In an increasingly virtual world, digital communities give us the chance to learn, connect and find support. For creatives, community is essential to productivity, mental well-being, and even creativity itself.

As a creative business, starting your own virtual community is an excellent way to market your brand, source insights and feedback and foster relationships with prospective clients.

Whatever your motivations for starting an online creative community, where you choose to host it will be key to its success. There are an array of platforms for hosting digital communities available, so we've rounded up the best digital forums built with creatives in mind. Take a browse and see which is right for you and your future creative community!

Geneva

Geneva is a company that loves good company. Think of Geneva as a Gen-Z alternative to Slack, a similar interface with some extra perks to keep a new generation of creatives engaged!

Geneva is equipped with all the building blocks you need to start a thriving community. You can start accessible async conversations in chat rooms, gather insights with polls and encourage networking and collaboration with live audio/video calls and events.

Visit Geneva.

Discord

Whether it's for gaming, work, school, or art communities, Discord is an online haven for those who want to hang out without having to leave the comforts of their home.

Discord supports all kinds of media, so your community can communicate in a way that feels most authentic to them—with music, live streams and screen sharing you are sure to foster meaningful community connections.

Visit Discord.

Groove

It's great to chat, but a community can be a source of motivation too! Groove is a digital co-working space for freelancers or remote workers who want to connect with fellow creatives whilst they work. Use Groove to connect your community and foster relationships that have a lasting impact!

Visit Groove.

Slack

Anyone who has worked in the corporate world in the last 5 years is likely familiar with Slack, but Slack has OOO potential too. Use Slack to build a creative community with distinct rooms and integrated tools to facilitate conversations. And the best part, lots of community members will already have an account.

Visit Slack.

Mighty Network

Mighty Networks exists to empower creatives to build and own their own communities, away from the "uncertainty and clutter of social media". With a Mighty Network, you can bring your courses, memberships, and offers together in a powerful community under your own brand on iOS, Android, and the web.

Visit Mighty Network.

Discourse

Discourse is a 100% open-source platform designed to be used as a discussion forum, chat room, mailing list and more! There are no complex controls, and everything is right where you want it with custom preferences.

Discourse is committed to creating a simple platform for all types of communities, so your creative community will feel instantly at home!

Visit Discourse.

We get it! As a creative entrepreneur you're always on the go, and yet you are always looking for opportunities grow your business. Which is why business podcasts are your new best friend. You can listen to podcasts on your daily commute, on the treadmill or whilst waiting in line at the shops, making it easy to fit learning and inspiration into your busy schedule.

Entrepreneurship can be a challenging and isolating journey (lets be real, especially as a woman) but podcasts can provide the companionship and motivation you need to help you reach your goals. Sometimes all we need is to listen to the wise words of a fellow female creative to reinvigorate our creative spirit.

That's why we've put together a list of the top podcasts for creative female entrepreneurs. From expert insights on business strategy and marketing to inspiring stories of successful female founders, these podcasts offer valuable resources for personal and professional growth. Plug in your headphones and go reach those goals girl!

Go-to Gal

Host: Jaclyn Mellone

Okay, girls! Tune in and have a giggle with Jaclyn Mellone, host of the Go-to Gal podcast. (formerly All Up In Your Lady Business). Go-To Gal is a marketing podcast designed to help creative entrepreneurs become sought-after experts in their respective creative fields by talking "mindset, strategy, and tactics." Oh! And Go-to Gal got featured as one of Forbes' top 21 podcasts of 2021, so you know you're in for the best of the best! What are you waiting for? As Jocelyn says, "Stop waiting for momentum, start creating it!"

Being Boss

Host: Emily Thompson

Every day as the boss of a creative business is an adventure, whether you're an entrepreneur, freelancer or side hustler. And if we're honest, sometimes it is a struggle. Emily Thompson, host of Being Boss, can relate and she shares her honest experiences in every episode.

Join Emily for an exploration of the mindsets, habits, and tactics of "harnessing your creative ambitions and embracing the adventure of starting and growing your own business so that you can make money doing work you love."

The Marie Forleo Podcast

Host: Marie Forleo

Marie Forleo is one of the most inspiring female creative entrepreneurs you'll ever meet. Creative? Check. Writer? Check. Philanthropist? Check. Entrepreneur? Double check. It's no surprise Oprah regarded her as a thought leader, and her business is one of Inc.'s 500 fastest-growing companies.

With all that in mind, you'll want to listen to every ounce of advice she and her guests share on her podcast! But Marie doesn't sugarcoat the hardships of being a woman in business—the fear of failure, disappointing yourself, and the struggle to understand what works for you and your business.

She Means Business

Hosted by: Carrie Green

Are you ready to turn your ideas into reality and build a wildly successful business? Every Tuesday, Carrie Green will be there to motivate you in your journey and guide you on the path to success with your creative business. Carrie is no stranger to both the challenges and the rewards of being a creative female entrepreneur, having built not one but two successful businesses herself!

As well as drawing on her own experience, Carrie draws upon "incredible stories of female entrepreneurs from around the world who are following their hearts, building the business of their dreams and creating the success and abundance they desire."

