Amber B Design Studio

Interior Design & Decoration for the South Florida region

When the Blog Comes Before the Business

by Filed Under: blogging, e-decorating, e-design


I have been thinking about this topic for some time! When I started my blog back in 2011, it was with the intent to nurture my love for design and possibly open my own on line decor shop. I thought it would be fun to start a blog and ‘chat’ with so many like minded individuals who could talk about pillow fabrics and wall colors to abandon. I went back and forth on what to name my blog. Some of the earlier names I had pondered were: The Painted Chair, The Chic Farmhouse, Posh Dwellings, Blend to name a few. Hey, Blend would have actually been pretty cool. But, I digress… I decided on Simple Dwellings and that was that. I have been very happy with that name, but as I decided to shift from an on line store to on line decorating services, the blog name got in the way. For the first year, my design business was called Simple Dwellings Interiors, to match the name of my blog. As I started to grow my business, I wanted to name it after myself. I just liked the personal aspect of that. So I decided to go for it and name the business Amber B Interiors. I liked the ring to it and it feels more me, if that makes any sense. I would like to grow my business further and am thinking about a web site with my blog link off of the site. In doing that, my thoughts go to turning everything to Amber B Interiors, rebranding the busniess. I already have all of my social sites as this name already, so it’s just the blog that is different. My blog friend Abby is going through this same process, and I could totally relate to her recent post here on the topic. I will make sure to update you on this journey, but right now, it’s more of an idea for the future. I’m probably focusing on this and worrying much more than I need to, but it’s been on my mind. And maybe you have gone through similar business changes that you would like to share! 

I will leave you with a recent dining room e-design that I completed for a client. She was looking for a rustic farmhouse style.

{click on image to make larger}
She is very happy with the design. We are going to make minor adjustments to the gallery wall, but keep the overall look and feel the same. We are on to her living room, next!
Have a happy weekend and see you back here on Monday!


Comments

  1. Loretta Fontaine (APPLESandRUBIES) says

    Amber – Tough to decide, but you can do both, too! I'm thinking Maria Killiam keeping Colour Me Happy as her blog name as she builds her business, and Brooke Gianetti keeping Velvet and Linen as her blog's name as she builds her business. If the blog name is a great fit, people would know both the name of you and the blog.

    I keep my business stuff (jewelry design, photography, book) under my own name (actually my maiden name!) Loretta Fontaine, but after using APPLESandRUBIES as my blog for three years I saw it didn't "fit" anymore. But instead of moving everything over to a LorettaFontaine.com blog, I grabbed a new site and blog name – EcoHappy Style which is the perfect fir for me. And the new site just launched yesterday!

    So another option is to pick a new brand name you can umbrella everything under! It's hard to take on, but I know a lot of people besides me who have tried it and have been happy they did it.

    If you go with Amber B. (and I love it – it is so you!) add a tag line so people can "get" what you do right away. My blog's tag line is "Fabulous Green Design and Smart Eco-Friendly Living" Add that tagline under you new blog name – maybe the words "simple dwellings" would appear in the tag line if it's the right fit.

    Love the links you had on this post – it's a great topic and obviously one that's been swimming in my head a lot this past month!

    Come and visit my BRAND new site and tell me what you think: Eco Happy Blog

    Let us know what you decide!

    Loretta

  2. Abby M. says

    I love this design board! I hope we get to see the results. And if you're even considering a name change I'd go for it *now*. It won't get easier later. 😉
    hugs,
    Abby M.