B.I.R. Building Relationships

Seasons Greetings from Building Industry Resources

2011-12-23T09:20:00.000-05:00

The holiday season and the end of the year bring celebration, reflection and anticipation.

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.

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.

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.

Thank you for your continued support. I look forward to working with you and being your buildingsource for many years to come.

Wishing peace, prosperity and wholeness to you and yours this season and throughout the new year!

Karen A. Davis

Building Industry Resources
@buildingsource
www.buildingsource.net

Viral and Virtual Marketing, '70's Style

2011-12-21T13:13:00.001-05:00

Viral marketing building virtual communities, circa 1971. Coca-Cola had everyone singing their song at Christmas.

Make 2012 a Happy New Year

2011-12-09T15:05:00.001-05:00

2012 is almost here!

Planning your marketing and public relations strategy can set you up for a very happy 2012.

A successful business starts with a detailed plan - moving you from where you are now to where you want to be.

Brainstorm what you want to accomplish for the year.
Develop your brand and value proposition.
Identify market trends, collaborators, and your true target audience.
Determine where your audience is and the best way to reach them.

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.

Don't wait. Start planning for a happy new year here.

Social Media Week iReport

2011-10-21T01:00:00.000-04:00

VaNessa Thompson of www.nessabirdie.com 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 www.style-detroit.com, and Karen A. Davis of Building Industry Resources (me!). The topic was Virtual Communities: pursuing mutual interests, finding consumers for a product or service, encouraging interaction, and issuing calls to action.

Stay tuned for more information on our next meet-up.

Don't Miss an Opportunity - AEC version

2011-10-19T13:02:00.002-04:00

Read the post about finding a spot to watch the Michigan vs. Michigan State football match-up

So what does an empty restauranthave to do with marketing and selling design and constructionservices and products?

Plan Ahead: October is FirePrevention month. Did you tie that in to marketing your services? There was an opportunity to educate on life safety, buildingmaterials, and other aspects of design and construction. There aremany other monthly observances, too. And, trade magazines haveeditorial calendars that describe what their stories will focus oneach month – a chance to pitch your expertise.

Think outside your typical marketingactivities: Where can you position your business so clients canfind you? You attend networking events put on by chambers of commerceand AEC trade organizations, but are you also capitalizing on socialmedia, where many of your potential clients and collaboratorscongregate? Some of the top AEC companies are using Facebook,Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google Places. Prospects can find yourcompetition there – where are you?

Extend Your Reach: Hey, theeconomy has been slow. What non-profits could benefit from yourservices at a reduced rate? Or could you provide consulting oreducation on a particular building topic to an organization who mayneed your services later?

Know your market: Read whatyour clients read. If you provide construction or design services orbuilding 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 industrytrends.

Don't Miss an Opportunity to Fill a Need

2011-10-17T14:45:00.000-04:00

This 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.

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.

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.

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, after the game had started:

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.

Don't miss an opportunity to fill a need!

Plan ahead: Keep a calendar of events and activities where you can market and sell your products and services. Remember this was an annual event.
Think outside your typical marketing activities: 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?
Extend your reach: 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.
Know your market: 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.

6.5 Ways to Build Web Visibility

2010-10-22T11:46:00.006-04:00

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.

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.

Here are 6.5 things to do to make sure you can be found:

1. Google Place listing. 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.

2. Custom Website. 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.

3. Social Media (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.

4. Blogs and articles. 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.

5. Press releases. 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.

6. Online videos and slide presentations. 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.

6.5 Online classifieds. 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.

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.

Please Take Part in Our Survey

2010-10-07T15:29:00.003-04:00

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?

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: http://ow.ly/2QaEU

Be assured, all information will be kept confidential.

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.
Thank you for your participation.

Updated AEC Networking Events for October & November 2010

2010-10-06T12:48:00.002-04:00

It'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.

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.

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 Building Relationships page of our website.

AEC and Real Estate Networking

2010-09-16T12:08:00.003-04:00

Check out the Building Industry Resources website for 40-plus AEC and real estate networking events across the country in September and October. Which will you attend?

