tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31594961672087306312024-02-08T01:11:33.549-05:00buildingsourceBuilding Intelligence. Building Support. Building Relationships.Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-91934870917857522592013-07-31T12:34:00.000-04:002013-07-31T12:58:18.063-04:00Perseverance is Key in AEC Market Prominence<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">by Karen Davis Burton</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In his book, <em>The New Competitiveness in Design and Construction</em>, Joe M. Powell asserts that market prominence belongs to companies that consistently and repetitively do the right things to promote name and expertise recognition and preferential competitive treatment (translation: skip the RFQs and go directly to the </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2PJSjJh6nn1U6mI0OY_IZc8Ni9ftkLaaZO2w-xt070s83pem8LchkKwHucwRjJjlgllme36iVUZteGl5io0gasc4Vdvpy6n3EMrFlgwdOhgak0u3Q2Qiiok36G9UoUeaN4DF1Mm7aPtv/s1600/business+strategy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2PJSjJh6nn1U6mI0OY_IZc8Ni9ftkLaaZO2w-xt070s83pem8LchkKwHucwRjJjlgllme36iVUZteGl5io0gasc4Vdvpy6n3EMrFlgwdOhgak0u3Q2Qiiok36G9UoUeaN4DF1Mm7aPtv/s320/business+strategy.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">sales presentation).</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A successful marketing and public relations strategy can position your company as the go-to firm for your market segment. Even smaller AEC firms with modest marketing budgets can make the right impact on their target audience by promoting project achievements, project delivery methods, use of new technology, and successful collaborations.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Develop your plan. </strong>Determine which marketing and PR strategies will fit in your budget and which you have time to implement effectively. Research your prospects, determine how your services align with their business goals, and decide the most effective way to reach them.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Point people in the right direction. </strong>All of your communications should encourage your prospects, the media, and collaborators to interact with you: a call-to-action on your website, an e-mail, a social media comment, a phone conversation, or a meeting. But remember, one touch may not trigger a response. Perseverance and repetitiveness keep you top of mind.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Write, post, and speak. </strong>New projects, awards, employee promotions, and corporate-sponsored events are all newsworthy, but expert articles, case studies, white papers and speaking engagements position you as an authority in your niche market. Spend some time determining the proper distribution outlets for each.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Use social media to give your news traction. </strong>Use new media outlets to give extra legs to your traditional marketing efforts. Links to your articles, news releases, and announcements can be shared easily on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and AEC specific sites. Design and construction media professional frequent social media sites for story ideas:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #001a81;"><em>"The vast majority of our new leads for stories come from Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Once </em><u>Architect</u> <em>has the lead, we still do traditional reporting on the topic, but social media has quickly become our go to source for new ideas." </em> </span>- Katie Gerfen, Senior Editor, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Architect</u> magazine at SMPS SF Meet the Press 2011</span></blockquote>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Check your work. </strong>Be sure to periodically perform a review of your marketing and PR activities over the previous year. Note which ones give you the best return on time invested and revise your plan as necessary.</span></div>
Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-60778057396125596802013-07-26T09:35:00.000-04:002013-07-26T09:35:00.178-04:005 Articles for Marketing and Productivity<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Curated by Karen Davis Burton</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Five of the top articles and posts I read in June.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. <a href="http://www.metropolismag.com/June-2013/Genslers-Secret-Sauce/" target="_blank"><b>Gensler’s Secret Sauce</b></a>: After the worst
recession in decades put so many firms out of business, the architecture,
design and planning firm reports record-breaking revenue. What’s their secret? Opportunity,
relationships, and passion. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. <b><a href="http://www.blissintegrated.com/2013/06/14/why-are-professional-service-firms-still-afraid-of-online-marketing/#.UfGFwI1OSSq" target="_blank">Why Are Professional Service Firms Still Afraidof Online Marketing?</a> </b>Stop thinking of it as optional. There’s the potential “to
add synergy and profit to rainmaking efforts." <span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA"><span dir="RTL"></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">3. <i> Not just for Builders</i>: <b><a href="http://www.builderonline.com/marketing/how-builders-market-backward.aspx" target="_blank">How Builders Market Backward</a></b>. All professionals
should determine who their customers are and make sure that customer is the
focus at every step of the marketing process. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">4. <b><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-31/ipads-supplanting-blueprints-boosts-builder-productivity.html" target="_blank"> iPads replacing blueprints, boost builder productivity</a></b>. “The goal is to eliminate problems before they happen.” </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">5. And speaking of video and Vine (<a href="http://bir-relationships.blogspot.com/2013/07/by-karen-davis-burton-with-cameras-and.html" target="_blank">see the 07.25 post)</a>, see what’s
possible: <b><a href="http://mashable.com/2013/06/09/perfect-loop-vine/" target="_blank">16 Perfect-Loop Vine Posts </a></b> <i>(I’m going to go practice some more.)</i></span></div>
Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-24300931900722156542013-07-25T14:49:00.001-04:002013-07-29T11:08:38.477-04:00Photos and Videos for AEC & Design Marketing<div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">by Karen Davis Burton</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">With photo and video cameras so readily available, I've been wondering why I haven't seen more AEC and design firms sharing pictures and videos of their work more frequently by uploading them to their websites and social media sites. Photos and videos are great marketing tools for AEC and design businesses. We are such visual professionals: our audience can not only see the results of our work, but we can show them works in progress.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It concerns me that I see so many AEC websites that use many, many words and very little visuals. Vocus, a leading cloud marketing software company, says "A minute of video is worth 1.8 million words of text."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What could you show?</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sketches</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Presentations</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Construction documents (No, you don't want to give away your work content, but you do want to show you capabilities.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Buildings under construction</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Building products</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The final built product</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are so many options now and it's pretty easy to upload photos and create video. Most of you are carrying a camera and video recorder with you (in your cell phone), so why not play around with it?</span></div>
<div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Take photos with your camera and upload them to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Google Plus, or foward them through email or your company's e-newsletter. You could also upload them to photo sharing sites like Flickr and Picasa. </span></div>
<div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Use the video camera on your phone or tablet or a small handheld video camera and upload the videos to your website, YouTube (on the iPhone, this feature is already set), Vimeo or your social media sites. Or you could you use apps like Vine (6-second limit) or Instagram video (15-second limit).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Creating video on your computer has become relatively simple, too. Even if you don't have a webcam, you could use your photos to create a video montage using Windows Movie Maker (for PC), iMovie (for Mac), or Animoto.com. (Here's a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr9MSk1E_HA" target="_blank">video I created</a> a few years ago to promote an eBook. I used Animoto and then uploaded it through their site to YouTube.</span></div>
<div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I recently visited <a _mce_href="https://www.flsouthern.edu/" _mce_style="color: #722797 !important; text-decoration: underline !important;" href="https://www.flsouthern.edu/" linktype="1" style="color: rgb(114, 39, 151) !important;" target="_blank" track="on">Florida Southern College</a> in Lakeland, FL where they have the largest collection of <a _mce_href="http://www.franklloydwrightatfsc.com/" _mce_style="color: #722797 !important; text-decoration: underline !important;" href="http://www.franklloydwrightatfsc.com/" linktype="1" style="color: rgb(114, 39, 151) !important;" target="_blank" track="on">Frank Lloyd Wright architecture</a> on their campus. Take a look at some of the videos I shot using Vine (the app is available for iPhone and Android). This was my first attempt at using the app, so I didn't realize that the video had to be taken in the portrait orientation. With landscape they appear rotated 270 degrees, which is okay if your looking at them with your phone. (Find and follow me on the Vine app at Karen Davis Burton). The videos may not be perfect, but the point is that I tried it. I'm showing three of them below. Click on the photos/previews to see the video.</span><br />
<div style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<iframe class="vine-embed" frameborder="0" height="600" src="https://vine.co/v/bQ2ewdEqAAE/embed/simple" width="600"></iframe><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js"></script>
<iframe class="vine-embed" frameborder="0" height="600" src="https://vine.co/v/bQ25gTx76VO/embed/simple" width="600"></iframe><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js"></script>
<iframe class="vine-embed" frameborder="0" height="600" src="https://vine.co/v/bQ2rbzdUKxP/embed/simple" width="600"></iframe><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js"></script>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The rest are here: </span><br />
<a href="https://vine.co/v/bQ2O3whixDL" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My first look at the campus</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://vine.co/v/bQ2vHilhZn5" target="_blank">The Water Dome, Administration Building and a recent addition to the Roux Library</a> (My husband gets in at the end.)</span><br />
<a href="https://vine.co/v/bQ265IEK37A" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another shot of the Water Dome and Roux Library</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Look for upcoming posts on photo and video apps and how-to's for the AEC and Design industry. I look forward to seeing your photo and video creativity online. Share them with me on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/buildingsource" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/buildingsource" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/buildingsource" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, <a href="http://www.intragram.com/karendavisburton" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/karenadavis" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> or by email at <a href="mailto:kadburton@buildingsource.net">kadburton@buildingsource.net</a></span><br />
<div _mce_style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-33415395318324523792013-06-21T07:29:00.000-04:002013-06-21T07:29:15.716-04:00Generate Leads with LinkedIn<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">by <a href="mailto:kadburton@buildingsource.net" target="_blank">Karen Davis Burton</a> of <a href="http://www.buildingsource.net/" target="_blank">Building Industry Resources</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You may have joined LinkedIn, connected with friends and colleagues, and joined a few groups related to your field.<br /><br />Groups are a great place to ask questions, answer question to show your expertise - and generate leads. Use groups strategically: search for the ones where your target market posts discussions and questions. Here's an example:<br /><br />Let's say I am a contractor who wants to complete retail tenant build-outs. I joined the Corporate Real Estate Group on LinkedIn and came across the question posted below:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsUrMpcPNX3CBQLD4fbTbQNmXTTmia0onnLf8AUA5lprbXeHK1Uc90vnbBYGtElXmkDhst3TMr5xGhvIw5AB4gHPBKvXnFnHrVJnSrZ5IMTV4lCM0iuw9kd3bJe9aTupxSXgCpkr4O8oe/s1600/LinkedIn+Interact-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsUrMpcPNX3CBQLD4fbTbQNmXTTmia0onnLf8AUA5lprbXeHK1Uc90vnbBYGtElXmkDhst3TMr5xGhvIw5AB4gHPBKvXnFnHrVJnSrZ5IMTV4lCM0iuw9kd3bJe9aTupxSXgCpkr4O8oe/s400/LinkedIn+Interact-001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dean asked if a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) designation added to value to a project.