Today we’re excited to be connecting with Amanda Foster again. We’re excited to feature one of their services in our gift guide – learn more below and we encourage you to use your gift budget to support small businesses & creatives whenever possible.

Amanda, thanks for joining us again. We’re so excited to have a services focused conversation today. Can you bring our readers up to speed on the service-offering side?
I’m Amanda Foster, the founder of Foster Decor Consulting. I’m on a mission to help interior designers and eDesigners – whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out – build the kind of business that makes you excited to jump out of bed every morning.

You know that feeling when you’re stuck in a rut, wondering how to stand out in a sea of talented designers? Or when you’re lying awake at night, stressing about how to price your services or attract those dream clients who truly value your expertise? I’ve been there, and I’ve helped countless designers overcome these exact challenges.

My flagship service, the VIP Intensive​ (Brand + Biz Clarity Bundle for interior designers + edesigners), was born out of my own 10+ year journey in the industry. I realized that while there’s plenty of generic business advice out there, what interior designers and eDesigners really need is someone who gets the unique ins and outs of our world. Someone who can help you showcase your unique style and vision in a way that resonates with your ideal clients.

During our​ 1:1collaboration, we dive deep into your brand identity, audit your online presence (because let’s face it, that’s where most clients find us these days), craft packages that sell themselves, and create a roadmap that’s tailored specifically to your business goals. It’s like having a business bestie and a branding guru rolled into one, focused entirely on you.

What sets this apart? Well, it’s not just about making things look pretty (though we do that too!). It’s about developing a strategy that speaks directly to your dream clients, positions you as the go-to expert in your niche, and sets you up for long-term success. Whether you’re a full-service interior designer looking to rebrand or an eDesigner trying to make your mark in the digital space, we’ll create a plan that works for you.

I’ve seen too many talented designers underselling themselves or burning out trying to serve everyone. That’s why I’m passionate about helping you find your unique superpower – that special something that makes you irreplaceable to your ideal clients.

Beyond the VIP Intensive, I offer ongoing support through branding packages, website makeovers, andmy popular eDesign bootcamp + mini courses. Because let’s be honest, building a thriving design business is a journey, not a destination.

At the end of the day, my goal is simple: to help you create a business that not only pays the bills but also feeds your soul. A business that attracts clients who value your expertise and are excited to work with you. Because you deserve to do what you love and be well-paid for it.

So, if you’re ready to stop second-guessing yourself and start building the design business of your dreams, I’m here to help you make it happen. Let’s turn those design dreams into a thriving reality!

Can you walk us through the onboarding process for a new client?
What’s the step-by-step process you take your clients through to get the transformation you create?

Step 1: Fill out my contact form – a few questions but tell me where they are what they’re struggling with and why they’re coming to me. They fill this out so they can schedule a discovery call.

Why is this important to your customer? Making them answer these questions gets them to think about what they’re struggling with, what they need help with, and really hone in on why. Versus just leaving name and email and selecting a time – this helps prepare me to better understand where they are coming from and how I can help.

Step 2: I connect with them on FB messenger to get the conversation going before our call so i can send personal voice notes which they love and never had done before. It feels like we are already on the call and getting to know each other.

Why is this important to your customer? This makes it personal and the client really appreciates it which builds trust even before our call making me more trustworthy, a real person, and memorable to them.

Step 3: Discovery call – we have our 20 min which usually is more like 30-60 min and we just talk more about the services that i recommend will help them i always say VIP intensive which they didn’t know they needed but becomes clear as to why it’s beneficial and it’s the first service they have to start with on our journey working together.

Why is this important to your customer? More time to talk and connect. I can read if its a good fit and generally most have been. I upsell them on the VIP intensive or bootcamp courses if appropriate as they’re all pretty beneficial to my peers/industry. I am confident in selling not out of desperation but care. But i need help marketing to more people on autopilot versus manual.

Step 4: VIP Intensive now called Brand + Biz Clarity Bundle this is a combination of homework, videos, worksheets and guidance to get to the root and heart of their business. I give them 2 excepts from my edesign bootcamp course about Brand Identity so they can hone in on their authentic niche and signature design style as well as narrow down their target audience and hone in on their ideal client. They have 2 videos to watch and 2 worksheets 2 complete. They send it to me for approval and i often send it back as they went too fast and came up with fast and short answers so I tell them to treat it like a diary entry and go back and open up and write write write.

Why is this important to your customer? This is super beneficial to my peers as they haven’t taken the time to define these things so the homework is eye-opening and gets them to think and create a business/brand they love and are excited about.

