. Consultations are the first step in working with your client and the better experience they have, the more likely they will want to work with you

Here’s a glance at the episode:

• I discuss how to effectively set expectations for your clients from the beginning - even before the consultation begins. 
• I share how I prepare for a consultation and what I typically do in terms of paperwork, research, and getting to know the potential client(s).
• I share with you some of the little nuances that I have picked up along the way that help you to make  a great first impression. 
• I go through how I get more information about the lifestyle of the client and what they are looking to feel in their home and how they entertain to get a full picture.
• I discuss how I treat the consults as a “mini-design” session to add value for my client where I share a few design solutions to allow them to see the possibilities, however big or small. I also use this time to explore the different surfaces and revisit the budget to present a solid proposal.
• I share how I wrap up the session and remind the client of their options moving forward.

Mentioned in this episode: 

• Episode #5-  How to Create a Successful Client Welcome Packet
• My favorite tape measure 
• JOIN: Designer's Oasis Membership
• FREE DOWNLOAD: 7 Habits of Highly Profitable Interior Designers
• Sign up for The Brief today!

🎯 Learn More: Designer's Oasis Membership - https://www.designersoasis.com/join

WANT MORE? 

🛒  Template Shop - 10% off the shop PODCAST10 (Limit one use per customer)

🔖 Interior Design Business Articles  

⬇️  Free Resources

FOLLOW ALONG

🤳Instagram 

📍  Pinterest 

📺 YouTube 

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designersoasis.com/episode/53Episode Page: designersoasis.com/episode/53

Today we are putting pen to paper and talking all about the benefits of hiring for your interior design business. I am passionate about this and feel strongly that every interior designer should have at least one assistant.

Here’s a glance at this episode…

• I dive right into why most designers get stuck on hiring and understanding how they would utilize an assistant.
• I share how having an assistant can help your business - what can they help with? How will it uplevel the client experience?
• I run through an exercise with you all about how to figure out all that you do plus what you should be doing yourself!
• I go through an exercise to sort out what is fulfilling about your career and what lights you up.
• I share my real-life experiences with moving my business across the country twice and how I have used a wide array of assistants and employees.
• We run through examples of tasks that an assistant can help with during the interior design process and imagine what you could do with the time you gain back to really focus on and grow your business.

Mentioned in this episode: 

• PODCAST: Episode #9: How Hiring Can Help your Bottom Line
• PODCAST: Episode #34: 5 Signs it’s Time to Hire
• BOOK: Traction  by Gino Wickman
• BOOK: Rocket Fuel by Gino Wikman and Mark Winters
• JOIN: Designer's Oasis Membership
• FREE DOWNLOAD: 7 Habits of Highly Profitable Interior Designers
• Sign up for The Brief today!

🎯 Learn More: Designer's Oasis Membership - https://www.designersoasis.com/join

WANT MORE? 

🛒  Template Shop - 10% off the shop PODCAST10 (Limit one use per customer)

🔖 Interior Design Business Articles  

⬇️  Free Resources

FOLLOW ALONG

🤳Instagram 

📍  Pinterest 

📺 YouTube 

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Episode Page: designersoasis.com/episode/35

You might not always be able to change their minds but if you can look into why a client isn’t moving forward with your services, you can find out where you’re losing a client and if it’s something that you can adjust in your business. In this episode, I’ll dive into the 5 reasons why clients aren’t moving ahead with you that I’ve learned over time with tracking and small changes.

Here’s a glance at this episode…

• We talk about what happens when you go through with sending off the proposal and then crickets……
• We talk about the important things to remember when a client chooses not to use your services.
• I dive into the 5 reasons why you may hitting a deadend with prospective clients (after making these mistakes myself!)
• I chat about how to “cast the vision” effectively and help them see the end result and what they are really after. 
• I share how to use your clients own words to help them feel validated and understood within your proposal.
• I dive into how to address your potential clients internal pain points rather then just those external pain points they may share.

One of the tools we offer inside the Designers Oasis Membership is the CEO Dashboard which includes a Conversion calculator. The conversion calculator can help you see where prospective clients may be falling off.  This is a key metric to track in your business because. Once you can identify that, then you know where you need to improve your process. 

