There’s a lot on your plate with an interior design business and the last thing you need is a complicated and time-consuming website. Many designers are overwhelmed and frustrated with their websites and either end up spending way too much time & money on them or end up avoiding them altogether.

A great website is one of the best ways to elevate your business and attract ideal clients. Here are 5 things you can do to make your website a true asset in your business instead of a headache:

1. Choose the Right Website Building Platform

The website platform you choose to build your website on matters a lot. WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix have been the most common choices in the past. However, each one of these comes with a steep learning curve – WordPress especially. Squarespace and Wix claim to be easier to use and an “all-in-one” solution for your entire business however they both can still be difficult to learn. In general, I do not recommend “all-in-one” business solutions because you will be at their mercy when it comes to functionality, pricing, and more. (It’s like renting an apartment versus owning your own home.)

I have built many websites on WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix and now exclusively use Showit to build client websites and templates. I highly recommend Showit for interior designers because it is truly the most intuitive drag-and-drop platform that even the non-tech savvy can manage with ease. If you are familiar with graphic design tools like Canva or Adobe you will see that Showit is very similar to these types of tools. Showit also provides fast & reliable website hosting and a WordPress blog option if you choose to create a blog. If you want a headache-free website builder that allows you to create a beautiful website with ease, then Showit is a no-brainer choice for interior designers.

Get one month of Showit FREE when you open a new account!

2. Outsource the Right Help

When it comes to hiring help for your website, you should consider your best options. There are many different types of website designers to choose from, from independent business owners to freelancers on sites like Fiverr and Upwork. Their fees will range in price based on their experience, quality of work, and location.

I typically do not recommend hiring unknown designers from sites like Fiverr or Upwork. I have had many clients come to me with disjointed and broken websites and some have even had their sites hacked into because they hired someone “fast & cheap” to do work for them.

When you give access to your website, you are sharing very sensitive information about you, your business, and your clients. If you wouldn’t give this person keys to your home, then I would definitely not give them access to your website either. The best way to find someone you can trust is to follow them online first. Subscribe to their social media accounts, get on their email list, and spend some time getting to know them before you hire them.

Hiring a general website designer can also be a risk. If they are not already familiar with the intricacies of interior design businesses, they will not be able to create the most optimized website for you. A great design is only beneficial if it works to enhance and grow your business. A general website designer will also need more time to learn about your business needs and more time will lead to more money. Working with a designer who specializes in interior design businesses will ensure that you maximize your return on your investment.

Check out our web design services HERE.

3. Use Templates Tailored for Designers

If you are just getting started in your interior design business or you aren’t ready to commission a custom design, then using a template is a great way to create your website. However, not all website templates are created equally. It’s very easy to get swept away by a beautiful design without thinking through the functionality needs of your business.

Because Showit allows for so much creative freedom, you will be able to easily find the most stunning website templates on the market by Showit designers. But, if the template is not customized specifically for an interior design business you will not be able to use the template effectively. I have had many clients come to me after purchasing a template they loved but just couldn’t make it work and ended up scraping the whole thing and starting over. You can avoid this costly mistake by purchasing a template that you know will give you the right foundations to begin with. Using a template that is tailored specifically for interior designers ensures that your site will have the appropriate pages, menus, and overall structures in place to support your business needs.

At Northside Studio, we only create websites and templates for the interior design industry. Because we specialize in helping this specific niche market, we are able to create websites that are fully optimized to grow your interior design business.

Check out our website template shop HERE.

4. Keep The Design Simple

A simple and straightforward design is the easiest way to keep your website manageable. While there are always new and intriguing trends in the web design industry, many of them involve complex steps that require special coding knowledge or the expertise of a skilled website developer. If you can’t create or understand the design element yourself, then it may not be worth it in the long run.

Potential clients come to your website to get a visual feel for your work and to find out more information about working with you. By keeping your website simple, you create a user-friendly experience that allows your clients to navigate effortlessly and find the information they need. A clean and uncomplicated design helps to highlight the key aspects of your work and services, making it easier for clients to understand your offerings.

Here’s an example of a simple, yet polished design for your interior design website:

5. Know Your Call-to-Actions

Before you start creating a website for your interior design business, it’s important to figure out the steps in your ideal client’s journey. This will allow you to strategically place specific calls to action throughout your site to convert visitors into leads. When a visitor arrives on your site, what action do you want them to take? Do you want them to sign up for your email list, fill out an inquiry form, or book a consultation call? It’s important to avoid conflicting calls to action on your site. You want your potential clients to know exactly what to do to take the next step with you.

Your website should have one main objective with a clear call to action throughout. If your goal is to have potential clients fill out an inquiry form, then your main call to action should direct them to that form. You can have a secondary call to action to join your email list or sign up for a freebie, but it should not overshadow your main call to action. By providing a clear call to action that leads visitors to the next step, you not only improve the navigation of your website but also optimize it to convert more visitors into leads for your business.

Conclusion

Uncomplicating your interior design is easy to do when you know the right steps to follow. By choosing the right website platform, outsourcing the right help, using templates tailored for interior designers, keeping the design simple, and having clear calls to action you can easily achieve your website goals. Implementing these 5 tips can have a huge impact on the effectiveness of your website and the overall success of your business.