As a precursor to this event, you can download a free resource guide on why content and education should be essential elements of your website.

Resource Guide: Why Content and Education are Important on your Site

About the event:

JAX Riverview Room
600 Decatur St.
4th Level
New Orleans, LA 70130

“The Recognizing Excellence Awards (Re:Awards) Gala is a celebration and awards ceremony announcing the winners of the individual professional service awards and design competition entries. The Individual Awards honor and recognize the contributions of individual Delta Regional Chapter IIDA members over the past year. The design competition will celebrate outstanding examples of designed interior spaces from the Delta Regional Chapter IIDA members by recognizing the work of peers, promoting public awareness of design excellence, and elevating the interior design profession. This year’s Re:Awards theme of “Unmasking Great Design” celebrates the Pride of Delta Regional in a New Orleans style masquerade theme. Participants are welcome to use the provided mask in the invitation packet. Or, show off your creativity and design talent for the mask competition during the event!”

The difference just might be their mastery of the social media whirl, their presence on the major Social Media platforms; Twitter, Facebook, Ava Living, LinkedIn, or their focus on up-to-this-very-minute trends showcased in twice-weekly blog posts.

Case in point, Tobi Fairley, known for her signature look of fresh simplicity that is both beautiful and functional, launched her blog in September 2008.  Today, it is read in 95 countries!  She is dedicated to timely updates of her business Facebook page, which has just about 3,200 fans, and at least 3-4 tweets per day.  All of which allow her to remain engaged and committed to her base, potential clients, and any publications looking for content.  She has been showcased in House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Better Homes & Gardens, along with other local and national shelter publications.  She is seen as a taste-maker and a trend-setter.

But all of this takes time, energy and the search for trends and topics that are interesting, and if that candle is burning while you are hard at work on a project, how do you do it all?  Gibson Design Management, and our sister company, OttoPilot Media, are experts in Social Media.  We know how to move the pieces around the gameboard to maximize your visibility and your fan base.  We would welcome the opportunity to answer any questions, and help you through the Social Media maze!  Please contact Martha for details.

Here are a few of our favorite things to do:

“The Fall is my absolute FAVORITE season.  In addition to the usual pumpkin carving and Halloween costume party traditions, one of my absolute favorite things to do every October is visit Markoff’s Haunted Forest with my friends.  This particular Haunted Forest beats ANY Haunted house/tour/forest/etc I have ever been to.  My friends and I love to go out each year, clutching to each other as we frantically make it through the terrifying forest.  Even their website is scary!“ – Amanda Butterworth, Senior Director, Creative Services

“It would have to be our annual drive into the Colorado Rockies to view the changing aspen trees – the colors are just delicious!  This year we drove over Boreas Pass which takes the route of an old rail bed from Como to the south and drops down into Breckenridge.  Breathtaking!” – Martha Kirkpatrick, Director, Member Services

Martha's photo of some gorgeous Colorado foliage!

“My favorite fall activity is college football.  As many of you know, I am a HUGE Boise State football fan (as an Idahoan) and greatly enjoy watching them trounce the competition on our controversial blue field.  In Charlottesville, it’s nice to get out, tailgate, and watch UVA try to hold it together in the ACC.” – Alexandra Gibson, President and CEO

Alexandra (in the hat), with Katherine and Martha Jane (both GDM Advisory Board members) on each end, and Bevin (GDM fan always, new Broncos fan)

“My favorite part of fall is throwing on my favorite fleece and watching football. Go tigers! (Hampden-Sydney).” – Lolly Rush, Project Manager

“I love visiting Martha’s Vineyard on fall weekends – eating clam chowder, checking out that famous New England foliage, and bundling up to take my dog for a walk on the beach.” – Jessye Aibel, Associate, Social Media & Online PR

1. Promoting a post that you liked on another blog.  If a fellow design blogger posts a great post on her blog, show her some love.  You’ll get reciprocity and build goodwill.
2. Great finds from High Point or NeoCon. Talk about trends.  Show your favorite pieces.  Show what’s new.
3. Canopy beds.  Talk about the history of the canopy bed and how it translates into today’s interior.
   