If this sounds like something you’d like to have in your business, headover to Designer’s Oasis to learn more about joining

Mentioned in this episode: 

• PODCAST: Episode #23: 6 Ways to Research your Client’s Pain Points
• JOIN: Designer's Oasis Membership
• FREE DOWNLOAD: 7 Habits of Highly Profitable Interior Designers
• Sign up for The Brief today!

🎯 Learn More: Designers Oasis Membership - https://www.designersoasis.com/join

WANT MORE? 

🛒  Template Shop - 10% off the shop PODCAST10 (Limit one use per customer)

🔖 Interior Design Business Articles  

⬇️  Free Resources

FOLLOW ALONG

🤳Instagram 

📍  Pinterest 

📺 YouTube 

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Episode Page: designersoasis.com/episode/31

Aim for excellence and know that perfection is impossible. I want excellence in my business and for projects to be complete and done extremely well, but perfect just won’t always happen.

Trust me, I get it! I’ve found that I have been a victim of the perfectionist trap for way too long and am just recently figuring out just how much this has held me back. We are exposed to the pain-free narratives of others while acutely feeling and experiencing our own struggles. Getting to where you want to be is a set of stairs where you are taking one imperfect step at a time.

In this episode, we answer questions like…

• How to start moving forward and get out of the perfectionism trap.
• How to stop comparing yourself and get more done!
• Strategies you need to start dealing with perfectionism within yourself.

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

• Dubsado - use designersoasis20 for 20% off!
• More on Adam Grant
• JOIN: Designer's Oasis Membership
• FREE DOWNLOAD: 7 Habits of Highly Profitable Interior Designers
• Sign up for The Brief today!
•  

🎯 Learn More: Interior Designer’s Business Blueprint - https://www.designersoasis.com/join

WANT MORE? 

🛒  Template Shop - 10% off the shop PODCAST10 (Limit one use per customer)

🔖 Interior Design Business Articles  

⬇️  Free Resources

FOLLOW ALONG

🤳Instagram 

📍  Pinterest 

📺 YouTube 

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Episode Page: designersoasis.com/episode/30

People feel more trusting and eager to work with someone when they can see part of the process or learn more about you from the start. 

Today’s episode is all about my favorite lead magnet idea for interior designers to help you find the right type of client from the start, share your process, and streamline your business.

In this episode, we answer questions like…

• What lead magnet may be the right one for you.
• The goals of a lead magnet in finding the perfect client for you.
• How and what your email sequence should include.

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

• BLOG - Creating an Effective Lead Magnet for your Interior Design Business 
• Designers Oasis Shop
• JOIN: Designer's Oasis Membership
• FREE DOWNLOAD: 7 Habits of Highly Profitable Interior Designers
• Sign up for The Brief today!

🎯 Learn More: Interior Designer’s Business Blueprint - https://www.designersoasis.com/join

WANT MORE? 

🛒  Template Shop - 10% off the shop PODCAST10 (Limit one use per customer)

🔖 Interior Design Business Articles  

⬇️  Free Resources

FOLLOW ALONG

🤳Instagram 

📍  Pinterest 

📺 YouTube 

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Episode Page: designersoasis.com/episode/29

 

 

 

You don’t know what is going to work unless you start doing the work. You will ALWAYS be refining so you just have to get started.

Limiting beliefs, you know those sneaky thoughts that creep in sabotage your progress? When left unchecked, they can wreak havoc on your potential. I hear a lot of limiting beliefs from the designers I work with. 

Today I’m sharing some of the common limiting beliefs I hear over and over again. We’re going to examine  7 of them and try to untangle them. The truth is, if you’re feeling stuck in business, it might not be what you’re doing (or not doing) that is the problem, rather it may be  your thinking or beliefs that are holding you back.

In this episode, we answer questions like…

• What to do when you are just feeling stuck.
• How you can pull yourself away from those limiting beliefs.
• How to tackle the most common limiting beliefs I hear over and over.

