Designing beautiful spaces comes naturally to you as an interior designer. But handling admin and business matters—well, that's another story. Chances are you're a proud solopreneur but as your interior design business grows, it could be worth hiring a virtual assistant. Behind the scenes of every great design is a myriad of menial tasks—what tasks can an interior design assistant help with exactly? Client communications, product sourcing, 3D renderings,  concept boards—essentially if you hire the right VA, they can do whatever it is you need to free up your time.

Interior design entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesses are often restricted by too much time spent on day-to-day admin,  hiring a virtual interior design assistant can change that and help you take your interior design business to the next level.

How does a virtual interior design assistant help interior designers?

Admin, bookkeeping, marketing, social media management, client comms—being an interior design entrepreneur means wearing a lot of different hats! A virtual interior design assistant can share the load and gift you back time to spend doing what you do best: designing.

With the help of a VA, you'll have more time to commit to improving your designs, establishing a presence in the media and potentially taking on more projects—hello increased profits. And crucially, employing a virtual interior design assistant will help protect you from burnout. You're at your most creative when you're well-rested and unstressed. Let a VA lighten the load to keep you performing at your best.

Is hiring a virtual assistant for my interior design business cost-effective?

As mentioned, hiring a virtual assistant frees up time for you to focus on growing and scaling your interior design business. Yes, short-term hiring staff is a big investment but long-term it is sure to pay off in dividends.

Your other options for bringing in help are hiring a junior designer or in-person assistant, but a virtual assistant is the most budget-friendly way to bring in an extra pair of hands. There is no need to make room for them in an office, support travel costs or provide tools like a laptop—as your VA will work from their own home, which by the way could be anywhere in the world! Hey, that's an extra dollar saved for you!

How to hire a virtual interior design assistant

Like any other business, finding the right personal assistant to work with you can be tricky. Follow these steps to ensure you're hiring the right VA for your interior design business.

1. Utilise reputable sites to search for candidates. Save yourself time and ensure the quality of applicants by posting your job description on reputable sites like UpWork, LinkedIn, and eVirtual Assistants.
2. Prepare a detailed job description. Are you looking for specific skills or expertise? Make sure to write it down to attract the right candidates.
3. Ask the right questions. An interview is the most important step in the hiring process, above anything you need to see whether you and your potential VA click. Try asking these questions to ensure they're the right match for your interior design company:

• What are your strengths and weaknesses as a virtual assistant?
• What is your preferred communication method?
• How do you stay organised when you have multiple active projects?

Attention interior designers! You don't need a publicist to get publicity. You just need to listen to Alexandria Abramian, founder of The PR Collaborative. The PR Collaborative is an online community that helps interior designers and photographers secure publicity in top-tier publications. A former writer and editor for The Hollywood Reporter, Architectural Digest, LA Times, House Beautiful and more, Alex knows what editors are looking for and she's going to teach you too!

We invited interior designers in the Visualist community to a PR-power hour, where Alex Abramian debunked common media myths for interior designers and answered their most pressing press-related questions. In case you missed it—here are the highlights...

Can I still get my work published even though I don't have any contacts in the media?

Absolutely. In a lot of ways, editors prefer someone with fewer followers because it's like they've discovered something new. However, because these people are inundated with emails, I strongly advise anyone who's thinking about reaching out to the media to "flirt" with journalists first by engaging with them on social media. Most of the editors and the writers you'll want to reach out to will manage their own social media which means when you follow and leave a comment, they'll remember your name. Then, when they see your name in their inbox 2 weeks later, it is going to feel familiar and will be more likely to capture their attention. Don't flirt at noon and then email them at 4 pm. Give it a second. Editors are sensitive to people wooing them on Instagram and then immediately going to their inbox and pitching them. Give it a week, give it 2 weeks.

It is also important to familiarise yourself with editor's socials because it gives you a sense of who they are. Whether they like to bake bread on the weekends, or they love tulips, or they have a corgi, or they're building a barn or whatever that, knowing a little bit about them personally will flavour the tone of the email and help you stand out in their inbox as an actual human. To be clear, you want to be engaging with an editor's personal accounts, not the publication itself.

Who should I be pitching to?

For small, local print publications, go straight to the editor. If it's a larger publication, and this may surprise you, contact the digital editor. A common misconception is that print features are the most important. Print is not the objective, getting published is the objective. If you're looking to get into a national print publication, it's going to take years of strategic PR work to get there. In the United States, we have some beautiful print publications—they publish 18 homes a year. A digital editor is going to be cranking out 18 homes a week. Hence, digital publications offer far more opportunities of landing regular PR features. Another positive of digital features versus print stories, is that digital features can go live in 2 weeks to 2 months after emailing the editor. It can take 2 years for a print feature to be published.

Tip: don't underestimate local publications, they are incredibly important in your PR Portfolio. Firstly because you want to have a diverse portfolio of PR—national, local, digital, features—all the different flavours of PR. Secondly, local is where your future clients live. The free publications that come to your doorstep might be the only print media that people in your area are consuming, so these smaller local publications are the undervalued gateway to growing in your business. The goal is to use local publications to attract clients to you, and then use national publications to convert. Here's the perfect scenario: a local resident gets the local paper through their door. They open it and see your ad/feature, so they go to your website. Whilst there, they see that you were featured in Architectural Digest and the Wall Street Journal and think, "I gotta hire her!" PR is a multi-pronged attack.

I have my eye on a feature in a certain magazine but I can't find details of the editor—how can I conduct my research?

Step 1: search the name of your chosen publication + "Masthead" in Google. If you get the actual masthead—sorted! If that doesn't work, step 2 is to go to the website of that publication, scroll to the bottom and find their Contact Us page, the email you're looking for might be listed there. A third way is to scan the bylines. Is there a certain writer's name that crops up a lot, someone who is really cranking out the content for this publication? Now you have the name you can plug that into Google and find out more about them, their LinkedIn perhaps. Ultimately, you want to find out if they are freelance or staff.

