The Kate Show

Jessica is the designer you want on your project, and the friend you need but haven't met yet. I was thrilled to talk with Jessica candidly about the gritty side of starting a design firm and what it has required of her to get as far as she has.

Jessica Jensen is the founder of Stylescape Studio in Scottsdale, Arizona, and nothing about her design firm was "handed" to her. That said, she made strategic decisions and relied on wisdom and support from the right influences in her life to get where she is today.

This is one of the most relatable, action-inspiring success stories I've had the honor of showcasing on my podcast, and I can't wait for you to hear it.

📌 Timestamps

0:00 Introduction and Guest Bio

3:53 Overcoming Early Business Struggles

7:43 Her Support System

11:53 Her Design Team

16:30 The Secret to a Successful Design Firm

19:03 Keeping Overhead Low and Wearing All the Hats

22:17 How She Survived 20+ Nos and a Cash‑Flow Crisis

26:58 Strategic Marketing Approaches

31:31 Targeting Professional Referrals

38:42 Sales Techniques and Growth Plans

44:36 Advice to New Designers

When a client relationship goes sour, it goes VERY sour. I ended up with the one thing that scares every small business owner most: a negative Google review. However, what the reviewer meant for harm ended up helping my brand, and here's what happened.

📌 Timestamps

0:00 Introduction

1:40 The Importance of Keywords in Google Reviews

6:35 Handling Bad Reviews and Their Impact

8:55 My First Bad Google Review

12:13 My Reply to the Bad Google Review

16:11 The Role of Keywords in Review and Reply Interactions

21:19 Strategies for Managing Google Reviews

I recently worked with an interior designer whose website was better than her two closest competitors in every way that should matter. Better copy. Better photography. Better user experience. And yet she ranked behind both of them for the exact search terms she needed to win. I dug into why, and what I found changes how I think about lead magnets, referrals, and blogging for every client I work with.

Today I'm sharing her real case study, along with what actually drives leads for interior designers and other home industry professionals.

Music License: YP7NPLIGFJGO2M4H_Lightspeed

📌 Timestamps

0:00 Introduction

2:12 Types of Lead Magnets

2:52 Lead Magnet Ideas for Interior Designers: Good, bad, and otherwise

8:41 Interior Design Lead Magnet Recommendations

11:40 Lead Magnet Video Script Outline

17:21 Word-of-Mouth Referrals: The Best Interior Design Marketing Strategy

20:43 Search, AI Referrals & Google Business Profiles

25:19 Relevance of Google Listing: Localized Keywords and Search Intent

29:09 Impact of Blogging on SEO

33:43 Case Study Prognosis

Last fall, I knew something had to change in the way my agency delivered ongoing marketing services. With AI infiltrating everything, it felt like the next, somewhat unnatural step to include an AI element in my service offering and turn the whole thing into an app for client convenience.

What ensued after implementing these changes led to me no longer wanting to run my business because it didn't fit ME anymore. Plus, the new way of doing things didn't seem to fit my clients that well, either. I was STRESSED and depressed professionally in a way I'd never been in twelve years of running this agency. I even contacted a business broker to consider selling the entire thing. Dramatic? Maybe, but also relatable.

Here's what happened, why it went wrong, and how I found peace with a surprisingly simple solution. In short, my entrepreneurial pivot became a twirl. 💃

Music License: ETBBOL01VSWDLAL4_Garden of the Fae

📌 Timestamps

0:00 Introduction

3:44 The Issue and Business Challenges

4:25 The Outcome

7:32 The Twirl: Simplifying the Business Model

10:27 Implementing the New Marketing Plan

17:23 Lessons Learned from the Pivot

If your website has better SEO, you should be getting more clients...right? Not necessarily. The space between SEO and actually making your client feel seen is the most overlooked marketing gap that you need to bridge, and the sooner the better.

Both search engines and AI models are matching their users with results based on need and intent. If your website matches their needs and intent, not just explains your services to death, your business will be surfaced more often.

Today, I'm sharing how you can make a simple shift in how you talk about your business that will make a profound difference in whether someone who lands on your site simply leaves or actually stays to fill out your contact form.

Music License: MG9MTFH5KG22UI23_Lightspeed

📌 Timestamps

0:00 Introduction

2:51 SEO Article Inspiration and Key Points

5:53 Common SEO and Website Mistakes

9:01 The Role of Emotion in Website Success

12:07 Changes on Google's AI Mode and Search

12:25 How I’m Transforming My Own Messaging

17:01 Defining Ideal Clients

Has anyone of influence in your life ever insisted that you rebrand your business as part of a growth strategy? Or, perhaps you've considered it on your own. After all, a gorgeous logo and thoughtful color palette are useful for attracting clients, right?

Wrong. Pretty things attract people who like pretty things, not necessarily people who want to pay you the big bucks - and that's the end of it.

If your business is experiencing a lack of clients, a rebrand won't make draw them in - and has actually proven to backfire. The good news: You just need to reposition what you currently have.

Today on The Kate Show, I'm walking you through the rebrand fiascos of giant, well-known companies so that we all can learn from their mistakes. Furthermore, I'm sharing how the luxury client is redefining "luxury" itself and what that means for the future of your high-end design, organizing, or staging business.

