The Interior Designer's Marketing Checklist: 12 Things to Review Every Quarter
Running an interior design studio means you're constantly looking ahead.
The next site visit.
The next client presentation.
The next installation.
The next deadline.
It's no surprise that your own marketing often slips down the priority list.
Most designers don't stop marketing because they don't care about it—they stop because client work comes first.
And rightly so.
But if your marketing only gets attention when things quieten down, you'll probably find yourself in a cycle of feast and famine. Busy periods mean your marketing disappears, and when projects begin to wrap up, you're suddenly wondering where the next enquiry is coming from.
Instead of trying to "do more marketing", I encourage designers to do something much simpler.
Once every quarter, spend one hour reviewing the foundations of your studio.
Not redesigning everything.
Not rewriting your website.
Just checking that the business behind your beautiful work is still doing its job.
Think of it as a quarterly health check for your studio.
1. Does Your Website Still Reflect Your Studio?
Your website shouldn't be a time capsule.
Look through it with fresh eyes.
Ask yourself:
Are your newest projects featured?
Do your services still reflect what you offer today?
Is your pricing guide still accurate?
Are your contact details correct?
Is it obvious how someone enquires?
Small updates make a huge difference over time.
2. Google Yourself
It sounds simple, but it's one of the easiest checks you can do.
Search your studio name.
Then search phrases your ideal client might actually use.
For example:
Interior designer in Edinburgh
Kitchen renovation designer
Full-service interior designer
Would you find yourself?
More importantly...
Would you click on your website?
3. Check Your Google Business Profile
If you haven't looked at it recently, now's the time.
Update:
Opening hours
Images
Contact details
Website links
And if you've received lovely client feedback recently, ask if they'd be happy to leave a Google review.
Those reviews do more than build trust—they help your visibility too.
4. Is Your Instagram Still Representing Your Studio?
Your Instagram doesn't need daily posts.
It does need to reflect the business you're building.
Take a quick look at:
Your bio
Your profile photo
Story Highlights
Pinned posts
Recent grid
If a potential client landed there today, would they immediately understand what you do?
5. Are You Making The Most Of Your Existing Content?
One project should never become one Instagram post.
Look through your recent work.
Could it become:
A blog?
Pinterest Pins?
A carousel?
A client story?
A case study?
Most designers don't need more content.
They need to use their existing content more effectively.
6. Have You Published Anything Useful Recently?
Your marketing shouldn't rely on Instagram alone.
Publishing useful content on your own website helps:
SEO
AI search
Client trust
Website traffic
Even one blog every month or two builds momentum.
7. Is Pinterest Working For You?
Pinterest is one of the most overlooked marketing tools in interior design.
Unlike Instagram, content can continue driving traffic months—even years—after you publish it.
Take a few minutes to pin:
Recent projects
Blog posts
Material palettes
Mood boards
Design tips
It's a small task with long-term value.
8. Are Your Testimonials Up To Date?
The best time to ask for a testimonial is just after a project finishes.
If you've completed projects recently, send a quick email while the experience is still fresh.
Then make sure those testimonials actually appear on your website.
9. Does Your Portfolio Show The Work You Want More Of?
Your portfolio shouldn't just showcase your favourite projects.
It should attract the type of work you want next.
If your business has evolved, your portfolio should evolve too.
10. Are Your Enquiry Forms Working?
It sounds obvious.
But test them.
Fill one in yourself.
Check:
Do emails arrive?
Is the process clear?
Are you asking for the right information?
Sometimes the smallest technical issues quietly cost enquiries.
11. What's Taking Up Most Of Your Time?
Marketing isn't just about attracting enquiries.
It's also about making your business sustainable.
If you're spending hours every week chasing admin, formatting proposals or trying to think of something to post, that's worth reviewing too.
The right systems save more time than the right productivity app ever will.
12. Pick One Thing To Improve
Here's the important part.
Don't leave this checklist thinking you need to tackle everything at once.
Choose one thing.
Maybe it's finally publishing that blog.
Maybe it's updating your About page.
Maybe it's organising your project photography.
Small, consistent improvements almost always outperform occasional bursts of motivation.
Marketing Doesn't Have To Feel Overwhelming
One of the biggest myths in business is that marketing has to be loud.
In reality, good marketing is often quiet.
It's a website that's up to date.
A helpful blog post.
A recent testimonial.
A Pinterest pin that brings someone to your portfolio six months later.
A clear enquiry process.
These are the things that quietly work away in the background while you're busy designing beautiful spaces.
And over time, they compound.
Need A Fresh Pair Of Eyes On Your Marketing?
If you've read through this checklist and realised there are a few areas that have slipped down the priority list, you're not alone.
Studio Sidekick helps interior designers with everything behind the scenes - from website updates and SEO to content planning, Pinterest, blogging and studio systems. Get in touch to chat through how we can work together.
Whether you need a one-off Website & SEO Audit or ongoing support, my goal is simple: to help your marketing work as hard as you do.
Because marketing shouldn't feel like another full-time job. It should simply become part of how your studio runs.