SEO for Interior Designers: Smart Tweaks to Actually Get Found Online

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SEO for Interior Designers: Smart Tweaks to Actually Get Found Online

Search engine optimization (SEO) might not be the most glamorous part of running your interior design business, but it's one of the most powerful tools for getting your work in front of the right audience online.

And no, you don’t need to dive headfirst into code or hire a full-time marketing team to start seeing results.

The truth is that just a few small, strategic SEO tweaks can increase your visibility, attract better-fit clients, and even elevate your credibility, without requiring a complete website overhaul.

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The Elite Edit: Updates & Happenings at Elite Design Assistants

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The Elite Edit: Updates & Happenings at Elite Design Assistants

We have some exciting news and updates happening here at Elite Design Assistants! Instead of sending multiple newsletters, I wanted to send you ONE called “The Elite Edit”! This newsletter will have a handful of exciting happenings going on in the industry and with Elite Design Assistants.

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When (and How) to Invest in Your Interior Business: Smart Spending That Pays Off

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When (and How) to Invest in Your Interior Business: Smart Spending That Pays Off

You’ve heard the advice a hundred times: hire help, get organized, build your brand. But what does that actually look like in the day-to-day reality of running an interior design firm, juggling sourcing delays, client indecision, inbox overload, and desperately trying to preserve time for creativity?

The truth is: most investment advice out there is too broad to be useful for designers deep in the weeds. So instead of vague suggestions, let’s talk about clear, practical, and often-overlooked ways to invest in your business—moves that pay off in real ways: better margins, more ideal clients, smoother projects, and a business that supports your life (not the other way around).

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The Skilled Trades Shortage: How Interior Designers Can Find and Retain Quality Contractors

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The Skilled Trades Shortage: How Interior Designers Can Find and Retain Quality Contractors

If you've ever struggled to find a reliable contractor or waited weeks (or months) for skilled tradespeople to be available, you're not alone. The shortage of skilled labor in the interior design and construction industries is real—and it's affecting projects at every level.

Whether you specialize in full-scale renovations, kitchen and bath remodels, or custom-built furniture, the challenge is the same: quality trades are harder to find, and keeping them on your projects takes strategy. So how do we, as interior designers, adapt to this new reality? Let’s break it down.

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What Your Client Welcome Packet Really Needs

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What Your Client Welcome Packet Really Needs

Most designers have a client welcome packet. A few pretty pages, a thank you note, a brief process overview... and that's it.

Not exactly the first impression that screams “you’re in the hands of a polished professional who’s about to make your dream home a reality.”

If you want your welcome packet to actually set the tone for an incredible client experience — one where clients trust you, respect your process, and are excited to work with you — you need a lot more than just a pretty PDF.

Here’s what your client welcome packet really needs:

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Interior Design Scams No One Talks About

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Interior Design Scams No One Talks About

Interior design can look so glamorous from the outside — all champagne reveals, glossy magazine spreads, and perfectly styled installs.

But anyone who's been in the business for more than five minutes knows there's a real underbelly most people don’t talk about.

There are real risks out there, from vendor fraud to nightmare client disputes to shady contracts, and if you don’t know what to watch for, you can lose a lot more than just your patience.

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How to Proactively Address and Handle the Most Common Interior Design Client Complaints

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How to Proactively Address and Handle the Most Common Interior Design Client Complaints

Every interior designer has been there—you’re deep into a project, feeling good about the progress, and then BAM—a frustrated email lands in your inbox, or a not-so-pleasant phone call comes through. Maybe the client feels out of the loop, has sticker shock, or suddenly wants to change everything. These moments can be stressful, but they’re also preventable—or at the very least, manageable with grace and professionalism.

Over the years, we’ve gathered insights from working interior designers about the most common client pain points and complaints. After hearing the same frustrations repeatedly and seeing common patterns emerge, we realized that most designers—at some point—will experience these, and that’s why we wanted to share them with you to help you avoid unnecessary headaches!

So, whether you're new to the industry or a seasoned pro looking for smoother projects, here’s how to get ahead of these common complaints before they happen—or handle them better if they already have appeared.

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Tools Interior Designers Didn’t Know They Needed (And Shouldn’t Live Without)

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Tools Interior Designers Didn’t Know They Needed (And Shouldn’t Live Without)

Running an interior design business isn’t just about picking fabrics and selecting paint colors — it’s about juggling client expectations, project deadlines, vendors, budgets, installs, and about a thousand moving parts at once.

Sure, you already know the "big name" tools like Pinterest, AutoCAD, and SketchUp.

But today, we’re diving into the tools that make a real difference behind the scenes — the ones that help you design faster, manage projects better, create a smoother client experience, and ultimately grow a stronger business.

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What Does It Really Mean to "Educate" Your Clients?

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What Does It Really Mean to "Educate" Your Clients?

When you hear the phrase "educate your clients," does it conjure images of standing at a chalkboard, diagramming the difference between a loveseat and a settee? Or maybe, you picture a client nodding eagerly as you cover the finer points of fabric durability? (Spoiler: it’s neither of these.) Educating your clients isn’t about lecturing; it’s about giving them the confidence to make decisions and the clarity to trust yours. 

Here’s the thing: interior design can feel overwhelming for those new to it. Most clients walk in with a Pinterest board full of dreams and a vocabulary that maxes out at “modern farmhouse.” They want the magic but aren’t always sure how it’s made. That’s where you come in—not to play professor, but to guide them through the process with a little patience, a lot of insight, and just enough humor to keep it from feeling like a chore.

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The Hidden Costs of Running an Interior Design Business (And How to Avoid Them)

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The Hidden Costs of Running an Interior Design Business (And How to Avoid Them)

Nobody talks about this at design school: Running your own interior design business means you're not just a creative — you're a CEO, a negotiator, a project manager, and sometimes, a full-blown firefighter.

And while signing new clients and sourcing jaw-dropping pieces feels amazing, there’s a whole side of this business that’s easy to miss — the quiet, sneaky costs that creep up and chip away at your bottom line if you're not watching.

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