Passive Income for Interior Designers: Design Workbooks

There are always going to be homeowners that prefer to take the DIY approach, whether that is for financial reasons or because they enjoy the challenge. While it may seem unlikely that they will reach out to purchase a service that an interior designer offers, there are other ways to help them with their project. Interior designers are catering to these types of homeowners by creating design workbooks. In this blog post, we will cover how to create a design workbook and how it benefits both the designer and the homeowner.

Define Your Design Process

Creating a clear, easy-to-follow workbook for how an interior designer starts and executes the design process is a great tool for the DIY-er. You can include customizable printables or downloads to boost the quality of your workbook. Include tips and tricks that you’ve learned through your interior design experience that someone who isn’t in the field wouldn’t know.

Optional: Choose a Niche

A general guide to start a DIY interior project is already an amazing tool, but you can take it one step further and create several workbooks for different niches. Here are some examples:

• A Minimalism Workbook

• A Guide For Creating A Feng Shui Bedroom

• Work From Home Workbook

• Picking a Paint Color Workbook

A great way to come up with different niches for your workbooks is by thinking of challenges you have had to tackle for clients and how you solved them for them.

Create Your Workbook

Creating a beautiful, clear workbook is key to marketing your product. Programs like Canva or Adobe Illustrator are a great place to start when creating workbook guides. This is also a task that can be outsourced to a VDA who has experience with these programs.

Get Ready to Sell

If you have an online shop on your website and you get a lot of traffic, this is a great place to store your workbook. You can also consider opening an Etsy or Shopify shop, especially if you want to sell multiple workbooks.

Market Your Workbook

Promote your workbook everywhere you can, whether that is on social media or on Facebook groups. If you have a newsletter be sure to mention that you have the workbook available for DIY-ers so that people who love your brand but prefer to do it themselves don’t miss out on your expert advice!

Go the Extra Mile

If you’re comfortable in front of the camera, or doing a voice-over video, creating a video on how to use your workbook is a great extra effort that could really make a difference to clients.

Although DIY-ers are not likely to purchase a service that you offer, they may still be following you on social media to get inspiration for their designs. Workbooks are a great way to bridge that gap between you and clients who want to do it themselves.

Happy Earning!

xx, Danae

Passive Income for Interior Designers: Online Shop

In this blog post, we'll explore how interior designers can leverage platforms like Etsy, Shopify, or their own websites to open an online shop and create a lucrative passive income stream.

Identify Your Niche

Define your niche within the interior design industry. Instead of trying to cater to every audience, it’s important to find who your clients are and what about you resonates with them. Successful online shop owner Sydney Brisco, from justahomeowner.com brilliantly says, “There is a lot of competition for almost every aspect of starting an online shop as an interior designer. You need to remember that your opinions, your voice, and your style will speak to a specific group of people and not be discouraged. Find what makes you and your style unique and don't be afraid to own it.”

Create Exceptional Products

Whether it's handy printables, fun artwork, or home decor accessories, the key is to create items that captivate your customers and reflect your design style. Keep your chosen niche and audience in mind as you create your products. You can start by brainstorming about pieces that clients have loved or how a handy spreadsheet could benefit a client trying to make design decisions on their own. Take inspiration from your own projects and experience.

Professional Presentation

In an online shop, visuals are everything. Invest time and effort into capturing high-quality product photographs or creating realistic mockups that showcase your creations at their best. Presenting your products in a professional and eye-catching way can make your products more appealing to potential buyers. And don't forget to write informative descriptions that are search engine optimized to make sure that shoppers can find your products!

Set Up Shop

You can use a platform like Etsy or Shopify to host your online shop or many website builders like Wix and WordPress will allow you to add a shop to your website, which may be beneficial if your website gets a lot of traffic. This is one of the biggest steps, as you can’t sell anything without a shop. Sydney wisely adds, “The biggest hurdle to opening a shop is waiting for everything to be perfect. Especially for interior designers (let's be honest, most of us are perfectionists) we don't feel right publishing something that isn't 100% done. But if you wait for perfection, you'll never open. And once you open your shop, your view on perfection will change anyway. Once your product is at 80% perfect, publish it so that you can start learning and honing your skills to make your shop better and develop your product better.”