Architecture Detour: Palace of Fine Arts - San Francisco

2010-09-03T11:32:00.005-04:00

Recently, 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 Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.

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.

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.

Reconstruction began in 1964 and improvements are still being made today. See my photos below. (Click on the slideshow to enlarge.)

Position Yourself as a Leader in the Design and Building Industry

2010-07-26T13:14:00.003-04:00

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.

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.

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.

Summer Networking

2010-07-09T07:10:00.003-04:00

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.

See the Building Industry Resources Building Relationships page for July and August dates, and check back for new additions to the calendar.

What's the Plan?

2010-07-02T08:03:00.005-04:00

For your design or building industry company to thrive, you must have an active, on-going marketing and public relations plan: a way to get your business name, value proposition, ideas and projects out in public so potential clients know who you are and are aware of your abilities, and so past and current clients will remember you and your positive working relationship.

If your firm is small or mid-sized, you’ve got to put your marketing and P.R. plan in place just as the larger firms do. You may not have the budget to sustain a full-time marketing department, but you can take the time to develop and solidify a plan using traditional and new media methods. The plan can then be implemented incrementally and modified as needed.

Hear the Interview with Kiana Doggan German

2010-06-28T06:47:00.003-04:00

Even if you weren't able to call in to hear the conversation with designer Kiana Doggan German, you can still hear the playback recording. Call 1-218-936-4703 and use the Playback Access Code: 596561

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS Interviews: Kiana Doggan German

2010-06-25T08:35:00.004-04:00

TONIGHT, for the Building Relationships inaugural interview, I will talk with Kiana Doggan German, a design, planning and communications specialist. She'll give us a NeoCon wrap-up, and we'll discuss community environments and blogging. Kiana blogs about interior design at StyleDetroit and her Semiotic Spaces blog presents sustainability, art, design, pop culture, religion and politics from a Detroit perspective.

CALL IN: (218) 936-4700
ACCESS: 875508#

* This call will be recorded so the interview will be available for future listening, Although you won't be able to speak on the call, you must agree to be recorded.

Speaking of Client Concerns: It's About the Little Things

2010-06-24T11:22:00.007-04:00

Yesterday, I discussed how Comcast reassured customers about service compliants by addressing them directly in their commercials. Mel Lester, in his E-quip Blog, tells the story of how his service firm lost a top client, even though they'd just saved the client $20 million. Read his blog post here.

How so? It wasn't due to technical mistakes or cost overruns. They were fired because of the way they dealt with the client: unreturned phone calls, negative comments about the project location, and perceived apathy from the project manager.

Mel gives some tips on how to deal with the "little things" that can be a big deal to the client:

1) Make a list of all of your direct and indirect contact with your clients.

2) Determine how well these encounters go over, and determine where employees need to improve.

3) Get feedback from the client, beginning with the first encounter.

4) Include the client experience at all of your in-house project meetings.

5) Be on the lookout for signals from the client.

Address Client Concerns

2010-06-22T23:20:00.003-04:00

Have you ever taken a day off from work so you could wait all day for a maintenance person to come to your house for a scheduled repair, only to have them stand you up? Do you know what it's like to wait on the phone for what seems to be an eternity to talk with an actual customer service representative when you have a problem?

Comcast, provider of phone, cable and internet services, once had a horrible customer service reputation. Their maintenance people wouldn't show (I know, I've waited). Customers couldn't get a live person on the phone, and their were other complaints.

However, Comcast has started a great advertising and PR campaign to reassure customers and boost their reputation. Their commercials feature employees (or actors posing as employees), addressing typical customer service complaints: you can quickly reach a live person on the phone, repair workers wear shoe covers in your home, you get a credit on your bill if they are late for an appointment. Not only are they reaching Comcast customers, but since there is more competition in the data and communications industry, they could probably win over some customers from their rivals, too.

Survey your clients and prospects to determine if they have any anxiety about the design and building process. Ask them if they've had trouble with service providers in the past. Address your clients concerns and anticipate their fears before they become an issue. Let them know you are listening to them throughout the process.

