What’s news at Sounds Like Design?
The Sounds Like Design blog began in 2016 and since then we’ve covered business development and marketing topics, important policy and regulatory issues that affect the profession, and we’ve featured guest posts from several influential architects.
If you’d like to contribute to the blog about a topic or issue that you are passionate about, or think is important to share with your peers and colleagues, email us with your story idea, suggested images and proposed deadline, and we’ll collaborate to help you tell your story to a wider audience.
You can search the blog or sort posts by category
Did you know that marketing and business development are included in the new draft NSCA?
The revised National Standard of Competency for Architects contains important changes, including references to “client relationship management systems, marketing and business development” for the first time.
Sounds Like Design can help your practice develop and deliver new outward-facing marketing and communications messaging, in line with these shifts.
Are eCommerce trends changing the way clients find your architecture practice?
Does your architecture practice gain most new clients and projects via Referrals or your Website? Shifts towards eCommerce in retail and other sectors are prompting changes in consumer expectations that will affect architecture, so how do you find out if they are impacting your business, and then respond accordingly? This article provides pointers to your own data that can help to inform your future marketing strategy.
Do you have what it takes to talk about architecture in the media?
Last week’s wide-ranging and controversial discussions about architecture in the Sydney Morning Herald got me thinking that it would be great if more architects had the skills and confidence to speak to journalists. Here, I provide some tips on how to prepare for media interviews, or get the training you need to become a proficient media spokesperson.
How to use websites and magazines to market your architecture practice
Do you want to use publishing as a marketing channel that can help you create brand awareness AND generate leads for new projects? This article describes how to frame your story to connect and engage with future clients.
How to use online communities for market research
Online communities can be data-rich sources of info, insights, and knowledge about your future architecture clients, that you can leverage as a form of market research. Give as much as you take, and you can learn all about your customer’s issues, problems and concerns, and provide feedback and advice to position yourself as a subject matter expert.
9 ways that architects can create customer-centric marketing messages
How do you put your customers or future clients at the centre of your marketing messaging? In this blog post, I explain how to place yourself in your clients’ shoes and frame your messaging to speak directly to their problems, concerns, issues, possible objections and pain points, to create messages that connect and engage with your ideal clients.
Tell me about the unique value that architects deliver...
I’m making a list of all the ways that architects add value to various types of projects. Once it’s completed, architects can use the list to inspire their own blogs and marketing messaging, and to create client-centric stories about the kinds of value that they deliver, both for their clients and the broader community.
Are you a Starchitect or a "little-a architect"?
A recent Instagram post by an architect got me thinking about how to espouse your brand values; treat detractors respectfully; and the challenges the profession faces to communicate the value of good design to a broader audience in a convincing and compelling way.
The Architecture of Change
A compilation of recent articles that examine change in the profession including the role of architecture education, and how universities are preparing students for life post-graduation; the pressing challenge of climate emergency, and how the profession can prepare to lead clients and the community through it; and the ways that architecture might become more inclusive to a broader range of people, in response to Black Lives Matter.
Employer/employee negotiations: a new way to overcome unpleasantness
Guest blogger Jennekin Dicks outlines a new approach to employer/employee negotiations in architecture practices, based on her experiences as an architect and management consultant to architecture clients.
Parlour: Light at the end of the Tunnel event - Speaking Up
Last week, I participated in the Parlour Light at the end of the Tunnel event, with Saneia Norton, Justine Clark and Naomi Stead, to talk about architecture communications.
In ‘Speaking Up’ we explored issues such as the basics of architecture communication; the importance of accessible language; how to speak to a broader audience; and the role of architecture critique. Read more about the event here.
10 common marketing mistakes that architects make
I’m often asked by architects how they can implement some easy marketing wins, so I’ve compiled a quick list to highlight common mistakes that I see, which are easy enough to fix.
What's your architecture marketing personality?
My Architecture Marketing quiz enables architects to test their knowledge of modern marketing techniques, and gain insights into how other architects employ marketing to bring in new clients. Find out which of the four marketing personality types describes you best, and access details about my services if you’d like some more help.
Lean In session on Architecture Marketing
Watch the video of my recent Lean In session on Architecture Marketing, delivered via the Institute of Architects. The presentation provides strategic advice for architects about the many facets of modern marketing.
This post also contains links to free downloadable resources, and details about my new course: Architecture Marketing 360: How to get a helicopter view of what’s working.
I'm presenting a LeanIn session for the Institute of Architects in August
Are you confused by the plethora of marketing options for architects? Do you struggle to work out which channels and platforms offer the best value for time and money?
In this free LeanIn session for the Institute of Architects, I’ll show you how to work out which marketing methods and tools are delivering results for your practice, so you can move forward with confidence.
Publishing and PR for Architects: start here
If you’re keen to improve your publishing smarts - and use publishing strategically to enhance brand awareness and encourage new clients to make contact with your practice - this collection of articles may help.
What's missing from design discussions on reality TV shows?
The ArchiTeeam X Sounds Like Design event at Open House Melbourne delves into the role of archtiects on reality TV shows. What’s missing from discussions about design and construction on TV, and how can real-life renovators and homebuilders plug their knowledge gaps, to ensure they are well informed to deliver their own projects smoothly?
Unlocking and explaining the value of your architecture
How can insights from place branding and tourism strategy help you unlock and explain the value of your architectural services to future clients? It’s important to collect data about the ways you’ve helped your clients – or their clients! – unlock new opportunities and potential, and to conduct research about what your customers want and need (which is not always the same thing!).
Then, use those insights to frame marketing messages to appeal to future clients.
How to promote your awards entries across the key architecture marketing channels
It’s time to switch into the post-awards marketing phase for projects that you entered into the Institute’s awards programs this year. Find out how to promote your awards activities across the key architecture marketing channels: referral networks, email, social media and publishing, and your website.
Ready to start counting your architecture practice's carbon footprint?
The new Architects Declare AU ‘Guide to going carbon neutral’ is now available, and it’s a must-have resource for practices that have pledged to go carbon neutral in 2020. It contains info about Greenpower and suggested suppliers; overviews of how to conduct a carbon audit, and providers; and details about how to offset any unavoidable carbon emissions.