Marketing Matters

Promote your shop wherever you can, especially on social media. From Sydney’s experience, “your marketing will really depend on your platform. If you are on Etsy or Pinterest, for example, your best bet is to market with the platform's ads. But if you are growing your shop on your own site, Google ads can be tremendous. Also, don't forget to look at social media. There are several Facebook groups for design and home improvement with varying levels of allowing ads. Always ask before submitting an ad because it's more likely to not only get accepted but boosted by the moderators of the group. You can also develop a following on Instagram if you are good at taking pictures of your process. And "how to" design videos on YouTube are a great opportunity for designers to grow their base and their following.”

Excellent Customer Service

Excellent customer service is what keeps customers coming back. By promptly responding to inquiries, addressing customer concerns, and processing orders efficiently, you will build customers’ trust and improve their shopping experience, making them more likely to recommend and return to your shop. Build trust and loyalty by going above and beyond to ensure your customers feel valued and cared for.

Remember, success in the online world requires dedication, consistent effort, and a focus on delivering exceptional products and customer experiences. By utilizing the power of branding, marketing, and phenomenal customer service you can successfully stand out online and create a thriving shop to generate passive income for your business.

Thank you to Sydney Brisco at www.justahomeowner.com for contributing to this blog post. You can check out her online shop here - https://www.etsy.com/shop/JustAHomeowner

xx, Danae

Passive Income for Interior Designers: Printable Art

Interior designers often have creative skills that go beyond their ability to design attractive spaces, including a passion for art and the talent to create their own unique pieces for clients. There are many designers who have created a stream of passive income by selling printable art on their website or on sites like Etsy. This is artwork that they created one time and can sell for years as a digital download, without any additional work.

As a designer, you have the advantage of controlling the selection of artwork for your clients, including choosing the design, size, matting, and framing, and can utilize this skill to create and sell your own artwork on your website. By creating your own artwork, you can not only showcase your artistic abilities but also provide one-of-a-kind pieces for your clients and create another stream of income for yourself. 

Creating digital download printable art is simple and can be done with a basic understanding of design software, such as Canva or Adobe Illustrator, and the ability to save the file in a high-resolution format. Once a designer creates the artwork and converts it into a digital download format, they can sell it repeatedly on their website, making it a great source of passive income. You can market your printable art through newsletters and on social media. If you feature your own art in your interior design projects, you can use your project photos to market your art shop.

If you're interested in selling printable art, there are several platforms you can use to get started, like Etsy, Shopify or even opening a shop on your own website. This is an excellent way to create a stream of passive income while also showcasing your artistic talents.

xx, Danae

Passive Income for Interior Designers: Product Licensing

Interior designers with a unique style and eye for product design can use their skills to create another stream of income through product licensing. Product licensing is a legal agreement where a person or company allows another person or company to use their product design, brand name, or intellectual property in exchange for payment, usually in the form of royalties. In this post, we will discuss how interior designers can start a passive income stream through product licensing.

Develop A Unique Design Style

Designers with a distinguishable style and a signature aesthetic do well with product licensing. Great examples of this are Sarah Sherman Samuel who currently has a line with Lulu and Georgia and Athena Calderone and her products with Zara Home. Both designers have distinctive styles that customers want to get their hands on.

Identify Marketable Design Elements

Once a designer has established their unique design style, they can identify marketable design elements that translate well into different types of products. For example, Justina Blakeney creates fun, colorful prints that translate great to textiles, and her Jungalow Collection at Target features bedding, shower curtains, and throw blankets that sell out.

