Print vs. Digital Publishing

The one action item likely to grace the tippy top of an interior designer’s new project marketing plan is having your work published. It’s undoubtedly a huge win for gaining exposure and inquires. And there are several publishing routes for showcasing your projects with a larger audience. So how do you find the right fit? We’re going to breakdown the key advantages for both print and digital publishing so you can decide the most beneficial avenue for your work.

 

Interior Design: JWS Interiors | Photography: Alyssa Rosenheck |  featured Elle Decor

 

Print Publishing

 

Scoring a feature on the glossy pages of a magazine or a stunning coffee table book is the ultimate bucket list item. Is there anything better than the thrill of seeing your work in print? It’s that tangible quality of holding a published piece in your hands that really is a major plus to print publishing.  Here are some of the other benefits and a few things to consider before sending all your design work to print publishers.

 

 

The Pros

 

• Notability – Being featured in a magazine or book provides amazing credentials. Consider it a feather in your cap and a fab accomplishment to post on your website or portfolio. It can also offer notability which ultimately leads to more clients.
• High-End Readership – While digital media may get more eyes on your work, print often gives you exposure to a higher caliber readership.
• Better Control of Crediting – Since work is completely offline, you have more control over your work getting the proper credit. There’s no pinning or gramming without credit in this world.
• Great for Your Best of the Best Projects – Print publishing is an awesome fit for your more aspirational/ high-end design. Consider saving those projects that are your best of the best.

 

 

the Cons

 

• Slower Timeline – Know that with magazine or book publishing, the timeline soup to nuts is incredibly slow. It can be months to a year or more before a project sees the light of day. You’ll need to put your Patience Pants on with this option.
• Can’t Share Images –  Along with that slower timeline, you also have to sit on images. So sharing or adding a project to your portfolio is a no no.

 

Interior Design: Lindsey Brooke Design | Photography: Amy Bartlam |  featured The Haven List

 

 

Digital Publishing

 

 

On the other end of the spectrum is the fast paced world of digital publishing. Digital Media is lighting quick and has the added ability to reach a huge audience. Heck, you can even go viral. This space is perfect for on trend projects where it might be better to get your work up in lights quickly. Where a magazine is one and done, being published in the digital world is a forever on the internet thing. That design work of yours isn’t going anywhere. This is great for evergreen content and is easily accessible. Below we share a few more pros and cons to having work published online.

 

 

The Pros

 

• Quicker Timeline – You don’t have to sit on a project reveal for months. Digital media works quick, quick, quick so you can push out new work almost in real-time. This makes it more agile for trends and of the moment design.
• Access to Readers and Potential Clients – The digital space offers the chance to be part of the discussion, answering questions, gather feedback, and gain a following on social media.
• Tangible Analytics – You can better track analytics from a particular article with the ability to see traffic through direct links to your site.
• Wider Reach – Digital publishing offers a broader readership and ultimately more eyes on your work. That leads us to the next benefit…
• Potential for More Promotion – Online content easily turns into Pinterest content, meaning there is potential for more promotion of your design. Pinnable images are a huge traffic driver, and give you the chance to go viral.

 

 

the Cons

 

• Photography Sourcing – You need to supply your own professional photographs for each project so sourcing a photographer and having the space shot is on you.
• Images Can Be Used Without Credit – Images can easily be “regrammed” or used on other sites, often without credit.

 

Interior Design: Crystal Palecek | Photography: Leslie Santarina |  featured RUE Magazine

 

Ultimately both ends of the publishing spectrum can be super beneficial to your design business. Take stock of each project and decide where it fits best. And be sure to mix it up so your business can benefit from both the wide reach of digital and the aspirational quality of print.

Big shout out to IDCO clients this week who had BIG press:

• Ashley Montgomery Design featured on Domino
• Lindsey Brooke Design featured on My Domaine

 

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To learn more about leveling up your business, check out Studio Sessions; our online mastermind courses for interior designers.

 

For more tips on expanding your interior design portfolio’s exposure, check out this post, this post and this post.