Don't blow your marketing budget in exchange for just views and likes, instead learn how to build a marketing strategy that attracts paying clients. How? By listening to interior design podcasts with a focus on how to market yourself as an interior designer. Hosted by interior industry experts, these podcasts analyse key marketing trends, guide you through social media strategies and give you the insider scoop on PR. It takes years to master marketing, but learning from interior marketing experts is a great place to start. Time to hit play on a new marketing strategy for your business!

The Kate Show

Hosted by: Kate the Socialite

Recommended for: newbie designers

The Kate Show is a treasure trove for new interior designers or those who have recently set up their own interior design business. Together, Kate and a stellar lineup of handpicked guests guide listeners through foolproof marketing strategies. Debunk marketing myths, learn from the real-life experience of industry experts and explore innovative SEO and business tools all in one place!

Scroll down and you'll find a detailed write-up of the content covered in each episode so you can consolidate your knowledge and implement every tip into your interior design business marketing strategy.

Standout Episode: Episode 103 | How to Get Clients as a New Business. Securing your first clients is the hardest step, it is only up from there!

Designer Discussions

Hosted by: Mirjam Lippuner, Jason Lockhart, and Maria Martin

Recommended for: strategic designers

Entertaining and educational, listening to Designer Discussions hardly feels like work at all! The Designer Discussion Podcast is a weekly talk covering all things business for interior designers. It's hosted by not one but three industry experts, all of whom share valuable information and resources for marketing, branding, PR, and more. With a mix of interviews, co-hostings and solo shows—Designer Discussions is sure to keep you entertained and informed.

Standout Episode: Episode 24 | Developing a Winning Marketing & PR Strategy. Make this year your busiest yet by following a step-by-step guide to creating a flawless marketing and PR plan.

Marketing by Design

Hosted by: Pamela Durkin

Recommended for: no-fuss designers

Attention interior designers, a new marketing podcast just dropped! Marketing by Design podcast piloted its first episode in just January 2023 but it has already made a huge impact in the interior design world. Pamela Durkin's simple yet enticing delivery makes her 40-minute talks fly by like coffee with a friend, yet you're always left equipped with new marketing knowledge! Pamela understands that interior designers don't want to become "professional marketers", they just want "easy, effective marketing techniques that bring great projects their way"—and that is exactly what she provides.

Standout Episode: Episode 5 | Sho' Me The Mon-ay! with Libby Langdon. At the end of the day, we all want one thing—more money! Listen to this episode to learn how to get it.

The Chairish Podcast

Hosted by: Michael Boodro

Standout Episode: experienced designers

Scale your business to even greater heights with smart marketing strategies provided by The Chairish Podcast. There is no better knowledge resource than those who have embodied experience themselves, which is why interior industry insider Michael Boodro makes the perfect host. Boodro assists in making the best decisions for your business, covering topics from hiring art advisors, running a storefront, and the collaboration between architect and designer.

Standout Episode: Episode 39 | Is Social Media Your Most Important Business Tool? Just because something has worked before, doesn't mean we can't do better—The Chairish podcast will always bring you a critical analysis of the marketing world as an interior designer.

As an interior designer, your creativity and design skills are your greatest assets. However, to succeed in the industry, you need more than just artistic abilities. You may be a master at creating beautiful spaces, but without a strong foundation in business, it can be challenging to succeed in the industry.

That's why taking short courses in key business areas can be so valuable. These courses can help you learn essential skills like marketing, budgeting, and project management, and give you the tools you need to take your career to the next level. In this article, we'll explore the top business short courses for interior designers to help you expand your skill set and stand out in the industry.

Best short courses for interior design entreprenuers

University of the Arts London

Best for: Getting started

Looking to start your own interior design business but feeling unsure where to start? Don't worry, you're not alone! The good news is that the University of the Arts London offers a range of short courses specifically designed to help fill in those knowledge gaps. First things first, you need to develop your interior design portfolio. And once that's sorted, you can dive into the ins and outs of life as an interior design entrepreneur—and UAL has both of them courses covered. Don't let the business side of things hold you back!

Our suggested courses:

• Interior Design Portfolio
• Interior Design Project Management

Explore interior design short courses by UAL.

The Little Designer Corner

Best for: Lead generation

Great, you have solid foundations for your interior design business in place, bow you just need some clients! Thankfully, the Little Design Corner has a bundle of short courses designed to help you with generating leads and convert them into paying clients. Each course comes with a training video, workbook, and other resources so you'll be fully supported in your studies. The cherry on top, you're given lifetime access to its online community for any short course purchase!

Our suggested courses:

• Lead Generation Pick-N-Mix
• The Sales Funnel for Designers

Explore interior design short courses by The Little Design Corner.

KLC School of Design

Best for: Business management

When running an interior design business your operations must be as organised as your creative workspace—messy at first glance, but with every tool right where you need it! KLC School of Design offers a series of short courses for interior designers, guiding you from first setting up your firm through to common FAQs like managing your accounts and pricing your services.

Our suggested courses:

• Interior Design Project Pricing and Contracts
• Planning a Residential Build Project

Explore interior design short courses at KLC School of Design.

PR Academy by Alex Abramian

Best for: Publicity and press

If business exposure is what you're looking for, Alex Abramian is your girl! Alex Abramian is an ex-editor with a host of industry contacts, helping female interior designers to create their own spotlight! Commit 90 days to the PR Academy masterclass and guarantee yourself 3 to 10 media placements, 3 expert-written pitches, and an introduction to a whole new network of esteemed journalists and editors.

