The Best Marketer Wins.....Here's What That Means for Your Design Business
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There’s a phrase I heard a few years back that I honestly felt was nonsense at the time:
“The best marketer wins.”
I think it was from marketing extraordinaire Seth Godin (but don’t quote me ). At first, I brushed it off like fluff. I had been taught, like many of us in the Interior Design industry that if I just did beautiful work and positioned myself as a “luxury designer,” the clients would come.
Well... they didn’t. At least, not consistently.
The truth no one tells you or is willing to admit
I had the talent. I had the aesthetic. I was creating magazine-worthy rooms, functional beautiful kitchens and bathrooms, and spaces that made my clients cry. But none of that translated to steady income or a booked-out client calendar.
And if you’ve been in the industry long enough, you’ve probably noticed this too:
You can be crazy talented and still struggle to get clients.
Meanwhile, another designer with half your experience and a semi-decent feed or no feed at all is fully booked and busy.
I started asking: How?
A Real Moment That Changed Everything
I met this designer while working at a luxury tile showroom. She was everywhere: Greenwich, Martha’s Vineyard, The Hamptons. Big projects. Big budgets.
So I asked her:
“How are you getting all these jobs? You don’t even have a website!” She had no website, a stalled social media feed with about three posts and she hadn't posted in two years.
She laughed and said:
“I have one project that I push through a digital marketing system and it’s circulating all over the NY tri-state area.” If you're not from NY, the tri-state means (New York, New jersey, and Connecticut)
I was stunned.
Here I was with years of experience, a gorgeous portfolio, weekly social posts, and... crickets. I would get one really great high level project, then nothing for months, and that cycle would continue for almost two years until I had enough.
She had three posts and hadn't posted in two years, but working on million dollar homes consistently.
You know what I said?
"Sis, TEACH ME YOUR WAYS!"
When I finally dove into learning digital marketing and how I could use it as a designer, my entire business and lifestyle changed.
What every Interior Designer needs to know:
Design is what gets your clients to their end result, but marketing is what gets you the clients.
Let that sink in.
No one can hire you if they don’t know you exist.
No one will trust you without a clear, consistent presence and confidence that you are the expert they need.
And no one will invest in your services if they can’t see the value through the Ai generated design noise.
✨ So What Do The Booked-Out Designers Understand?
They understand how to:
✔️ Attract: They’re not just posting to social media and hoping, they’re showing up where action takers are online.
✔️ Build Trust: Through value-packed content, storytelling, and authenticity.
✔️ Drive Action: Their service offers are clear. Their digital funnels are in place and working hard for them.
Their marketing isn’t an afterthought.
They’re not just talented. They’re strategic.
If you're still relying on just your portfolio, word-of-mouth, or posting without a real system, let’s change that.
Ask yourself:
Am I attracting the right people consistently?
Do I have a clear marketing funnel or strategy that works for me 24-7?
Are my offers, website, or content driving inquiries, sales, or booked projects every month?
If not, your marketing isn’t working for you, and that’s what we need to fix. Our 60 second Design Business Audit Quiz will tell you exactly which area you should be focusing on in your business at this very moment.