Posts by Melissa Galt
BUSINESS BUILDING BLOCKS: Are Your Prospects Afraid of You?
I was listening to Karen Fisher of Designer Previews on the Interior Design Summit and she confirmed what I’ve always known; design prospects are often very intimidated no matter what level they are at. Design professionals too often fail to realize that this is a very BIG DEAL! They are coming to us with their…
Read MoreBUSINESS BUILDING BLOCKS: How Gratitude Can Grow Your Business!
Every morning I wake up and practically pinch myself I am so grateful to be here, alive at this time in history! I live in a beautiful home that I worked hard to earn, I work with talented design professionals to grow their businesses, and I share my talents with wonderful clients to transform their…
Read MoreBUSINESS BUILDING BLOCKS: 5 Must-Haves for Every Designer’s Website
I speak with so many design professionals and even retailers and am continually amazed at how many don’t have websites at all, or websites that work for them. I have had a website for my design practice since 1994, and even won awards for its design! My biggest clients have always come through the website.…
Read MoreBUSINESS BUILDING BLOCKS: What Are YOU Worth?
Did you know that according to a nationwide survey of interior design professionals, the average independent interior designer grosses $250K a year? Are you grossing anywhere close to that figure? Do you know the difference between net and gross? I have found that many interior design professionals not only make far less than this, but…
Read MoreBUSINESS BUILDING BLOCKS: 7 Secrets to Turning Prospects into Clients
These quick and effective steps are ones I use regularly to turn prospects easily and quickly into clients (if there is a fit). Listen. It sounds simple and it can be but too often we get caught up in wanting to tell them all about ourselves. This isn’t about us; it is about them, so…
Read MoreAre You Connected?
How often do we focus exclusively on our client in business and forget to talk a bit about ourselves? Don’t underestimate the power of finding those points of connection that will set you apart from your competitors. It can be as simple as gathering any of the following information: Where are they from? Where did…
Read MoreAre You Easy to Do Business With?
At the Atlanta Home Furnishings summer market this last Friday I had an unusual experience. I had been checking out showrooms for a few filler pieces for my mountain retreat and found Go Home. It is a resource new to me, which has some great unique pieces. I asked about lead time and the owner…
Read MoreCelebrate Your Career
Excerpted from Melissa’s top selling Celebrate Your Life! The Art of Celebrating Every Day More than a third of our lives are spent in pursuit of our livelihood. Too often this is not a celebration but instead an obligation and a decision by default. We are put on a career track before we even know…
Read MoreBand-Aids on Your Business: Ease the Pain
Well, despite it all, I do have to keep up on my ezine and sharing more business building tips! This week is about how to alleviate the pain we often find in our small businesses by eliminating the Band-Aid fixes. I have to confess that I am a terrible interviewer and it has cost me…
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