How to Promote Architecture Firms Online
According to Architecture Quote that 44.5% of architectural and engineering firms find it difficult to capture clients and forge a meaningful relationship with them. A survey by Archmark showed that 75% of the surveyed architecture companies had little to no clue how to build an online presence.
The truth is, the world has moved online. There are more brick-and-click companies today, than brick-and-mortar ones. If you want your architecture company to become visible to clients, you need to move your business online. More importantly, you need to start actively promoting online.
Here, we tell you the 8 best ways to promote your architecture business on the internet:
- Use social media to engage with your prospects
Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest have become the best places to show prospective clients what they can expect from your services. You can publish pictures of your new and old builds. You can upload a video of a property walk through.
You can also post messages about your design practices or about what makes you different from other architecture firms. Use the right hashtags to increase the visibility of your posts as well. In 2020, these are some of the trending hashtags in the architect and design space – #architectural, #archilove, #architecturephotography, #interiordesign, #instaarchitecture, #modernarchitecture and #homedecor.
- Leverage the power of keywords on Google
Google keywords are very important in promoting your architecture firm online. They are the words that prospective clients use to find businesses like yours. If you want your website to come up in the first or second page of the search results, you need to use the right keywords.
The architecture-related keywords that have the high usage online include “cheap architect near me”, “recommended architects near me”, “remodel architects near me”, “licensed architect near me” and “architects [location]” (ex: architects NYC).
Apart from keywords, it helps if you are on-point with the rest of your site SEO as well:
- Update all of your website content regularly – it will help you rank higher in the search.
- Link your content to information-rich statistics, case studies and blog posts that the prospect can learn from. Internally link your website pages as well.
- Write meta titles, meta descriptions and image alt tags for each page.
- Create a brand identity that is emotionally-engaging to your target clients
Studies show that 65% of customers feel emotionally connected to brands they purchase from. 43% of customers spend more money on the brands that they are patrons of. These numbers are proof of why you need to create a brand identity that emotionally engages your prospective clients.
There are numerous architecture firms in the USA. But the only reason why a first-time client will choose you, over a competitor, is when he likes the communication you direct towards him/her.
From branding your architecture firm as a trusted family friend to showcasing yourself as the leader in corporate architectural design, you can choose a variety of imagery for your brand.
- Send personalized communication to your site visitors
One of the best ways to promote your architecture business online, is to send personalized communication to each website visitor. By capturing leads through your contact page or gated content, you’ll have access to the visitor’s email IDs. You can send them insightful newsletters and emails with discount coupons & seasonal offers.
The more frequently you send such personalized communication, the more often will people visit your site and the higher the likelihood of their seeking your design services.
- Speak at online architecture conferences & events
A great way to market your architecture firm to both commercial and residential clients, is to participate in online architecture conferences, panel discussions and webinars. You can showcase your immense knowledge here, display the designs you’ve previously made and answer people’s questions.
A few reputed architects even teach an online course in architecture design. They add plug-ins to their business and promote their company to students. This is a great way to attract top-quality talent to your firm.
- Hold online open houses
One of the best ways to promote your business and showcase your talent, is to organize an online open house. You can schedule webinars and share the link with your social media audience. By taking your viewers through the new build that your firm has designed, you can show them how creative, sustainable and resourceful you are.
- Invest in media
Press releases, public relations and newspaper/magazine articles are a great way to increase your company visibility online. These days, you have many media firms that provide end-to-end media representation to architecture companies and even provide coverage for any events you organize.
- Publish blogs on topics your prospects want to learn about
Finally, a great way to promote your architecture firm is to write articles about topics that will interest your prospective clients. You can approach leading architecture publications (such as Architectural Digest, The Architectural Review, Dwell, Contract etc.) and contribute to them. You will gain thousands of readers, many of whom may contact you for your services.
Wrapping it up
Now that you know how to promote your firm online go ahead and implement these strategies.
Architecture firms face a lot of financial risks, and you may have clients or third-party contractors who may sue you for different kinds of reasons. Typically, such claims arise out of a mismatch in expectations. But this can ruin your credibility and cause massive financial losses.
The architect’s professional liability insurance could protect you and your firm from such claims and legal costs related to it. Check this website for more information about insurance for Architects.