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Welcome to The DTS Files for Interior Designers

The DTS Files is a premium content hub for interior designers who want to grow their businesses with expert-backed strategies, real-world consulting insights, and proven frameworks.

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ACTIONABLE BUSINESS STRATEGIES

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MEMBERS-ONLY ARTICLES PUBLISHED WEEKLY

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PRIVATE LIBRARY OF EXPERT INSIGHTS & ADVICE FOR INTERIOR DESIGNERS

| ACTIONABLE BUSINESS STRATEGIES I MEMBERS-ONLY ARTICLES PUBLISHED WEEKLY | PRIVATE LIBRARY OF EXPERT INSIGHTS & ADVICE FOR INTERIOR DESIGNERS

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SYSTEMS & OPS, CLIENT EXPERIENCE, MARKETING Katie McFarlan SYSTEMS & OPS, CLIENT EXPERIENCE, MARKETING Katie McFarlan
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Top 10 Blog Posts of 2023 for Interior Designers

In 2023, my team and I wrote 89 blog posts for interior designers (this one makes it 90), doubling our total from last year! There is nothing we enjoy more than sharing our insights and helping designers improve their business operations and client experience. Today, I’m sharing the top ten blog posts for interior designers from this year, plus the blog posts I enjoyed writing the most.

Thank YOU for being here and for reading my blog, The Weekly Install, and my Instagram posts

So, without further ado, here are the TOP 10 BLOG POSTS FOR INTERIOR DESIGNERS from 2023.

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MARKETING Katie McFarlan MARKETING Katie McFarlan

How To Establish Your Credibility As An Interior Designer

With so much trust placed on the line at the beginning of an interior design project, where the client has to wait months OR YEARS to see the actual finished product, it is CRITICAL that clients trust their interior designer and know they will be able to deliver them the results they are seeking.  

The more credible you are as a company, the more streamlined your entire interior design client process will be.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

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MARKETING, CLIENT EXPERIENCE Katie McFarlan MARKETING, CLIENT EXPERIENCE Katie McFarlan

What To Do If Potential Interior Design Clients Can’t Afford Your Services

As an interior designer, have you ever had someone say to you, “I would just loooooooooove to work with you! Your style is exactly what I’m going for! But I just can’t afford you!”

When this happens, the people pleaser deep down inside of you may say, “Oh, I should really help this person” or “They NEED me!” or “I could give this person a good price, because it IS still revenue, right??”

WRONG!

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

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MARKETING, CLIENT EXPERIENCE Katie McFarlan MARKETING, CLIENT EXPERIENCE Katie McFarlan

Pricing Tip: You Can’t Just Increase Your Rates

I'm anti "charge what you're worth" and "just double your price". LOL. 

And if you follow anyone who is teaching how to run a business using bumper sticker mantras like these, I encourage you to find a professional who has experience running a business based on economics and data. 

You can't just increase your pricing or charge $XXX because every other designer you know charges $XXX. Sure, that can give you some confidence around your pricing to know you're aligned with industry standards, but here's what's really key when it comes to pricing:

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

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ACCESS A PRIVATE LIBRARY OF EXPERT ADVICE for INTERIOR DESIGNERS

My strategies have shaped the way thousands of interior designers and luxury service providers do business.

Inside The DTS Files, you’re getting the original insights straight from the source. Tested, refined, and backed by my experience working with 100+ design firms.

And because this is a members-only space, I can go deeper than ever before, sharing the real strategies that help designers build profitable, sustainable businesses with confidence.

HEAR FROM SOME OF OUR MEMBERS:

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PRICING PLAYBOOK for INTERIOR DESIGNERS

The Complete Guide to Pricing Your Design Services

Grab my pricing playbook, The Complete Guide to Pricing your Interior Design Services, to learn:

  • the six most common pricing models for designers

  • who each one is best for, and

  • how to know if your pricing model is broken

NEED BUSINESS SUPPORT ASAP?

SHOP TEMPLATES

Plug-and-play templates, questionnaires, processes, and guides for interior designers who want to stop reinventing the wheel with every new project.

The Design Library helps you streamline client communication, set clear expectations, and protect your time—so you can spend less time in your inbox and more time designing. Inside, you’ll find:

✔ Professionally written client emails and marketing guides for every step of the process.
✔ SOPs to standardize service delivery and create a seamless, high-end experience.
✔ Contract templates with sample scopes to protect you, your team, and your clients.

What took me years to refine can be in your inbox in minutes.

Katie McFarlan Dakota Design Company Premium Client Process templates for Interior Designers

*for interior designers only, not interior design business coaches, consultants, mentors, strategists.

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SHOP WORKSHOPS & TRAININGS

Learn from me and my team (comprised of industry experts and educators) all the things they don’t teach in design school. And we know because two of the women on my team went to interior design school and are professors!

After consulting with and doing hands-on implementation for over 100 interior design business owners, I’ve seen what works (and doesn’t) across every business model imaginable. We are familiar with various software types, team structures of 1 to 20, and the challenges that are coming, whether you’re on your way to your first $100,000 or already making multiple millions.

On-demand and live step-by-step trainings for your busy schedule.

Katie McFarlan Dakota Design Company Premium Client Process templates for Interior Designers

*for interior designers only, not interior design business coaches, consultants, mentors, or strategists.

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COMPLIMENTARY QUIZ FOR INTERIOR DESIGNERS

You don’t need to overhaul everything. You just need to fix the right thing.

This 2-minute quiz will help you identify what’s holding you back and how to fix it.

JOIN 16,000 DESIGNERS EVERY FRIDAY

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Proven strategies and tools to streamline and elevate your interior design business.