Always Promote Your Business

2010-06-17T13:52:00.011-04:00

I'd been having problems with my water heater, and I finally got tired of lighting the pilot. My neighbor, who had experienced the same problem, recommended a water heater repairman. The repairman got to my house within 30 minutes and had the problem solved within the next 30 minutes.

Of course as I handed him my check , I explained what I do: help contractors build their businesses. I also gave him a business card and an information piece with a few marketing tips. He then informed me that he was part of a larger plumbers association and invited me to take part in their meetings. We then discussed the importance of networking. You know I'll be following up.

The following may be common sense, but they're worth repeating:

- Always be ready to promote your business, whether or not you're in a business setting.

- Always have your business collateral ready, especially when you're in a networking setting.

- Always be able to articulate what you do.

List 5 Reasons to Hire You

2010-06-15T15:48:00.004-04:00

How many different architecture firms can you name? How about interior design companies, construction companies, design-build firms, real estate professionals, or building products suppliers? Now, how many of them offer the same services (or products) that you do?

With so many service professionals to choose from, how does a prospect differentiate you from your competition? Give potential clients five reasons to choose you:

Identify your niche market - your specialty. You don't have to practice this market exclusively, but you should be able to identify what you're best at.
Identify your prospect's needs and fears, and let them know how you will ease their pain.
Explain your approach to problem solving.
Outline the unique backgrounds and experiences of your employees, focusing on their unique perspective in the building industry, and let prospects know how your employees will be part of the solution.
If I gave $5000 to you and three of your competitors, how would your solution to my problem be different?

To bid, or not to bid

2010-06-10T15:26:00.004-04:00

I’d like your opinion on the issue presented in this article: “USC nixes bids; donor chooses architect.”

Firms spent $100K and months of labor to win a project and USC canceled the bid when the major donor wanted to hand-pick the Architect. Has your firm ever experienced this?

Architects, Contractors, Suppliers and others in the building industry are professional service providers, right? Could you imagine having a medical issue, lining up five doctors, and saying, "Okay, tell me what my problem is, how you're going to solve it, and how much you'll charge, then I'll decide who'll fix me." No, we do our research first, hopefully find the best service provider (medical professional), and pay them for the solution. If we don't like their solution or need clarification, we go pay another service provider for their opinion.

How did our industry get to a place - a place where we're really not trying to move away from - where we give away our hard earned knowledge and skills? Maybe the solution is not to get into a bid situation, but focus to positioning to negotiate a contract.

This may be easier said than done when bidding is still prevalent and in this economic climate, but it could be something firms could work into the business development plan.

Have You Seen the Competition?

2010-06-09T12:40:00.004-04:00

New media makes it easier to follow your competition,- whether they're in the same city, across the country, or around the world - and find out how their running their business and communicating with clients.

1) Go to their website and review every page. What do they offer? How are they communicating their value message? What projects are on the boards, under construction or built? Who are their project partners?

2) Subscribe to their blog. You should know the message they are regularly sending to their audience (and yours).

3) Follow them on Twitter. No only can you see the daily feed, you'll find out who their audience is (followers), who your competition follows, and those you have in common.

4) Check search engines for press releases. Where are the sending their news so it's pushed out to a wider audience?

Crossover Artist

2010-06-03T15:56:00.003-04:00

We see it often in the entertainment industry: actor becomes singer; athlete becomes actor; singer becomes producer; producer becomes music industry mogul.

Why do we in the design and building industry feel that once we choose a career, we’re locked into it for life – destined to do the same thing year after year until we retire? Through your college education, on the job training, years of work experience, volunteering and hobbies, you've gained a host of transferrable skills, and most likely, an insight that others may not have. How can another segment of the building industry - or even a completely different industry - benefit from your experience?

Let People Know Where to Find You

2010-06-02T14:55:00.006-04:00

I know you're using social media sites to promote you business and share information about your field. Let clients and collaborators, friends and relatives know where they can find your content.

Use your e-mail signature as advertising space. Add a link to all of your sites: your website, blog, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and any other pages where your content is featured. Go ahead - the space is yours.