If they're freelance, they most likely have a website. You'll find their contact details there. If they're staff, now you just need to find the format of emails for that publication and plug in their name. A great way to find the company email format is to go to that magazine's advertising section because there will always be an email for the one responsible for selling ads. Let's say it's joe.schmo@condenast.com. Now you know the company email format you can swap in the editor's name and you can guarantee that your email will reach them. If in doubt it is tempting to use the info@ address, but I suggest avoiding doing so because it probably won't reach who you're looking for and sometimes gets siphoned over to the ad side. In that case, you'll receive a quick, positive response but it's likely because they want to sell you an ad.

Do I have to be honest about my work having been published before?

Here's the thing, you've got to be transparent. Ultimately, you want to play the long game and establish lifelong media relationships—that's what will grow your business. However, that doesn't mean you can't spin your response in a positive light, "Oh shucks! This actually has been published, but I'm working on some other projects right now, and I'm going to be sure to reach out to you the minute I get the photos." Smaller publications will be less concerned with whether work has been published before, but your top targets will always want something that's unpublished.

I'm considering paying for an ad with the view to getting some editorial in return, is this a worthwhile approach?

I know that ad teams have been known to promise designers that they would be under consideration for editorial if they bought an ad and very rarely does that come to fruition. So, I'm hesitant to let you spend money, because it doesn't always turn into actual editorial that you would want.

But there is one exception. There are some publications where ads are referred to as sponsored content and these really give the designer a lot of leeway into how that piece is laid out, it almost looks like a piece of editorial content. If you love the way the ads look, and you feel that they are designed to really target your audience, then it could be worth pursuing. But in general, I think that directly pitching an editor is a better allocation of your time and effort.

What is the number one mistake you see people making when reaching out to editors?

While an email might start with "Hi Kelly" or "Hi Brittany", the body of the email has very little personalisation. When I was an editor that was the bane of my existence—I knew that when I received a long perfectly polished email, it was also sent to all my competitor magazines as well. That's why you want to craft emails that are shorter, more casual and way more personalised—you want to do everything we can to make an editor feel like we are seeking out them and them only.

PR is a lot like online dating. You don't want people to feel scammed. You don't want people to feel like you're looking for a quickie, and you don't want these editors to think that you're playing the field. As with online dating, we go back to those first three important questions: where are you located? Are you playing the field (have you been published before)? And what do you look like?

One of the quickest ways to an editor's heart is to read their publication. Look at what they've most recently published and really understand what their approach to design and architecture is. Do they only do home tours? Do they have a house of the week? And what departments do they have? Every magazine has departments—reference those in your short, sweet and specific email to this editor: "Hey, I absolutely love that Marc career marble bathroom that you just featured. I did something a little different, but it kind of reminded me of what you just covered..." And then go into it. I cannot tell you how meaningful that will be to an editor to know that you took the time to read their publication.

What is an acceptable amount of times to follow up with an editor?

Reach out 2 to 3 times over the course of say 3 weeks—so once a week for 3 weeks. Be politely persistent. If they don't respond, move on.

How do I use media coverage to help me land new clients?

If you get any PR placement, it needs to be all over your Instagram, website and LinkedIn. That is the single hardest part of the entire process, because people are really hesitant to celebrate their success. But don't be shy, your future clients will be very interested to know that you have had this media recognition! To maximise the exposure of your features, Instagram is your friend. All your press should be visible on your feed and on your stories—every interior designers should have an Instagram highlight called "Press" to use as s a library of media wins. The same applies on your website, a page called "Press" or "Recognition" is a must. I refer to this as your "trophy wall" and you want to keep that trophy wall up to date with your latest features, whether it's a full-page spread or a single quote about stone slabs.

I’ve got an upcoming portrait photo shoot, any tips on how to get the perfect pics?

First things first, the shoot should take place inside a room you have designed. Secondly, these pictures need to tell a story that is cohesive with your brand identity. If your style is cottage colourful, you want to dress in jeans and a beautiful sweater, not expensive designer wear! You want there to be some cohesion between your look and your interior design style. These pictures should reflect you and the environment that you've created as a unified aesthetic. You need two types of shots:

• Action shots. Pictures of you actively doing something (plumping up a cushion, arranging flowers in a vase etc.) Top tip: these are really good for social media.
• Media portrait. A portrait (3/4 or full body—not a headshot) of you looking directly at the camera.

Don't be shy—remember you can always retouch photos, so don't let any insecurities hold you back.

What makes a great bio to include in my pitches?

Don't craft a bio that talks about how credentialed or capable you are—nobody cares. We assume you're credentialed and capable, we want to know how you're different. You need just 2 to 3 sentences that crystallise how you are different, in the PR Collaborative we call this your “unicorn bio”. What is it about you that is totally different from any other designer out there? I really encourage you to be specific about who you are. Do not try and be a generalist to the media or your clients— it is the quickest way to not make money. And have fun with it!

Visualist regularly invites industry experts to answer the practical questions of our creative community. Brand messaging, financial management, legal contracts—you name it! Secure an invite to our next event by joining us on Facebook.

When it comes to PR, interior designers can be left feeling confused and a little intimidated. What if I don't have industry connections? How do I know the right person to contact? What should even be in my pitch?

Thankfully, The PR Collaborative exists to put interior designers' minds at ease and help them land tons of interior design publication features in the process! Founded by Alex Abramian, The PR Collaborative is a space for new, emerging and mid-career interior designers and interior photographers to master the art of PR. Alex gives us a sneak peek into a day in The PR Collaborative by debunking some common media misconceptions for interior designers...

Myth #1. You have to have a bank of appropriate credentials before reaching out to the media.

Incorrect. Start your PR early, you don't wait to have certain accomplishments under your belt. The media loves to discover rising design stars.There's a lot of recycling of the same 50 designers in the media, so it's really exciting for an editor to discover someone who they've never heard of.