Our suggested courses:

• The PR Academy
• 5-Day PR Challenge
• How to Get Press Without a Publicist

Explore interior design short courses by Alex Abramian.

Interior Design for Beginners

Best for: The DIY Learner

Interior Design for Beginners is dedicated to teaching budding design entrepreneurs how to start their own interior design businesses with an array of downloadable resources to help you to continue your learning. The best part? Interior Design for Beginners hosts a TikTok account that is packed with bite-size lessons on how to run a successful interior design business as you scroll—who said TikTok couldn't be productive!?
‍Our suggested courses:

• Free Training for New Designers
• How to Launch Your Interior Design Business

Explore interior design short courses at Interior Design for Beginners.

The Roundup

Taking business short courses can be a game-changer for interior designers looking to advance their careers. By expanding your skill set beyond just design and creativity, you can gain a competitive edge in the industry and improve your chances of success. Whether learning marketing from The Little Design Corner or project management from KLC School of Design, the key is to keep learning and growing your skills. With the right training and knowledge, you can take your interior design career to new heights.

Congratulations! You're here because you're ready to turn your dream to start a personal stylist business into a reality.

To build a successful personal styling business, you need an eye for fashion and a business mindset. Personal styling is a competitive field. Equip yourself with the right knowledge and tools from the start.

We’ve found the best personal styling courses to help you become a personal stylist and set up your business. Instagram isn’t just for #styleinspo. Follow top personal styling coaches for advice and support on how to start a styling business.

Turn your passion for fashion into a successful career. Use this guide to find the best resources for new personal stylists.

This article will explore...

• Flexible Learning Opportunities: The Style Academy offers a range of courses that you can complete at your own pace, including short courses, a three-day training course for skill enhancement, and a five-day comprehensive course covering both styling skills and business management.
• Expert Guidance on Instagram: Follow top personal styling business coaches such as Brianna Wise, Lauren Messiah, Ginny Hudnut, Sarah Cohen, and Nikki Venus on Instagram for mentoring, support, and valuable resources to help you establish and grow your personal styling business.
• Comprehensive Support for Personal Stylists: Leverage the knowledge and advice from industry experts to gain the necessary skills and confidence to start and maintain a successful personal styling business.

Best personal styling courses for new stylists

Invest in a professional personal styling course to learn the basics of running a styling business. You'll cover everything from marketing to finding your niche. These courses are taught by accredited professionals to help you start a personal stylist business and succeed..

The Styling Advisory

Your tutor: Sarah Cohen

The Styling Advisory, led by Sarah Cohen, is perfect for personal stylists who want to improve their business skills. Their short business course focuses on marketing and branding. It's ideal for those struggling with management and strategy.

The Styling Advisory offers three programs: an individual course, a group course, and a social media course. Learn how to create virtual personal styling services, build a brand that reflects your style, attract clients on social media, and develop your client packages.

Visit The Styling Advisory website.

The Style Academy

Your tutor: an array of industry experts

The Style Academy is perfect for those who want to become a personal stylist. They offer six masterclasses to choose from. If you have little knowledge about personal styling, their short business courses cover everything, including body analysis and creating your lookbook. The Style Academy also teaches you how to start a personal stylist business and manage it effectively. Learn personal stylist project management, client consultations, and personal shopping.

With The Style Academy, there's no rush. Study at your own pace, as these courses are available anytime.

Visit The Style Academy website.

Style by Rebecca

Your tutor: Rebecca Davies

When you visit Style by Rebecca's website, you'll find three courses. There are short courses for those who want to learn about personal styling. A three-day personal styling course for stylists looking to improve their skills. And a five-day course that covers styling skills and business management. The five-day course also includes tips on how to start a personal stylist business and personal stylist project management.

Visit the Style By Rebecca website.

Best personal styling business coaches to follow on Instagram

A specialized personal styling coach offers mentoring, support, and resources to help you start a personal stylist business. Follow these personal styling coaches on Instagram for expert advice while you scroll.

Brianna Wise

Instagram: @briwisestyle

Brianna Wise is a fashion stylist turned personal styling coach and author of “Becoming A Stylist.” Her Instagram is full of resources for personal styling entrepreneurs. You'll find advice on creating your portfolio, preparing client packages, crafting your personal brand, pricing your services, and more. Brianna also offers further education through free resources on her website.

Learn more business advice for personal stylists from Brianna Wise.

Lauren Messiah

Instagram: @laurenmessiah

The Style Boss Academy is an online business school for personal stylists, led by Lauren Messiah. Lauren’s energetic personality and solid experience make her page a great place to learn about the personal styling business. Follow her for advice on how to start a styling business. Don't miss her live interviews with professional stylists, which offer valuable insights into the industry. These interviews are saved to her highlights for easy access.

Ginny Hudnut

Instagram: @houseofcolourdallas

Ginny Hudnut is a color and style analyst, specializing in helping women enhance their appearance through color. While her Instagram primarily connects with clients, Ginny shares valuable insights on color consulting in her posts and reels. Personal stylists can learn how to use color effectively for different skin tones and complexions from Ginny’s page.