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />As a construction professional - possibly with a LEED credential - I would feel comfortable answering Dean's question. As I follow through with an answer, I may want to know more about Dean, so I could give more details. When I click through to his profile, here is what I find:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihg1d1IZ9SEashSPZSZEdnd9TC80QwGhz6fphtK64sA4ZzYEC6-rKx66Ocdvt2H9i2TrlFBytBYMnV15_OMmKfgKLNSHZAO7HvUaIspRWjMuuFG85ESb6SrFXGuBgtI1FR0GC6IDuR3B67/s1600/LinkedIn+Interact-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihg1d1IZ9SEashSPZSZEdnd9TC80QwGhz6fphtK64sA4ZzYEC6-rKx66Ocdvt2H9i2TrlFBytBYMnV15_OMmKfgKLNSHZAO7HvUaIspRWjMuuFG85ESb6SrFXGuBgtI1FR0GC6IDuR3B67/s400/LinkedIn+Interact-002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dean is the Executive Vice President at Great Clips, the "world's largest" salon with 3,000 outlets. He's in charge of real estate, architecture and construction. Jackpot!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Next step: connect with Dean through LinkedIn. I can send him an invitation directly since we belong to the same LinkedIn Group.<br /><br />LinkedIn can be a powerful tool for lead generation and business development. Take advantage of its groups and the other networking components. </span>Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-52454793217860852872013-06-03T05:58:00.000-04:002013-06-21T07:30:02.348-04:00buildingsource Top 5 links from May 2013<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">by <a href="mailto:kadburton@buildingsource.net" target="_blank">Karen Davis Burton</a> of <a href="http://www.buildingsource.net/" target="_blank">Building Industry Resources</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">These four articles and one video outline steps for developing business, sealing the deal, and incorporating cloud-based technology in your business.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="http://www.constructormagazine.com/index.php/2013/04/30/strategies-for-success/" target="_blank">Strategies for Success</a></b>: Business
development is not a department, but part of the fabric of your business, and everyone should be involved.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="http://www.interiorsandsources.com/article-details/articleid/15608/title/social%20studies.aspx" target="_blank">Social Studies</a></b>: Representatives of HOK, Perkins + Will and HDR share how
A&D firms can better leverage their presence online. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="http://www.forconstructionpros.com/article/10942018/13-faqs-about-cloud-based-applications?page=2" target="_blank">13 FAQs about Cloud-based Applications</a></b>: What's "the cloud," and how will it affect my business data?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="http://www.careerealism.com/professional-personal-website/" target="_blank">5 Reasons Why Every Professional Should Have a Personal Website</a></b>: With fewer jobs and more competition, self-promotion is becoming increasingly more important.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZc6AK1aZi0&feature=share&list=PLHl2hjtjevtxF1ND8_iS0zGereIGeczDy&hootPostID=bb069b310f16cff80079116fe975d13b" target="_blank">[Video] 3 Steps to Close the Deal</a></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">: You've made the pitch, now move your prospect toward "yes." </span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BZc6AK1aZi0" width="640"></iframe>Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-66475384274378237562013-05-02T15:26:00.005-04:002013-05-02T15:29:18.644-04:00buildingsource Top 5 Articles from April 2013Here are the top 5 articles for building and marketing your AEC and Design business posted in April by media and professionals I follow:<br />
<br />
<b>1. <a href="http://www.hingemarketing.com/blog/story/a_new_era_for_a_e_c_professionals_the_making_of_visible_experts" target="_blank">A New Era for A/E/C Professionals</a></b>: The Making of Visible Experts: "A Visible Expert is an individual with high visibility and acknowledged expertise who can command influence within a specific target audience."<br />
<br />
<b>2.</b> <b><a href="http://www.bdcnetwork.com/will-google-glass-revolutionize-construction-process" target="_blank">Will Google Glass Revolutionize the Construction Process?</a></b> Imagine super-imposing computer-generated images (BIM files) over a real-world view of a construction site.<br />
<br />
<b>3. <a href="http://info.prosalesstaff.com/blog/bid/145976/4-Ways-to-Handle-a-Client-that-s-Too-Busy-to-Collaborate-Project-Management-Tips" target="_blank">4 Ways to Handle a Client that's Too Busy to Collaborate: </a></b>Setting clear expectations is first on the list for dealing with clients who aren't helping to move the project along systematically or on time.<br />
<br />
<b>4. <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323611604578398862292997352.html" target="_blank">SEC Embraces Social Media:</a> </b>In a recent ruling, the Securities and Exchange Commission said that postings on sites like Facebook and Twitter are just as good as news releases and company websites.<br />
<br />
<b>5. <a href="http://www.daily5remodel.com/index.php?action=article&rowid=1018" target="_blank">Works for Us: "The iPad is a Mobile Showroom":</a> </b>Tips for using a tablet in the sales process.<br />
<br />
<br />Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-4507381886331646602013-04-23T15:52:00.000-04:002013-04-25T13:22:59.412-04:005 Reasons Mayor Corey Booker Embraces Social Media<i>“Not being in social media is almost like Nixon not wanting
to put makeup on for a TV appearance. It’s going to become so ridiculous five,
ten years from now.”</i> – Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, NJ<br />
<br />
Cory Booker discusses why he is known as the "social media mayor."<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<ol>
<li>He can take control of his own media.</li>
<li>He can crowdsource and touch thousands and thousands</li>
<li>He can create collaborative relationships with residents – they are
partners in governing.</li>
<li>It's an added tool he uses to “supercharge” his ability to connect with
residents.</li>