The other thing that I really want to emphasise: If you are considering approaching the media on your own without a publicist, you will be a breath of fresh air. Editors are drowning in pitches, and  90% of them are coming from publicists. So, if you're a designer or a photographer reaching directly out to a journalist, a writer, or an editor, you're going to stand out. Don't wait until you've met a certain "benchmark", get those media connections going earlier in your career. It will pay off in dividends as you get more work under your belt. Also, you don't need to be perfect but the photos of your work absolutely do. People will often come to me with their project shots and half the time I look at the images and I say, we've got to get it reshot. We can't go out to the media with this. It won't do you any good. In fact, it'll hurt you.

Myth #2. You need a polished press release in order to reach out to the media

Speaking to a journalist is not far from how you would send a text to a friend. You want to keep it really short, really specific, and you want to let them know if a project has been published or not. They are not looking for a press release. There are three things that really matter to journalists:

• Where is your project located?
• Has it been published before?
• What does it look like?

Myth #3. "The media only cares about what I do. They don't care about who I am"

The media wants to know more about you than just the projects that you've created—they want to know about the person behind the project. It's really important to play the longer PR gam: forging media relationships. The more you stand out the better it is. In every pitch, you need to include a photo of yourself and a bio about what you do. One of the best ways to engage an editor's brain is by putting a face behind the email. It is really important that your bio and your portrait tell the same story. Embed both of these within the email—nobody wants to click on a link if they don't have to. Make it go down easy, like a milkshake. Don't make more work.

Myth #4. You can only get one media hit per project

Landing multiple features for one project is all about understanding how to differentiate your pitches. First, you need to approach a national publication with a home tour. A national publication will only accept unpublished work, so it is wise to even keep your project off social media until you have landed this exclusive feature. If you're relatively new to the PR game, I'd recommend placing it digitally, not in print. If you wait for print for a national publication, you're going to wait forever but really you want to be becoming a media insider sooner rather than later. One thing to consider is that at the moment clients have a general preference for large, minimal, neutral spaces. The media on the other hand like mostly tiny, and mostly colourful. They're completely at odds. The way to combat this? Hunt for projects where you're going to be able to do something super colourful and also super relatable and accessible (not quite DIY but that kind of feel).

Once you have landed a feature in a big national publication, you can go to more local media with the same offering—they won't care nearly as much whether this project has been published or not. Step 3, you start looking for round-up stories. That's your "15 beautiful kitchens", "64 white bathrooms", "10 beautiful outdoor decks" etc. With these types of stories, it is not going to matter whether the work is published or unpublished, so you can repeatedly recycle the same images. This is how you start racking up 3, 4, 5, or 6 media placements. A common misconception I hear is, "They just did a round-up of white bathrooms, I can't pitch them another white bathroom." Don't worry about it. The media is constantly recycling the same concepts with different images, and ideas. Sometimes, you can even take the project apart and pitch it out for a specific room, specific process etc. The key is to mould your pitch exactly to the publication and how they like to cover homes. So, in one pitch to a house and garden magazine, you might say, "how I integrated the indoors into every room in the house", for another publication you might say, "how I renovated a kitchen without taking down a single wall."

Remember: not every project is going to take off! Often people have just 1 or 2 projects that get picked up at any given time and the rest simply aren't as captivating to the media—don't worry about it, that's just how the game is played.

Statistics show that around 849 new female-led businesses open every day. That's an increase of 114% since the early 2000s! A number worth celebrating. However, raising funds as a female entrepreneur for a creative start-up is still challenging. Thankfully, there are an array of business grants for women-owned startups and small businesses. Whether it be from female investors, women's groups, or feminist organisations—support is available for those who seek it.

Start browsing your options now. Who runs the world? Girls!

SoGal Black Founder Startup Grant

Ideal for: black-owned businesses

SoGal is on a mission to support Black women in their business endeavours. Black female entrepreneurs receive less than 0.5% of venture capital funding, SoGal's start-up grant is designed to change that. SoGal Grant awardees can receive $5,000 to $10,000 cash grants and benefit from an "Ask Me Anything" programme led by the SoGal team to support and assist with the trials and tribulations of running a new company.

In 2020, Un-Ruly, founded by Antonia and Abigail Opiah received a $10,000 cash grant. Today their nearly 10,000 fans on Instagram act as proof that business is thriving. Want the same for your business? Take your first step by filling out the SoGal application form!

37 Angels

Ideal for: high-risk, high-reward ventures

Founded by women, for women. 37 Angels is a community of female angel investors who are dedicated to investing in businesses owned by women. They know and acknowledge your struggles in running a business, and because of that, you know you're in good hands. 37 Angels invests in up to 10 female-led startups annually and offers up to $150,000 in cash grants! Learn more about the application process on their website.

Cartier Women's Initiative

Ideal for: eco-advocates

The Cartier Women's Initiative is a yearly global entrepreneurship program that rewards and recognises high-impact businesswomen who practice commendable sustainable business efforts. Open to all women-run businesses, every year three Cartier Women's Initiative regional awardees receive financial support of up to USD$100,000. Plus, awardees will also receive human capital aid and social opportunities.

Keep track of the application schedules on the Cartier Women's Initiative website.

Amber Grant from WomensNet

Ideal for: passion-driven projects

The Amber Grant was founded in memory of Amber Wigdahl, an ambitious, to-be businesswoman who passed too early at the age of 19. In honour of her memory, WomensNet donates $30,000 per month to a woman-owned business. In addition, the network has extended its reach by offering different opportunities such as marketing grants, business category grants, and two annual $25,000 cash grants.

Learn more about how to apply for a grant here. All grant awardees are announced on the 23rd of each month, set a reminder now.

IFundWomen

Ideal for: new business owners

IFundWomen provides an online platform for female business owners seeking funding. Here, you can raise capital through fundraising or through small business grants. Additionally, there are opportunities for business coaching and networking with like-minded individuals!

IFundWomen has partnerships with tons of international companies, browse all available opportunities on the official IFundWomen website!

The economy is extremely volatile. You could be on top of the market one day and find yourself rolling down the hill the next day. Recession is the cause of many creative small businesses' downfall. More often than not, small businesses underestimate the economic uncertainty and realise their mistake far too late.

Thankfully, there are lots of quick-fix steps you can take to make your creative small business recession resistant and keep your creativity and your finances afloat in uncertain times.

