After spending two intensive days at Design Camp in Seattle, I have a whole new appreciation for the industry and the trade. I’ve always been interested in interior design and decorating (and secretly blog about it), so instead of just showing up to speak, I sat among the campers for every single session.

I learned a lot.

Although I still need to work on refining my taste for textiles (couldn’t tell the difference between the $90/yard and $400/yard fabrics), I have to say that interior designers are my new favorite people. They are designers, but they’re also equal parts planner, manager, artist and therapist. And best of all, they’re humble, sincere, approachable and authentic. The kind of person that’s poised for success as a personal brand on social media.

Here’s my advice for interior designers looking to take their brands to the next level:

BRAND YOU. Don’t hide behind an ambiguous company name when you have so much to offer as a person. People prefer interacting with faces over brands on the Internet, so convey you in a way that’s attractive to your target market.

ROCK A NICHE. Don’t be afraid to focus your efforts on becoming an expert at something specific. What’s the worst that could happen? You’ll build brand recognition for being really good at something? A niche won’t prevent you from doing other things. It will, however, provide your client with the confidence to choose you over someone else, knowing you’ve delivered before, so you can deliver again – this time, for them.

DON’T SELL YOURSELF SHORT. You can still be nice while being assertive. Do whatever you need to do to remind yourself everyday that you deserve to make a living being an expert. Although it’s creative work, it’s business. As Kimberley Seldon so eloquently stated, clients can become friends after the business is finished.

A special shout-out to my co-presenter (and powerhouse blogger) Cassandra Lavalle for being my onstage sibling, and a huge thank you to Kelli Ellis and Lori Dennis for having me.

What an absolute blast.