132 | Stress-Free Framework to Attract Clients to Your Design Business With Ben Rutledge

"I don't know where to start!" Marketing overwhelms you, with so many platforms (Instagram, Pinterest, SEO, email, ads). You struggle to create a clear strategy and wonder which efforts will bring results.

"I hate self-promotion—I don’t want to sound salesy!" You love creating beautiful spaces but dislike talking about yourself. You worry about coming across as pushy instead of naturally attracting clients.

"Technology stresses me out!" CRMs, email marketing, and automation tools sound helpful, but learning them feels overwhelming. You want simple, done-for-you solutions that don’t require becoming a tech expert.

I hear you! Many interior designers struggle with scattered tools, complicated strategies, and the challenge of standing out.

So in this episode, I chat with marketing expert, Ben Rutledge from Sidemark, who shares simple ways to take the stress out of marketing. He explains how to build systems that work, attract your ideal clients, and use automation to stay organized—so you can focus on designing, not just selling.

Ben also reveals the biggest mistakes designers make in marketing and how to avoid them.

Don't let marketing be your constant struggle. Tune in now and learn how to streamline your design business with the right marketing strategies and systems. Plus, don’t forget to grab Ben’s free 2025 Interior Designers Marketing Checklist.

Featured Guest:

⁠Ben Rutledge⁠ is co-founder of ⁠Sidemark⁠, a marketing solution for interior designers.

With 15-plus years in small business marketing, Ben now helps interior designers simplify and succeed in marketing. He enjoys demystifying the process, building strong brands, and driving growth.

Ben lives in Colorado with his wife, Nicole, and loves getting outside every chance he gets.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Learn how to attract your ideal clients without feeling scattered or stressed
• Set up systems that make your business look more professional even if you’re just starting out
• Develop a plan on how to nurture leads without feeling salesy

Check out the show notes >>> Stress-Free Framework to Attract Clients to Your Design Business

Links Mentioned:

• The 2025 Interior Designers Marketing Checklist

NEXT STEPS:

• Get on the waitlist Launch Your Business Bootcamp to secure your spot

Grab your freebies:

• Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design
• 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

• Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com
• Instagram: @rwarddesign
• Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:34) Ben’s Journey into Interior Design Marketing

(4:07) Addressing Overwhelm in Marketing

(6:09) What Sidemark Offers

(10:54) Who Sidemark Helps

(12:02) 2025 Marketing Strategies for Interior Designers

(13:44) Key Marketing Questions for Designers

(14:24) The “Pie Shop” Analogy for Marketing

(15:41) Nurturing Leads and Closing Sales

(18:38) Importance of Systems in Business

(20:55) The Value of Setting Up Systems Early

(25:32) The Role of Email Marketing in Interior Design

(29:48) Overcoming the Fear of Self-Promotion

(34:03) How Often to Send Emails