26. How I Secured $33k in design fees going into 2026

What happens when you actually track your marketing—and tell the truth about what worked and what didn’t?In this episode of Founders and Friends, host Ronniesha Rivera pulls back the curtain on a four-month experiment she calls the “Six Marketing Shifts.” Born out of a slow season in early 2025, the experiment generated nine leads and $33,000 in secured design fees and product revenue—but the real value came from the insights behind the numbers.Ronniesha breaks down each of the six shifts she tested, including Instagram, email marketing, blogging, cold pitching, in-person networking, and Google paid ads. She shares which channels actually moved the needle, which ones fell flat, and why lead tracking completely changed how she evaluates her marketing efforts. You’ll hear how cold pitching produced her highest-value project to date, why a long-ignored platform delivered a surprise $15K opportunity, and what she’s choosing to double down on heading into 2026.The conversation also dives deep into pricing lessons, including a major misbid on a multimillion-dollar new build that forced Ronniesha to rethink how she prices full-service design. She shares how implementing a pricing matrix (with support from Seriously Happy Consulting) helped her set clearer boundaries, establish a $5,000 minimum design fee, and bid projects more intentionally—without burnout or undercutting her expertise.Finally, Ronniesha outlines her bigger vision: transitioning fully into a CEO role by outsourcing across all areas of her work—from Alder and Stone Design Studio, to Vetted by Design, to the podcast itself (and even childcare). This episode is an honest, practical look at growth, margins, and what it really takes to build a sustainable design business.Whether you’re experimenting with marketing, struggling with pricing, or preparing to step out of the day-to-day and lead at a higher level, this episode is packed with real numbers, real lessons, and real encouragement.This Episode was brought to you by Vetted by DesignIf you are looking to outsource anything in your design business check out Vetted by Design to find some amazing highly vetted pros you can trust to help you grow your business.www.vetted-bydesign.comhttps://www.instagram.com/vettedbydesign/Connect with all things Founders & Friends on our Facebook Group & Instagram*Only for interior designers & pro's who serve the industry