Maximize the space on your business card. Be sure to include all of the sites listed above. Vanity URLs make it easier to type them out. If you're running out of space on the card, eliminate the fax number. (How many faxes do you get a week?)

Sell design clients on the feeling of the space

2010-06-01T09:31:00.003-04:00

When I bought my new home a couple of years ago, I visualized what every inch of space would look like after I put my special touch on the place. Paint colors, furniture, storage, each and every picture on the walls. I especially loved my new living room, flooded with sunlight from the east-facing windows and skylights. I imagined how comforted and invigorated I would feel every morning when I sat in there with a hot cup of coffee, the light bouncing off of the delicious chocolate brown walls.

I’d sold myself on the feeling – the experience – of being in the space. And as creative professionals, the feeling - the experience - is what we should be selling to our clients. We begin our preliminary design and construction meeting asking clients what they want, how they want the space to look, and how the want to experience the space. We do visual studies to invoke a reaction or a decision. We spend a significant amount of time with them before the project begins to find out how the client feels.

Selling the feeling and the experience should continue throughout the entire design and construction process. Keep the final outcome at the forefront of your mind, your client’s mind, and in the agenda of every meeting.

How do you keep your client focused on the final outcome of the project?

Make the Most of Your Summer

2010-05-28T12:03:00.003-04:00

Are you taking the summer off? Your competition isn’t.

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to summer. The sun is shining, it’s hot outside, the grill is fired up, and it’s tempting to take time off, especially if work has slowed in the office, or if the job search doesn’t seem fruitful.

Don’t give in to the temptation! Your colleagues are still out there making connections and making deals. You want to stay ahead of the pack. If money is an issue, here are some low-cost ways to update your skills and market yourself and your business. I’ve listed some of these before, but this is a reminder. Have you done any of them?

1. Update your resume, and be sure to add or modify the information on your social networking sites, too.

2. Make a slide presentation of your resume, a video resume, or both. This can also make it easier for you or your business to be found on search engines.

3. Write an article—or several—for trade magazines. Send copies to potential employers, existing clients and collaborators .

4. You can start an internet blog (weblog) for free. Let your colleagues and clients know where to find it.

5. Correspond with clients and colleagues regularly with an e-newsletter, postcard, or phone call so your name stays in on the tip of their tongue.

6. Learn new skills, software and programs. There are free videos and webinars online.

7. If you don't have a website, build one to showcase your work using slides and videos.

8. Network. Network. Network. There are many free or low-cost live conferences and conventions. Did you know first time members of the AIA and those whose memberships have lapsed 5 years or more who rejoin get free entry to the AIA National Convention in Miami?

Check the Building Industry Resources Building Relationships page for more event listings.

Tell Your Prospects How You Save Them Money

2010-05-06T20:23:00.004-04:00

Passing several gas stations as I drove today, I noticed one had posted a sign with big red letters: “8 CENTS MORE PER GAL. USING DEBIT/CREDIT.”

I thought that when you put a big sign in front of your business, it was supposed to draw people in, not make them pass by the establishment.

When gas prices were continuously increasing, some stations began charging a higher price for use of debit and credit cards than for cash. I understood. They pay a certain percentage to the bank for being able to accept credit or debit, and giving the illusion of charging less for cash could lure more people in.

So the cost for paying with cash for regular petrol is typically the one you see at the top of the sign – the price you read first – and the price for using credit is below. Never have I seen it reversed. So why would anyone hit you with the higher price first? It’s a turn-off.

At a time when people are pinching pennies, let them know how you your services can save them money in the long run. Their time is money. Their research effort is money. Their mistakes – money. Show your prospect the financial benefit of choosing you.

- The financial benefit of choosing you over your competition, whether you’re in a job interview or trying to sign a contract.

- The financial benefit spending a little more time in the pre-design phase before moving on to construction documents.

- The financial benefit of moving forward with the project today rather than waiting a few months.

- The financial benefit ordering the finish material now, not two weeks before it’s scheduled for installation.

Clients like to hear how you can save them money. Showing and telling them how hiring you can give them a higher return on their investment could seal the deal.

Happy Architecture Week!

