Stop the Social Media Madness: What’s Actually Working for Interior Designers Right Now

If you’re an interior designer, you probably didn’t start your business to spend your days making reels, scheduling content, or learning SEO tricks.

And yet...
It feels like you’re supposed to become a content machine just to stay relevant.

“You have to be on social.”
“You need to grow your audience.”
“You must master SEO to get found.”

Here’s the truth:
That pressure isn’t helping.
And for most real, working designers—it’s not even getting results.

Where Are the Best Interior Design Clients Coming From?

Let’s be honest. When was the last time you got a dream client—your kind of client—from a social post or a Google search?

If you're like most designers I know, the answer is:

Rarely. Maybe never.

Meanwhile, amazing clients are coming from:

• Referrals

• Contractor and architect relationships

• Past clients who already know, love, and trust your work

These people aren’t strangers. They’re warm leads.
They’ve seen what you can do. They want you.
They’re not shopping around. They’re not price comparing.

They’re ready.

So What’s the Point of Social Media and SEO?

Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Social media and your website do matter—but not as lead generators.

They’re your digital proof of concept. Your trust-builder.
Your credibility check.

Once someone hears about you, they’ll Google you.
They’ll look at your Instagram.

What they want to see is:

• Are you legit?

• Do your designs speak to them?

• Do you look like someone they can trust?

That’s your goal.

You don’t need to go viral.
You need to look like you know what you’re doing.

A Real Moment from the Circle

Inside Designer Sanity Circle, one thing comes up again and again:

Designers feel like they should be spending more time on social media.
They feel guilty for not posting more.
They hear messages about SEO and start to wonder—

“Do I need to spend thousands on marketing just to get noticed?”

But here’s the truth:

When we bring those worries and questions to the group, something amazing happens.
We get real answers from real designers about what’s actually working.

And what we’ve seen, time and time again, is this:
SEO and social media are not where the best clients are coming from.
The projects we love most—the aligned, ready, high-trust clients—come from relationships.

Referrals.
Contractors and architects.
Past clients who pass our names along.

We remind each other that:

You don’t need to focus more on Social. Word of mouth and referrals are where the best leads come from.

You already have what you need.
And when you forget, the Circle is here to help you remember.

I’m Not a Marketing Expert. I’m a Designer.

I’m not here to tell you how to beat the algorithm.
I’m not selling SEO strategy or TikTok growth plans.

I’m a designer who’s been doing this for 20+ years.

And I’ve coached dozens of designers who are doing it too.
I’ve seen what works, what burns people out, and what leads to real success.

Marketing does matter. But there’s a time and a place.

Once you have:

• A steady pipeline of word-of-mouth clients

• A business that’s profitable

• Systems to support more growth

That’s when a marketing pro can take what you’ve built and elevate it.

What to Focus On Now Instead of Social and SEO

If you’re in your early or growth phase, your energy is better spent:

• Nurturing referral relationships

• Getting clear on your process and brand

• Creating a simple, clean, on-brand online presence

Referrals, not reels. Relationships, not rankings.

That’s the heart of a successful interior design business.  And guess what, none of that is expensive or time-consuming.  Feeling relieved? You're welcome. 😁

Want a More Sane Way to Market Your Design Business?

You don’t need to become an influencer.
You don’t need to be glued to Instagram.
You don’t need 50 random leads a month.

You need 1-3 amazing ones that come in warm, ready, and aligned.

That’s what we focus on inside Designer Sanity Circle.

It’s where interior designers go for:

• Real talk about what’s working in business

• Strategy without burnout

• Support from designers who get it

Let’s Take the Pressure Off

If you’re feeling the weight of doing it all online, this is your permission slip to:

• Post less

• Worry less

• Focus more on what actually moves the needle

The next best client for your design business is probably not on your Instagram.
They’re already in your network.
Let’s build a business that supports that.

Final Word: Real Talk from Real Designers

If you’re tired of chasing trends and wasting money on advice that wasn’t built for your kind of business, come join us.

Inside Designer Sanity Circle, we’ll help you cut through the noise, take the pressure off, and grow your design business with calm, clarity, and confidence.

Because what you need isn’t more posts—
It’s more perspective.

Real talk. Real designers. Real results.
Join the Circle →