Protect Intellectual Property

It's crucial that interior designers protect their intellectual property by obtaining proper copyrights, trademarks, or patents for their original designs. This will help prevent others from copying or reproducing their work without permission and ensure that they can monetize their designs through licensing agreements. It's very important to consult with legal and business professionals experienced in intellectual property and licensing for expert advice and guidance.

Research Potential Licensees

Interior designers should research potential manufacturers, retailers, and distributors who may be interested in using their designs for products. These can be licensees that specialize in home goods, textiles, furniture, lighting, or any type of interior design-related products.

Negotiate Licensing Agreements

Once the designer has found an interested licensee, interior designers should negotiate licensing agreements that outline the terms and conditions for using their designs. This can include details such as royalty rates, exclusivity, quality control, and more. A professional legal team can help with this.

Market and Promote Licensed Products

Once licensing agreements are confirmed, interior designers can market and promote their licensed products to generate sales and royalties. This can involve utilizing their brand and design recognition through social media, trade events, or collaborations with influencers.

By capitalizing on their unique design style and brand recognition and establishing licensing agreements, interior designers can create a passive income stream through product licensing. Consulting with legal and business professionals experienced in intellectual property and licensing is essential throughout this process. If you are a designer that has ever had dreams of creating your own line of home goods, textiles, or decor accessories, it is possible through product licensing.

xx, Danae

Passive Income for Interior Designers: Website Ads

If you're an interior designer looking for additional revenue streams, displaying ads on your website that are specifically tailored to your niche can be a profitable opportunity. In this post, we will explain how interior designers can monetize their websites by showcasing relevant ads, opening up the opportunity for a new stream of passive income. Here are the steps to take to create a revenue stream using website ads for interior designers:

1. Create a website or blog. The first step is to create a website or blog that showcases your interior design skills and attracts visitors interested in home decor. Additionally, you will want to build your audience by promoting your website on social media and creating an email list. It’s important that you create a blog or website that is authentic to you.

2. Choose an ad network. Choose an ad network that's relevant to your niche, such as AdSense for Home and Garden, Google AdSense, AdThrive, Mediavine or Houzz Ads. Which ad provider you choose may depend on how many visits your website receives each month. These networks will provide you with ads that are relevant to your audience.

3. Place ads on your website. Once you've signed up for an ad network, place the ads on your website. This can be done by adding the ad code to your website's header, sidebar, or footer. Try to choose ads that blend well with your brand so that they feel like a natural part of your website.

4. Drive traffic to your website. To increase your passive income from ads, you'll need to drive traffic to your website. You can do this by creating high-quality content, optimizing your website for search engines, and promoting your website on social media.

5. Monitor the performance of your ads. Keep track of how your ads are performing by using the analytics tools provided by your ad network. This will help you determine which ads are working well and which ones need to be tweaked.

6. Optimize your ads. To maximize your earnings, you can experiment with different ad formats, placements, and networks. This will help you find the best combination of ads for your audience and website. When you make updates to your website, you may need to make changes to your ads to keep a cohesive feel to your site.

Remember that building another stream of income from ads takes time, trial and error, and patience. However, by creating valuable content and optimizing your ads, you can turn your interior design website or blog into a profitable source of passive income.

xx, Danae

Passive Income for Interior Designers: Digital Downloads (Part 2)

If you’re hesitant to start creating digital downloads that require writing like eBooks and how-to guides, there’s good news - you can turn design work that you’re already doing into digital downloads. 

Mood Boards 

Mood boards are a great idea for interior designers to create passive income because they can help attract clients and showcase their design skills. There’s the added bonus of being able to include affiliate links which allow designers to get a commission if a customer buys one of their product recommendations. Here are some reasons why mood boards are a great passive income option for interior designers:

1. Attract new clients: Mood boards can serve as a visual representation of a designer's style. By creating original, captivating, and well-curated mood boards, designers can attract potential clients who are looking for a specific style or aesthetic for their space. This is a perfect option for designers who have a sought-after style.

