 What is Canva and why is it so wonderful for design businesses?
Canva is an essential tool in interior design businesses. When it comes to aesthetics and brand marketing, Canva is the most suitable and user friendly application. It helps designers create professional looking infographics and images that can be used on a variety of social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and more. These designs will also appear high on search engine results pages when you use specific keywords related to your business or project. The best part? You don't have to worry about coding or even having any graphic-design skills! Simply choose from the prebuilt templates included with each plan, or upload your own logo and photos with ease, then customize your new design with text, links, custom shapes, borders, shadows, gradients and much more. Once ready, simply select “Save” to launch your masterpiece on whichever platform you choose. Canva Application Pros! With its affordable plans starting at $4 per month, Canva has become one of the top choices for small companies who want to stay ahead of their competition without breaking the bank. Best of all there are no long term contracts to sign so you can cancel the subscription anytime. There's never been a better time to start using Canva by Design! Canva Increases Business Sales! Using Canva can improve your business marketing and sales. By improving sales, you are likely improving customer experience which may result in higher retention rates. Canva can help you make: • Infographic • Marketing poster • Presentation slide • Business cards • Flyers • Flyer template • Website banner What makes Canva different from other programs? Canva offers the ability to create graphics quickly and easily. We were inspired when we saw the endless possibilities of creating beautiful pieces of art through our smartphone cameras. This was something we loved doing as kids so we thought why not do the same thing now for adults and business owners. It seems like everyone is trying to tell us they build websites these days but they’re either too complicated for the average person or they require a lot of technical know how. So we decided to take a different approach and give people what they really need – simple tools to build awesome websites and graphics. We recommend Canva because we believe you shouldn’t have to be a designer to make great assets you share with your audience. If you have a good idea for a website layout, infographic or presentation slide, chances are you already have that awesome photo or video lying around on your phone. All you need is a program that allows you to drag and drop elements together. Learn how Canva by Design can help you: ✓ Create beautiful visuals faster ✓ Convert words into stunning visuals ✓ Improve branding ✓ Grow your audience ✓ Boost engagement ✓ Increase conversions ✓ Make your content stand out from the crowd Included benefits are access to Canva's exclusive marketplace where you'll find millions of unique images, graphics, and other design resources created by Canva community. In addition, you get 10 GB of storage + 1 TB bandwidth + 15GB ebooks library, 500+ premium fonts , 50GB email account and unlimited domain. For more information visit our website kabms.com
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 For attracting high-paying clients, you need to pay extra attention to the two important aspects of your business - Marketing and PR. Remember, we have discussed this before in our blog that luxury prices go for the clients looking for luxury services. Make your digital and print media portfolio exclusive for the high-dollar clients.
Luxury Clients & Marketing Listening is vital! For good marketing you can never assume what your client wants from you. Once you know your audience, you need to redesign your digital presence accordingly. Website Your website is the only digital property you own. It is your brand identity. We discuss three important marketing tips for a good website. Consistency: Consistent style and design are the trademark for your brand. SEO: Search Engine Optimization enables you to design content for your target audience. It helps you to be creative within the boundaries of your niche. Functionality: Website speed is crucial to your digital business. Slow loading website have higher bounce rates. One way to increase your website loading speed is to decrease the image size. For a good quality small sized image you can use TinyPNG.com and TinyJPG.com. Another important tip is to check for non-functional links on your website using GTmetrix.com. These should be removed to increase efficiency of your website. User Experience: Relevant information should be readily available to the clients as they enter your website. Social Media Brand identity: Create a look that is your own and be consistent. Build a solid visual brand that resonates with your unique brand identity. Highlights: Use your social media platforms to highlight your awards and projects. Best way to showcase your luxury brand is through video. Video is a very interactive medium to present your personality, testimonials from your clients and your brand story. Brand Story: By simply telling your customers why you started your business and what makes you different, you can build an effective emotional connection with your audience. This builds brand loyalty and gets people talking about your brand story to their friends creating a network of referrals. Micro Influencers: Use influencers that speak to your crowd. Research and find out who are the influencers your high-paying clients are following and make a joint marketing campaign. Pay Per Click (PPC) Audience Target Sheet: You may want to position your luxury brand on various platforms other than Google. Use the audience worksheet to target that audience in various search engines. Facebook Ads: Facebook provides audience selection through its detailed demographics algorithms and hence is a great site for Paid Ads. Segmenting audience is unrivaled by most platforms. It is most likely that audience will not buy through the initial ad but they will put you on their radar. This is a useful strategy for building your brand. Bing Search Engine: Bing search engine has a great potential for prospect conversion rate. According to Bing, 1/3 of their audience has a household income over 100K so you are able to reach 59 million people that are not reached on Google. We'll discuss more about Luxury PR in our next blog. For more value based information visit our website www.kitchenandbathmarketingsolutions.com  Gone are the days when people would collect magazines and browse catalogs for interior design ideas. Today, social media platforms like LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook allow homeowners to discover their design style, learn about interior decoration, and communicate with designers directly. The most effective way to grow your design business and create lasting relationships with your clients is by utilizing these platforms through strategic digital marketing. The following tips are easy to implement and will improve your engagement.