Keep an eye on your money

Creative small businesses with poor cash flow management are the most vulnerable during an economic recession. According to a US Bank study, 82% of small businesses that go bankrupt. do so due to poor cash flow management.

Use financial management software and money management tools to monitor what goes in and out of your account. The better you know your numbers, the easier it is to create a financial strategy that works even through the highs and lows of the economy. Tracking KPIs will also keep you in the know and allow you to make better decisions for the financial health of your business.

Create more income generators

Diversifying your offering means more streams of income that are less vulnerable to economic uncertainty and changing consumer habits.

You could introduce a new service or product, offer recurring membership plans, produce sponsored content, create educational content and so on. More avenues of income and more overall revenue mean a more robust business.

Build better relationships

Loyalty goes a long way. When times are tough, it is your repeat clients that will keep you in business. Good relationships with your clients also earn you some ambassadors for your business. Rest assured that they'd recommend you at any chance they get! So make sure not to focus all your investments on earning new customers, but leave some for your current clientele as well.

Stand out from the crowd

A strong business idea with a niche appeal and great marketing is likely to withstand even the toughest of financial storms. Try to stay calm and confident and focus on providing the best possible service you can to your clients—these times will pass. Strategy for a recession-proof business complete!

In the bustling world of wedding planning, standing out from the crowd is a must. One innovative way to market yourself as a wedding planner and build a reputation for your brand is by starting your very own wedding industry podcast. Podcasts are a popular medium for newly engaged couples to find all the answers to their queries ahead of the big day. Or in other words: a perfect way to advertise your services to a captive market.

The best part? Starting a podcast is relatively low-cost and accessible to all. So, whether you're a seasoned wedding planner looking to expand your business or a passionate newcomer eager to carve your niche in the market, podcasting could be the solution for you.

This article will explain:

1. The benefits of starting a podcast as a wedding planner
2. How to start a wedding podcast
3. How to land a feature on a wedding podcast

Benefits of starting a podcast as a wedding planner

Podcasts are a great marketing strategy for wedding planners. Check out the top three reasons to start a wedding podcast...

Position yourself as a thought leader

You host a podcast to sell your services, your brand and ultimately, yourself. In order to trust you, clients need to know that you are knowledgeable, experienced and well-respected within your industry—and a podcast is a great way to hit that trifecta! Now is not the time to be humble. Use your podcast to advertise yourself and your brand, make your USP clear and clearly demonstrate your skillset. But do so in a way that is authentic to you, people respect truth the most!  Podcasts are the perfect platform to demonstrate that you have the whole package—the knowledge and the personality.

Build industry connections

Inviting fellow professionals in the wedding industry onto your podcast as guest speakers is a great way to build your network. Featured guests will likely be flattered by the offer, setting your relationship off on the right foot! Throughout the interview you have a chance to learn from your guests' experience and expertise, your shared audiences will ensure a bigger reach on your content (and new followers for you both) and their fresh perspectives will ensure your podcast content stays fresh and engaging. Remember, you should only feature wedding professionals who you feel align with your brand ethos.

Increase brand loyalty

On Instagram, you should provide inspiration. On TikTok, you want to be relatable. As a podcast host, you need to add value. Your podcast is an opportunity to share valuable content with your audience. Your audience should come away from each episode feeling enlightened and equipped. But the relationship is mutually beneficial. The best way to build brand loyalty is to offer your audience something in return—exactly like you do on your podcast. By offering high-quality insights on your podcast, you build a loyal audience and establish yourself as a trusted source of industry knowledge.

How to start a podcast as a wedding planner

Starting a podcast is easier than it looks. Follow this simple guide to start your own wedding industry podcast and share your knowledge with the wider wedding community.

1. Formulate your podcast idea

Define your niche

Define your podcast's focus within the wedding industry. Consider what you want your brand to be known for and your personal expertise. This could range from destination weddings and bridal fashion trends to vendor collaborations and behind-the-scenes insights.

Identify your audience

Who do you want to listen to your podcast? Are you targeting engaged couples seeking planning tips, fellow wedding vendors looking for collaboration ideas, or both? Tailoring your content to your audience's needs will make your podcast more engaging and relevant.

Plan your content

Outline potential episode topics, guest interviews, and episode formats. Your content should offer value, entertain, and educate your listeners about wedding planning, trends, and business insights. A mix of solo episodes and interviews with industry experts can keep your content diverse.

2. Produce your podcast

Invest in your equipment

Invest in decent podcasting equipment, including a good-quality microphone, headphones, and a pop filter. You should also choose user-friendly recording software such as Audacity or Adobe Audition. Clear audio is essential for retaining listeners.

Master your delivery

It's not just what you say, it's how you say it. Maintain an engaging tone and pace throughout the recording and keep episodes concise and well-structured. Edit out any background noises or long pauses to ensure a polished finished product.

Craft engaging titles

Write attention-grabbing episode titles and concise descriptions that highlight the value your content offers. Use relevant keywords to make your podcast easily discoverable.

Design your cover

Create eye-catching podcast cover art that represents your USP as a wedding planner. Tip: This should be aligned with the branding of your wedding planning business.

3. Launch and promote your wedding business podcast

Choose a hosting platform

Select a podcast hosting platform. We recommend:

• Libsyn
• Podbean
• Anchor

These platforms distribute your episodes to various podcast directories like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Leverage social media

Utilise your existing presence on social media to announce your podcast launch. Share teasers, behind-the-scenes insights, and promotional graphics to generate buzz. You could also partner with other wedding industry professionals for collaborations and promotions to expand your reach within the wedding community.

Consistency is key

Stick to a consistent podcasting schedule, whether it's weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Regular episodes keep your audience engaged and coming back for more.

Launching a wedding industry podcast can be an exciting way to showcase your expertise, connect with your target audience, and elevate your wedding planning business's visibility. Happy podcasting!

How to feature on a podcast as a wedding planner

If you're looking for all the perks of a podcast but none of the commitment to hosting your own show, featuring as a guest on wedding podcasts is the right move for you. Follow these steps to land an appearance on your favourite wedding industry podcast...

