Most designers want to make more money but keep doing the same things every week and hoping something changes. The ten points listed below are the basics of what to do, but when you actually apply them every day your business becomes much easier to run.
1: Start tracking leads and conversions
If you aren’t tracking leads you have no idea which part of your sales funnel is broken. You don’t know where clients are coming from, where they drop off or how many you need each month. Having a simple tracker shows you the real data so you know exactly what to fix.
2: Consistent branding and messaging
Everything you put out into the world has your brand stamped on it. This includes the visuals, the way you write, the way you sign off emails and the way your drawings look. Inconsistent branding confuses clients and makes you look less established than you are.
3: Make time to work on your business, not just in it
You need time in your diary every day to work on strategy, offers, marketing, pricing and systems. These are the parts of your business that create revenue long term.
4: Proactive lead generation every single day
Hint: this is where paid clients come from!! And it’s not just about posting on Instagram every now and then. You need daily actions that put you in front of new people, remind past clients you exist and build trust with the ones already watching. Lead flow is a daily habit, not a sometimes task (we build this in Bootcamp if you need help)
5: Know what your clients need help with
Your clients have real problems they want solved e.g. decision fatigue, overwhelm, delays, fear of getting it wrong and not knowing the steps. When you provide content, products and services that genuinely help them with these issues, you stop competing on pretty pictures and start competing on value.
6: Know how many clients you need to reach your revenue goal
You need to know your numbers!! If you don’t have a financial goal set, you have no idea what you’re working towards. Examples: How much do you want to make in 2026? How many clients do you need to hit that goal? At what fee? Business gets easier when you have a target and make a plan for how to get there.
7: Provide an exceptional client experience
Do the simple things exceptionally well and exceed expectations e.g. provide proactive Friday updates, have clear boundaries, organise your files and systems, make sure your drawings are accurate, check emails for grammatical errors. Being mediocre won't cut it in a competitive environment like interior design. Strong design skills matter, but strong delivery is how you build trust with your clients.
8: Have a range of revenue sources
Mitigate risk by having options. Not everyone will be ready for your 1:1 design services so a range of offers creates stability and gives people ways to work with you at different price points. You can also build options that help you make some passive revenue while you sleep!
9: Get your systems and processes in order
If you’re scrambling and disorganised your clients will notice and you will make mistakes. Clean systems = clean delivery = better client experience = more referrals and 5 star reviews = more money in your pocket!
10: Get help from someone who has walked in your shoes
Find people who have done what you want to do and learn from them. If they haven’t been able to build a successful business themselves, they probably can’t help you build yours. I've built a $12 million business, so if you want help from me, my business mentoring program could be a good fit.
The best way to move forward from here is to pick one of the ideas I've listed out for you, fix it properly, then move to the next. Small improvements compound when you run your business with strategy rather than hope.