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

• Podcast → 5 Business Mistakes I Learned the Hard Way
• Designers Oasis Shop
• To Sell is Human by Daniel Pink
• JOIN: Designer's Oasis Membership
• FREE DOWNLOAD: 7 Habits of Highly Profitable Interior Designers
• Sign up for The Brief today!

🎯 Learn More: Interior Designer’s Business Blueprint - https://www.designersoasis.com/join

WANT MORE? 

🛒  Template Shop - 10% off the shop PODCAST10 (Limit one use per customer)

🔖 Interior Design Business Articles  

⬇️  Free Resources

FOLLOW ALONG

🤳Instagram 

📍  Pinterest 

📺 YouTube 

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Episode Page: designersoasis.com/episode/28

 You don’t want to look back at your life and feel like you missed opportunities to get the most out of life. 

Whatever it is, these are the things that matter. Leisure matters. Family time Matters. Time with friends matter. Travel matters. What are the things that matter to you? If we aren’t intentional about our time and protect the things that matter, it’s too easy to look up and be like, oh my god, I haven’t had a proper vacation in 3 years. 

In this episode, we answer questions like…

👉 How to prepare your business so that you CAN take the time off that you want

👉 How to set expectations with your clients about time away and how that will be handled.

👉 How to plan quarterly, monthly and weekly to set your business up for success while allowing you time away.

Mentioned in this episode: 

• SHOP: Welcome Guide
• Book: Clockwork: Design Your Business to Run Itself
• JOIN: Designer's Oasis Membership
• FREE DOWNLOAD: 7 Habits of Highly Profitable Interior Designers
• Sign up for The Brief today!

🎯 Learn More: Interior Designer’s Business Blueprint - https://www.designersoasis.com/join

WANT MORE? 

🛒  Template Shop - 10% off the shop PODCAST10 (Limit one use per customer)

🔖 Interior Design Business Articles  

⬇️  Free Resources

FOLLOW ALONG

🤳Instagram 

📍  Pinterest 

📺 YouTube 

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Episode Page: designersoasis.com/episode/20

 

In today's episode, we discuss how to attract the right kinds of clients for full-service interior design projects. It can be challenging to find clients who are wanting to commit full-service so I am going to share a few methods and tips for attracting these types of clients.  We are also going to dive into the benefits of full-service design (for clients and designers), how to attract the right clients and how to actually manage a full service project.

In this episode we discuss:

• How to attract full-service interior design clients
• The benefits of full-service design.
• What types of clients are the best fit for full-service design

Mentioned in this episode: 

• JOIN: Designer's Oasis Membership
• FREE DOWNLOAD: 7 Habits of Highly Profitable Interior Designers
• Sign up for The Brief today!
• Masterclass: Project Management for Interior Designers 
• Podcast: Episode #2-  5 Types of Interior Design Services to Consider Offering
• Blog: 12 Tips for a Rock-Solid Consultation 
• Masterclass: How to Sell your Interior Design Services with Confidence.
• Shop: Services & Investment Guide Template
• Shop: Welcome Packet Template

  🎯 Learn More: Interior Designer’s Business Blueprint - https://www.designersoasis.com/join   WANT MORE?  🛒  Template Shop - 10% off the shop PODCAST10 (Limit one use per customer) 🔖 Interior Design Business Articles   ⬇️  Free Resources   FOLLOW ALONG 🤳Instagram  📍  Pinterest  📺 YouTube    -------------------------------------   ***Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts*** FOLLOW this channel so you never miss an episode! - https://www.youtube.com/@DesignersOasis   EPISODE WEBSITE ⇗-www.designersoasis.com/episode/14

In today's episode, we discuss how client expectations start at the beginning of the design process. It’s imperative to build a good relationship with your client. Make sure you are open, honest, communicative, and direct. This will translate to more business in the future, through referrals or future projects. 

In this episode we discuss:

• How to set goals for a client's timeframe while also allowing for situations out of our control.
• How to normalize issues that come up throughout the interior design process. 
• Tips for setting client expectations when it comes to a renovation.
• Tactical ways to normalize issues that come up throughout the renovation and design process.
• How to set up great communication and be a good listener and sounding board for your clients.

More from Designer’s Oasis

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