Explore more business advice for personal stylists from Ginny Hudnut.

Sarah Cohen

Instagram: @thestylingadvisory

Sarah Cohen, founder of the Styling Advisory, offers personal styling business coaching. Her Instagram showcases her top advice. With over twenty years in marketing across retail and media, Sarah focuses on building personal brands and effective marketing strategies for personal stylists.

Discover more business advice for personal stylists from Sarah Cohen.

Nikki Venus

Instagram: @iamnikkivenus

Nikki Venus is a top personal styling coach known for her relatable approach. Her Instagram serves as a digital resource hub for style coaches, offering business advice, motivational quotes, and practical reels. Nikki's detailed captions guide personal stylists through essential business strategies, making her page a valuable resource for aspiring stylists looking to establish their style consultancy.

The Verdict

Starting a career as a personal stylist may seem daunting, but expert advice and education are readily available to guide you. Learn essential skills to start and manage a successful personal styling business from industry experts.

Whether a natural bookworm or a reluctant reader, as an interior designer you should be regularly referring to a bank of interior design publications. Digital interior design magazines are a treasure trove of design inspiration, industry news, and expert insight. And so we rounded up top-tier interior design publications that all interior designers need to add to their regular reading list Find a cosy spot and get stuck in...

Azure Magazine

Azure is an award-winning magazine with a focus on contemporary architecture and design, packaged in six visually pleasing issues a year. But even if not in possession of an Azure print copy, you can still get your interior design fix. Azure welcomes readers with full coverage of stylish trends, product launches, designers' stories, and the latest architectural and interior design news. Another reason to add Azure to your digital bookshelf? Azure hosts award shows and galas throughout the year and as a regular reader, you're sure to gain priority access to tickets.

National Kitchen And Bath Association (NKBS)

The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBS) is the world's leading trade association for the kitchen and bath industry providing tools, research, certification, and events to thousands of professionals—in other words, an absolute gold mine! The NBKA Insights tab is a reliable source for critical analysis of all things interior, from research into the future of design to reports on how the financial market is affecting the interior design industry. If you get tired of reading, NKBS hosts video series, from talking with exhibitors about the latest technological innovations in design to interviewing leading names in kitchen and bath design.

Business of Home

Business of Home is such an interior design industry powerhouse that you likely already have it bookmarked to your favourites but if you don't... go and do so! Gather advice directly from industry veterans, get inspired by curated collections and stay informed on the latest happenings in the world of interior design. You should also regularly check out Business of Home's jobs board for exciting opportunities in the interior design industry. The best thing about BOH? The quarterly print edition. Pages of in-depth analysis of the topics that matter most to the interior design community—and the perfect finishing touch when styling a coffee table.

The Little Design Corner

The Little Designer Corner perfectly balances the two sides of being an interior designer: creative and corporate. Clare Le Roy started The Little Design Corner after leaving her corporate career to transition into a career within the interior design industry. The Little Design Corner started as a space for Clare to document her learnings and host online courses for fellow interior designers and architects. Today, The Little Design Corner is not so little but Clare continues to share educational content with her nearly 100k-strong audience. The Little Design Corner blog is an invaluable resource centre for interior design entrepreneurs and is regularly updated with fresh content, so it is worth checking in each and every week! Clare's writing covers social media strategies, customer relations, and even a monthly review of her own interior design business for full transparency.

Elle Decor

After establishing itself as a leading name in the fashion industry, Elle launched a spin-off magazine covering all things interior decor—aptly named Elle Decor. One of the best-selling decor publications in the market, Elle Decor treats home design as a lifestyle. Expect coverage of the latest and greatest in interior trends, stunning luxury home tours and the tales of those who have made it to the top of the interior design industry. ›Plus, shopaholics can indulge themselves by browsing thousands of Elle Decor's featured products.

Oh, and the Visualist blog (what you're reading now).

If you've worked in the interior design industry for some time, you won't be a stranger to having clients try and wangle services and add-ons for free. If you're just starting out as an interior designer, you likely know no different. Self-confidence and strong will are essential in keeping sight of your professional value. The more you know your worth, the easier it is to say no to free work and stand for your prices.  That being said, the art of saying no can't be learned overnight—it takes years of practice!

One thing is for sure though, declining to work for free is most definitely worth it! You reserve your time to connect with interior design clients who genuinely value your skills, and you're compensated justly for your time and expertise. You deserve it!

Don't know where to start? Start putting these tips into practice to learn to say "no" to offering your interior design services for free.

Don't leave things open to interpretation

Before signing the contract, be crystal clear about your services. What's the scope of the project? What areas are up for negotiation? What are your limitations? Stating these upfront will save any debates about what is or isn't included in the price of your design packages later down the lane. There is no harm in accommodating "minor" requests but if those requests turn out to be not so minor feel confident in explaining that you're happy to accommodate the tweaks, for an additional fee for it. You could give a quick financial breakdown, or an estimate of the extra hours you need to achieve their goal in order to better illustrate why you charge the way you do—odds are once a client understands how hard you work, they'll be more than willing to compensate you.

If they still aren't willing to pay the extra, decline politely but firmly. As much as you don't want to get underpaid, you also don't want to ruin your relationship with a potential client.

