Key areas to focus when planning for 2023

Key areas to focus on when planning your decorating business in 2023

As a decorating company, planning for the year ahead is essential if you want to stay ahead of the game and ensure your business is a success. It’s important to stay on top of the latest design trends, network and market your business, plan your projects in advance, invest in professional development, focus on client satisfaction and utilise social media effectively. By doing so, you’ll be able to attract new clients, stay competitive in the industry, and make the most of your time and resources. It’s a great way to stay organised and have a clear direction for the year; you’ll know what projects to expect and when to expect them and have a better chance of meeting your business goals. Plus, let’s face it, some planning and preparation can take away a lot of the stress and uncertainty that comes with running a business. Having a plan and knowing what you’re working towards is always good.

Here’s a more in-depth look at some of the key areas you should focus on as you plan for the year ahead:

1. Keep an eye on design trends: The world of interior design is constantly evolving, and it’s important to stay on top of the latest trends if you want to attract new clients and stay relevant. Follow brands like Farrow & Ball, Little Green and Mylands to see what new colours are coming and the latest fashion trends. Keep an eye out for new products, colours, and styles, and consider how to incorporate them into your work.
2. Network and market your business: Networking and marketing are crucial for any business, and as a decorator, it’s no different. Attend industry events, join professional organisations, and use social media and other digital marketing tools to promote your business. Have a look at local networking groups such as BNI and Business over breakfast, or search “networking groups near me” in google. Try to ensure they are high in the number of trades they have in the group already as this will help. Most won’t allow more than 1 of each trade in the group anyway so that’s worth checking too. Follow local trades on social media like carpenters, plasters, and electricians but also look at architects, builders/developers and designers because they could be a great source of enquiries for you. By building a strong network and reaching new clients, you’ll be able to grow your business to a whole new level in the coming year.
3. Plan your projects in advance: To make the most of your time and ensure you have a steady stream of business, it’s important to plan your projects well in advance. This will allow you to not only schedule your work more efficiently and make sure you’re always busy but allow you to order materials on time or in bulk to save on costs. All these things help you to stay organised and also keep control of your finances.
4. Invest in professional development: To stay competitive and attract higher-paying clients, it’s important to invest in your professional development. Take courses or workshops to improve your skills and stay up-to-date with the latest techniques and technologies in the industry. Look at the latest trends and niches that your clients may be interested in. For example, there seems to be an increased desire for Venetian plaster, one-piece wall murals and painted kitchens again; like all trends, they seem to come around time and time again, so it’s great to have the skills to offer to clients and stay ahead of the competition. Look at what training is available to you, such as PaintTech Training Academy, and see whether you are eligible for funding so you don’t have to pay for training out of your pocket.
5. Focus on client satisfaction: Above all, it’s important to put your client’s needs first and strive to exceed their expectations. Happy clients will not only give you positive reviews and referrals, but they’ll also help you build a loyal customer base. Make sure that you have a system in place to ask clients for reviews and have a set of emails that go out to clients when you finish projects. One email is not enough, and clients will leave it and forget; how many times do you get emails from companies for reviews, and how often do you leave one after just one email? Think about what you would want as a client if the show were on the other foot, so to speak. Have a look at facebook reviews or Trustpilot as options unless you have a business profile on google maps set up.
6. Utilise social media: Social media is a powerful tool for promoting your business and reaching new clients. Create a professional profile on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest, and use them to showcase your work, share tips and advice, and engage with your audience. With the birth of social media and online marketing, it has never been a better time to market a small business. All you need is time and a little inspiration. Make sure that you take photos of your projects, and we don’t just mean pretty, clean and tidy finished photos. Show clients the process, show them how you get the fantastic results that you do and remember that they are buying into your brand and your ethos, so keep a good balance of personal and professional. Make sure to use appropriate hashtags, have a consistent posting schedule, and use a mix of content that includes projects, behind the scenes, as mentioned before, and inspirational images, such as sharing posts from Farrow & Ball with the latest colour ideas. Spending one day or afternoon a month planning and scheduling as many social media posts as possible will free up a lot of time for things like quotes, invoicing or organising jobs. But please make sure you check on replies or messages from your scheduled posts because clients don’t like waiting too long for replies.
7. Use software to simplify social media: If you are not the kind of person that finds it easy to create images for social media then using programmes such as Canva will make life so much easier. There are a range of templates designed already so all you have to do is slot your photos in or company name. Have a look at Canva here.  Another one to look at is software that will make life easier when scheduling social media posts; Facebook business suite will enable you to schedule to your Facebook & Instagram business pages but nothing else. If you want to schedule to LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube or Pinterest then have a look at Buffer or Hootsuite – both of these platforms offer analytics with their paid plans so you can see whats working and whats not.

By focusing on these key areas, you’ll be well on your way to a successful 2023. With the right planning and dedication, you can take your business to the next level and achieve your goals. Remember to enjoy the process and have fun with it; it’s a creative field after all! If you want to take your business to a whole new level then look at joining the Decorators Growth Club Pro Members for only £25 a month!