2. Showcase design skills: Mood boards allow designers to showcase their design skills and creativity, which can help them stand out in a competitive market. By creating beautiful and unique mood boards, designers can demonstrate their ability to transform a space and create a cohesive design concept.

Floor Plans

Interior designers can also sell floor plans to generate another stream of income. Here are some reasons why selling floor plans can be a great source of passive income:

1. Attract a wider audience: While some clients may prefer to work directly with a designer, selling floor plans can attract a wider audience of individuals who may not have the budget or desire to hire a designer for a full project. By creating and selling floor plans online, designers can reach a wider audience and generate income from individuals who are interested in going with their own design ideas.

2. Showcase expertise in a specific niche: Designers can specialize in a specific type of space, such as kitchens and bathrooms or studio apartments, and create floor plans that cater to that specific niche. By doing so, designers can demonstrate their expertise in that area and draw in clients who are specifically looking for that type of design.

Create Your Own or Hire a VDA

As a designer you may already have your own mood board templates prepared that you could easily convert into a digital download for customers. If not, this is a task that could be delegated to a design assistant that is proficient in Canva, Adobe Illustrator, or Photoshop. 

Creating a passive income stream can supplement a designer's income from client work. By creating and selling digital products, designers can earn ongoing income without the need for ongoing client work or project management. This can be especially valuable during slower periods or when taking time off for personal reasons. Creating digital downloads requires work upfront but pays off over the long term.

xx, Danae

Passive Income for Interior Designers: Affiliate Marketing

Interior designers with a strong online presence or who have a very specific niche are very well-suited for using affiliate marketing to create a stream of passive income. Affiliate marketing works by a company providing a commission to a designer who has successfully promoted their product. A simple way to use affiliate marketing is through shoppable mood boards or creating a shop with affiliate links on your website.

How Interior Designers Can Get Started with Affiliate Marketing

1. Identify products that you are using in your projects or recommending regularly to clients.

2. Research affiliate marketing programs offered by those brands and companies. Many companies offer a way to earn a commission if a client purchases a product from your recommendation.

3. Apply to be an affiliate marketer. Once approved, the designer can begin to promote their favorite products on social media, through blog posts or newsletters, or by creating shoppable mood boards.

4. When someone purchases through the designer’s affiliate link, the interior designer earns a commission.

By using affiliate marketing, interior designers can earn passive income without having to actively sell their favorite products. However, it's strongly advised to disclose affiliate links and be transparent about any financial incentives involved to maintain trust with your audience and clients.

Benefits of Using Affiliate Marketing to Create Passive Income

It’s low-risk: Getting started with affiliate marketing doesn’t require much upfront investment as joining an affiliate marketing program is usually free and promoting the items can be done on social media or a designer’s website.

It’s hassle-free: The designer is not responsible for any shipping responsibilities or keeping inventory.

It’s a way to gain exposure to new brands and products: By partnering with reputable companies, interior designers can be the first to know of new products.

It helps create additional income streams: Affiliate marketing allows designers to create passive income while still focusing on their main services.

Tips for Successful Affiliate Marketing

Choose relevant products that align with the designer’s brand and their target audience: For example, an interior designer who focuses on sustainable design would benefit from promoting products from brands that are eco-friendly. Well-received promotions will result in higher conversion rates.

Create high-quality content to promote products in a natural way: A carefully-curated shoppable mood board that compliments the designer’s brand can be promoted on social media or blog posts to show clients what products they are loving at the moment.

Be transparent about affiliate links: This can be done by mentioning that a link is an affiliate link or by using hashtags like #ad or #affiliate when posting on social media.

Where to Get Started

There are many sites for interior designers to get started as an affiliate marketer. You may have heard of some, such as Side Door and RewardStyle. Or you may not know that sites you’re already using, like Wayfair and Amazon, have affiliate programs. The most important aspect is finding a company that aligns with your brand and target audience.

In short, any interior designer who is interested in creating additional income streams and has an online platform and audience can potentially benefit from affiliate marketing.

xx, Danae