2010-04-12T11:06:00.006-04:00

If you could visit one architectural landmark or space anywhere in the world where would it be? Comment below or on Building Industry Resources' Facebook or Twitter pages.

There are so many places I’d love to see, but right now I am drawn to Sagrada Familia, the massive cathedral in Barcelona, Spain designed by Antonio Gaudi. The building has been under construction since 1882 and is not expected to be complete until 2026 – 144 years of construction. (And you were angry when the contractor missed your home remodeling deadline by two weeks!) The cathedral will be open for tours and public worship this September. See the Sagrada Familia website and the slideshow below.

I first studied this structure during an Architectural History course in college and was enthralled by the religious symbolism, elaborate detail, and story-telling sculptures. Gaudi based his designs on forms found in nature, as seen in the tree-like supports, vaulting resembling ribs and the bone-like columns, and other elements throughout the building. There are also influences of art nouveau, baroque and cubism styles.

When complete, the cathedral will have 18 towers, three grand façades – the Nativity façade that Gaudi finished himself, the Glory façade, and the Passion façade with sculptures added in 1987 that were very different from those completed by Gaudi.

Read our entire e-newsletter, From the Rooftop

5 Ways to Sabotage Your Success

2010-03-18T11:50:00.002-04:00

1. Don’t develop a plan. There’s no need to write down or organize the steps you will take to make your business successful. When clients call, you can jump right on their project and forgo your administrative duties. Oh wait, you don’t have a strategy to bring in clients, either.

2. Don’t look the part. Your day is free of interviews and client meetings. Drop off the kids at school and go to the coffeehouse looking like you just rolled out of bed. You definitely won’t run into any potential clients while you’re out.

3. Don’t tell people what you do. It’s easier to forward your entire e-mail address book a link to a cute puppy video on YouTube than to send them an introduction of your professional services. You’re on Facebook, but that’s mostly social. You’ve joined LinkedIn, and you’re fine with your profile being only 20% complete. Who’ll see it? Have you even convinced yourself of what you do best?

4. Don’t value your services. Tell your prospects that you can do the work at half the rate of your competition. And certainly don’t expect a retainer. You love what you do, and if you don’t get paid for your education and expertise – no problem. When you’re agonizing over your bills, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing your client is happy.

5. Expect to fail. Continue to tell yourself that the competition is too steep and there are people out there whose work is better than yours. Don’t list your strengths or differentiate yourself from the competition. Don’t implement any of those new ideas you’ve been reading about, because they definitely won’t work for you.

Ensure your success. Resolve to change course, and use the five working days of the next week to do the opposite of the tasks listed above.

One Hour toward Making Your Big Idea Reality

2010-03-04T16:57:00.006-05:00

I’m sure you have lots of ideas: a book to write, a website to create, a business to start. Your list, probably like mine, goes on and on. But how do you move from daydreaming to making that big idea come true. You need a strategy: a well-thought-out process for taking action. Take one hour out of your day to sit down and formulate your plan. That’s right – just one hour will set you on course to making that dream a reality.

Give your big idea a name. If you give your idea a title, you’ll be able to refer to it quickly when describing it to others, when making future plans, or when inviting people to the big event. For instance, if you want to convert your spare bedroom to a home office, call it New Home Office Conversion. (2 minutes)

Describe your idea in one paragraph. Write out what you want to do, why you are doing it, who is affected, how long it should take, where it should take place, and any other pertinent information. I need a new office where I can have peace and quiet and get work done at home. (6 minutes)

Determine the ideal outcome. In another paragraph, spell out how you or other interested parties should feel at the end of the process or event. I’ll have a great new space to work in where I can think without distractions! (6 minutes)

Lay out how you will implement your big idea. Write out five action items to bring the idea to fruition. You may want to work backward from the end result to the beginning of the process. For instance, if you’re planning to make your spare room into an office: Step 1 – Remove all existing furniture from the room. Step 2 – Paint the room. Step 3 – Purchase new furniture and arrange it in the space. Step 4 – Bring in reference books and computer equipment. Step 5 - Enjoy the new space. (25 minutes)

Next to each step, write the following: start date, estimated time to complete, and proposed completion date. Be sure to stick to your dates. Add them to your calendar or list of things to do. (15 minutes)

Get someone to back you up. Call someone – an accountabily partner – and tell them about your plan. Let them know your target completion date, and ask them to check up on you. (5 minutes)

Pat yourself on the back. You’ve put the wheels in motion for realizing your dream. Don’t celebrate too long – you’ve got to put the plan into action. (1 minute)

Follow up. After you complete the process, add any notes that could help things run more smoothly for your next project.