Step 5: They get feedback from me and voice notes along the way as I coach/mentor them through this process. When I felt they were ready I gave them the VIP Intensive Questionnaire which they fill out (the worksheets essentially are prepping them for this) and this becomes their blueprint to reference when it comes to their mission, their ideal client, niche keywords, all things about who what where, when, why about their business they overlooked.

Why is this important to your customer? Getting a coach to help is invaluable – having a person that you can bounce ideas with and see as a peer in the industry helps so they don’t feel alone in this process. They know and trust my expertise so i have insightful ideas for them.

Step 6: I then review their questionnaire, their social media, and their website with audit recordings they can access at any time. It’s about an hour long each and dives deep into strategic feedback for them on ways to enhance their social media and website with edits and tweaks now knowing their niche and ideal client and some pointers on how they could be repelling clients currently.

Why is this important to your customer? The audit is eye-opening as well as hurtful for some – sometimes taking in criticism isn’t easy. One client cried and another said it was hard to swallow but the majority is they are grateful for it after they let it marinate and are open to change to use this information to be better – it’s all from a marketing perspective so it’s from a good place and not ME being biased. I think I need to find a way to be more empathetic when auditing so they won’t feel as hurt but I want to work with people who can take criticism and own it like yes I’m not a graphic designer so I get it, I’m, not a social media expert so I get it, I’m not a website designer so that makes sense. I do have those clients but not all.

Step 7: 1:1 coaching call after they watch the recordings they have a power hour to ask me anything and review any material they are still struggling with and basically use it to also talk about the next steps as well (photoshoot + branding) if they have signed up with me for that it starts immediately after.

Why is this important to your customer? This is helpful to sync up and get guidance on a call and ask whatever pending things are still lingering and also get clarity on the next steps. I hated working alone i love having someone to keep me accountable and also not feel so lonely in the process which can be demotivating so having coaching support I think is beneficial to their success.

Have you tried any fun, non-traditional marketing ideas? If so, we’d love to hear the story and details.
I have been around the social media arena for some time now and Foster Decor Consulting is on all platforms: Linkedin, Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram, but YouTube and Spotify have been the most fun for me! Since I am also an interior designer and eDesigner I still participate in challenges and showcase my home in hometour videos. But my podcast has been the most rewarding (on Spotify). I invite clients new and old and invite them on to the show to discuss their journey working with me and in the industry itself. We talk about events, trends, decor to branding, and websites. It’s amazing and I love hearing how similar my clients are all when they start with me and then how different their unique transformations are by the end of it!

Do you have any advice for folks who are just starting out?
If you’re just starting out in the world of interior design or eDesign, I’ve got some heartfelt advice for you. Take a deep breath, because this journey is as exciting as it is challenging.

First and foremost, give yourself the gift of time for soul-searching and self-discovery. I know it’s tempting to jump right in and start designing, but trust me on this one. Take a step back and really figure out who you are as a designer and what direction you want to go in. It’s okay if this takes a while – it’s an investment in your future success.

Be brutally honest with yourself. What’s your unique style? What kind of clients do you truly want to work with? What values drive your design decisions? These aren’t just fluffy questions – they’re the foundation of your brand and business.

I’ve seen too many designers get caught up in the noise of trends and fads, or worse, trying to copy what seems to be working for others. But here’s the truth: if you don’t know who you are and what you stand for, you’re just wasting time and energy. Your authentic self is your biggest asset in this industry.

Tackle those hard marketing questions early on. Who’s your ideal client? What problem are you solving for them? How are you different from other designers out there? It might feel uncomfortable or premature to think about these things when you’re just starting, but I promise you, it’ll save you so much time and heartache down the road.

Remember, it’s much easier to build a strong foundation from the start than to try and rebrand or pivot later when you’ve already established yourself in a direction that doesn’t truly align with who you are.

Don’t be afraid to invest in guidance early on. Whether it’s through a program like my VIP Intensive or another form of mentorship, getting expert help to navigate these crucial early decisions can fast-track your success. It’s not just about learning design skills – it’s about learning how to run a successful design business.

Lastly, be patient with yourself. Building a thriving design business doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a journey of continuous learning and growth. But if you start with a solid understanding of who you are and where you want to go, you’ll be miles ahead of the game.

Remember, the world needs your unique vision and talent. Stay true to yourself, focus on serving your ideal clients, and success will follow. You’ve got this!

Image Credits
Eucarios Visuals https://eucariosvisuals.com/