Separate work and personal life

"Mates rates?" You've probably heard that line at least once in your life, if not more. It's especially popular among relatives and friends who hope to get free services and advice in exchange for kindness. Of course, it is tempting to use your expertise to help out your loved ones but you have to draw the line somewhere. A good way to get around this situation without upsetting anyone could be to point them in the direction of any promo services you're currently offering. You could consider working out a family & friends discount but be frugal in who you offer it out to, you're not entitled to give every acquaintance free labour! If in doubt, just be honest. Explain to your close ones that you cannot afford to work for free at the moment, they won't want to see you go underpaid. It's amazing to have great friends, but their friendship doesn't pay the bills!

Get what you give

When starting out as an interior designer, it is tempting to work for free in order to boost your portfolio and acquire new clients. Whilst we don't discourage taking on exciting projects for the sake of growing as an interior designer and investing in your future, it is important that you see some compensation for your efforts. Perhaps your client works in social media marketing and could offer you some free advice in growing your social media presence in return, or perhaps they're a chef at your favourite restaurant—a free meal would be nice right?

Don't be shy to ask for a little something in return for your services, be reasonable but don't be bashful. Your hard work deserves to be recognised and rewarded.

A new employee's first day sets the tone for their time within your company. A well-organised and supportive experience gives new hires a great first impression of the company as well as helping them to ease into their new role and improve their chances of success.

However, onboarding a new employee is no easy task, especially when making a new hire for a small business. Onboarding new team members is time-consuming and often stressful—but if not done right it can affect the employee's performance and that of the rest of your team. Instead of starting the process from scratch with each new hire, equip yourself with a bank of employee onboarding tools that help to streamline the process—making the hiring process more efficient and enjoyable for both you and your new employee.

From task management to team exposure, these tools help to streamline, and even automate, everything the new employee needs to get started. Stock up your employee onboarding toolkit with the best software on the market and welcome new hires with ease...

Tango

Best for: introducing daily tasks

It takes a team to Tango! Tango is a free Chrome extension that allows you to create a step-by-step guide for new hires, without increasing your workload. That's right! Simply press record, go about your task as usual, and in the background, Tango will be busy creating a document that summarises your process complete with instructional screenshots. But don't worry about privacy, Tango automatically crops the images and blurs out any private information! Edit and share your guide as desired. Et voila—a step-by-step guide to daily tasks in seconds!

Bubbles

Best for: explaining a new process

Some things are just best explained by Bubbles! If your new team member is a visual learner, or indeed their new task is best illustrated by video, then Bubbles is a go-to tool. Bubbles allows you to record your screen and voice as you walk through a process step-by-step. It also lets you assign the video to a team member and set a date and time when you need a response. Bubbles will send a reminder to the assignee when the deadline is close! This way, you'll be able to monitor a new hire's onboarding progress and offer additional support if necessary.

Caroo

Best for: showing your appreciation

Caroo helps you identify the best ways to welcome your new hires and reward hard work based on their care preferences. Caroo asks new hires about their likes and dislikes in the workplace and general personality and uses the data to put together a custom appreciation plan—a personal touch sure to make new team members feel appreciated through their onboarding process and beyond! With Caroo, you can send meaningful digital gift cards, automate birthday celebrations, treat the team to lunch and more! Remember: the happier your employees, the higher their productivity!

Confetti

Best for: building team spirit

Help new hires quickly find their place in your team by organising team-building activities and welcome parties with Confetti. Confetti is filled with hundreds of exclusive team-building games, onboarding activities, and virtual events that your employees can enjoy. This helps you promote inclusivity, strengthen team connections, and develop soft skills. You don't even need to spend precious time planning! Just scan, select, customise, set a time and date, and voila! Your event is all set.

The roundup

The tools you use to onboard new team members should be easy to use, clear and interactive. But remember, even with the best toolkit at your disposal, the key to successfully welcoming new hires is to make them feel at home. A healthy work place culture allows new team members to quickly gel with their colleagues and is beneficial to the productivity and satisfaction of your whole team. Here are a few creative ways to make new employees feel welcome on their first day:

• Decorate their desk. Customising your new hire's workspace is a fun and easy way to make them feel instantly at home.  You can have the team paste short welcome notes on their desk, put up small balloons around their space, or set up a custom desk nameplate for them! Even better if you could prepare something that is personal to them, their interests, their culture etc. Thoughtfulness is always appreciated!

• Get out of the office. Skip the icebreaker questions and get out and about! Without the pressure of work, your new employees can be themselves and learn about their coworkers in the same way. Not only will new employees and your existing team be able to bond more readily, but it will also give your team a well-earned reward for all their hard work—two in one. You could head to karaoke, attend a painting workshop, or go on a team picnic.

• Create a welcome hamper. A welcome hamper can include handy workplace tools, welcome trinkets, snacks, personalised gifts/cards and more. You could even make it a more practical gift by including information packets on the company and their role responsibilities and a printout of their daily tasks and schedule.

As a wedding planner, first impressions count—and your copy is that first-touch with prospective clients. Ellie Kime is an expert copywriter specialising in wordplay for wedding planners. Having started out in the wedding industry herself, Ellie understands the needs of wedding and events professionals. She prides herself on crafting warm, welcoming, conversational copy that connects and converts—and she can teach you how to do the same. We invited to unravel the copywriting conundrums of wedding professionals in our community, let's dive in...

