I did a survey a few months ago asking thousands of designers around the country what their biggest challenge in business was. There were a lot of responses regarding time management, work / life balance, and organization. But the most popular challenge was getting more clients.

The question: “What is the biggest challenge you are facing in your business right now?” generated responses like:

• Increasing number of clients
• Finding clients
• Getting new clients
• Increasing business
• Generating calls
• Economy

The New Economy has changed a lot of things for Designers. It’s changed the way people shop and purchase. Clients seem to be harder to attract.

I hear you. You need more business NOW.

About a year and a half ago, I hired a high-end Marketing Coach. We partnered together to bring my business to a new level. I was excited to begin working with Sydni – but also very nervous. This was the first time I was investing so much in my business (I’ve paid her over $20,000!). But I am so happy that I committed. Sydni and I have been able to dramatically increase my business – despite the change in the marketplace.

So what does this mean for you?

I told Sydni what I’ve been hearing from designers, and she agreed to do a F*R*E*E call with me to help you out.

If you are struggling to get more clients… if you are worried about your business… let us show you the 5 NEW steps to attracting more clients TODAY.

“The 5 NEW Steps to Attracting More Clients TODAY”
Date: Wednesday, March 24th, 2010
Time: 1:00 PM Pacific / 4:00pm Eastern
Get more info and register here

End the struggle and worry. On this call you will learn:

• The one thing you MUST do before spending another dime on marketing (this will make all your advertising, marketing, and publicity efforts 100% more effective!)
• How to get referrals from past clients, friends, and family
• 3 easy ways to use the Internet to enhance your image and build a professional brand that attracts your ideal clients
• Exactly why you need to team up with local businesses to create power partnerships that bring in more clients for everyone
• How to get new homeowners to call you before they shop around

I’m thrilled to share these ideas with you. See you on the call.

Register Here: www.nikastewart.com/attract-more-clients-today.htm

Your call to action this week is to implement at least 1 new marketing idea (or improve upon one that isn’t being done in the most effective way).

1. Join Twitter
   Designers have been slow to join in on this incredibly effective marketing tool. But you don’t want to miss out on this great way to get more hits on the web. Search engines pick up on all your short posts, and you can drive a lot more traffic to your website. Plus it’s a great way to build relationships with your ideal clients.

 

2. Set up or update your email signature
   This very quick update may catch the attention of an ideal client. Many designers tell me that they got a new design job within one week of adding an email signature with a link to their website.

 

3. Start your email newsletter (or send another issue)
   E-mail marketing Is still the king of relationship building
. E-mail is personal. It’s professional. It’s not going anywhere. Get on board now. Send out an email newsletter.

 

4. Create a free tip sheet, or special report, to put on your website
   You need to give your prospects an irresistible sample taste of your incredible talent. And a free report is a great way to build your newsletter subscriber list.

 

5. Have a professional photograph taken
   While you are building your Internet presence, you must make sure that the photo of YOU reflects your branding. Don’t take an old snapshot and crop out the other people (yes, I see this all the time!). As a business owner, you need to have a professional photograph to use in all your marketing material: social network profiles, website, brochures, etc.

 

If you are a professional in the Home Fashion Industry and you are struggling to get new clients, join me for a free EMERGENCY INTERVENTION CALL on March 24: www.nikastewart.com/attract-more-clients-today.htm

 

 

Are you feeling like your clients and prospects are wary about spending money? Are they taking longer to make decisions? Are you struggling to convince homeowners to purchase from you?

In the past, I would talk about how to improve your sales techniques and try to help you realize that people DO want to purchase what you have to offer. But let’s face it – times have changed. Very quickly. Homeowners ARE taking longer to make decisions. People ARE afraid to spend money on luxuries like interior design.

So what do we do? Many small business owners stick their heads in the sand and ignore it, hoping that what they’ve done in the past will start working again… soon. But if you keep doing the same type of marketing and selling while the economy changes around you, you very well could be out of business before things pick up. If you want to be a design professional who thrives despite the challenging economy, there are many proven methods you can use.