Join the Social Networking Conversation

2010-03-03T17:29:00.006-05:00

THE WORLD HAS CHANGED. HAVE YOU?

Social Networking: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Blogging
- What’s the point of all of this?
- How can I use social networking to promote my business, career or organization?
- Is it really worth my time?

Competition is fierce. Be prepared

Karen A. Davis of Building Industry Resources presents the hands-on 2-hour course:

Join the Social Networking Conversation
Friday, March 19, 2010 or Saturday, March 20, 2010
10:30 a.m.– 12:30 p.m.
Caribou Coffee Meeting Room
31901 Woodward Ave., Normandy Plaza
Royal Oak, MI 48073

REGISTER HERE

Leave the session with:
· Your professional or business presence on four major social networking sites: Blogger, Twitter, Facebook & LinkedIn
· Suggested sites to follow and information to post
· A schedule to follow to maintain your sites

Learn to:
· Broadcast your message to hundreds with just a few clicks
· Advertise your expertise – regularly and for free

Requirements for session:
· Laptop or netbook with wireless Internet access
· Web browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Safari
· Basic knowledge of computer usage and the Internet
· Your digital resume and digital photos (optional)

Class size is small to allow one-on-one assistance with creating presence on your sites. Reserve your place now.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Desktop Brown Bag Lunch: Marketing in 3 Minutes or Less with an Elevator Pitch‏

2010-01-25T12:53:00.004-05:00

Most of us have attended a "Brown Bag" or "Lunch 'n' Learn." Food is provided in your office by the presenter - or you bring your own - and you spend your lunch hour listening to them promote their product or speak to you about a topic related to your profession. Well, at this Brown Bag, you'll provide your own lunch, and spend the hour dedicated to the promotion of your company or career. Building Industry Resources will provide your with the topic, an informational article or slideshow as a guide, and an example to assist you in completing your task. After you read the information, spend the remainder of the time working on your marketing, concentrating on how you will promote YOU or your business. Want feed back? E-mail me at kadavis@buildingsource.net or at the Twitter or Facebook links to the right.

MARKETING IN 3 MINUTES OR LESS: THE ELEVATOR PITCH
By Karen A. Davis

Recently, I attended ACE’10 (Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. There were workshops and exhibitors, and of course, many professionals with whom to meet and network. One of the highlights of the evening (along with the delicious brownies) was the Elevator Pitch Competition.

Elevator Pitch Competitions are quite popular now. If you Google the phrase, you’ll find pages of competitions to enter. An elevator pitch gives the listener an overview of your product, service, or business idea in, typically, 30 to 60 seconds (although, the ones I heard at ACE’10 were three minutes long). The business owner delivering the pitch may be wooing a potential client or may need financing from an investor for start-up or business building.

The elevator pitches presented at ACE’10 were given by six business people, each the CEO or COO of their respective technology, environmental or medical-based businesses. They presented their speeches on stage to a panel of four judges – all venture capitalists – and an audience of nearly 1000 people.

What would you say if you met a potential client or employer in an elevator? How would you define your business in 60 seconds if you were in front of an audience of potential investors or clients? The opportunity for you to showcase your business and qualifications to one person or millions occurs every day – at the coffee shop, the grocery store, a networking event, or through Internet social networking.

Who is your target client? Who could benefit from your services or skill as an employee? Your elevator pitch should be brief – you only have a few seconds to capture and keep the attention of your audience. What is their problem, and how will you solve it? Your solution should be unique. And, finally, request a follow-up meeting to go into more detail about your business solution.

