Week 9 Part A: TikTok

Given TikTok's immense global reach and dynamic video-sharing format, it certainly has potential for interior design businesses looking to expand their digital footprint. TikTok's algorithm uniquely promotes engaging content, meaning even a new account with few followers can quickly gain visibility if the videos resonate with viewers.

Short, eye-catching videos featuring design transformations, DIY projects, quick tips, or behind-the-scenes glimpses into our process can naturally appeal to a wide audience. TikTok videos are particularly suited to highlighting dramatic before-and-after reveals that are both satisfying and shareable, enhancing our potential to go viral.

However, TikTok's future, especially in the U.S., is somewhat uncertain. Concerns about data privacy and potential bans mean there's some risk involved in heavily investing your marketing efforts here. While recent attempts at banning TikTok were short-lived, ongoing discussions about data privacy mean it's important to stay informed and adaptable.

Starting with a personal account to get comfortable with TikTok’s features might be a good approach. We could experiment initially, understanding viewer engagement and gradually shifting to a business account, which offers analytics, targeted advertising, and promotional opportunities that personal accounts don't provide.

Ultimately, TikTok could be an excellent tool for connecting visually and emotionally with clients, especially younger demographics who frequently turn to TikTok for inspiration and entertainment. Yet, keep a diversified social media approach—maintaining a presence on stable platforms like Instagram or Google My Business—to ensure the business remains resilient and visible regardless of TikTok’s future.

Week 9 Part B

 Let's be honest, when people need knowledge fast, they tend to turn to Google. For  the business owner, there's no two ways around it: Having a claimed and well-managed Google Business Profile should be a top priority (and pretty much is the definition of low-hanging fruit). With a few clicks and some minimal interacting with the interface, you can not set your hours of operation and integrate features such as photos and promotional tools that help keep customers informed.

If you have a physical store, you can't beat Google when it comes to helping customers locate you. You provide your address, and map steers likely customers right to the front door. Even better, your customers can update your Google page by posting their own photos and reviews of your business. Keeping the page fresh, responding to reviews, and interacting with the likely-to-leave-some-reviews crowd can make a big difference in the business's performance in Google's rankings.

Google offers so much more than mere listings. For those who have their own sites, adding Google's analytical scripts can provide deep insight into who your visitors are and what they're doing with your site. Even without a site, Google's built-in analytics can offer insights into just how powerful (or not) your cause is—tools to measure the effectiveness of your outreach and improve the experiences of your customers.

Google Workspace elevates things further, providing business-oriented Gmail accounts, powerful cloud storage, collaborative tools, and shared calendars. For team meetings, content coordination, or planning promotional events, Google's integrated ecosystem is set up to streamline and increase your productivity. On top of everything else, the suite contains a number of bonus tools like AI that make working in the cloud even easier.

Google often gets overlooked when we talk about social media, but for small businesses, it can be a real game changer. Local searches performed on Google too often drive more traffic and conversions than some of the oldest and most popular social platforms. I looked at a number of local businesses, and the most successful of all the ones I checked regularly update their Google profiles, have a back-and-forth dialogue with reviewers, and are plainly using analytics to drive their decision-making.

Week 8 Part B

 As I am reading through the Real Purpose of Blogging for Your Business, I immediately realized that our small interior design business lends itself well to Blogs and especially Vlogs. Before and after videos, mishaps and challenges during renovations, occasional awe inspiring projects or simple back stories to design inspiration can all become engaging content. To take this idea further one can approach a producer with the idea of a well polished design challenge/ reality TV.

However, there are times when maintaining a professional or serious tone might be more appropriate, especially if the goal is to emphasize reliability and expertise. For example, a detailed post about selecting the right materials or adhering to building codes or finances, requires serious language to relay the seriousness of the topic and build confidence in our abilities.

successful brands often blend personal stories with practical information to create trust and appeal emotionally to their customers. Yet a legal, or engineering or medical firm can't benefit from personal content in their social media presence.

Week 8 Part A

 During this week, I set up a posting schedule for Leyli's interior design Instagram page, sharing content three times: Monday morning at 9 AM, Wednesday afternoon at 1 PM, and Friday evening at 6 PM. Each chosen based on Instagram analytics, which suggested peak engagement around these times for people interested in lifestyle and interior content.

