Virtual Design and Other Services to Offer During the Pandemic
In this webinar, Kate O’Hara of Martha O’Hara Interiors shares how to adapt your design business to the virtual world
How best to offer your design services virtually during these challenging times was at the heart of an insightful live webinar chat this week between Kate O’Hara, CEO and creative director of Martha O’Hara Interiors, and Reisa Elden of Houzz. Part of our ongoing Resilience series, the conversation covered a wide range of virtual services to offer clients, from setting up a one-hour virtual consultation to providing full-service remote custom design. If you missed the event, read some of the highlights here or click the link below to watch the full webinar.
It’s important to meet the current needs of your clients. Many people are at home right now and they’re noticing what works for them and what doesn’t. “They’re bored, they’re getting sick of their interiors, or they’re realizing that the aspects of their homes that worked for them two months ago are not working for them now,” O’Hara says. “They’re ready to make some changes, just on a smaller scale.
O’Hara stresses that now is a great time to get creative in diversifying your services, whether it’s setting up virtual social hours with clients, creating webinar how-tos or starting that design blog you’ve been putting off. “Taking the time to diversify doesn’t mean you’re committing to it for the long run, it doesn’t mean you have to do it forever, it simply means you’re creating a new opportunity for yourself.”
O’Hara stresses that now is a great time to get creative in diversifying your services, whether it’s setting up virtual social hours with clients, creating webinar how-tos or starting that design blog you’ve been putting off. “Taking the time to diversify doesn’t mean you’re committing to it for the long run, it doesn’t mean you have to do it forever, it simply means you’re creating a new opportunity for yourself.”
Here are some of the key takeaways from the chat with O’Hara:
- Reset your business mindset, focusing on compressed timelines and short-term business goals.
- Consider offering virtual services: consults, e-design and remote custom design.
- Start with a clear process and deliverables for one service (consults are simplest) and grow from there.
- Field test your services with trusted friends or family.
- Ask past clients to review you on Houzz.
To learn more, watch the full webinar.
Tell us: How are you working virtually with clients? Share your experiences in the Comments.
More for Pros on Houzz
See more from our Resilience series
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Join the Houzz Trade Program
More for Pros on Houzz
See more from our Resilience series
Learn about Houzz Pro business software
Browse millions of photos for inspiration
Talk with your peers in the Pro-to-Pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
- Reframing your mindset and creating a business plan during a crisis
- Diversifying your services with your clients in mind
- Adapting your design process to keep you productive
- Exploring new ways to reach your next clients
Learn about Houzz Pro business softwareO’Hara says it’s important for interior design and home remodeling firms to change their mindset and create shorter time horizons. “Right now we’re talking about this week, this month, this quarter,” she says. “If you’re waiting to circle back to business when things are normal again, you might not be setting yourself up for success. We don’t know when normal is going to happen again.”