1. Do your research

Sending a DM or an email with your pitch to the podcast hosts. Before making your first move, it is important to get familiar with the podcast and the hosts themselves. Understand that these podcasts maintain their reputation and bond with their audience by providing valuable content. Thorough research will help you craft a pitch that proves you contribute to that value and gives you a better shot at landing that spot as a guest. You can flex your achievements all you want, but your ability to align, add value and connect is more important.

2. Tell your story

Podcast hosts love to share stories, so give them one. Your story is for you to tell—in your pitch, get a little personal and share something distinct about you, your profession, and your brand. You can also use your social media accounts as your voice. And be brave—tag hosts in your posts and stories, comment on their posts and react to their stories.

3. Share your expertise

Be your own cheerleader! Highlight your expertise as a wedding planner to capture the podcast host's attention. No need to brag, but be confident in your abilities and display them by sharing tips and tricks about wedding planning and organisation on your website, social media accounts, or at events. You could even take on a coaching or teaching role for fellow wedding pros—eventually, your wisdom and experiences will reach the podcasting network too!

4. Update your socials

Are your socials active and up to date? Or do they resemble an ancient history book? You want a wedding podcast host to see your recent experiences and commitments. A profile with an inactive feed and no up-to-date information can be misleading and offputting. Give your social media sites a spruce. We're talking Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok—the works!

5. Prepare your portfolio

An incredible portfolio creates a great first impression. Share your work far and wide and be sure to let podcast hosts know in your pitch if you've landed a feature in a trade publication before. The icing on the cake is a bank of client testimonials scattered across your website and socials. Nothing beats good, detailed feedback from actual clients you worked with, having their perspective really boosts your credibility.

Is your free time vanishing under pending tasks, meetings, and commitments? Clear your schedule with a versatile project management tool!

Managing creativity might sound impossible, but creative businesses need solid organization and management to grow.

With project management software, you can track progress, set deadlines, mark pending tasks, and collaborate with your team in real time, all in one place. No more long email chains and delayed replies!

Project management tools also offer metrics and data that benefit your business. This includes team performance analysis and task completion rates. Plus, they improve task transparency, keeping the team informed about all projects.

Ready to get organized? Discover the 5 best project management tools for your creative business in 2023!

This article will explore:

• The top project management tools for creative businesses in 2023, including ClickUp, Visualist, Flow, MeisterTask, and Walling.
• Key features and benefits of these project management apps, such as task management, collaboration, and resource management.
• How these tools can simplify your workflow and boost productivity for creative teams and solopreneurs.

Visualist

Made for: the collaborative creative

Project management with a personal touch. Visualist Hubs serve as an all-in-one space for everything you and your client need to manage projects smoothly.

Bookmark your most-used pages, from budgeting spreadsheets to content calendars. Create boards to organize projects from start to finish and bring clients on board for seamless collaboration.

ClickUp

Made for: the juggler

ClickUp is a control room for creative businesses. It has every tool you need to plan, organize, and collaborate on projects.

An easy-to-use interface and logical layout make ClickUp ideal for creative teams managing multiple projects.

Flow

Made for: the creative manager

Project management made simple. Flow integrates with your favorite organizational tools for easy onboarding and ongoing convenience.

Flow's standout feature is its flexible resource management tool. With a few clicks, managers can spot team members overloaded with tasks or at risk of missing deadlines and step in to help.

MeisterTask

Made for: the team player

MeisterTask helps you work better. Designed for solopreneurs and teams, it features diverse project management tools to keep your creative workflow efficient. Think time-tracking, data-driven reports, and Gantt-style timelines!

MeisterTask is built on the Kanban framework, promoting full transparency and consistent communication. It’s the ideal tool for teams to reduce confusion and boost productivity.

Walling

Made for: the post-it note enthusiast

If your office is covered in post-it notes, Walling might be the project management tool for you!

As the name suggests, Walling lets you visualize and manage your entire to-do list on a digital wall.

Divide your wall into sections, make easy edits, and invite fellow creatives to contribute and collaborate.

Your day-to-day responsibilities as a creative entrepreneur can often cloud your focus on long-term business goals. For this reason, KPIs are essential to staying on top of your game!

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are quantifiable values that show how well your business is running—without the complicated data. KPIs simplify progress analysis by presenting a straightforward report on elements of your business such as workflow efficiency, marketing success, and financial health! There's no fixed list of KPIs every business must track—it's all up to you! But many businesses choose to adopt those that revolve around financial performance, customer satisfaction, and project management.

When identifying what KPIs you will hold yourself accountable to, you should always consider the nature of your business and your priorities. Let's explore some options...

Financial KPIs

Net Profit Margin

Formula: net income / total revenue

In business, there is one main goal: to earn. Your net profit is your "take-home pay"—so the more the better right? Monitor your net profit margin and constantly ask yourself how you can improve—spending down, income up!

Many creatives underprice their services out of passion, naivety or a lack of self-belief. Make sure you're charging what you're worth!

Quick Ratio

Formula: (income + securities + receivable money ) / liabilities

Unexpected costs happen, but you can be prepared for whatever comes your way! It is sensible to regularly check in with your quick ratio to ensure that your earnings can pay off your debt and liabilities. A quick ratio of 1 or higher means you're financially safe. Anything less than 1 means you'll need to exert more effort to make ends meet!

Customer KPIs

Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)

Formula: marketing expenses / no. of new customers

A marketing mantra for creative small businesses: thou shall not spend an arm and a leg for bad marketing strategies. And how do you know your strategy is lacking? You calculate your customer acquisition cost. The amount of money spent to land a client is a clear indicator of the efficiency of your marketing strategy—in general, you shouldn't need sky-high investment to see results!

Compare CAC results from different marketing strategies and identify the best one for your business.

Conversion Rate

Formula: (no. of new customers / no. of leads) x 100

You did it! You've finally reached your target web traffic and social media engagements. And yet, your sales stay low and clients remain scarce—what went wrong? The important thing is that you spot the problem. Which is why you should always be tracking your conversion rate. Determine what strategies are earning you paying clients and not just ghost visitors—then stick with them!