How can I bring some more flair and personality to my copy?

Have you ever tried dictating your copy? We can feel a lot more "in the flow" when we speak as opposed to writing things down. Either dictate in real-time or record a voice note and then play it back, you can then extract bits that you like and tweak accordingly. It also often comes down to feeling comfortable implementing devices like puns, rhymes and witty comments. I think doing some TOV (tone of voice) work is really useful in improving confidence because you feel secure knowing that you're still operating within your brand guidelines.

TOV guidelines are keywords that you want your brand to be associated with, words like "sisterly", "approachable", "down-to-earth" etc. You can then assess all your copy against your TOV guidelines and see whether you're hitting them.

Any tips on crafting a bio for my About page and for IG that stands out from the crowd?

Inject some personality into it, however small. Already, that'll help you stand head and shoulders above so many others who don't think professionalism & personality can work together. PSA: they can. Really bloody well!

Another thing would be to avoid jargon that your readers won't understand. If it's industry-specific terminology that your couples would use, totally fine; if they don't know what it means, you're wasting precious characters. If you're struggling to think of a word which captures what you do/how you do it, think about how you make your clients feel—this transformation will really sell it. Don't play small. Own your area of brilliance!

Besides the obvious places (Instagram captions, About page) where else should I be focusing my attention in terms of copy?

Never underestimate the power of website microcopy—the little bits on your site like your button links, footer etc. A lovely example can be seen on Samantha Ciuni's site, where the button on her branding page says "Apply to be branded". Funny, tongue-in-cheek, makes me want to click!

Sure, the people who see them are going to be pretty far into your sales spiel already,  but showing a bit of personality at every stage of the process will remind clients of why you're so fab and why you're worth the money! Also, think hard about the little details in your emails. I once booked a client based purely on the fact that I changed my iPhone email signature to "Sent from my phone - your email was so exciting I just couldn't wait!" I have also seen some great unsubscribe messages, this one spring to mind: You can [unsubscribe] all you want but you'll always be in our hearts.

Is it worth starting a newsletter as a wedding planner? If yes, should I target clients or vendors?

Yes! The buy-in that customers have on an email vs. Instagram is vastly different. As for who to address, I would angle towards your clients (bonus: any vendors in your contacts list will likely still be impressed by you!)

I always encourage the repurposing of content—efficiency is key. If you're already writing a blog that content should definitely be recycled into newsletter content.

I'd like to start repurposing my blog content for social media. What should be my first step?

Though it sounds pretty grim, "chunking" is really useful in blog post writing. Chunking refers to breaking up copy into chunks so that it's not overwhelming to read. Headings are then really useful for signposting and help a bunch with SEO. These headings are then a good places to start for social media content. For example, a blog post covering"10 Wedding Trends for 2023" becomes a 10-slide carousel on Instagram (or TikTok, now that it loves photo galleries!) where each slide corresponds to one of the headings/trends.

How often should I be publishing blog content?

It's less about frequency and more about consistency. If you've got a batch of 12 blogs written up, it might be better to publish one a month for the next year rather than every couple of days. The more words your site has, the better it is for SEO. So, if you've got loads to say, keep the blog content coming!

How do I continually come up with interesting new topics for my wedding blog?

Content creation works differently for everyone, but here are a few methods that work for me:

1. Create content buckets by distilling what you talk about it into 4/5 areas that you specialise in. All your content ideas can then be planned out based on these buckets. For example, as a London wedding planner, your content buckets could be wedding tips, supplier shoutouts, trend watching and London elopements.
2. Answer The Public and What People Ask are great tools for finding out what people are searching for on Google within your niche.
3. Ask your audience on Instagram what they're struggling with, and how you can help.
4. Check your FAQs for stuff that you could expand on!

The key to effective content creation is making sure you're constantly in conversation with your audience, that way you can always make sure you're serving up relevant info. Whilst it is great to stand out, remember that sometimes you might be talking about the same thing as someone else, but your perspective will be totally different. And that's ok too! You don't need to continually reinvent the wheel, you just need to spin it in a way that will suit your clients.

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Read more copywriting advice from Ellie Kime on her blog or learn more about how she can help your business by visiting her website.
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Visualist regularly invites industry experts to answer the practical questions of our creative community. Brand messaging, financial management, legal contracts—you name it! Secure an invite to our next event by joining us on Facebook.

Creativity is continuous experimentation, imagination and learning—all enhanced by social interaction.

Creatives benefit from community. Naturally, social media sites were used to host community interactions but somewhere amidst algorithmic updates and relentless reels, creative communities were left scattered and disillusioned. Instagram is designed to build audiences, not communities.

If only there were a digital platform that champions interaction, invention, and education to allow these creative communities to thrive...

Creativity and community

Creatives have long understood the benefits of community—access to support, procrastination deterrence, exposure to new perspectives, and opportunity for collaborative learning. Workshops, like those hosted by Creativity Explored, and conferences, as held by In/Visible Talks, are examples of how creatives have come together to capitalise on these benefits.

Creative Mornings is another example—a New York-based brunch club for local creatives, that grew into an international network. But as they scaled, Creative Mornings began supplementing in-person events with a permanent online directory for their community. Moving online allows communities to stay connected regardless of distance. Digital alternatives make networking logistically viable for everyone—opportunities and creative conversations should not be limited by geographical, social, or financial barriers.

