A business’s website can make or break customers’ first impressions of the company. This is just as true for interior designers as it is any other type of business. Read on to find out what to include to catch browsers’ attention and convert casual visitors into loyal fans.
A Stellar Site Plan
No interior designer would start adding furniture or fixtures to a room without first coming up with a floor plan. In the same way, no business owner should start putting together a website without coming up with a comprehensive site plan.
The site plan should contain as much information as possible about not just individual elements that belong on the website, but also who its target audience will be and how they will most likely interact with the site. Those who don’t have experience with designing websites can enlist the help of a company like Bizop Media to create a site plan and ensure that nothing important gets left out.
An Organized Portfolio
Interior designers should make it easy for clients to find examples of their previous work by uploading a full, well-organized portfolio. Most designers organize their portfolios by style so that clients can find examples of projects that best meet their personal tastes. Avoid slideshows and instead, keep the portfolio simple, up-to-date, and easy to navigate by using keywords and dividing it into different sections based on whether the projects were residential or commercial, modern or traditional, etc.
A Designer Bio
Every independent contractor should include a detailed “About Me” page on his or her website that includes a detailed professional bio. Make sure to add a professional-quality photograph and include both professional accomplishments and personal information.
Some designers talk about their families or their pets or introduce funny anecdotes about their time in school or getting started in the field of interior design. The most important thing is to create a personal connection.
Good Press and Testimonials
Been written up in a local magazine or on a local blog? If the coverage is positive, include it on the website. It will add credibility and encourage visitors to the site to place their trust in the designer’s services.
Don’t have any positive press yet? Instead, request a few testimonials from previous clients happy with their final results. The vast majority of consumers are more likely to trust contractors who have already established positive relationships for themselves online and including testimonials can certainly give them that impression.
SEO Optimized Content
Even the best-designed website won’t do an interior designer any good if new clients cannot find them. That’s where search engine optimization (SEO) comes in. One of the most important aspects of SEO is a well-designed and well-written blog.
The blog should contain keywords that pertain to interior design. It should also include plenty of helpful information for clients who are looking to learn more about the process and what to expect, photographs, and links to other non-competitive websites that offer complementary information. Keywords and SEO content should also be incorporated into the rest of the site to make its pages more crawlable.
The Bottom Line
Creating a high-quality website is the best way to attract new clients and inform them about the designer’s services. Those who prefer to focus on working with clients instead of learning web design can hire design and marketing professionals to help.