Project KPIs

Estimated vs. Actual Project Budget

Formula: (estimated cost / actual cost) x 100

This KPI reports the difference between how much you expected to spend versus how much you actually spent on a project. Always aim for a low difference—but not too low! You should use this figure to help you price your services at a fair but profitable rate. Prices rise and fall at the most unexpected times. So if you want better estimates, you have to stay updated with the true cost of your project resources.

Estimated vs. Actual Project Duration

Formula: (estimated hours / actual hours) x 100

Varying requirements and complexity levels make it hard to get a firm grasp of how long each project should take—unless you're a robot! By comparing the estimated time to finish a project versus the actual time it was finished you'll be able to monitor the accuracy of your predictions and make adjustments to your method accordingly.

A more accurate picture of your time will lead to less stress and potentially the ability to take on more projects!

Visuals can make or break your marketing but as a new wedding planner, with a limited wedding planning portfolio, it can be hard to find the perfect image. Whilst it might be tempting to snoop online and find suitable imagery from fellow wedding pros you admire, there is a catch: copyright.

Copyrighting images protects the rights of creators, providing control over who can use and distribute their work. Meaning, you'll need permission to legally use copyrighted images. Otherwise, you could face legal charges and fines. Thankfully, we have found a hack: stock imagery. "Stock imagery" and "aesthetic" aren't commonly used in the same sentence, but we have found sites that prove stock imagery can be beautiful too! We've rounded up the best sites for finding free stock photos and royalty-free images that align with your brand aesthetic—elegant, elevated and chic! Browse the likes of Pexels and Unsplash for beautiful imagery that you can use across service brochures, client packages, and even your website layout. Time to find imagery that does your wedding business justice! Let's find you the perfect pic...

How to source free imagery as a wedding planner

Nobody wants to be slammed with a huge copywriter fine, especially not when you're setting up your new wedding planning business. But don't worry, finding royalty-free images online is easy. Follow these simple guidelines and find suitable and safe imagery for your wedding business marketing content in no time.

1. Use public domain images

If you don't want to go through the trouble of reading and paying for licenses then your best bet is to stick to browsing websites that offer free stock images for commercial use like Unsplash and Pexels. These websites are simple to use and are well-stocked with wedding imagery. Finding stock photos that fit your aesthetic and tell the right story for your brand can be tricky, but with patience and creative searching, you'll be sure to find the perfect fit.

2. Review social media rules

Social media sites have different image usage rules that users need to be aware of. Make sure to read these if you intend to share content that is not your own on any social platform. If you fail to comply with guidelines, your posts may get taken down or your entire account could get suspended.

3. Read the license terms

If you plan to purchase an image license, make sure to read the license terms closely. Remember, copyright images have usage limitations. Be sure to choose a license that covers your intended purpose and take note of what you can and cannot do with the images.

4. Ask for permission

If you have your heart set on a particular image and can't find an alternative, you could try simply asking the creator for permission. Running an image search is the best way to find the owner, and when you do, you can send them a polite message or email. Whatever the outcome, it is important to respect the owner's decision.

Where to source stock imagery as a wedding planner

These websites are home to thousands of royalty-free images suitable for use across your wedding business marketing content. Time to get browsing...

Unsplash

Unsplash hosts a library of more than 10,000 wedding-themed images. A gold mine for wedding planners, on Unsplash you can find images of happily married couples, dreamy venue shots, extravagant cake toppers and more. Style consistency is key in building a recognisable aesthetic for your brand, which is why Unsplash allows you to search photos by collection, saving you time (and headaches) in looking for images with similar themes or photography styles.

Pexels

Whatever your aesthetic, find it on Pexels. Set up an account on Pexels and you can follow your favourite creators so you can save time repeatedly searching for photographers that align with your brand—who knows, maybe you could even strike up a long-term partnership. Pexels also has a huge bank of royalty-free videos in 4k to make your website look extra polished and instantly more memorable.

Canva

Surprise! Canva is the gift that keeps on giving—with free editing tools and now royalty-free images! Start with a simple search for "wedding" imagery and let suggested images guide you to the perfect picture. Canva is home to a diverse bank of wedding photography, spanning fairytale weddings to toned-down casual affairs.

Kaboom

As well as an array of landscape and object photography, Kaboom boasts an impressive bank of portrait photography—a face always helps to personalise your brand and demonstrate your commitment to personalising your clients' experiences. If you're already wedded to a colour scheme, browse Kaboom's image library by colour to find imagery that perfectly complements your palette.

Top tip: Tag @kaboompics in your photos—they love to see how their images are used by their community and often reshare people's work with their 30k + audience.

Sourced Co.

Sourced Co. was founded for wedding pros, by wedding pros so they understand the importance of great imagery in building your wedding business. Sourced Co. exists to give new wedding planners a helping hand in building their portfolio because, in their words, "not having a portfolio shouldn’t stop you from chasing your dreams." Build your portfolio in the way that suits you with Sourced Co.

A niche is an area of specialisation. When it comes to interior design, that means picking an interior design niche that compliments both your unique skill set and your passion, whether that be maximising the functionality of small spaces or art deco decor!

Many credit a strong niche as the secret ingredient in building a successful interior design business. And they're not wrong, niching down allows you to hone your craft, often charge a premium fee and most importantly, readily attract your dream clientele—rather than finding clients, clients find you.

But as an interior designer, you're a naturally gifted all-rounder. And so you may feel hesitant to settle into a niche. Niching is a big decision for your interior design business, so take a second and ask yourself these questions before narrowing your niche.

Does this niche complement my skill set and my passion?

If you're narrowing down your interior design niche, finding that sweet spot between passion and skill is a must! First things first, you should work within a niche that you genuinely enjoy—to the point that you'd do it as a hobby. Having this level of interest makes your job more enjoyable and you more employable, clients will recognise your clear passion!

