Instagram is a fantastic tool for any business, especially any creative business. For interior designers, having an Instagram account where you can document your work can be hugely beneficial. Think of it like a digital portfolio. It’s a perfect, convenient, and free way to show potential clients what you can do!
Do interior designers need an Instagram?
While it may not be an official requirement, having an Instagram account where you can post previous work or even what’s currently inspiring you can help you land clients. One of the first things a potential client might do is look up your Instagram account. In fact, 90% of Instagram users follow business accounts, according to Architectural Digest. Having a business account and posting often can help these potential clients get familiar with your work and your style and help them make the jump from potential clients to actual clients.
How do interior designers use Instagram?
Interior designers use Instagram much like any other business does: to promote their work. Interior designers will take a much more strategic approach to the content they post than someone posting to a personal account would. The content should be engaging, ideally enough to earn you a follow.
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What should you post on Instagram as an interior designer?
You can post your portfolio, current trends, what’s inspiring you, design projects you’ve done for yourself, or anything else that’s relevant! Here are some ideas:
- Before-and-after transformations
- Mood boards
- Design tips and tricks
- Client testimonials with project photos
- Behind-the-scenes
- Favorite products
- Seasonal decor inspiration
- Client Q&A sessions
Your posts should primarily be visually appealing, but you can also post progress pictures of projects you’re working on or recently completed to give a realistic view into the interior design process.
Instagram is also a great way to promote not only your business but also events you're partaking in. You can offer tickets as a giveaway in your posts and give details in your stories to help ramp up engagement. You should use hashtags to ensure your content pops up in popular interior design searches on the app.
Read more: 10 Top Design Trends of 2024
How to share client projects on Instagram
To share work you did for a client, you should always get their permission first. You can share some backstory on the project, but ensure you are only sharing information they approve to be shared. You should definitely include work you’ve done for clients on your Instagram so your audience can see you serve real people and are willing to design to their tastes.
How to engage with followers
In order to engage your followers, you must post regularly. This can include grid posts, stories, and reels. You can also ask for feedback from your followers to help make them feel involved in your process or to gauge how your audience feels about certain trends. You can also post updates of any big projects you’re working on so they can follow along and ask questions in the comments.
Read more: How to Decorate Your Home Like Barbie
How to grow your Instagram followers
Posts and engagement can help you grow a following on Instagram, but there are plenty of other interior design pages on the app, so what can you do to set yours apart?
Making connections can be huge! If you’re able to connect and even work with a local Instagram influencer, even if they’re small, that can help grow your brand. You can also seek out partnerships with other established designers or local businesses you work with. Any exposure you can get will help increase visibility and can earn you potential new clients.
How often should an interior designer post on Instagram?
Believe it or not, there’s a whole marketing science to when and how frequently you as a business should be posting on social media apps like Instagram. You should post frequently, but not too frequently, and the timing of your posts matters more than you might think. Early morning and evening are the best times as people are checking Instagram before they get ready for work or unwinding with some social media after a long day.
When determining how often you should post, it can be helpful to create a simple content calendar so you can stay organized.
5 tips for creating a successful interior design Instagram
Here are some tips to help you achieve success with your Instagram account:
1. Prioritize aesthetically pleasing posts
When people browse interior design Instagrams, they’re doing so in a dreamer-like state. When I’m rich, my living room will look like this, they may think. If I had creative talent, I’d do this to my bedroom. You want your content to be what they’re looking at when they think things like this. To achieve this, your posts should be of aesthetically pleasing designs your audience will covet.
2. Use hashtags deliberately
Hashtags can help you get more traffic on your page, but the hashtags you use should be trending and easily searchable. Some simple good ones are #interiordesign or #homedesign, but when going into specifics, keep them short and to the point: #maximalistinteriors, #dopaminedecor. You should of course only use hashtags that pertain to the content you are posting.
3. Seek partnerships
Partnerships with other prominent designers or popular influencers can help put your brand on the map. It shows their followers you are reputable and worth becoming a fan of. It also gets your content and designs posted on high traffic accounts, gaining you visibility.
4. Take advantage of location tags
Local business is likely the biggest business you’ll get, so enabling location tags and making connections can help you land potential clients. Those in need of interior design services may filter by their city so this can be an effective way for these people to find you.
5. Engage your followers
Using catchy captions, polls, and posting requested content can help elevate your Instagram account. Your audience will be more likely to engage with content that is set up to be engaged with.
How to promote your profile as part of your business
Your Instagram account should be shared on all official business sites and merchandise. If you have a business card, it should be on there as well. Your website, as well as a bio, should be included on your Instagram account in return.
Read more: 7 Resources for Starting Your Interior Design Career
Learn more about the business of interior design with the New York Institute of Art and Design
The art of interior design can make a great career! The New York Institute of Art and Design offers an interior design course to help you prepare to start a career in this field. To learn how to enroll, call an admissions specialist at 1-800-583-1742 and get on your way to a rewarding business today!