1. Start a Blog Blogging is one of the most effective ways to showcase your design talent and establish your expertise in the field. Not only do they allow you to share your knowledge and creativity, but you can engage on a more personal, but still professional, level with your clients. They can be short and sweet, but they're essential for improving your SEO when you use keywords and phrases throughout your content. A blog can easily be added to your company website or created on a blogging platform. Most of these platforms, like Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, and WordPress, have SEO identification features that will improve your search relevancy and increase your traffic when updated regularly. 2. Optimize Social Media Social media is an amazing way to attract and engage potential clients because it’s free advertising. Aside from your website, your social media accounts should be secondary for showcasing your portfolio and drive traffic back to your website. Engaging your audience with attractive content is only the first step. Connect with your followers by responding to comments, answering direct messages, and liking posts. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram are all great platforms to share your work, but Pinterest dominates the DIY, home and décor, and design space. If you’re a designer and only have time to focus on one of these networks, make it Pinterest. 3. Use Videos One of the quickest and easiest ways to catch your audience’s attention is with a short video. By 2021, over 80% of all internet traffic will be video, which means it’s time to jump on the bandwagon. Many people get intimidated when they hear the word “video,” as they automatically associate it with a big budget. Contrary to popular belief, video content doesn't need to be perfect or have the highest resolution like photos. All you need is your smartphone and to hit “record.” Start with a simple introductory video to add a personal touch and let your potential clients know who you are. 4. Quality Over Quantity As an interior designer, you want to make your clients happy by meeting their wants and needs. However, you also want the right customers to find you based on your brand and your particular style and area of expertise. This means sticking with your brand aesthetic throughout all platforms and your website. Focus on quality over quantity. Be consistent with your brand voice and don’t post anything unless it feels cohesive with your business. Eventually, once you find your stride with crisp, bright photos and engaging copy, aim to post at least four times a week for the best outreach. Until then, it’s fine to post less as long as it’s great material. 5. Understand Your Audience People spend an average of four hours a day on their phones! Make sure that your website is optimized for mobile devices and be sure to take into account your social media networks. Consider who your ideal client is and meet them where they likely spend most of their time. If your ideal client is in their 20s to 30s, you may have more luck with engagement on Instagram. If they’re in their 30s to 40s, Pinterest is your best bet. Try to curate content that will appeal to your demographics. For example, 20-somethings might enjoy a list of budget-friendly places to buy home accents, while 40-somethings may prefer tips on home maintenance and organization solutions. Building an online presence can take some diligent effort, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Every successful marketing plan incorporates simple digital tactics to better connect with and attract new customers, increase customer retention, and showcase design work in a professional and personal way. The most essential tip to remember is to showcase your brand and expertise, and the right clients will find you with minimal effort. For additional information take a look at our Resource Library for additional marketing tips. If you want to speak with one of our professionals contact us or schedule a strategy session so we can better understand you business and show you how we can help grow your business and your brand. Why Hiring a Marketing Company is Advantageous to Interior Designers and Remodel Companies10/1/2020  No matter how small or big your business is, advertisement plays a crucial role in boosting its growth. When it comes to interior designing and remodeling companies, most of the potential clients approach you through an online search. Therefore, it is essential to hire a marketing company that can help you grow faster by targeting the right audience through effective marketing strategies. Outsourcing marketing functions can make your business grow massively even if you have just started. Reasons to Hire a Digital Marketing Company for Your Business 1. Professional Expertise and Skills When an interior design firm or remodeling company opens their doors, it is often hard for them to manage marketing and other challenges due to the overwhelming nature of business. By hiring a marketing company, it becomes much easier for the company to grow through their expertise and skillsets. The experts present on the team will plan everything from marketing strategy to its execution. 2. Cost-Effective Marketing Fixed and operational costs are massively increased when a company has to hire employees for longer durations. Hiring a company for marketing not only reduces the need for appointing employees but also proves to be cost-effective as it is reciprocal to lesser salaries to be given. Along with that, you don't have to deal with other issues such as reduced engagement of workers or providing them benefits to enhance their productivity. 3. No Extra Pressure on Existing Employees Many companies overload their employees just to reduce their expenses. Workers will eventually get frustrated when a company does not hire new employees and relies on them for marketing and advertising the business. This results in a lack of productivity and increases burn-out that can eventually affect the performance and reputation of the company. Hiring a marketing team saves you money and time as they handle a major part of your business development. 4. Updated Information about Latest Marketing Trends Hiring a marketing company enables your company to benefit from the latest marketing strategies and trends. Digital marketing agencies are responsible for enhancing traffic generation on your website along with providing you a strong client base that helps your business to grow. You no longer have to worry about making your employees learn new marketing techniques as you have a company now that can manage your marketing concerns. 5. Scaling Gets Easier By selecting a marketing agency, one can assess the need for human resources more effectively. By analyzing external and internal circumstances, a company can either enhance or reduce the services based on needs in that particular situation. For instance, a growth-driven firm would appoint more marketing employees depending upon their requirements and needs. If the company is becoming larger, it would upsize the marketing employees and vice versa. Wrap Up Hiring an external marketing company would not only be cost-effective for your remodeling or interior design firm but also optimize your position in both the real and digital world. Kitchen & Bath Marketing Solutions is a specialized digital marketing agency that works with interior design and remodeling companies. We have a proven track record with years of experience. Check out our resource library to learn more about all the information available to help you now. We would love to have a strategy session with you to learn more about your company and see how we can be of service. Contact us or give us a call at 800-516-5773 to set up your strategy call.   Outsourcing is not only about saving time, it is about protecting financial resources and having a team to support and augment your “Client Experience”. Here are 4 reasons why you should outsource.
