Designing Woman
It may seem crazy to pass on a branded website. But Jessica Bean, 29, has done the math, and her marketing dollars are best spent elsewhere. “My business is driven by referrals,” she says. “[A website] is a huge expense that isn’t necessary for success in my valley.” Instead, Bean spends weeks during the holidays “popping by” to drop off gifts for past clients. She buys local radio spots, noting one closed deal can pay for a year of marketing. Her smartest PR effort comes from her passion for design. She offers her expertise—a BFA in interior design and an associate’s degree in architecture—plus an array of staging furniture to sellers at no cost. After flipping a house, designing client remodels, and beautifying a local builder’s spec houses, she has proven her visual aesthetic bolsters sales: “Being in such a small community, word spreads quickly.”