I used several hashtags, including popular ones #InteriorDesign, #HomeDecor, and #DesignInspiration. These were discovered using Instagram's Explore feature, checking competitor posts.

In addition, I created specific branded hashtags to reinforce my business identity: #DesignByLeyli and #InteriorInsights. These branded tags help followers easily find and engage with our content.

From this exercise, I learned that early mornings and early evenings on weekdays were most effective, especially Friday evenings, likely because my audience is more active and responsive heading into the weekend. Additionally, reposting Instagram content to Facebook broadened my reach significantly, connecting me with a different demographic who interacts more frequently on Facebook.

Overall, strategic timing, targeted hashtags, and cross-platform posting proved invaluable for enhancing engagement and expanding our brand's visibility.

Week 7B: Hashtag Hacks from the Pros

1. Studio McGee (@studiomcgee)

• Followers: Over 3.6 million

• Posting Frequency: Regularly: project reveals, product features, and lifestyle content

• Engagement: High likes and comments, strong follower base

• Hashtag Strategy:

  • Utilizes branded hashtags like #SMMakeLifeBeautiful to foster community engagement

  • Incorporates popular industry hashtags such as #interiordesign and #homedecor

• Effectiveness: most effective

2. Amber Interiors (@amberinteriors)

• Followers: Approximately 1.5 million

• Posting Frequency: Consistent. Project highlights and product promotions

• Engagement: Strong, with numerous likes and comments per post

• Hashtag Strategy:

  • Employs unique project-specific hashtags like #ClientCanyonCool

  • Hashtags are typically placed at the end of captions

• Effectiveness: Their hashtag approach enhances brand identity 

3. The Novogratz (@thenovogratz)

• Followers: Over 300,000

• Posting Frequency: Regular updates of eclectic designs and family life

• Engagement: Strong

• Hashtag Strategy:

  • Uses branded hashtags like #thenovogratz to promote their unique style

  • Incorporates general design hashtags to broaden reach

  • Hashtags are included at the end of posts

• Effectiveness: Their consistent hashtag use resonate with their target audience

4. Sarah Richardson Design (@sarahrichardsondesign)

• Followers: Approximately 200,000

• Posting Frequency: Regular, featuring elegant designs and behind-the-scenes content

• Engagement: High, with active participation

• Hashtag Strategy:

  • Utilizes a mix of branded and popular hashtags to increase visibility

  • Hashtags match the content

  • Typically placed at the end of captions

• Effectiveness: Her strategic hashtag use and high-quality content is very effective

5. Hibou Design & Co. (@hiboudesignco)

• Followers: Approximately 50,000

• Posting Frequency: Consistent posts about Montreal-based projects

• Engagement: Strong local following with active engagement

• Hashtag Strategy:

  • Incorporates location-specific hashtags like #MontrealDesign

  • Uses a combination of broad and niche hashtags to attract a targeted audience

  • Hashtags are placed at the end of captions

• Effectiveness: Their localized hashtag strategy reaches their regional market

  These companies have between 50k and 3.6M followers. They all post & use hashtags consistently, with different strategies. Most of the posts that I looked at had a lot of engagement (likes, comments, etc.)

Some hashtags that I can use for my business:

#InteriorDesign, #HomeDecor, #DesignInspiration, #Dubaihomes, #Socaldesign, #Socalhomedesign, #MinimalistDesign, #LRInteriors, #LeyliRafiyanInteriors

Week 7 part A

 Our business has an existing Instagram page that can be viewed here.

our page has some pictures as method for keeping an active portfolio. However both stories and reels reach more people.

 We are occasionally contacted by new clients for projects. Most of the work comes from either the previous clients or people introduced by previous clients, kind of like word of mouth.

  I haven't really used #hashtags before, but now am convinced they are going to connect us to potential customers and am going to start utilizing them.

https://www.instagram.com/leyli.rafiyan/#

Week 6 Part B: Creating and Scheduling FaceBook Posts

 For automated Facebook post project I chose to at the following hours when Meta business suite recommended. With 40 followers, the algorithm knows best when our they are most active and it seemed wise to try to build on the momentum that's already there.