There is demand for a platform that allows creative communities to interact as authentically as they would in real life, whilst embracing the inclusivity and convenience of the internet.

Slack as a solution

Enter, Slack.

Slack is a messaging service designed for internal company communications. However, Slack's OOO potential remains largely unexplored. Slack workspaces dedicated to creative industries do exist, but they are largely lying dormant—communities brimming with potential, simply waiting to be activated.

However, other industry-based communities have more readily adopted Slack into their communications. Wordsmiths—a Slack community created by Sonder & Tell—functions as a space for writing professionals to develop their craft. Channels are dedicated to discussing notable copy (the good, the bad and the ugly), sharing inspirational prompts, gathering advice, and advertising job opportunities.

Another Slack community gaining traction is the Freelance Schmeelance group, founded by Harling Ross. Harling works as a freelancer in the brand consulting space and has become a de facto 'connector', often referring brands to other freelancers for stuff that doesn't fit her area of expertise. "I love referring people for jobs, especially fellow freelancers. It's fun to play a small role in giving talented folks the opportunity to do their thing." Harling further explains, "I'm conscious of how significant a privilege it is as a freelancer to have a platform on social media where brands can find me, and I want to pay that forward as frequently and widely as possible." And so, Harling built her Slack community. "It's grown into more than just a job referral platform, there's quite a bit of general advice-sharing that happens here too—which I love. I also love hearing about connections people have made through Slack, and jobs people have been hired for. The definition of a win-win."

Building a playground

Slack has termed itself "a playground for your creative process", but how exactly can a messaging tool evolve into a playground—a space characterised by experimentation, interactivity, and entertainment?

To turn Slack's blank canvas into a fruitful space for collaborative thinking, ideation, and creative exploration, we searched for lessons from infamous playground equipment.

Sandpit: laying foundations

A child looks at a sandpit and sees an opportunity to build something from scratch. Creatives can look at Slack in the same way.

Create a solid structure

When building a sandcastle, it is important to lay strong foundations. When this theory is applied to Slack, that means getting your channels in order.

Channels can be tailored to the needs/interests of the community. These channels act as "performative silos"—focusing discussion on a specific topic. Yet avoiding the limitations of siloed thinking, because ideas can then spill out into other channels and collide with supplementary conversations to create great new ideas. Wordsmiths' #copyofnote channel consistently receives engagement—why? It has clear guidelines, is open to interaction and is a little bit playful! Specificity provides clarity, interesting topics capture attention, and activities offer delight.

Use all the tools available to you

Slack is simple. But simple features can make a big impact—namely, apps and audio. Audio had a moment last year with the launch of Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces, and Slack also has audio-chat capabilities—known as Huddles. Hosting live calls is a good way to add the "human touch" to a digital space. Active engagement with live conversation is concrete evidence of an invested community.

It is also possible to integrate apps into your Slack channels—try Mural, a virtual collaborative whiteboard and Lucid Spark, a space for digital brainstorming.

Seesaw: give and take

Collaborative learning theory implies that we learn best through working together. We are more likely to process, compound and build on teachings when we work in collaboration with others.

A common channel in many Slack communities is "gives and asks"—participants are encouraged to ask for help and offer solutions where they can. Make it clear that this is a safe space for the community to share their work and opinions but that all participants should welcome the suggestions and critiques of fellow designers—viewing them as an opportunity to grow.

Climbing frame: the element of challenge

Risk-taking

A creative mind enjoys risk and experimentation. Though, of course, a degree of stability and predictability in daily work is reassuring, creatives need to be challenged in order to grow.

Slack channels could act as risk simulators—all the challenge, stimulation, and fun without any consequences. Pose thoughtful questions, work through problem-solving scenarios together, and set design challenges. A Slack community can become a gym for the creative mind.

Think outside the box

Many Slack communities are built around a common discipline or profession (marketing, graphic design, etc.) but what if they were a little more abstract?

Interdisciplinary thinking is in high demand. Slack could function as a space to bring together expansive thinkers from across creative disciplines to tackle complex problems. A digital think-tank, if you will. Breaking convention could position your Slack channel as a breeding ground for innovation, problem-solving, and ideation.

Merry-go-round: optional participation

Whilst we are used to having our attention farmed on social media, Slack can be different.

Just like on a merry-go-round, members of a Slack community should be able to hop on/hop off as and when they choose. Avoid pestering, setting time limits, or imposing 'obligatory' activities. Communication should be frequent and consistent, but be careful not to overwhelm the community with challenges, advice and questions—they'll switch off their notifications.

Swings: keeping the momentum

A Slack community should ultimately be self-sufficient—participants will be invested enough to keep the community running without too much maintenance. However, there are things you can do initially to build that loyalty and investment...

Break the monotony

Remember, you're dealing with a highly visually responsive demographic. Social media takes advantage of the engaging nature of visual imagery, so take that lesson and combine it with genuine value-adding content. Utilise gifs, videos and other visuals to break up text and keep conversations digestible and fun.

Collective encouragement

Collective encouragement is a great community-building exercise. In the Freelance Shmeelance community, Harling Ross created a channel titled #shmeelance-wins— a place for celebrating achievements. When people feel encouraged and valued by their community, they are more inclined to contribute.

