12 Proven Tactics To Get Interior Design Clients Quickly

Slow seasons happen to even the most talented designers. Whether it’s your pipeline, your profit, or your inspiration that’s running dry, the instinct is often to hustle harder. You pile on more platforms, post more content, and chase more visibility. But here’s the truth: more is not better when it’s unfocused and frantic. It’s a one-way ticket to burnout, not results.

I’ve coached hundreds of designers through these slumps, and what works isn’t doing everything. It’s doing one thing, the right thing, with fierce consistency.

Use One Proven Marketing Tactic To Capture Clients Quickly

When business feels slow, don’t scatter your energy. Don’t launch ten half-baked marketing tactics. Instead, make one clear, focused marketing move, and commit to it fully for 30 days.

I had a designer recently come to me overwhelmed, saying, “Melissa, I have a million things I could be doing.” I stopped her right there. I told her: “Pick the one thing that will bring revenue in the fastest. Focus on it completely, start to finish. Then, move to the next.”

Trying to do five things poorly is the fastest way to miss deadlines, lose profit, and stay stuck. One marketing action. Done with intention. For 30 days. That’s your breakthrough strategy.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• 01:09 Why “doing more” during slow seasons leads to burnout, not bookings
• 03:40 How to select one of 12 proven marketing moves to focus on for 30 days
• 05:31 Why launching a digital newsletter can be a game-changing visibility tool
• 07:17 The power of story-driven Instagram content that attracts ideal clients—not DIYers
• 13:07 Tips for getting into publications and podcasts your clients actually pay attention to
• 26:11 How optimizing your Google Business Profile can improve local visibility fast

12 Proven Marketing Tactics (Choose One)

Below are 12 high-impact marketing strategies I’ve seen move the needle for interior designers. Your job? Choose one. Yes, just one. Not three. Not five. One. If you’re tempted to do more, put them in order and revisit after you’ve given your first choice 30 days to deliver.

1. Launch a Digital Newsletter

If you don’t have one, here’s your sign. Send a monthly newsletter to past, current, and potential clients. Keep it simple:

• A personal note with a current photo of you
  
• A featured project (before & afters, creative challenges, testimonial)
  
• A compelling call to action (e.g., “Booking for Fall 2025”)
  

Make it engaging, not overwhelming. Your newsletter should feel like a warm invitation, not a corporate bulletin.

2. Post to Instagram Three Times a Week

And no, not DIY tips. Those attract DIYers, not paying clients. Instead,I want you to post strategic, story-driven content:

• Why you choose what you choose
  
• Product spotlights
  
• Process highlights
  
• Behind-the-scenes of a project
  

Let your expertise shine through. Position yourself as the designer who makes it all look effortless because you’ve mastered the process.

3. Send 3 Personal Outreach Messages Weekly

Text, email, or call three past or potential clients each week. Make it personal, not pitchy. Ask about their kids starting school, comment on a mutual interest, or share something that reminded you of them.

Connection leads to conversation. And conversation leads to contracts.

4. Go Live on Instagram Twice a Week

Afraid of video? One of my clients built 80K followers in nine months by going live three times a week. No script. No schedule. Just authentic, in-the-moment content that felt real because it was. Share design insights, behind-the-scenes stories, or project walkthroughs.

Authenticity attracts.

5. Pitch Yourself to Four Podcasts or Publications

Be strategic. Skip industry-insider podcasts. Your ideal client isn’t listening. Get on homeowner-facing platforms and publications. Ask your best clients what they read and then target those outlets. Visibility only matters when it’s in front of the right eyes.

6. Launch a Short-Form Video Series

Think Reels, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts. Share quick, valuable insights with high production value. Not sure where to start? Repurpose content you’ve already created. This doesn’t have to be overwhelming; it just has to be consistent.

7. Attend One Non-Industry Networking or Social Event Weekly

Try a local meetup, charity gala, or even a Timeleft dinner (you’ll meet 5 new people over dinner with zero pressure). Your next client isn’t another designer…it’s someone who hasn’t met you yet.

Get out of the echo chamber. Real connections create real opportunities.

8. Host a Local Workshop, Pop-Up, or Q&A

Partner with a local boutique, day spa, or dealership. Think of any business that serves your ideal client. Keep it small and focused. These don’t need to be flashy to be effective. You just need to show up and share your value.

9. Share a Before-and-After Transformation Weekly

But tell the story, not just the visuals. What were the challenges? How did you solve them? What was the emotional impact on your client? Stories sell. Pretty pictures alone don’t.

10. Capture One Testimonial Per Week

Don’t wait for clients to “get around to it.” Be proactive. Write a draft in their voice based on things they said during the project and ask for approval. Or hire a pro (like my go-to, Tricia Malloy) to do it for you. One testimonial a week, every week.

11. Update Your Website Portfolio

Archive what’s outdated. Add your latest and greatest. Your website is your digital storefront. If it’s stale, you’re turning away opportunity. This should be a quarterly habit but you should start now.

12. Optimize Your Google Business Profile

This used to be called Google My Business. Now it’s GBP. Post weekly. Add photos. Make it easy for people to find and trust you. YouTube has quick tutorials. This is low-effort, high-impact SEO real estate. Use it.

Shift Your Interior Design Business With One Focused Marketing Tactic 

This is how you shift from slow to thriving. Choose one marketing move that aligns with your energy, your goals, and your audience. Stick with it for 30 days. Watch your confidence rise, your visibility expand, and your pipeline fill.

You don’t need a marketing miracle. You need focus. And follow-through.

Clarity brings momentum. Consistency builds trust. One move, done well, creates results.ext 30 days.

Book your next step today.