   A dreamy canopy bed. Photo: Elle Decor

4. Green upholstery options.  Vendors that are now offering green upholstery.  What to consider and how to know if something is truly green.
5. Considering Living in Place when building your home.  Design of passageways, thresholds, roughing in an elevator, and more.

Plus two extra for the end…

• Historical uses of crown moldings.

Crown molding frames a pretty window seat. Photo: Traditional Home

• Splurges + steals- mirrors, cocktail tables, beds, etc.  This is your typical magazine article showing the Versace dress with its hefty price tag (that is absolutely to die for) and a BCBG dress that achieves the same “look” at a more affordable price.

We hope you enjoyed the series and found a few points of inspiration for your interior design firm’s blog.  If you found any of these suggestions particularly helpful, or if you’ve created any innovative posts for your blog,  please share your ideas with us! We’d love to see what you’ve come up with.

1. A front door wreath for each season.
2. Using a stair runner. Using patterns or solids. Why you might want a runner.
3. Review of a recent hotel/resort you visited (from a design perspective).  What you liked and/or didn’t like. Interesting pieces or uses that your readers could translate into their lives.
   

   Tempo Miami. (Photo: Elle Decor)

4. A plug for your favorite charity and why you support it.  Show your readers what you care about.
5. Pictures of your holiday table.  Show them your personality and a glimpse into your life.

Check back next Monday for the remaining ideas in the series! (Are we saving best for last?)

Introducing Curbed National

With the number of unique visitors that Curbed already has, who are interested in a similar industry, this blog is sure to be a significant player in the design industry blogosphere and will be one to watch for online PR opportunities.

Visit Curbed National.

1. A definition of trims.  Educate your readers and expand their vocabularies (tape, braid, lipcord, etc.).
2. Your latest project and an interview with the client.  This could even be a video.
3. Multiple arrangements for the same living room furniture.  Show 5 or 6 basic pieces and how they can be arranged in a basic room to show a very different look.
   

   Interesting furniture arrangements create new life in a living room. (Photo: Elle Decor)

4. Appropriate height to hang art.
5. How to choose a tile grout color.  When to use contrasting grout.  What to think about regarding maintenance.

Stay tuned for five more blog post ideas, coming next week!

1. Complimentary colors you might not think of.  Stretch your readers’ minds.
2. A day in the life of an interior designer.  Let them know what designers (especially you) really do.
3. Flooring for the bath.  Options and maintenance issues to consider.
4. To hide or not to hide the TV.  State your opinion.
   

   The TV: to hide, or not to hide? (Photo: House Beautiful)

5. 10 favorite settees.  Settees could also be cabinet pulls, shutter colors, countertops, or desk accessories.  10 could be 6, 7, 13, or 20.  You get the point.

Check back next week for five more blog post ideas!

1. New technology for the home.  If you are up to date on the latest and greatest of home technology, educate your reader.
2. Designing a home office.  How to make a comfortable home office space.  Discuss storage.  Maybe discuss small spaces.
3. Accessorizing a cocktail table.  How to use height and arrangement to show your style and personality.
4. To pool or not to pool- that is the question for your drapes.  State your opinion.
5. Choosing a fill type for your throw pillows.  What are the different options?  What is appropriate in which applications or styles?

Photo: Pottery Barn

1. Choosing towel colors.  How to use a spa-like approach or to accent with your bath towels.
2. 5 favorite pedestal sinks.
   

   Photo: Better Homes & Gardens

3. How to tell good upholstery from bad.  Possibly show pictures that will educate your reader on what they can look for when selecting a piece of upholstery.
4. Effects of glazing cabinetry.  How different glazes change the natural colors of woods.
5. Choosing the right area rug.  Size, style, and more.  Do you put the sofa legs on it?

Photo: Apartment Therapy

Be sure to check back next Monday for five more blog post ideas!