Where Clients Are Finding Designers Now: Interior Design Marketing That Works in 2025

Clients are savvier than ever, and the way they find and choose a designer has evolved fast. It’s no longer just about having a beautiful portfolio—clients want to know your process, your vibe, and your values. They’re more design-aware and more comparison-driven. Decision-making may be faster, but expectations are significantly higher.

That means the way you market your interior design business needs to shift. What used to work? Not so much anymore. So let’s take a closer look at the strategies that are getting real results in 2025.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

00:45 – “Clients are savvier, more design-aware, and more comparison-driven.”
02:10 – “SEO and Google My Business are bringing in high-quality leads with intent.”
03:50 – “Pinterest still works—when you’re strategic, consistent, and persistent.”
05:15 – “Proximity to Profit—why strategic collaborations with builders work best.”
07:30 – “Choose 2–3 platforms that align with your strengths and stay consistent.”

What’s Working Right Now

#1 SEO and Content Marketing

Blog posts, optimized service pages, and local search are pulling in high-quality leads that come with intent. SEO includes your Google My Business—and that is a free tool you can optimize to attract more traffic. Don’t ignore it. And don’t fall for the overpriced service providers promising to do it for you. The best source out there right now is Shawn Joshi’s Google My Business strategy—it’s clear, it’s actionable, and it’s only $77. Interior design marketing in 2025 is about being visible where it counts, and this is a foundational piece of that strategy.

#2 Pinterest

Still driving traffic—especially when paired with blog content. This one was on the back burner for me until recently. After hiring a strategic provider, monthly views have doubled each of the last two months. That’s the power of consistency and persistence. If you’re random, your results will be random. Ask your clients where they play online. Know where they look for inspiration and make sure you’re showing up there.

#3 Instagram

Instagram is still great for behind-the-scenes content and community building, but it’s not your best lead generator—unless you’re using Stories and DMs. That’s where the magic happens. Show the curtain being pulled back. Give them a glimpse of the real you, your process, your team, your values. That’s what they’re craving.

#4 Email Marketing

Still one of the most effective ways to stay top-of-mind and nurture leads. Are you sending a monthly newsletter? Are you checking in with past and potential clients personally? You need both. A regular digital newsletter keeps your brand in front of them, and personal outreach shows care. It’s worth the effort—and it’s still a key part of interior design marketing in 2025.

#5 Strategic Collaborations

This is the gold. Partnering with builders, architects, contractors and realtors for referrals and exposure is what I call Proximity to Profit. When it’s done right, it’s the most effective strategy out there. And it’s not about pitching or chasing. It’s about intentional relationship-building that takes time, care, and consistency.

If you’re coming to High Point Market, don’t miss my interview with my client Daly Gentry at Modern History, 3pm on Sunday, April 27, 2025. She transformed her business through a single builder partnership. She’ll be sharing exactly how she did it.

What’s Not Working Anymore

#1 Posting for the sake of it

Random content with no strategy or call to action is a waste of time and energy.

#2 Relying solely on Instagram—or any single channel

You need multiple marketing engines running consistently. Successful firms don’t pin everything on one platform. Interior design marketing in 2025 demands a diversified approach that reaches clients where they actually are—not just where you feel comfortable posting.

#3 Underestimating blog content

So many designers haven’t blogged in years and wonder why the leads have dried up. Blogging works when you pair it with a solid SEO plan. It’s not a one-and-done effort. You can do it yourself or hire help, but the key is keeping it active.

#4 Ignoring your email list—or not building one at all

This is a missed opportunity. You need a juicy opt-in on your site to capture interested visitors. And no, “join my list” or “subscribe to my newsletter” won’t cut it.

Give them something they can’t resist:

✓ A Perfect Process download

✓ An Inspirational Lookbook

✓ A Case Study that shows your process in action

All of these should be woven with testimonials and designed to attract clients who want to work with you—not DIYers.

#5 No clear point of view or visual consistency

This is about branding. Be yourself. Be bold, be gracious, be elegant, be audacious—but above all, be your brand.

How to Choose the Right Strategy for Your Firm

Look at your bandwidth, your strengths, and your audience.

If writing is your strength, lean into blogs and email marketing. Not a writer? Learn how to use AI to work in your voice.

If you’re a talker, try video content or YouTube—but be smart about it. YouTube is the second largest search engine after Google, and it requires consistency and strategy. Same time, same day, every week. Geared to your audience. SEO-optimized. No random posting.

The key to making this work is consistency. Choose two to three channels you can fully commit to. “All of the above” isn’t the answer—it dilutes your results. Decide based on conversations with your clients. This kind of intentional focus is exactly what makes interior design marketing in 2025 so effective—it’s not about doing more, it’s about doing what works.

Action Steps to Save Time

These five steps will save you time, keep you out of over thinking it, and help you keep your marketing engines humming and quality leads coming in. ✓ Batch content ahead of time

✓ Repurpose across platforms

✓ Use project milestones for content inspiration

✓ Schedule time each month to review analytics

✓ Include clear calls to action in every post, story, and email

Key Takeaways

When your marketing aligns with your strengths and your audience, it stops feeling overwhelming—and starts producing results. This is how you fill your profit pipeline and build a VIP PAID waitlist of dream clients.

No more chasing leads. No more wondering what to post. No more roller coaster revenue.

You’ve got this—because I’ve got you.

If you’re serious about growth and ready to take action, coaching will accelerate your success. It starts with a confidential Design Business Assessment—a complimentary session where we’ll take a close look at your design practice, where you are, and where you want to be. We’ll put together a plan to close the gap.

Schedule your Design Business Assessment here.