Resources

💠Book a discovery call to learn how I can help you reposition, message, and reach your ideal client.

Music License: K9OHCUB70RDLNTDW_Ghostly Trails

📌 Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

2:23 The Cracker Barrel Rebrand Fiasco

5:28 Nike and Adidas' Brand Strategies

7:31 Jaguar's Failed Rebrand

11:01 The Changing Definition of Luxury

15:17 The Outlook for Luxury Designers, Home Organizers, and Stagers

17:24 Repositioning Your Business Instead of Rebrand

Most of us aren't using Google Business correctly. In fact, Google's Core Update in March of 2026 penalized a significant number of local business listings for making several key mistakes. Most notably? Keyword stuffing. But that isn't all - websites were impacted as well, namely, thin or low-quality (often AI-generated with no obvious human oversight) content resulted in ranking downgrades.

In today's episode, I'm sharing hands-on, practical ways you can improve your Google Business listing IN MINUTES while avoiding penalization. I also tackle the nagging question, "What should I do if my business doesn't have a physical location and I want my home address kept private?" And also, "What should I do if Google insists I include an address?" And the biggest one of all: "I'm scared that crazy clients will write bad, untrue reviews, but I know I should still have a Google Business profile. What should I do?"

Need to Audit More than Just Your Google Business?

✴️ Book a full, no-cost marketing audit right here.

📌 Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

1:31 Google's March 2026 Core Update

6:27 Best Practices for Google Business Listings

13:43 How to Fix if Google Insists I Add and Verify a Physical Address

16:08 How Do I Handle Bad or Untrue Google Reviews

18:17 Pro Tips for Enhancing Google Business Listings

She worked hard in her business, trying to grow something from nothing. After a few false starts, clients and projects began trickling in. But after a few years of no increase despite her best efforts, she was at a crossroads: shut down the business and count it a loss, or turn that experience into the springboard it was always meant to be.

If you are struggling to grow or sustain your business, or if you're wondering which direction your business should grow next, this episode will quite possibly turn your plans on their head. I know it did for me.

📌 Timestamps

0:00 Introduction: Struggles of Business Owners

4:58 The Role of God in Business Success

7:13 The Importance of Meaningful Work and Purpose

15:10 Overcoming Control Freak Tendencies and Seeking Help

18:55 The Role of Faith in Business Decisions

26:07 The Compassionate Nature of God

31:11 Resting and Trusting in God's Plans

34:26 The Role of Faith in Business Success

Today on The Kate Show, I sit down with Keli Jakel, professional organizer and founder of Elenore, the business management tool for pro organizers everywhere.

We talk about why she took it upon herself to create the one and only business management tool for pro organizing businesses, what she felt the industry was lacking, and exactly how Elenore helps organizers grow and scale.

Together, we also announce a new content partnership between Elenore and Socialite. Spoiler alert: All existing and new Elenore users are in for a real (and profitable) marketing surprise.

About the Guest:

As the founder of Organized by Keli & Co, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Keli leads a talented team specializing in seamless moves and comprehensive home decluttering services. Recognizing the overwhelming demands of today's fast-paced world, they provide invaluable support to clients seeking a stress-free and efficient experience.

In addition to her work with Organized by Keli & Co, Keli has pioneered Elenore.io, a platform tailored to business owners in the move management and organizing industry. Understanding the challenges professionals face in managing business transitions and operations, she offers innovative tools and resources to streamline processes and enhance productivity. By empowering entrepreneurs to optimize their businesses, Keli aims to enable them to deliver exceptional services to their clients while reclaiming valuable time.

Resources:

Grow your organizing business with Elenore.

📌 Timestamps

0:00 Introduction and Background of Keli Jakel

2:00 Challenges with Tech Stack and Elenore's Creation

4:39 Decision to Create Elenore and Business Growth

9:58 Importance of Delegation and Outsourcing

18:57 Importance of Meaningful Work

21:30 Biggest Advice to a Brand New Organizer

24:15 Elenore's Features and Benefits

30:53 Onboarding Process and Support for Elenore Users

35:53 Access to Email Templates and Marketing Tools

Are you selling services? Email marketing has a higher ROI than social media marketing. Interior designers, stagers, and organizers - take note!

Today I'm sharing exactly why email marketing works, how you can use it to get more projects, and what exactly you should be sending.

Resources:

Get Access to my Vault of 500+ Email Newsletters and Blog Posts

📌 Timestamps

0:00 Life Update and Introduction to Email Marketing

2:14 Debunking Email Marketing Myths

3:51 2026 Email Marketing Stats for the Home Industry

7:14 Email Marketing VS Social Media

9:58 Common Email Marketing Mistakes

13:59 The Structure of a Successful Email

14:53 Email Marketing Best Practices

15:50 How to Know if Email Marketing is Working

17:34 Email Topics to Consider for Interior Designers

19:57 Email Topics to Consider for Window Treatment Professionals

21:13 Email Topics to Consider for Home Stagers

22:49 Email Topics to Consider for Home Organizers