Isabel Ladd started posting on Instagram to supplement her firm’s marketing efforts. As brand deals started rolling in, an entirely new revenue stream emerged. Today, the Lexington, Kentucky–based designer has integrated social media into her firm’s operations in a way that benefits her business, brand partners and clients in equal measure. She explains how to unlock a new revenue stream without selling out.

When I first started my business, it was just about being an interior designer. Then I hired a freelance consultant to help me manage my social media, and we began doing more content creation. Brands started to become interested, and I was getting a lot of collaboration requests. The main link was: “We love your colorful aesthetic—we want to see more of that.” Often the imagery they h

See Full Page