<li>Social media helps makes him more accessible.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In his own words...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dp7ty-29TV8" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Designers, AEC and real estate professionals can take control of their media, too. Get your free eBook download, "<a href="http://www.buildingsource.net/ebook.html" target="_blank">Building an Internet Presence: An Introduction for the AEC Industry</a>."</i>Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-67963640569134454482013-04-18T16:26:00.000-04:002013-06-05T11:45:40.542-04:00Searching for AEC Services<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsT8qL-SAO90yan5M-xMPa334J3R81hXbeSpWf2DlHeKp1lVKV6uc3poEK8PgNcms2pcTUlccuPWK53pSNA4oTE3Zy-_7WSCnJVyUImqVMrAq48hPpKJFF8OeM1u_hnTZr9EuBKEnI01PD/s1600/j0428592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsT8qL-SAO90yan5M-xMPa334J3R81hXbeSpWf2DlHeKp1lVKV6uc3poEK8PgNcms2pcTUlccuPWK53pSNA4oTE3Zy-_7WSCnJVyUImqVMrAq48hPpKJFF8OeM1u_hnTZr9EuBKEnI01PD/s320/j0428592.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">by Karen Davis Burton</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When a client searches online for the services you offer, what do they find? And, I’m not asking what do they find when they search for your name or your business name – hopefully, you pop up then.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But what happens when they google “retail architects in Detroit” or “interior designer for hotels near Santa Monica?” Will your prospect find you on page one of Google?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">More and more, people are going online to find the building products and AEC services they want and need to purchase. When my water heater was on the fritz late one night – while all my friends that I would call for a referral were asleep – I googled “plumber, water heater” and the search engine gave me a list of service providers in my area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Traditionally, consumers and businesses have found AEC professional services firms through word-of-mouth referrals, live networking, RFPs, and even through the phone book advertising.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Well, we know most of those phone books get tossed out and recycled as soon as they are dropped off on the porch. Referrals and networking are still the best ways to build business because people want to do business with firms and professionals they know and trust.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Why not let those prospects – and your existing clients – get to know you when they search for your AEC market niche and professional services online. Even if a potential client gets a referral from a reliable source, they probably want to do their own research on the names they’ve received. And when you’re out in the community developing business – at conferences, happy hours, trade organization meetings – shouldn’t your prospects have a way to find out more about you and your business?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">By developing relevant content – writing blog posts, articles, and press releases, sharing valuable information on social media sites, posting photos of your work, providing your prospects with testimonials from satisfied clients, and making sure your website is updating regularly – you can work toward getting at the top of the search engine listings so your AEC company will be the first one a prospects sees when they search for your types of services.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Get your free eBook download, "<a href="http://www.buildingsource.net/ebook.html" target="_blank">Building an Internet Presence: An Introduction for the AEC Industry</a>."</div>
Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-3767089640836414302013-04-10T14:41:00.003-04:002013-04-25T13:23:47.866-04:003 Must-See Homes in DetroitIt's National Architecture Week (April 7-13). Here are three Detroit residences you must visit. Now, don't walk up to these houses and think you can just get in. People live here. Drive or walk by, and enjoy the view.<br />
<br />
<b>The Margerum 45-degree House</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhM6d7fVE83BTEfsBjTgwrPWVcnQSA4DEOo6paNKgC1Y5uK_wlOTm60Qeis7-xlcrlRSSJ9DpuJeuNrw9sLha2GEvOwf-GPkZ5Ikm3pKF1mSdwDBDbz5pLxmqyJgQuZ8HQonyXPtV5-3Y/s1600/Margerum+45-hour+detroit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhM6d7fVE83BTEfsBjTgwrPWVcnQSA4DEOo6paNKgC1Y5uK_wlOTm60Qeis7-xlcrlRSSJ9DpuJeuNrw9sLha2GEvOwf-GPkZ5Ikm3pKF1mSdwDBDbz5pLxmqyJgQuZ8HQonyXPtV5-3Y/s640/Margerum+45-hour+detroit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.detroithomemag.com/Detroit-Home/Fall-2008/Roger-Margerum-and-the-Magic-of-the-45-Degree-Polygon/" target="_blank">Photo from Detroit Home magazine</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Detroit architect, Roger Margerum, designed his home when he closed his full-time practice. This 3,000 square foot residence has views of the Grayhaven Marina, and Margerum says that instead of moving from room to room, you go "from space-to-space." <i>(More at <a href="http://www.detroithomemag.com/Detroit-Home/Fall-2008/Roger-Margerum-and-the-Magic-of-the-45-Degree-Polygon/" target="_blank">Detroit Home magazine</a>)</i><br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Lafayette Park Townhouses</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf56DsCRXz1o0njPRedCkAGzFnTpArDOdnOGGb18pUrCUQVOhsMKFBFDd7oe8yDlQbx9r5k92IGPvYBDbI6CrblwrVAw1-eq3wbUrfm1IQ_7dkkVyxJDwVGnF-wbx4r2Ul7gSgAOvkeWzD/s1600/lafayette-park-house-exterior-trees-Dwell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf56DsCRXz1o0njPRedCkAGzFnTpArDOdnOGGb18pUrCUQVOhsMKFBFDd7oe8yDlQbx9r5k92IGPvYBDbI6CrblwrVAw1-eq3wbUrfm1IQ_7dkkVyxJDwVGnF-wbx4r2Ul7gSgAOvkeWzD/s640/lafayette-park-house-exterior-trees-Dwell.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.dwell.com/house-tours/article/mies-van-der-rohe-lafayette-park" target="_blank">Photo from Dwell</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=lafayette+park+detroit&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x8824d32ab0d058c9:0xb8f16ce45df25b5a,Lafayette+Park,+Detroit,+MI&gl=us&ei=wKplUb_AOOSOyAH9hIC4Bw&ved=0CJUBELYD" target="_blank">Lafayette Park</a> was the first urban renewal project in the U.S., and includes two high-rises and one-and two-story townhomes designed by <a href="http://www.miessociety.org/legacy/projects/lafayette-park/#1" target="_blank">Mies van der Rohe</a>. The townhomes - a sight to behold in the middle of the city - average 1400 square feet and are enveloped by a minimal shell with floor-to-ceiling windows. The interiors showcase floating staircases and clean lines.<br />
<br />
