Marketing Your eDesign Business During The Coronavirus

Times are weird. There are people out there doing all sorts of weird shit like eating fish tank cleaner and putting plastic bags on their heads. But, we're not going to do that.

When it comes to your interior design business and the Coronavirus, you can choose to operate from fear (which I don't recommend) or see this as an opportunity.

We know that practically everyone is at home. And you know what these galavanting extroverts are finding? I say that lovingly to those galavanting extroverts because I've been in my house since 2009 and rarely leave my mausoleum aka my home office.

Anyway…

Here's what tons of people are finding being confined to their home:

a) They are not fond of being home

b) That "Tiger King" series on Netflix is amazing and,

c) Their homes need help (outdated decor, fugly to the max, not functional)

You have a GOLDEN opportunity to talk to people held captive in their homes. And once they have watched all the dumb reality shows, they will come back to the same thought: my home needs some help.

Maybe they've finally realized it's terribly ugly, and thank God they can't invite anyone over because it looks like a place an 80s club bouncer would live.

Perhaps their partner has become the co-worker they never wanted. They are now working from home in their dining room, on annoying conference calls all day long, and have the most annoying ticks.

Ticks that went unnoticed because this person annoyed their workplace co-workers previously. Now they're considering a divorce or a 20 episode binge session of Dateline to plot their partner's demise. I’m sure I’m not the only one with this thought.

Maybe they have found time to implement their new spiritual practice, and their home isn't what you'd call holistic. It's cluttered, depressing, and out of balance.

Interior designers are still in the same spot they were a month ago. Interior design has never been one of those things that people wake up one morning with an epiphany that they need to hire you.

People wake up today and have to stay in a home that they have realized doesn't function and/or is ugly as sin.

You've got a captive audience if you choose to show up.

Why Design Businesses Fail No Matter What's Going On In The World

If you don't have enough business, it's because you don't have enough eyeballs on your business. That was true months ago, as is it today. 

Now, you could be like one of our moronic celebrities that have more than enough eyeballs on them... but if the audience wasn't the problem - then you look to your offers. 

Are you telling your client how you can solve their problem, or are you leaving it up to their imagination to figure out what a "Double Platinum Reimagining Session" is?

What To Do With Your Interior Design Business During The Coronavirus

Check your offers. Can the village idiot or your favorite celebrity figure out what your offer is about? 

Instead of offering that "Double Platinum Reimagining Session," offer a "Bedroom Makeover." Get obvious with the names of your packages; make it easy for them to understand what you can do for them. 

Tend To Your Website

When was the last time you looked at your website? Is everything up to date? Are your offers clear? Does your site make it abundantly clear what you do? 

I cannot make this any more clear: YOUR WEBSITE IS YOUR BEST ASSET.

You need your website to bring you traffic; you need your website to sell, you need your site to grow your email list. 

Choosing to ignore your website now is foolish. (And, if you'd like me to look over your website, join the Society where I offer that service to my members.)

Become More Famous Than Madonna

I'm sure you've seen the video of Madonna talking about how this virus has been the great equalizer while sitting in her milk bath. If you haven't, you may want to check it out. 

Madonna definitely has the eyeballs on her right now. Not for a good reason, but because she is bat shit crazy. You? You're not bat shit crazy, AND you can help people right now. 

Do the Facebook live, make a YouTube video, do an Instagram live, host a Zoom session, create tons of content for your website that you always meant to do. Get visible and help people. 

Does that mean helping people for free? Why, yes, it does. It's like the sample at the ice cream shop. People wanna taste test what you got from a respectable virtual distance. 

But it's more than that; you are earning trust and respect from people. That's more valuable than you know because people have this opportunity to learn about you and your business.

Is It Time To Discount?

I wouldn't. When you come from the place that you're now worth less than you were before because of the current situation... you're indulging in the victimhood. 

I know you're worried about money, but take the focus off yourself. Get in your client's head and figure out what they're concerned about. Or just go through your Facebook feed. Focus on YOUR people. How can you help them? 

Create New Income Streams

If you find yourself with time on your hands because you're not rewatching the Crown on Netflix, then figure out alternative ways to make money. 

Create a course, create a podcast, create a digital course, write a book. 

But can't they find it for free online? 

Probably, but the key here is that they like you and care what YOU have to say.

What To Offer Now During The Coronavirus?

This is the time to take the focus off yourself, your anxiety, and your fear. Shift your attention to your community. 

What do your people need? You know your audience better than anyone else. You know they come to you for your expert advice, your unique perspective, and how you can help them figure their way out of a design dilemma. 

Do that. 

Host free video calls, give some advice, and also sell your services. 

If you don't have any eDesign services, now would be the absolute perfect time to start offering them. 

I know this is new and scary, but I genuinely want you to be able to see this as a time of opportunity. One where you can push yourself outside of your own box of fear. One where you can try new things. One where you don't give up because you know you were born to do this work.

If you need help, please join us in the Society. I've got a roadmap with the exact steps for you to do, tons of courses to help you get it all figured out and live coaching calls that will help you create, launch and grow your eDesign business. Plus, I'm in our private community available to help you with your specific business problems. 

Hola! I'm Alycia Wicker and I help online interior designers grow their business.

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