An elevator pitch can benefit you in five ways:
1. It allows you to develop your brand, defining your business in a descriptive, concise manner.
2. It defines who you are and the services and solutions you offer to your target audience.
3. It also confirms your brand identity in your mind. When you repeat it over and over again to yourself in the mirror in the morning and throughout the day, you become more confident as a professional and service provider.
4. It forces you to set yourself apart. As you develop it, highlight how your services differ from your competition’s.
5. Your concise message is then packaged for easier word-of-mouth transmission. Those who hear your business ideas or service offerings can pass them on to others.

YOUR TASK: Develop a two to three minute elevator pitch, and then extract 30-second, 60-second, and 90-second pitches that can be used to introduce yourself to a potential client or employer.

So, here’s my two-minute-and-20-second pitch:

My name is Karen A. Davis, and my business, Building Industry Resources, will encourage and assist you and your firm to reach your full potential. We consult exclusively with building industry professionals – architects, interior designers, builders and contractors, real estate and facilities professionals, and product manufacturing representatives – offering services to build business and promote collaboration across disciplines.

As a small- to medium-sized building industry firm, you need someone dedicated to promoting and building your business, freeing up your time so you can do what you love. Our services include:

Building Intelligence by keeping you abreast of the competition, project leads, products and materials information, and news that affect your business.

Building Support by assisting with non-core business operations and providing design, technical and documentation support services, including CAD.

Building Relationships by scouting networking and partnering opportunities, developing strategic marketing plans, and utilizing traditional and web-based communications for business development and public relations.

With over 20 years experience in architecture, construction, and facilities, I am privileged to have been on the architectural teams for some very prestigious projects – including corporate facilities, sports and entertainment, healthcare and multi-family residential project types – and I provided interior design and construction documentation for the largest building project in the U.S. to date. My direct experience in the industry and as an educator and entrepreneur has given me a unique perspective to the needs of the sole proprietor and small- to medium-sized business owner. I love encouraging people to do their best and fulfill their dreams.

Is your business all that you’ve dreamed it would be? Do you have the luxury of choosing your projects? Have you formally introduced yourself to potential clients and to the world? Are you taking advantage of the nearly-free publicity available to promote your business?

Building Industry Resources can be your marketing manager, publicist, and business coach. Now, tell me about you and your company.

Post your elevator speech on the Building Industry Resources wall on Facebook.

10 Steps to Successful Business Year

2010-01-08T14:28:00.007-05:00

A new year causes most of us to stop and reflect on past successes and failures and what we want to accomplish in the next 12 months. You may have New Year’s resolutions or on-going goals. Honestly assessing your position in your field and thinking strategically about your where you want your business or career to be at year’s end will move you towards the goals you have for this year and beyond. The following ten steps will assist you in creating a written guide to follow throughout the year.

1. Review your goals from last year. Which did you meet and which ones did you miss? Decide goals that should be carried over into this year, and the ones that can be put aside for later or disregarded altogether.

2. What challenges or obstacles did you encounter last year? List how you dealt with them and the outcomes – whether you were successful or not – and how you will avoid them in the future.

3. Define your passion. What do you really want to be doing? Are you doing it, or is your current career or business taking you in the direction of your dream? If not, how can you reconcile what you are doing now with what you want to do?

4. Define your ideal client: What do they look like? Where do they live or work? How much money do they have to spend? What type of project will they present you with? What will your working relationship be like?

5. Research your competition – their clients, service offerings, and pricing – especially your number one competitor.

6. Define where your business will be in the next year. This, along with Step 7, will probably be the longest part of the process. Take some time to visualize how your company or career will look. Walk through a typical day. Outline the financials. Determine how you want to feel on December 31st.

7. Outline the steps to make your goals for the next year a reality based on your plans from Step 6. Begin with a general outline, and then get more detailed, developing a monthly worksheet or guide.

8. Make sure all of your marketing and public relations materials are consistent with the message you want to promote over the next year. Your business cards, brochures, website, and social networking sites should communicate your brand.

9. Identify three ways to meet and engage the clients described in Step 4. Define the meeting location. Work on an appealing opening line and your elevator pitch, and describe how you can meet their needs.