See and hear how the residents live in their Mies-designed spaces in this <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/10/15/opinion/20101015_Lafayette.html" target="_blank">New York Times article</a>. Occasionally, you can catch a <a href="http://www.style-detroit.com/2012/08/architectural-walking-tour-of-lafayette.html" target="_blank">tour of the entire Lafayette Park area</a>.*<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The Turkel House</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVh_YyK5OEI0IpR4nuT-KfGyIDNT8s9Rm4x-UZ3VZtrVIsuIG832aeh1gfPJ9SXhIRE8lat2MLmMjLnrMFQF-6G4V5TT9a8DiLrWEMHRlG_IWbNIoTRctMQXQiJDsnI70jcRa-QkS1_bO/s1600/Turkel-FLW-Hour+Detroit.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVh_YyK5OEI0IpR4nuT-KfGyIDNT8s9Rm4x-UZ3VZtrVIsuIG832aeh1gfPJ9SXhIRE8lat2MLmMjLnrMFQF-6G4V5TT9a8DiLrWEMHRlG_IWbNIoTRctMQXQiJDsnI70jcRa-QkS1_bO/s640/Turkel-FLW-Hour+Detroit.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.hourdetroit.com/Hour-Detroit/September-2010/Rescuing-a-Landmark/index.php?cparticle=1&siarticle=0#artanc" target="_blank">Photo from Hour Detroit magazine</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Located on Seven Mile Road in Detroit, this is the only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home within the Detroit city limits. The 4,300 square foot house is in FLW's Usonian Automoatic style, using inexpensive modular concrete blocks. Current residents purchased the home in 2006 and restored it for nearly $1 million. <i>(More at <a href="http://www.hourdetroit.com/Hour-Detroit/September-2010/Rescuing-a-Landmark/index.php?cparticle=1&siarticle=0#artanc" target="_blank">Hour Detroit magazine</a>)</i><br />
<br />
* <i>After note: The next Lafayette Park Walking Tour will be June 1, 2013. Contact Kiana German through her <a href="http://www.style-detroit.com/" target="_blank">Style-Detroit</a> blog or tweet her at <a href="https://twitter.com/KianaGerman" target="_blank">@KianaGerman</a></i>Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-17518482226064371152013-04-01T12:13:00.001-04:002013-04-25T13:24:06.887-04:00buildingsource Top 5: Articles for Building BusinessHere are the top 5 articles from March for building and marketing your AEC business:<br />
<br />
<b>1. <a href="http://www.di.net/articles/negotiate-with-confidence/" target="_blank">Negotiating with Confidence:</a></b> Don't rush contract negotiations, and don't be afraid to request additional funds for out-of-scope work. (By Steven Isaacs on DesignIntelligence)<br />
<br />
<b>2. <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/225836" target="_blank">How to Set Your Business Up to Bid on Federal Government Contracts:</a></b> Entrepreneur magazine lists the first four things to do to begin doing business with the government. The information is taken from Braddock's Procurement Opportunities Guide sponsored by Microsoft. (By Catherine Clifford)<br />
<br />
<b>3. <a href="http://archrecord.construction.com/news/2012/12/121227-10-Best-Architecture-Blogs.asp" target="_blank">10 Architecture Firm Blogs to Watch in 2013:</a></b> Review various blogging styles and get some inspiration for your AEC firm's blog. (Listed by Architectural Record magazine)<br />
<br />
<b>4. <a href="http://mydigimag.rrd.com/publication/?i=144898&p=44" target="_blank">Staying Loose: 25 lessons learned from the recession: </a></b>Builder magazine talks with builders about how they have adapted to market conditions over the past five years.<br />
<br />
<b>5. <a href="http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/34274/7-Lessons-From-the-World-s-Most-Captivating-Presenters-SlideShare.aspx" target="_blank">7 Lessons from the World's Most Captivating Presenters: </a></b>Steve Jobs, Scott Harrison, Gary Vaynerchuk... what can you lean from them to improve presentation skills? (from HubSpot)<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="356" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/17313548" style="border-width: 1px 1px 0; border: 1px solid #CCC; margin-bottom: 5px;" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="427"> </iframe> <br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 5px;">
<strong> <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/HubSpot/what-would-steve-do-10-lessons-from-the-worlds-most-captivating-presenters" target="_blank" title="What Would Steve Do? 10 Lessons from the World's Most Captivating Presenters">What Would Steve Do? 10 Lessons from the World's Most Captivating Presenters</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/HubSpot" target="_blank">HubSpot All-in-one Marketing Software</a></strong> </div>
<br />
<br />Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-12695788536207414472013-03-28T15:35:00.000-04:002013-04-25T13:24:26.759-04:005 Reasons to Blog for BusinessWatch the slide presentation below for 5 reasons to begin blogging and positioning yourself as a market leader.
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="356" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/17725553" style="border-width: 1px 1px 0; border: 1px solid #CCC; margin-bottom: 5px;" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="427"> </iframe> <br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 5px;">
<strong> <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/KADCAD/5-reasons-you-should-be-blogging-for-business" target="_blank" title="5 reasons you should be blogging for business">5 reasons you should be blogging for business</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/KADCAD" target="_blank">Building Industry Resources</a></strong> <br />
<br />
Check out upcoming workshops and events on <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/org/1856320919" target="_blank">Eventbrite</a></div>
Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-62636119764477054142013-03-26T12:43:00.000-04:002013-04-25T13:24:48.130-04:00How Construction Service Providers Use Social MediaComplimentary Workshop<br />
Friday, April 12, 2013 - 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m<br />
TechTown, Detroit<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.constructionsocialmedia.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0jhil8QsboZzvjStjEMIwWOlCOATKTUghEODhzqCww_uAsGAAzNS1FPmOaVWlBC2dsCCHOOFwfUDVp2-x2K2UDnyiKlhPitiTNZU_xGLt0zL-7XoRRgQpfv2xG6lXYQ4ugwnBH-JNxO0/s640/How_Construction_Service_Providers_Use_Social_Media-evite.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/event/3597250473?ref=ebtnebregn" target="_blank"><img alt="Eventbrite - How Construction Service Providers Use Social Media" src="http://www.eventbrite.com/custombutton?eid=3597250473" /></a>Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0440 Burroughs Street, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA42.3649283 -83.07296600000000816.842893800000002 -124.38156000000001 67.8869628 -41.764372000000009tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-1936309162362895182011-12-23T09:20:00.000-05:002011-12-23T09:20:07.245-05:00Seasons Greetings from Building Industry Resources<br />
The holiday season and the end of the year bring celebration, reflection and anticipation.<br />
<br />
I celebrate our relationship. Your partnerships, recommendations, encouraging words, sharing of information, and contracting of our services have been a blessing and have paved the way for continued success in the new year.<br />
<br />
