Building Your Architectural Brand
To start an architectural business:
- Identify your target market.
- Build a website.
- Use social media.
- Develop online and offline networks.
- Offer to tutor.
- Partner with experts.
An online portfolio shows your work for potential clients. Sites like Behance and Issuu help create portfolios to promote and develop your style. Behance offers networking and profile creation. Issuu helps gain authority with a portfolio of wonderful projects.
Homeowners may wonder if they need an architect for extensions. Not necessarily, but design drawings are recommended.
Marketing Strategies for Architects
Architects should understand products – how they look, perform over time, work on projects. Naming firms should reflect likes, interests, and passions. Build a personal brand around these.
Marketing efficiency brings more clients, though initial set up takes work. Use strategies fully so hours bring more clients, despite slow periods.
Pinterest lets architects showcase thinking, portfolios and ideas visually. Its discovery platform provides fresh inspiration to set off new directions.
Getting Promoted and Networking
How do architects get promoted? To get the promotion you’re after, technical architecture, communication, and talent skills should be consistent, have strong communication, be open-minded, and be accountable.
Promotion in architecture depends on many factors, including experience, education, and portfolio. Tips to get promoted include finding a mentor, developing a strong portfolio, continuing education, and building a strong professional network.
Architects typically progress through networking, proposals, and interviews to get clients. Partnering with other firms and joining a company with an existing clientele can also lead to growth.
Effective Advertising for Architects
Use local print media, sponsorships, school projects, and media relations to increase visibility.
Social media is a strategy that can net real clients, and together with the latest technology, it enhances marketing on a small-business budget.
Most small architecture firms have limited marketing budgets and staff. A smart social media strategy can help bring in new work for free or at a low cost.
Before licensure, an architectural designer can make money by raising rates, selling products, increasing workload, expanding services, and offering consulting.