With that said, interest alone isn't enough. Clients won't just hire you because you like maximalist design, you have to be good at it too. Be honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses as an interior designer. You don't have to have all the skills now, but a solid base is needed in order to succeed within your niche—remember, you'll be competing against experts in this field. Assess where your strengths and your passion overlap—that's your niche shortlist!

Is there a demand for this niche service?

This one is important—does anyone actually want or need your niche? Regardless of your commitment or expertise, your interior design business won't thrive without a market. Always consider how many people are looking for the services you offer. If the market looks too small, don't make the switch—positioning yourself in this niche will limit your business growth!

How can you gauge the demand? Conduct some market research! Ask family, friends, friends of friends and strangers whether your prospective niche interior design service is of use or interest to them—the bigger the sample size, the better. You can also turn to your old friend Google. Search for some keywords related to your niche and see what kind of coverage they have—are lots of businesses already working in this market? Are people seeking out similar services on social media but to no avail? Public demand is your biggest indicator as to whether this niche is a viable direction for your interior design business.

Who will I be competing against?

If your keyword research led you to conclude that there was high demand for your services because there was a high level of competition, you need to decide whether you're up for the challenge. An oversaturated market is hard to break into. Why would your interior design business stand out above the rest? What makes your approach that little bit different and why will that make clients choose you? Don't go into business until you're confident with your USP.

Here's the trick: let's say you dream of working exclusively in minimalist kitchen design (an already saturated field), could you undercut the market and specialise in low-cost minimalist kitchens? Or perhaps you have a knack for designing minimalist kitchens that are still practical and functional for growing families? Decide what makes your service different, and capitalise on that!

Am I ready to commit to a niche?

Last but not least, consider whether this is the right move for you and your business right now—are you ready to niche down? Once you commit to a niche, you'll need to stick with it. Niching means losing certain clients, accepting you'll be working on less diverse projects and hard work to re-establish yourself and your brand. But the rewards are plentiful, establishing yourself as an expert, honing your skillset and working with your like-minded clients on dream projects.

Take your time! It is a big decision but you'll know when the time is right!

Struggling to put your brand into words? Kathy Young is the owner and founder of Rekindle Communications—a website copywriting + brand messaging studio that breathes life into your brand message one word at a time. We invited storytellers and brand owners in the Visualist community to a brand makeover masterclass with Kathy. In case you missed it, here are the highlights...

How do I translate my vision into the right words?

First things first, be clear on your vision: What do you hope to accomplish in your career/business? Who would you be working with? What kind of work would you be doing? How would it make you feel by doing it? Now write that down! If you're more of a talker than a writer, try talking your ideas out loud to a voice recording app and re-listen to them. I do this all the time, it helps us to talk freely so we can then reorganise our thoughts into written form.

Is there a difference between how I should write for my website home page vs. my blog?

Your website should be an insight into your perspective and your brand worldview. You're naturally going to make more confident, self-assured statements there because you're essentially creating an argument for why your approach to your work is exactly what your clients need. Focus on headlines that are heavily branded and pack as much value as you can into the shortest amount of words. Blogs, you have a little more breathing room. Not everything has to be branded, your ultimate priority there is to educate and build SEO. So whereas I would recommend a clever, witty headline for your Home Page headline, I would recommend a clearer, more direct headline for a blog post.

I'm planning on launching my new website—what is your no.1 piece of advice?

My philosophy is that no one cares about your website launch unless you give them a reason to. Make your website launch feel like an event! Give yourself a 14-30 day window of content (at least) that shares the behind-the-scenes of why you're rebranding and the story behind your business—build the anticipation and crucially, get people excited. When you launch, think about how you can incorporate a giveaway of some variety. This helps people feel excited to be a part of the journey and gives them a reason to care!

My corporate voice vs. me—how can I avoid sounding too formal?

1. Focus on storytelling. Take note of super relatable things in your own life that you can share. When did you last have an "oh sh*t" moment? What's a personality trait you share with your best-fit client? What are every day funny/weird happenings that you can share? What's a secret confession that your audience would love to know? Don't be afraid to get personal, because that's when you start to shed off the corporate speak.

2. Use the senses. Think of sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. Try to be vivid and stay away from cliches or generalities because they're easy to lean on. How can you say the same thing but with your own spin?

3. Write all your ideas down first. Next, read it out loud. And finally, edit for personality. When we write copy there are two sides to us, the writer and the editor. Don't feel like you have to get it right with your first shot. Get your ideas out of your head and onto the paper. Reading your copy out loud, you'll naturally see where it sounds like a robot and you can fix it from there.

4. Check your DMs. A lot of your personality comes out in the DMs and texts that you send to friends! Take note of how you talk to your closest friends or biz buddies! It gives insight into your personality and you can translate that into your copy.

How can I identify the words that encapsulate my brand, my "brand dictionary" per se?

I would start by writing out a list of brand "Don'ts". What do you not say as a brand? What buzzwords in your industry make you shudder? Now you'll know what to steer clear of when writing copy and it is easier to identify what should be in your Brand Dictionary. So that your keywords don't become repetitive, I would focus on creating "action statements" rather than standalone adjectives. For example, here are some "words" I created for an executive coach:

• Create a new normal
• Artificial harmony isn't good for teams
• Your employees are humans
• There are no shortage of bad managers

To find your action statements, dive into your core values—what are 'non-negotiables' either in your work or your approach? How can you rephrase them into action statements that demonstrate how you do your work? Finally, reference where you find inspiration outside of your work. What are some themes you can pull from that to bring a fresh spin to what you do?

So many brands are using the same positioning these days: sustainable, ethical, modern etc. How can I stand out?

Remember: what you say doesn't have to be revolutionary, it just has to resonate. Here are a few prompts that I share with my clients when they feel stuck with displaying their USP:

1. What makes you angry in your industry? Like what can you absolutely not stand and it makes you sick in the pit of your stomach? Why do you feel this way?
2. What is your client trying to accomplish through your brand? Instead of leaning into your style, lean into the lifestyle your client is trying to create. How do their values align with your own?
3. What's a common perspective in your industry that you disagree with? How would you want to shift those beliefs?
4. If you could get on a soap box and preach about anything related to your work, what would it be?