As I reflect on the triumphs of the past year, I hope the services you have received have helped you to grow your business and professional career, and that we encourage and empower you to be your best.<br />
<br />
I am anticipating even greater achievements for us all in 2012. I believe we will receive the gifts of new friendships, creative collaborations, innovative ideas, and increased projects and opportunities.<br />
<br />
Thank you for your continued support. I look forward to working with you and being your <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>building</b>source</span> for many years to come.<br />
<br />
Wishing peace, prosperity and wholeness to you and yours this season and throughout the new year!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Karen A. Davis</span> </b></span><br />
<br />
<b>Building Industry Resources</b><br />
@buildingsource<br />
www.buildingsource.net<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyox2uqmLPFc6IXVWW4uk_MO2dkMBA0ZhX1AjK4iOyl7CSclQ_z9e0vvwIv6IxqSlqT9pxwEzrEGeOtZ-vcIreQ2ZQq8dzgRFLFmibUU6bg0TOGMLi_PsMVxyOPIVS3Mo89i7PG3oDMhw/s1600/5735298850013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyox2uqmLPFc6IXVWW4uk_MO2dkMBA0ZhX1AjK4iOyl7CSclQ_z9e0vvwIv6IxqSlqT9pxwEzrEGeOtZ-vcIreQ2ZQq8dzgRFLFmibUU6bg0TOGMLi_PsMVxyOPIVS3Mo89i7PG3oDMhw/s200/5735298850013.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-29181917498128553292011-12-21T13:13:00.001-05:002011-12-21T13:36:40.273-05:00Viral and Virtual Marketing, '70's StyleViral marketing building virtual communities, circa 1971. Coca-Cola had everyone singing their song at Christmas.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://2.gvt0.com/vi/_zCsFvVg0UY/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_zCsFvVg0UY&fs=1&source=uds" />
<param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" />
<embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_zCsFvVg0UY&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; language: en-US; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; language: en-US; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-85269549250303223212011-12-09T15:05:00.001-05:002011-12-09T15:19:41.470-05:00Make 2012 a Happy New Year<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eJEEj3ZFOEobgVykdhyphenhyphen2CHWj_Zk3r0Jg8dszDxHjtuNqIgMadnEJoAKabOiDadKNyvGmpliTD9XID9-TP2R1sxO4FWv6ULyr34fyoPXa6-FEkYUgz64LfwLbhXOZh-MKhuRxdXLk2BPT/s1600/New+year-03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eJEEj3ZFOEobgVykdhyphenhyphen2CHWj_Zk3r0Jg8dszDxHjtuNqIgMadnEJoAKabOiDadKNyvGmpliTD9XID9-TP2R1sxO4FWv6ULyr34fyoPXa6-FEkYUgz64LfwLbhXOZh-MKhuRxdXLk2BPT/s200/New+year-03.JPG" width="200" /></a><b><i>2012 is almost here!</i></b><br />
<br />
Planning your marketing and public relations strategy can set you up for a very happy 2012.<br />
<br />
A successful business starts with a detailed plan - moving you from where you are now to where you want to be.<br />
<ul>
<li>Brainstorm what you want to accomplish for the year.</li>
<li>Develop your brand and value proposition.</li>
<li>Identify market trends, collaborators, and your true target audience.</li>
<li>Determine where your audience is and the best way to reach them.</li>
</ul>
Your complete marketing plan should include realistic action steps, measurable goals, and a "toolbox" of strategies to build a consistent approach to increase your visibility.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Don't wait. Start planning for a happy new year <a href="http://www.buildingsource.net/marketingplan.html" target="_blank">here</a>.Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-11567348022768222612011-10-21T01:00:00.000-04:002011-10-21T01:03:57.151-04:00Social Media Week iReport<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
VaNessa Thompson of <a href="http://www.nessabirdie.com/">www.nessabirdie.com</a> submitted a creative, informative video for a CNN iReport. It highlighted the Lafayette Park meet-up in Detroit in September during Social Media Week sponsored by VaNessa, Kiana German of <a href="http://www.style-detroit.com/">www.style-detroit.com</a>, and Karen A. Davis of <a href="http://www.buildingsource.net/">Building Industry Resources</a> (me!). The topic was <b>Virtual Communities</b>: pursuing mutual interests, finding consumers for a product or service, encouraging interaction, and issuing calls to action.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/XMywsa8b9Wk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Stay tuned for more information on our next meet-up.<br />
<br />
<br />Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0Detroit, MI, USA42.331427 -83.045753842.1436165 -83.3616108 42.519237499999996 -82.7298968tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-61283511298564805882011-10-19T13:02:00.002-04:002011-10-26T15:30:58.360-04:00Don't Miss an Opportunity - AEC version<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><b><a href="http://bir-relationships.blogspot.com/2011/10/dont-miss-opportunity-to-fill-need.html">Read the post about finding a spot to watch the Michigan vs. Michigan State football match-up </a></b></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><b>So what does an empty restaurant
have to do with marketing and selling design and construction
services and products?</b></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><b>Plan Ahead:</b> </span>October is Fire
Prevention month. Did you tie that in to marketing your services?
There was an opportunity to educate on life safety, building
materials, and other aspects of design and construction. There are
many other monthly observances, too. And, trade magazines have
editorial calendars that describe what their stories will focus on
each month – a chance to pitch your expertise.</div>
<div style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><b>Think outside your typical marketing
activities:</b> </span>Where can you position your business so clients can
find you? You attend networking events put on by chambers of commerce
and AEC trade organizations, but are you also capitalizing on social
media, where many of your potential clients and collaborators
congregate? Some of the top AEC companies are using Facebook,
Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google Places. Prospects can find your
competition there – where are you?</div>
<div style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><b>Extend Your Reach:</b> </span>Hey, the
economy has been slow. What non-profits could benefit from your
services at a reduced rate? Or could you provide consulting or
education on a particular building topic to an organization who may
need your services later?</div>
<div style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="font-weight: bold;">Know your market:</b> Read what
your clients read. If you provide construction or design services or
building products to hospitals, are you reading the periodicals,
website and blogs that are highly regarded by medical professionals?
