I love social media, but I’ll also be the first to tell you it can’t be the ONLY way you bring in new clients to your interior design business
In fact, social media isn’t technically *required* at all (but I do believe you shouldn’t ignore it if you want to be competitive in today’s interior design market). But whether you’re a huge fan of social media or are just maintaining a presence on your platforms, you don’t want to put all your “searching for new clients” eggs in that one basket.
You’re probably thinking, “Okay, but what else do I do?”
The good news is that you don’t have to add another platform to create content for – instead, you can incorporate a more passive method of attracting new clients…
A referral program for your past interior design clients.
What is a Referral Program?
A referral program is a way to reward your past clients when they recommend you to friends, family, or anyone searching for an interior designer. If the person they send your way books, you send them a thank you.
The reward itself is up to you. You could send a cash gift of a specified amount, a percentage based on the project booked, or a gift like a basket, box, or gift card.
This referral marketing strategy allows you to reach new clients through word-of-mouth recommendations from clients who loved working with you. And the biggest expense (purchasing the gift or reward) comes after a new client’s officially booked!
P.S. for my own referral program, I offer a $50 kickback for new members in SMM on Speed Dial (my monthly membership offering on-demand social media advice for interior designers) and it’s brought in some of my most aligned clients!! And it feels great to reward people!
How to Start a Referral Program (and Invite Your Past Clients to Join)
Think of your referral program as a win-win: Not only do you get introduced to new potential clients from people who’ve already loved working with you, but your past clients get something in return for sharing their experience with you. It’s not the only reason they’ll recommend you – just encouragement! But if they have a bad experience with your referral program, it’ll do the opposite.
Before you hit send on any email, make sure that you have all the details of your referral program mapped out. You need to know:
- The “incentive” or “reward”: what is the value or cash amount/percentage you’re going to offer?
- How said reward is delivered (and the information you’d need to do so)
- How do they sign up for your referral program? Is there a formal application/sign-up, or is it open to everyone?
- What they need to do to make sure the referral is tracked or noticed by you!
I recommend setting up a hidden page on your website or creating a PDF guide with everything (including any questions that a past client might have) and attaching it in an announcement email sent to your past clients. If you’re active on social media, share it there, too!
Moving forward, add your referral program to your client off-boarding. You can mention it in your final email or when you request a testimonial and feedback (which you need to do if you’re not already).
Your Referral Program and Your Marketing: How They Work Together
The downside of a referral program is that not every client is going to recommend you, and there’s no telling when they’ll recommend you. Like every other marketing platform and strategy, a referral program works best when you add it to what you’re already doing.
If adding another “thing” for you to do in your interior design business feels impossible, don’t pressure yourself. You can add a referral program whenever you want – now, in a few months, a year from now… It’s up to you!
But if you’re holding off because showing up on other platforms (like Instagram) is too overwhelming at the moment to add anything else, join SMM on Speed Dial!
SMM on Speed Dial is my membership for interior designers, where you have 1:1 access to an experienced Social Media Manager (me!) for any and every question that comes up as you grow your own socials – giving you more time to focus on other long-term strategies, like referral marketing!
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