Interior designers stand to gain a lot from video marketing, even though many might not realize what they’re missing out on. These days, of course, almost everyone can benefit from video and social content, considering that 1 billion hours of YouTube are streamed every single day. Then there’s TikTok, Facebook, and even LinkedIn, which is newer to the video marketing game but has been quick to catch up with the competition.
So, how does an interior designer go about building an effective Facebook, YouTube, and/or TikTok following? Well, for starters, it’s going to take a little work. The good news is that there are people who’ve come before you that will make it easier. In the list below, we’ll cover 10 marketers you should be following, including many in the design industry who have a lock on video marketing and how to capitalize on it for growth.
And no, video’s not just a fad, either—studies report that by 2022, 82% of all Internet traffic generation will come from video. This includes live, streaming, and downloaded content.
In 2018, it was estimated that people were watching over six hours of video a week. By 2021, that number has climbed to sixteen hours per week. Plus:
Video marketing works because it’s engaging, easy to digest, and it offers people what they want: instant answers and interactive content. Of course, you can’t just toss up some random videos and call it a day. Like anything else, this requires a strategy.
There are no hard and fast rules about how to put video marketing to use, but there are definitely some best practices to consider, and some types of content that do better than others. Before you dive in, knowing your options can help you better craft your marketing strategy. Here are just a few ways that other brands and entrepreneurs are using video to reach out to their clients and grow their audience.
These consist of how-to videos, tutorials, and other informative content that are purely designed to educate people, rather than trying to sell them a product. In the world of interior design, you could explain the consultation and design process, for example, or even offer how-to’s of different design processes for people to watch.
Designers are ideal for this content and it’s a type of video that people love. You can take footage of your design jobs before you begin, while they’re in progress, and then after the fact to show everyone the differences in real-time. It’s a great way to showcase your skills and generate interest with your audience at the same time.
This is video that you can use for your design business, yourself as a designer, or even for different projects or clients that you’re working on or with. If you have people who are willing to be in your videos and give testimonials of how it was to work with you, this can be a great way to help convert more leads—people love firsthand insights.
If you are trying to grow your professional audience, consider what type of professional content you can offer, such as tricks and tips for finding clients, how to complete jobs on budget and on time, and so forth. Share your own success stories and if you have some marketing trick or sales tool that works wonders, put it out there. You can even just share your journey as a designer with others to make connections and build relationships.
Along with traditional explainers, the “hack” style video is a popular format. You can create a lot of great content here so that your audience doesn’t have to struggle to figure things out on their own. Plus, you can do it in a fun, engaging way to help people with DIY projects, or even help other designers improve their job skills.
These are just a handful of examples as to what you can do with video marketing. Now that you’ve got a better understanding of the how, let’s look at the people who can inspire you and help you get there.
Her subscriber count of just over 900K is a good start, but then you add in the fact that Rebecca Robeson has been the most-watched interior designer on YouTube for eight years in a row, and it’s obvious why she’s first. Check out her channel, scroll through her selection of videos, and make sure that you look at not just the way she presents her videos, but her entire marketing strategy. Rebecca knows how to connect with people and post engaging content that’s relevant, too, which can help you in building your own strategy.
Mary Elizabeth is a glamorous professional designer and stylist, offering a unique aesthetic to her audience with her YouTube videos. She focuses on offering high style, low maintenance living and has almost 400K subscribers on her channel to date. She has a fun, funky style and posts a lot of relevant content to keep her audiences engaged, which is what sets her apart. She also has impressive social platforms on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, where you’ll find design tips and insight, industry news that she shares, and information about her own business and life as an interior designer.
As Australia’s favorite design blog, this channel offers tons of great features and is a wonderful companion to the written content of the TDF site. There are practical solutions for design and plenty of value-added insights to be found about creating the perfect look in any home. Videos range from informational to tutorial and everything in between, but their focus is on providing people with valuable insights that they can use. This kind of mission is great to include in your own video marketing strategy.