If not, you're missing out on important information and industry
trends.</div>
<div style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-10074812068204328452011-10-17T14:45:00.000-04:002011-10-17T14:48:12.016-04:00Don't Miss an Opportunity to Fill a NeedThis past weekend, friends and I drove to East Lansing for the Michigan vs. Michigan State football game. This is a classic match-up - the teams have competed for the Paul Bunyan trophy and state bragging rights for nearly 60 years. We didn't have tickets to the game, so we decided to just find a bar or restaurant with a big-screen TV, and watch the game with other fans, mingling with Wolverines and Spartans, and cheering on our favorite team.<br />
<br />
As we anticipated, the establishments near campus were crowded, many having lines out the door and spilling out to the sidewalks. That was okay. We drove a little further, and headed toward the state capital, Lansing, which was fewer than five miles from Michigan State's campus.<br />
<br />
We parked a few blocks from the Michigan Capitol Building. At the first sports bar we stopped in, we were told there were no seats available ("Aren't those empty tables there?"), but could find standing-room only at the bar. We decided to walk to find a place with available seating. Other football fans had the same idea - we met many looking for a place to watch the game. There was sign for a bar in the next block. Closed!. Then we passed two more shuttered bars.<br />
<br />
We finally arrived at a "name-intentionally-left-blank-to-protect-the-innocent" hotel only a couple of blocks away from the Capitol. The hotel is an international brand, so imagine my surprise upon our arrival to their lobby restaurant, <i>after</i> the game had started:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwY7DUw3BFFb6Ap7FF00eWrT8iwwwD43HeEO4R0uGA5HKkc3kN7F7R6pHbGW7lIQEGtVzuCoT8ZmWONDSqkTA-L-dehDDd3ropFOQO1QJcIjGH41jK6mn5grCrSUNKNG0z5h-5JvNonjB/s1600/Lansing+Hotel+Bar-20111015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwY7DUw3BFFb6Ap7FF00eWrT8iwwwD43HeEO4R0uGA5HKkc3kN7F7R6pHbGW7lIQEGtVzuCoT8ZmWONDSqkTA-L-dehDDd3ropFOQO1QJcIjGH41jK6mn5grCrSUNKNG0z5h-5JvNonjB/s320/Lansing+Hotel+Bar-20111015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Now this photo is a little deceiving - there were about three occupied tables in the restaurant - about eight people total. There was one server, and the bartender had not yet arrived for work.<br />
<br />
<b>Don't miss an opportunity to fill a need!</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Plan ahead:</b> Keep a calendar of events and activities where you can market and sell your products and services. Remember this was an annual event.</li>
<li><b>Think outside your typical marketing activities: </b>There were lots of people looking for somewhere to watch the game. If a coffee shop would've had a TV, we'd have watched there. Would the expense of renting a large-screen TV been worth it to bring in extra income?</li>
<li><b>Extend your reach:</b> Even if the event doesn't appeal to your typical market, there may be some overlap (business travelers who enjoy sports), and you could fulfill a need that another business can't (serving an overflow crowd), possibly gaining new, loyal customers. </li>
<li><b>Know your market:</b> I mentioned we were in Lansing, the neighboring city to the home of Michigan State University. What did we see displayed in window of the gift shop of the hotel? Maize and blue University of Michigan shirts - no MSU paraphernalia. Maybe the hotel was marketing to out-of-town guests.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<br />Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-65575743984315103942010-10-22T11:46:00.006-04:002010-10-22T11:59:14.797-04:006.5 Ways to Build Web Visibility<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hJVndHaSvW4_rBJXPZuEbXAJe9m64aA5ZpD4cGiZcdHmGxBBqWVC1cwFkUw4YS-oFD-jCUhinPdDBhRUUjAIPU_xBbx3ZWQWEHvzcYBgY467cg8cMGc26xlFIuz8OictKF_cquJupfW3/s1600/j0409716.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530898220376424562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 133px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hJVndHaSvW4_rBJXPZuEbXAJe9m64aA5ZpD4cGiZcdHmGxBBqWVC1cwFkUw4YS-oFD-jCUhinPdDBhRUUjAIPU_xBbx3ZWQWEHvzcYBgY467cg8cMGc26xlFIuz8OictKF_cquJupfW3/s200/j0409716.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Gone are the days that a prospect would go to the Yellow Pages to find a designer, builder or service provider. I know that I immediately recycle the massive book after I find it on my front porch. So how do prospects and customers find you and the services you provide? Even when asking their friends and neighbors for a referral, they probably want to conduct their own research.<br /><br />More than likely, they go to an Internet search engine and put in the name of your business or keywords that describe the types of services they need. When they see pages of businesses and websites, how do you stand out? Are you even listed? You want to be the first name a prospect sees when they “Google” your types of services.<br /><br />Here are 6.5 things to do to make sure you can be found: </div><div><br /><strong>1. Google Place listing.</strong> Even without a company website, you can list your business name, location and service area, and the services you offer. With careful keyword descriptions of your business, you could be well on your way to being listed in the top 10 of your prospect’s search. Claim your name and address before someone else does. </div><div><br /><strong>2. Custom Website.</strong> A website should be the hub of your online communication. Your brand, services, testimonials and other pertinent information are found there. You can create a website with good content for less than $100 per year. </div><div><br /><strong>3. Social Media</strong> (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other niche sites). Social networking is a great way to stay connected with your clients and prospects on a daily or weekly basis, sharing information, answering questions, and getting feedback about your services.<br /><br /><strong>4. Blogs and articles.</strong> Share your specialized expertise by posting case studies, how-to’s and tips that help your clients. Even if you post to a blog weekly, those posting can be grouped to form an article. Writing articles is a proven way to position yourself as an authority with your target audience.<br /><br /><strong>5. Press releases.</strong> Sending press release to trade magazines and other targeted media can raise visibility for your business and services on a regional or national level. Just remember to follow up with your press contacts.<br /><br /><strong>6. Online videos and slide presentations.</strong> Videos can be created with your webcam, digital camera, or even your cell phone. You can take a few minutes to introduce yourself to prospects or outline a service offering. Slide presentations of your portfolio of work can easily be uploaded to slide sharing sites or converted to a video.<br /><br /><strong>6.5 Online classifieds.</strong> Many online classified sites allow you to advertise your services for free or very low cost. Some professionals may be reluctant to use classifieds, but many have found success with this method of promotion. </div><div><br />Outline a plan to implement a mix of the web services listed above, and you could find your name moving up the search engine listings and more prospects calling.</div><div></div>Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-77295195621576014802010-10-07T15:29:00.003-04:002010-10-07T15:35:03.591-04:00Please Take Part in Our Survey<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHY9wpD0-zu9-Ow48bmSlgBX8zDH7KhQJlCpEK1CJ64tVp0oDexe2RiVLKRTH2P2pvTLCYstAPnBMGNimvrmv7cnOlEOaWHnIGujA4ZVGimvC0wFG6fHcocCHMNlY4LNSaQ77F0mAV8LH/s1600/j0341396.