Quick Summary
If you’ve ever wondered whether to focus on social media or Google marketing, you’re not alone. The truth? Both matter—but for different reasons. This post breaks down how interior design clients actually find you, using a real story to show how one project started with a lawn sign, grew through Google, and ended with an Instagram follow. It’s proof that smart marketing isn’t about choosing one platform—it’s about building a connected strategy that makes your design business findable everywhere clients look.
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I’ve got a “marketing puzzle” for you. Can you solve it?
We’ve got a client, a high-end interior design firm, who just closed a new project. Let’s call the new project Sally.
One evening, Sally was walking her dog when she passed a home under construction in her neighbourhood. She noticed the interior designer’s lawn sign, and Googled the name. Sally bookmarked the website and followed the design firm on Instagram. That was in February.
Seven months later, she and her husband decided to renovate. Sally revisited the designer’s website and read a few blog posts. One of them really hit home. That’s when she reached out.
So… who gets the credit for the sale? The lawn sign? Google? Instagram? Or that blog post?
Social Media vs. Google
If you’re wondering whether to focus on social media or Google, you might be asking the wrong question.
It’s all connected. Marketing rarely works in a straight line.
People don’t see one post and hire you right away. The lawn sign sparked curiosity. Google made the designer findable. Instagram built familiarity. The blog sealed the deal.
Where Do You Even Start?
That’s overwhelming to hear, isn’t it? It sounds like I’m saying, “You have to do everything.”
But here’s the truth: you don’t have to do everything at once. You just have to do the next right thing.
Think of marketing like building a house. You start with the foundation, not the furnishings. Eventually, you want to have it all. But you have to do it in phases.
If you’re not sure where to begin, use Sally’s story as your roadmap:
- Pick a focus (or “niche”). This client focuses on a specific part of the city.
- Start physical. Get your vehicle decals and site signage up.
- Build your website. Showcase your projects and outline your services.
- Be Google-able. Set up your Google Maps listing and get at least 25 reviews.
- Then, go social. Share your process, your wins, and a few behind-the-scenes moments.
The long-term goal is to be on all the channels and have them all working together, like in Sally’s story. For now, just pick one and stack the next marketing channel later.
📢 Tomorrow we’re hosting a virtual workshop on how to prioritize your 12-month marketing plan. If you’d like to join, sign up HERE. There’s only one spot left.
Daniela
