For years, the marketing advice for interior designers has been fairly familiar.
Build a beautiful website.
Share your projects on Instagram.
Make sure people can find you on Google.
And ideally, remember to update your portfolio more than once every three years.
All still very good advice, by the way.
But there's another platform worth paying attention to.
ChatGPT has introduced advertising, and I think it could become an interesting new way for interior design studios to reach potential clients.
Not because Instagram or Google are disappearing.
But because the way people look for services is changing.
Your Next Client Might Start With A Conversation
Think about how someone might begin planning a renovation.
They might search Google for an interior designer in their area.
They might spend an evening saving kitchens on Pinterest.
Or they might open ChatGPT and ask:
“I'm renovating a Victorian townhouse in London. What should I look for when choosing an interior designer?”
Or:
“Can you help me find an interior design studio specialising in colourful, contemporary homes?”
Rather than typing a couple of keywords into a search bar, they're describing exactly what they need.
Their project.
Their style.
Their location.
And the kind of help they're looking for.
That's what makes conversational search interesting for interior designers.
The potential client is already thinking about a project. They're just working out who might be able to help.
So, What Are ChatGPT Ads?
ChatGPT Ads are sponsored placements that can appear beneath ChatGPT responses.
Businesses can create advertisements with a headline, description, image and link to their website.
The advertising system considers the context of a conversation, alongside other relevance signals, when deciding which ads may be appropriate.
For an interior designer, that could create opportunities to reach people who are already researching renovations, design services or particular types of interiors.
It's important to understand that these are paid advertisements, clearly separate from ChatGPT's answers.
Paying for an ad doesn't mean ChatGPT will recommend your studio in its response.
And, like any new advertising platform, results aren't guaranteed.
But it's another potential route between someone thinking about an interior design project and discovering your business.
Why I Think Interior Designers Should Pay Attention
Interior design is a particularly considered purchase.
People don't usually wake up one morning, see a beautiful Instagram post and immediately commission a whole-house renovation.
There's research involved.
Looking at portfolios.
Understanding services.
Comparing different designers.
Working out budgets and timelines.
And deciding who they actually want to work with.
ChatGPT is increasingly part of how people explore questions and compare options.
Which makes it worth thinking about how your studio shows up during that research process.
Not necessarily because you need to start advertising tomorrow.
But because your future clients might be looking for you in places you haven't considered yet.
Your Website Is Still Doing The Heavy Lifting
Here's the part I think is particularly important.
Before you spend money on any advertising, you need somewhere useful to send people.
And for an interior design studio, that usually means your website.
Does it clearly explain what you do?
Where you work?
What kind of projects you take on?
What makes your studio different?
Can someone easily find your portfolio, understand your services and enquire about working together?
Because a beautiful Instagram feed is lovely.
But if someone clicks through to your website and can't work out whether you offer full-service residential design, you've made their next step unnecessarily difficult.
Good advertising can't completely compensate for an unclear website.
And that's why I think website content, SEO and AI visibility should be considered together.
Could You Advertise Your Interior Design Studio On ChatGPT?
Potentially, yes.
Imagine a studio specialising in period property renovations.
Its advertising could highlight that experience, using beautiful project photography, clear messaging and a link to its relevant portfolio or services page.
Another studio might focus on contemporary family homes, country houses or full-service interior design.
The important thing is making sure the advertisement reflects what the studio actually offers.
Not trying to appeal to absolutely everyone.
Because someone looking for help furnishing one bedroom isn't necessarily the same client as someone planning a complete house renovation.
And your marketing should understand that difference.
Is This Something Every Studio Needs Right Now?
No.
And I wouldn't suggest diverting your entire marketing budget into ChatGPT Ads just because they're new.
If your website hasn't been updated in years, your services are unclear or you don't have a consistent way of handling enquiries, I'd probably start there.
But if you've already got a strong portfolio, a clear offering and a website that converts visitors into enquiries, this could become an interesting additional channel to test.
Start small.
Understand the costs.
Measure the enquiries.
And see whether it's attracting the right kind of projects.
The aim isn't to be on every platform. It's to be visible in the places that make sense for your business.
Where Studio Sidekick Comes In
This is an area I'm particularly interested in developing through Studio Sidekick.
Having run my own interior design business, I know how much work goes into building a portfolio, explaining your services and attracting the right clients.
And I also know how easily marketing falls to the bottom of the list when you're busy with actual projects.
As ChatGPT advertising develops, I'm looking at how I can help interior designers prepare for this next stage of online visibility.
That might mean reviewing your website and SEO, improving how your services are communicated, preparing your portfolio for new marketing channels or helping set up and manage ChatGPT advertising campaigns.
Not replacing the marketing you're already doing.
Just making sure the work you've put into your studio has more opportunities to be discovered.
Because the way people find interior designers will continue to evolve.
And I'd rather help you understand what's changing than have you feel like you need to catch up with everything at once.
A little less marketing overwhelm. A lot more clarity.