Here are a few ideas to get more sales now:

• Spend more time and energy on short-term marketing
  Long-term strategies, like branding and website optimization, are extremely important for creating a strong, profitable business, so you can’t give that up. BUT – in a slower economy, you need to apply strategies that create immediate revenue. Hold a promotion, offer a limited-time special, try pay-per-click advertising.
• Highlight your less expensive products
  Okay, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying to sell cheap things, or to sacrifice your high-end image. But there are homeowners who want to spend right now – if they can get something less expensive. If you can offer a fabric line, for example, with lower cost fabrics that are still of a quality you are proud to sell, everyone wins.
• Go virtual
  Is there a way you can offer any of your services online or over the phone? Businesses that are working this way are seeing overhead costs go WAY down, and profits go way UP.
• Increase online product sales
  Most designers have a hard time imagining selling online. We are artists, for goodness sake! And our services are personal and customized. How can we sell over the Internet? Well – with rising gas prices, homeowners are shopping online more than ever. These homeowners, who once only wanted customized service (and who will want this again in the next few years), will more likely purchase something now because it is quick, easy, and inexpensive. Make sure you have products for this market.
• Ramp up your client retention
  It is always harder and more expensive to acquire a new client than it is to get business from a past one. But during a slow economy, the cost of acquiring new customers is even higher. Remember to exceed your existing clients’ expectations, and keep in touch with past customers through your email newsletter and by calling them on the phone.

When the market seems tough, you just need to be smarter with your marketing. Fortunately, you now have some effective tactics to use so that you can not only get through the tough times, but actually flourish!

If you are a professional in the Home Fashion Industry and you are struggling to get new clients, join me for a free EMERGENCY INTERVENTION CALL on March 24: www.nikastewart.com/attract-more-clients-today.htm

 

There are lots of challenges that come up when you are running your own design business. But the number one concern that I hear from designers around the country is: How do I get more clients? I hear this when the housing market is up, when it is down, when the economy is strong, when it is weak, during the summer, during the holidays, when it is raining, when it is sunny… In other words, the desire for more clients is never-ending. It is a pursuit that all entrepreneurs strive for. Everyone wants more clients. The designers who are getting what they want (more clients) have been closely watching the market, and adjusting their offerings so that they are extremely appealing to consumers. Are you doing the same? What do consumers want? They want a home that is comfortable and beautiful. And they want to do it on a reasonable budget – for now, while they wait to see what the economy will be doing in a few months. They are hoping to spend more money soon, but in the meantime, they want to purchase smaller items, or less expensive items, and they want to find ways to save money on exclusive services by doing some of the work themselves. So what can you do? READ MORE

We had a delightful princess tea party for Ellie’s birthday last weekend.  Nine of her little girlfriends came over in pretty dresses (Ellie is Snow White), and we played games, did crafts, and ate scrumptious cupcakes.  (If you live near NYC, you have to go grab one (or ten) of Buttercup Bakery’s mouth-watering, sweet treats.  This bakery was made famous on the series Sex & The City, and their cupcakes are to-die-for!) This week, I started my one-on-one coaching calls with the incredible, forward-thinking gals of the Extreme Designer Makeover program.  They have all begun to add new streams of income and implement new ways to get more clients in the current marketplace.  I am really inspired by their passion to help others and deliver great value.  Next month, I will start highlighting their successes so you can be motivated and inspired by them, too!  Some of you have been away for summer vacations, so if you are surprised by the new look of the ezine… welcome to our new design!  The new name, To Your Success, reflects the direction I’ve been going in wanting to inspire you to greater success in all areas of your life and business.  You can also check out the new website, which is still growing and changing.  In September, you will be invited to the official launch of our new brand – which will even include a boutique shop carrying inspiring products and accessories that will keep you motivated to live and profit from your passion. Want more design clients now? I know you do!  When I put out a survey a few months ago, I asked the question, “What is the biggest challenge you are facing in your business right now?”  The overwhelming #1 response was: “Getting more clients.”  So check back for tomorrow’s article, which gives you specific ideas on how to do that – now.