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525389870815370482" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 142px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHY9wpD0-zu9-Ow48bmSlgBX8zDH7KhQJlCpEK1CJ64tVp0oDexe2RiVLKRTH2P2pvTLCYstAPnBMGNimvrmv7cnOlEOaWHnIGujA4ZVGimvC0wFG6fHcocCHMNlY4LNSaQ77F0mAV8LH/s200/j0341396.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>With so much competition in the design, construction, and real estate fields, how does your company stand out from the crowd? How do you become the go-to professional for owners and potential collaborators – the one they call when they need advice or want to implement their vision?<br /><br />Building Industry Resources is interested in how you market and promote your business to clients, prospects, and partners. I’d appreciate if you’d take about five minutes from your busy day to fill out the survey at this link: <a href="http://ow.ly/2QaEU">http://ow.ly/2QaEU</a><br /><br />Be assured, all information will be kept confidential.<br /><br />Hopefully, in addition to giving us some insight to the marketing practices of the industry, we might present some methods you may not have considered or have been hesitant to try.<br />Thank you for your participation.</div>Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-43800916797959774932010-10-06T12:48:00.002-04:002010-10-06T12:55:51.873-04:00Updated AEC Networking Events for October & November 2010It's important to explore new resources for networking outside of your current contact list. Networking is key. Establish new relationships and put yourself in the right places at the right times to attract new leads and collaborators.<br /><br />Architects, consider attending an Real Estate conference. Construction professionals, try an Engineering convention. Listen to the trends and ideas presented at their events. Our building industry fields are certainly interrelated: Facility Managers need Contractors; Builders need Interior Designers.<br /><br />Building Industry Resources has compiled a listing of upcoming conferences, trade shows and other events where you can meet owners and building industry professionals, network, and expand your reach throughout the industry. See the <a href="http://www.buildingsource.net/building_relationships.html">Building Relationships</a> page of our website.Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-27734638937900247942010-09-16T12:08:00.003-04:002010-09-16T12:15:23.499-04:00AEC and Real Estate Networking<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7GlSsLSNnCQGlbXUywisIQujDWTyWMHQ_ap8yg7bKcdM0IVz1cQD0b5WD6Nf-HhGw-2Zxqt9rfXJwaq-uBbhGVoyPpqXKPfhM0MgMLyi_tSfR6_JZsZbn-MlvsspnxgxZAtICyt6qEHi/s1600/j0401566.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517545321845498946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7GlSsLSNnCQGlbXUywisIQujDWTyWMHQ_ap8yg7bKcdM0IVz1cQD0b5WD6Nf-HhGw-2Zxqt9rfXJwaq-uBbhGVoyPpqXKPfhM0MgMLyi_tSfR6_JZsZbn-MlvsspnxgxZAtICyt6qEHi/s200/j0401566.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Check out the <a href="http://ow.ly/2zb7j">Building Industry Resources website</a> for 40-plus AEC and real estate networking events across the country in September and October. Which will you attend? </div>Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-16143871361258862102010-09-03T11:32:00.005-04:002010-09-03T11:47:56.322-04:00Architecture Detour: Palace of Fine Arts - San FranciscoRecently, my niece and I took a trip out west to visit colleges (she's only a high school junior, but ambitious and she's planning ahead), and as I anticipated, it turned out to be a wonderful architectural journey as well. I wanted to share photos of one of the most beautiful venues I've ever seen - the <a title="" href="http://www.palaceoffinearts.org/" target="_blank"><strong>Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco</strong></a>.<br /><br />A few years ago as I passed this magnificent structure on the way to the Golden Gate Bridge, I couldn't take my eyes off of it. Good thing I wasn't driving! I knew when I returned to the city, I'd have to go back and spend some time.<br /><br />The Palace of Fine Arts was built for the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition with Bernard Maybeck as architect. As exposition buildings were only supposed to be built to last one year, the columns and rotunda of the Palace were framed with wood and covered with plaster and fiber material. However, there was a move to preserve the palace, and it was the only building to remain from the Exposition.<br /><br />Reconstruction began in 1964 and improvements are still being made today. See my photos below. (Click on the slideshow to enlarge.)<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="288" height="192" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2FKADCAD%2Falbumid%2F5512390089924416017%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCLbEsd3Qr-rL9wE%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-44149102383868671062010-07-26T13:14:00.003-04:002010-07-26T13:19:15.154-04:00Position Yourself as a Leader in the Design and Building Industry<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdo8-HLhWxduKisPeNDRii1dqE0G1MVZvBbofgdqsqWHZbEjZPl8QyIXQIUyG60DctfI0jOrwFzueuF_1mfn5tXbpVMir278hc7XD-mBqSVCxzD8DylEZte0ltbwOHVyLegm1dwzS9meY/s1600/j0423022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498265660998902050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdo8-HLhWxduKisPeNDRii1dqE0G1MVZvBbofgdqsqWHZbEjZPl8QyIXQIUyG60DctfI0jOrwFzueuF_1mfn5tXbpVMir278hc7XD-mBqSVCxzD8DylEZte0ltbwOHVyLegm1dwzS9meY/s200/j0423022.jpg" border="0" /></a>Have you taken a leadership position in your area of the design and building industry? Are you known as the expert in one particular market niche? When you position yourself as a leader, you gain significant advantage over your competitors.<br /><br />First, begin by identifying your prospects and the types of services they need: medical professionals need office designers, a restaurant owners need real estate agents to identify the best locations, and homeowners need a good plumber. Your prospect will be searching for the industry leader who addresses their problem, and you want to be sure to be at the top of their list.<br /><br />If you find that the niche you've identified is dominated by other professionals, create your own by becoming even more specialized: an oral surgery office designer, a pizzeria real estate agent, or a service rep who can repair any type of water heater. You want prospects to associate your name with your specialty.Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3159496167208730631.post-18959157683278333752010-07-09T07:10:00.003-04:002010-07-09T07:23:48.892-04:00Summer Networking<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiK4ee-CCTUrWPc8weMuPwajiRlFVCSsgUJvfRG01DIGt6BQZHOVWhJXtSkazRhSVQF3EaLp08nfy7o1lD233lNttoi7QrIRfYTsOvZqWT-CZ6nvduT16Q_d2xali0gb-mtMtaUyc5kObZ/s1600/j0401735.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491865629591241554" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiK4ee-CCTUrWPc8weMuPwajiRlFVCSsgUJvfRG01DIGt6BQZHOVWhJXtSkazRhSVQF3EaLp08nfy7o1lD233lNttoi7QrIRfYTsOvZqWT-CZ6nvduT16Q_d2xali0gb-mtMtaUyc5kObZ/s200/j0401735.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>There's still time and plenty of opportunities to network in the design and building industry. Some professional organizations continue to have local and regional meetings throughout the summer months, and there are conferences going on around the country. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>See the <strong>Building Industry Resources <a href="http://www.buildingsource.net/building_relationships.html">Building Relationships page</a></strong> for July and August dates, and check back for new additions to the calendar.</div>Karen A. Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01880941317079564279noreply@blogger.com0