When is it time for a rebrand?

You need a rebrand if:

• You're trying to break into a new market.
• You want to elevate the clients you're working with to be more aligned with your brand values.
• You're trying to position yourself around a certain aspect of your work that lights you up more. Example: even though I'm a copywriter, I choose to position myself around brand messaging because that's the part that I feel most passionate about.

But before you rebrand, make sure you're clear on your offers—and make sure they're bringing in $$$! It's easy to focus on the sexy stuff like brand positioning but you need to make sure that you've validated your offers and consistently delivered results through them. That's what matters most. Fun fact: I've got a rebrand brewing in the next year! In the meantime, I'm establishing my authority around brand messaging and really solidifying my process. I have recently written a blog all about this topic, check it out!

I have a limited budget, where should I spend my money for maximum impact?

You want to focus on minimum viable because as a start-up, your #1 priority is bringing in revenue in the short-term. I wouldn't go all out on a custom website or brand design that's thousands of dollars because it's likely that your brand will evolve over time. And unless you are 100% confident that your business won't change, I wouldn't invest in full-service copywriting either. If anything, I would invest in branding experts in a consulting capacity to help you hone in on what makes you different. Invest in minim. Work with branding experts, but try to get away with minimum viable. What is the most simple website with the most simple messaging you can get away with as you figure out your brand?

Remember, you won't really understand your brand until you start working directly with your people. Focus on getting clients in the door, and doing market research to understand what drives them. I would focus efforts specifically on doing market research of past clients and not just broad market research. Tip: past clients' descriptions of your work could contribute to your Brand Dictionary!

How do I choose brand partners that align with my brand messaging?

Building a brand is the ultimate test of integrity. Before pursuing every collaboration, you should ask yourself "Does this align with my vision and how I best deliver my work?" I think it is okay to work with people who have different stylistic preferences than you. In fact, I think it shows that you're versatile. But if they have underlying values that differ from yours, that's where there can be a conflict of interest in the long run. For example, I do collaborations with a speaker coach who teaches people how to grow their visibility by speaking on stage. I'm more of an introvert myself and would never speak at a TedTalk, but we align because we both focus on storytelling and connecting with people. Different personalities, same values.

What are the advantages of outsourcing my copywriting?

If you feel pretty set with your brand/your offering, then it should be easy to bring on a copywriter for a larger project, like your website or a sales page. It's so much easier for a copywriter to pick up your voice if you already feel confident in your approach, your personal brand, what makes you different, etc. If you're looking for more ongoing support with your copy (newsletter, blogs, etc.), then I still recommend working on a big project with a copywriter first and then continuing that relationship. A big project helps a writer to really understand your voice and how to weave that through the rest of your marketing. Either way, when working with a copywriter I always recommend creating a brand messaging guide. This way, you at least walk away with a literal guide that you can hand over to an intern, a social media manager, or anyone else in your company to maintain your brand voice.

I know some clients who love writing their own content because it's their form of self-expression but it is probably worth working with a professional copywriter if you feel like writing content really drains you—if you feel more lit up focusing on other areas of your business. I believe people should feel empowered to outsource their voice if it'll serve their goals long-term.

Learn more about how Kathy can help your business by visiting her website or connecting on Instagram.

‍Every month, we invite industry experts to answer the practical questions of our creative community. Brand messaging, financial management, legal contracts—you name it! Want to join our club and bag an invite to our next session? Sign up here.

In short, yes—every professional interior designer should hire a professional photographer. To interior design clients, visuals are everything. So when it comes to showcasing your designs, your iPhone camera is not going to make the cut (sorry, not sorry). You're proud of your designs, right? So it is time to do them justice with the help of a professional interior photographer. More so than your average photographer, these niche professionals know how to showcase your individual design style and most importantly, understand what sells to interior design clients. They're not just here to capture a photograph, they're here to capture you at your very best.

Worried about the investment? High-quality photographs of your interior design work can be used across your website, social media and physical assets—repurposable content that is sure to make a return in customer acquisition. If you're still not convinced, here are three reasons you need to hire an interior photographer.

Elevate your brand image

Whether you like it or not, first impressions do matter. Your website portfolio and social media feed are a client's first port of call—what they see there will determine whether or not they want you to design their home. You can produce the most elegant, intricate designs but no one will bat an eyelid if the photos are just... meh. Not to mention, high-quality images are often associated with high-quality service. Don't just showcase your work, give your client a taster of the exceptional standards they can expect whilst working with you. Getting a professional photographer ensures that all your designs' photos encapsulate the vibe and aesthetics it wants to portray.

Side note: professional photography coupled with beautiful design is a tried and tested way to capture the attention of reputable interior design magazines. If you're looking to get published and elevate your brand image to a new level—it is time to give that interior photographer a call.

Save yourself the time

Okay, hiring an interior photographer is a big investment—but what is worth more, your money or your time? Your own attempts to take the perfect shots of your interior design projects are going to take a lot of time. Time that could be spent liaising with new clients, putting together a new design concept or marketing your brand. However, professional photographers possess all the right equipment and expertise to get that shot in no time at all. Hire an experienced interior photographer and you likely won't even need to oversee the process. Your time is precious. But we get it, so are profits. Remember that any money you spend on a professional photographer is an investment in your brand and the future of your career—and you can't put a price on that!

Achieve consistent quality

Nothing irks someone more than low-quality images. And without a professional, that is likely what you'll end up with. Yes, you might get a lucky shot here and there but consistency is key here. It is best to put your camera away and call on the experts. Your designs tell a story—discuss this with your interior photographer—but a low-quality image will distract a client from that story. A portfolio with inconsistent style not only loses its magic touch but may also confuse viewers.

Worse, inconsistent style and quality lead a client to assume some images were grabbed from other designers. Maintaining consistent quality assures clients that they are dealing with a legitimate interior designer.You also need to look for a photographer consistent with your niche—interior design. Like the interior industry, photographers tend to excel in one field over the other—don't expect a portrait photographer to produce the same quality shot as a professional interior photographer.