Time Savings If you have been in business for any amount of time, you know “busy work” is time-consuming. When you think of the work involved in researching materials, ordering samples, back and forth emails or phone calls with vendors for pricing, ordering, paying and tracking materials, scheduling deliveries, ordering replacement materials and tracking those replacements, the mind and body go into a frenzy of anxiety and stress. Not to mention, social media platforms that need updating, tending and interaction. Oh, and let us not forget the portfolio on the website needs to be updated with pictures of completed projects. And what about invoicing? Who will invoice the clients for on-time payments? Email is out of control and who knows how many important emails are falling through the cracks because of it. A Virtual Design Assistant can support the business by taking on those tasks. Your remote assistant focuses on this “busy work”, while you gain back time, energy, peace and sanity. Industry Experience The experience a virtual design assistant brings to the table is priceless. It not only involves industry experience but, in some cases, it includes corporate experience. This means methodical, dedicated and outside-the-box thinking. A virtual design assistant will have processes in place that will enhance, not take away from, your business. The experience in the industry is a huge benefit when considering that this assistant will be organizing and cleaning your email inbox, researching material sources, speaking with vendors about tile or cabinets or plumbing fixtures and handling your social media. Someone with no knowledge or experience in the design or kitchen and bath industries will hinder your business. How many more missed emails will you have? How many questions will they have about what type of tile to source? Will they know the difference between framed and frameless cabinets, slab fronts or 5-piece fronts? Will they miss the fact that a shower valve needs to be ordered separate from the trim pieces? Again, industry knowledge and experience counts. Protecting Financial Resources As the business owner, you must consider where your financial resources are going, day in and day out. Income and expenses. Assets and Liabilities. So, how does a Virtual Design Assistant protect your financial resources? You do not have the extra operating costs from providing an office space, a desk, and tools to complete the job. This Entrepreneur article noted that business owners save an estimated 78% on operating costs when working with a virtual assistant! Why, you ask? Because a Virtual Design Assistant’s work is all done remotely, from their home and only paying for time spent working on projects. Of note, a Virtual Design Assistant is an Independent Contractor. Meaning, you do not provide benefits or pay federal, state, or local taxes. According to this article from Nolo, a business spends anywhere between 20%-30% on payroll expenses for traditional W-2 employees!! Consider what this added revenue means for your business. Not to mention, by outsourcing the “busy work”, you are earning more income because you are working less and focusing on the work that brings you meaning and are passionate about. Client Experience This all now brings us to the Client Experience. These are buzz words in the industry but also in the corporate world. This became a real issue a few years ago because companies realized their customers were going elsewhere for products and services. They acknowledged that to keep existing customers and bring in new ones, changes had to be made. The home improvement giants made changes to internal processes, company “culture”, store appearances, employee engagement and staffing, in an effort to affect the “customer experience”. In this manner, a virtual design assistant affects your “client experience”. Their experience not only saves you time and resources, but it allows you the opportunity to revisit those front-end, client-facing processes that have fallen by the wayside. This is the opportunity to put yourself in the client’s shoes and experience your design and project managing processes for yourself. At the end of the day, you want your clients to enjoy seamless, uneventful (well, as much as possible) projects. Because these clients will provide raving testimonials and bring you referrals and new work. This is the only path to growth and more revenue. The goal of a Virtual Design Assistant is, ultimately, to support the business owner with their goals, dreams, and aspirations, and to support them in getting back to what they truly love: designing and remodeling beautiful spaces for their clients. What would you be able to accomplish with as little as 10 extra hours per month and more revenue going back into your business? Want to know more about virtual design assistant services? Contact Erica Graham Consulting to schedule a discovery call. Their services can make your business less stressful and more productive. |
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