Studio McGee is the home of a husband-and-wife duo that take pride in making interior design videos to build their brand. They started all the way back in 2016 and today, with 110K subscribers and counting, they’re definitely onto something. They shoot their videos with impressive equipment to create beautiful footage of home tours, how-to videos, and more. They primarily use YouTube and Instagram, but you can find social profiles for Studio McGee everywhere to help you learn more about building your own successful video marketing strategy.
Emily Henderson is a television host-turned YouTube star who uses her own vintage design ideas to help inspire others. Although she’s got slightly fewer than 50K subscribers on her YouTube channel, her fans will tell you it’s not about numbers. Emily offers a lot of valuable information and insight, and more importantly, she knows how to create engaging videos that connect with the audience. It helps that she’s got a background in television so she is somewhat skilled in some of these areas already, but that just means you can learn even more when you check out her channel for yourself.
Jenna Sue is a top pick of ours for that personal style. Unlike some, she uses her YouTube as more of a vlog where she shares her personal adventures in real estate, design, and DIY. She educates, entertains, and even has some travel videos to show people that when you work hard, you can set yourself up for some great rewards. And, those travel rewards can become design and real estate adventures, too. She’s a lot of fun to watch and she has plenty of helpful information about becoming successful in these industries after creating her own. Plus, you can find her on Instagram, Facebook, and other social platforms, as well.
Three Birds Renovations is the collective of three best friends-turned-moms who have a keen eye for the world of design. They have over 83K subscribers following them currently, and their three strong personalities bring a lot to the table. They talk about all kinds of design topics, and they do one thing that a lot of professional brands overlook: they just have fun. If you’re looking for a more casual style to add to your own video marketing arsenal, take notes from these ladies who are growing quite the following on YouTube and other social media platforms, as well.
Karin Bohn is a long-time business professional who has also won awards for her work in interior design. Her YouTube is buzzing with regular content and over 77,000 subscribers, and her other social platforms are quite impressive, as well. She focuses on offering tips and tricks, DIY insights, and even advice and videos for other designers who are looking for inspiration or guidance in their careers. She’s got a professional, yet fun style that helps anyone feel engaged and connected, and she makes it easy for people to want to just keep watching more. That’s definitely a skill you could use.
We couldn’t possibly have a list of the best YouTube and video marketing efforts without adding HGTV to the list. This major TV network knows how to get audiences’ attention, and they’ve proven to translate those skills just as effectively to the world of social media. They have an impressive collection of videos online, including things like DIY and design projects, advice for homeowners and designers, and even behind-the-scenes footage and exclusive video that isn’t put on television—that’s one of their hooks that you can take note from. The exclusive content angle is a great way to encourage people to get on board with your social profiles because it’s the only place they can get the good content.
Mr. Kate is more about sharing her journey through design and life, and currently, the channel has more than 3.3 million subscribers. She is another that offers a lot of personal insights and professional expertise with a charismatic and personable approach. Plus, the fact that her channel is called “Mr. Kate” is just eye-catching at first, which often draws people in on the name alone. On other social platforms, you’ll find just as much personal connection and engaging content, too. Educational videos are great, but these connection-style videos are definitely something that needs to be on your strategy list.
Building a business is hard, and especially when it’s something like interior design where you’re constantly working on client’s projects. You’re already limited on time for marketing and business development, and you don’t need one more thing to manage. However, clients are still going to call. People are still going to request live chats. And when you enlist the assistance of the virtual receptionists at Smith.ai, you’ll never miss a single thing.
Our team is available to handle customer needs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, no matter how big or small they might be. We can field those live chats, pick up those after-hours calls, and provide scheduling assistance, and so much more. We’ll even work with you to come up with a strategy for managing it all, no matter what you have in mind.
To learn more, schedule a consultation to find out how our 24/7 virtual receptionists can help you embrace growth by taking care of your clients and customers. You can also reach us at hello@smith.ai or (650) 727-6484.