Hey Y'all!
I'm sharing a little news today AND talking about my next eBook guide that is more geared for designers and how to work the one-time consultation.
I was talking to one of my designer friends last week and we were discussing the consultations we offered. I was relating how I work mine and she was relating hers and we both were mentioning how much we liked them.
I know many people say you shouldn't dilute your brand by appealing to people that only want a smidge of your expertise, that you should be all or nothing, but I'm not sure I subscribe to that school of thought.
The world is changing and we in the design world need to keep up.
It got me thinking that perhaps a lot of other designers might be wanting to offer one time consultations or smaller, bite-sized pieces of advice, similar to my Designed in a Click service, which I've been offering since 2013.
"Designed in a Click" is now under trademark
I'm so excited to get that name under trademark, as I've seen glimpses of my content that people that have copied and pasted on their sites out there. It's not that I mind so much, it's flattering, however, when it affects Google search and my site then gets downgraded in the eyes of Google because someone is using the exact same wording that I have already published, then that is something else.
The trademark is under process as of now, so that name is not up for grabs anymore. It's all mine! :-)
Both of these types of consulting services have actually been a great way to expand my reach and really get in touch with what people are having trouble with in design and remodeling. It's also been a good way to diversify my income stream and give me some true insight into what kind of content that readers might enjoy on my blog.
It is not something you would perhaps want to do full time as it doesn't render anything to show for your portfolio and you don't want to get so much of it going that your full service clients suffer, but it does have advantages as an additional service offering.
Bite sized bits of design advice are very popular these days
I'm finding these nugget size bits of advice are truly what sooooo many people out there want. They want a little guidance when they're stuck, a cool extra idea or two, a sounding board for their ideas, etc.
These can be difficult to navigate, especially when a creative designer may see lots of options. Going all full-service may be hard NOT to do.
I definitely have developed some ways to focus, answer their questions and give them solid guidance that is truly thoughtful and respects their wishes as well.
Don't confuse consulting with e-design
First of all, this consultation type work is not to be confused with E-design, or a full design plan executed custom for a client but just done remotely. I'm not a fan of that type of work, because really, it's just full service with a cute name on it. :-) And discounting it because you aren't there live and in person, doesn't stop the phone calls, emails, texts, and general custom-design hoops you go through to please a client anywhere.
The advantages of the consultation
Believe me, there is a sweet spot for this "consulting" kind of service and client.
It fills in the cracks when business might be a bit slow or projects may be dragging, it can actually be a great way to meet people who would want further services, and there is nothing more rewarding than being able to answer someone's questions quickly, efficiently, and get paid promptly for it.
That's where my next eBook guide comes in, which I have started now and plan on coming out with soon. :-)
If you are interested in learning more about this and other business related info when they come out, you can sign up for the notification below. This is a small, private email list of mine that is made up of designers and/or design bloggers who are trying to work this design biz thing, just like me. :-)
UPDATE 9/2/17 - It's here! My 19-page eBook Guide sharing all my tips, best practices, and goals for working these in person and online design service offerings into your business!
This weekend, I'm off to Vegas!
Taken on my trip to KBIS 2016 in Vegas with Blogtour Modenus
I'll be checking in at Vegas market, so I'll be sharing some pics of my finds on Insta, Would love to have you follow me there if you aren't already.
We have some of the best design projects going on now, two big whole house remodels that are almost all designed, that I can't wait to get into construction. Several other smaller jobs are cooking like this dining room I put together for a local client using her existing antique piece to create a lighter coastal vibe.
I love to fill in with consultations, I hope those keep coming, and I look forward to sharing all my tips and info I've learned after doing these for years with my designer friends soon.
Thank you so much for reading my blog. I appreciate the opportunity to land in your inbox and share my love of all-things-design with you!