Dear Dakota,

Should I post my fees on my website? And how do I do it if every project is different?

Join The DTS Files to see my advice.

If you charge hourly for the interior design services you provide, you’ll need to track your time and create invoices that outline the services performed and how many hours those services took. Sounds simple, but determining how to list design services provided on an hourly invoice can be a bit perplexing.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Dear Dakota,

When exactly should I send my Investment Guide? Does it come after an Initial Inquiry but before a Discovery Call? 

I love the idea of client "pre-qualification" because I've spoken to SO MANY people who do not fit my ideal client avatar; mainly, they have champagne ideas on beer budgets.

Does this mean I should have certain things in my Investment Guide that sort of weed out tire kickers? What would that verbiage look like? Would it be as simple as providing a page outlining sample budget ranges (small, med, lg) I'd work within, or should it be a straightforward statement such as, "Currently accepting clients with starting investments of $10,000," or some such?

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Dear Dakota,

One thing I am struggling with is knowing when the right time is to no longer work from home.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

A designer submitted a question that represents the frustration a lot of business owners contend with — how to free yourself from time-consuming and distracting (and sometimes incessant) phone calls during your workday, yet still be responsive and supportive to clients throughout the design process. Please note: this is NOT about getting potential clients to stop calling you (although, I have personal opinions on not giving anyone access to you until they’ve been screened…different post for a different day; this post is how to get paid clients to stop calling you all the time if that’s now how you prefer to communicate.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Do any of these sound familiar?

“I have 456 unopened emails in my inbox right now”

OR

"Clients are constantly emailing me."

OR

"My clients only want ME to respond to their issues, even though I have a team."

Yeah. I get it. Happens all the time. Clients want YOU and only YOU, even if it means higher billing, longer lead times, more team communication, greater inefficiencies, etc. You chose the profession of interior design because you love solving creative problems. But email seems to take up most of your workday sometimes, right? 

I’m thrilled to introduce our first guest blog contributor, Darla Powell of Wingnut Social. 

Darla is more than just an award-winning interior designer, podcast host, social media speaker, and former police detective. She’s also an adept unraveler of marketing secrets. Her down-to-earth style delivers smart, actionable information that’s relevant to real business owners—because she is one. Darla shares her expertise on Wingnut Social, a digital marketing and social media agency, with topics ranging from social media mastery (what really engages followers?—it’s probably not what you think), to how to build your brand from the ground up (how did she go from retired cop to one of the top five interior designers in Miami in less than sixteen months?—secrets will be revealed). 

Darla shares her advice for making posting on social media less time-consuming, and for how to develop a social strategy when you have no time.