Designing beautiful spaces comes naturally to you as an interior designer. But handling admin and business matters—well, that's another story. Chances are you're a proud solopreneur but as your interior design business grows, it could be worth hiring a virtual assistant. Behind the scenes of every great design is a myriad of menial tasks—what tasks can an interior design assistant help with exactly? Client communications, product sourcing, 3D renderings,  concept boards—essentially if you hire the right VA, they can do whatever it is you need to free up your time.

Interior design entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesses are often restricted by too much time spent on day-to-day admin,  hiring a virtual interior design assistant can change that and help you take your interior design business to the next level.

How does a virtual interior design assistant help interior designers?

Admin, bookkeeping, marketing, social media management, client comms—being an interior design entrepreneur means wearing a lot of different hats! A virtual interior design assistant can share the load and gift you back time to spend doing what you do best: designing.

With the help of a VA, you'll have more time to commit to improving your designs, establishing a presence in the media and potentially taking on more projects—hello increased profits. And crucially, employing a virtual interior design assistant will help protect you from burnout. You're at your most creative when you're well-rested and unstressed. Let a VA lighten the load to keep you performing at your best.

Is hiring a virtual assistant for my interior design business cost-effective?

As mentioned, hiring a virtual assistant frees up time for you to focus on growing and scaling your interior design business. Yes, short-term hiring staff is a big investment but long-term it is sure to pay off in dividends.

Your other options for bringing in help are hiring a junior designer or in-person assistant, but a virtual assistant is the most budget-friendly way to bring in an extra pair of hands. There is no need to make room for them in an office, support travel costs or provide tools like a laptop—as your VA will work from their own home, which by the way could be anywhere in the world! Hey, that's an extra dollar saved for you!

How to hire a virtual interior design assistant

Like any other business, finding the right personal assistant to work with you can be tricky. Follow these steps to ensure you're hiring the right VA for your interior design business.

1. Utilise reputable sites to search for candidates. Save yourself time and ensure the quality of applicants by posting your job description on reputable sites like UpWork, LinkedIn, and eVirtual Assistants.
2. Prepare a detailed job description. Are you looking for specific skills or expertise? Make sure to write it down to attract the right candidates.
3. Ask the right questions. An interview is the most important step in the hiring process, above anything you need to see whether you and your potential VA click. Try asking these questions to ensure they're the right match for your interior design company:

• What are your strengths and weaknesses as a virtual assistant?
• What is your preferred communication method?
• How do you stay organised when you have multiple active projects?

Wedding bells are ringing for a whole new generation! Are you prepared to plan weddings for Gen Z clients? Will you even notice the difference?

Generally speaking, Gen Z couples are very different from Millennial couples. Gen Z are idealistic, techy, price-conscious, and love a sweet balance of quality, price, and good customer service. They also communicate in different ways, Gen Z couples are digital natives and so your traditional methods of communication and engagement might need to adapt. Familiarise yourself with the changing requirements of a new generation of wedding clients and prepare for bucket loads of fun!

Best to be social

First things first, to even work with Gen Z clients you're going to need to be active on social media. The digital natives that they are, where do you think Gen Z will go to search for their wedding planner? That's right, social media. That doesn't stop at the client acquisition phase, Gen Z clients are likely to want to continue to communicate with you via DMs and regular video calls.

For this younger generation, TikTok replaces Google. You want to craft a strong presence across both TikTok and Instagram to ensure this new generation of clients are exposed to your business. Whilst you're there, it is a good idea to do your research and stay up to date with all the evolving trends that these clients are sure to request. Remember: for this demographic, "aesthetic" is everything, alongside experience and connection.

I wanna hold your hand

Rather than this being a generational factor, this one could come down simply to age. Your Gen Z clients are going to be younger, mostly in their early to mid-20s, which will likely mean they need a little extra reassurance and guidance throughout the entire process. Gen Z couples will frequently ring or text you whenever they want to ask something, your role here is to hold their hand as much as it is to plan the event! With these younger clients, your communication needs to be thorough, regular and honest—this generation really values transparency. Be patient and perhaps a little parental, but never patronising. Gen Z clients most definitely know what they want and want to be treated with respect, they just need a hand to hold too!

Luxury on a budget

Given the current economy, you'll find that Gen Z clients don't have wads of cash to splash on a wedding—but that doesn't mean they're willing to compromise on the feeling of luxury. The good news is that many Gen Z clients prioritise experience and quality time with their nearest and dearest over extravagant decor or stunts. In order to craft a Gen Z couple's perfect day on a tighter budget you'll simply need to listen closely to what it is they really value and be creative in where you source materials, catering and entertainment from—the challenge should actually be good for you!

Meet the parents

Last but not least, expect to see more than a young couple during consultations! Most Gen Z clients will often bring their parents or relatives with them to aid in their decision-making. Most of the time it's because they need the assurance of having someone more experienced to help them but sometimes you'll find that the parents just want to join in the fun! It is important to acknowledge the suggestions of everyone involved in the planning process, but always prioritise the wants of the couple. Worst case scenario you'll need to come between minor conflicts between the parents and the couple. But at the end of the day, both parties only want one thing—a beautiful wedding!