10. Find an accountability partner – someone who you know will hold you responsible and will question you throughout the year to make sure you follow through with your goals and objectives.

Thank You & Happy Holidays

2009-12-24T09:31:00.001-05:00

In this season of celebration, I just wanted to express my appreciation for your support of Building Industry Resources. This year has brought new relationships and opportunities to connect and share information with thousands of professionals in a variety of ways. Whether you read our newsletters or blog, attended one of our workshops, downloaded our resource materials, emailed, connected on social networking sites, called, or contracted our services, communicating and working with you is truly a blessing.

Thank you! You are the reason Building Industry Resources exists – to encourage and assist you in achieving your business and career goals, empowering you to be the best.

Although this past year brought challenges to many, I am excited to think of the possibilities of 2010. The New Year promises new beginnings, innovation, and creative collaboration. Let’s look forward to an increase in projects, new partnerships, and business-building opportunities.

Wishing you peace, joy, great memories, and dreams fulfilled this holiday season and throughout the New Year!

Karen A. Davis
Building Industry Resources

Articles and Blog Posts for Building Industry Professionals to Write

2009-12-11T11:54:00.012-05:00

As the New Year approaches, I’m sure you are re-evaluating business goals, strategizing to increase business, and readying yourself to welcome new clients as they request your services. You can utilize article writing to tell your story, define your service offerings, and market your business.

Resolve to position yourself as an expert in the building industry this coming year by writing articles and posting them on your website or to a blog. Let people know who you are and how you operate. Make yourself and your firm completely accessible to your clients and prospects, informing them of how you got to be where you are and why you are the right professional to meet their needs and solve their problems.

Here are topics to help you get started (two to four months worth of blogging):

16 Articles and Blog Posts for Architects & Interior Designers to Write

16 Articles and Blog Posts for Contractors & Builders to Write

16 Articles and Blog Posts for Facility Professionals to Write

16 Articles and Blog Posts for Real Estate Professionals to Write

16 Articles and Blog Posts for Building Products Manufacturers and Distributors to Write

As you complete your articles, send me a link at kadavis@buildingsource.net, and I’ll share them with my network.

Building Industry Resources can help your write, market, promote and distribute your blog and articles. We also work with you to build your business. See How We Help You and then Contact Us here or e-mail kadavis@buildingsource.net

16 Articles and Blog Posts for Building Products Manufacturers and Distributors to Write

2009-12-11T11:24:00.001-05:00

1. Why did you choose to manufacture, distribute or represent your particular product?
2. Why should an architect or designer specify your product?
3. When did you determine that you product was not best suited for a project?
4. How do you collaborate with other building industry professionals on a project?
5. What or who inspires you?
6. Describe the best application or use of your product and where it is located.
7. Describe the best project you ever worked on.
8. Describe the project you are most proud of.
9. Give advice to those considering the application or use of your product.
10. Describe the relationship between product suppliers and designers or contractors and how the relationship can be improved to better serve the end-user.
11. What trends do you foresee for the design and building industry for the next five or 10 years?
12. What are the trends for your niche market for the next five to 10 years?
13. What makes you a leader in your niche market?
14. What organizations do you volunteer with and why?
15. Write a summary of the last workshop or conference you attended.
16. Describe your “aha” moment – the moment that changed your career.

16 Articles and Blog Posts for Real Estate Professionals to Write

2009-12-11T11:01:00.001-05:00

1. How did you decide to become a real estate professional?
2. What or who inspires you?
3. How do you ensure good customer service?
4. How do you choose your clients?
5. Give advice to your clients and prospects to make for a smoother relationship.
6. What professions would make good business partners for sharing contacts and why.
7. Describe the best real estate transaction you ever conducted.
8. Describe the real estate transaction you are most proud of.
9. Give advice to those entering the real estate profession.
10. Give advice to improve the real estate profession or the building industry as a whole?
11. What trends do you foresee in real estate for the next five or 10 years?
12. What are the trends for your niche market for the next five to 10 years?
13. What makes you a leader in your niche market?
14. What organizations do you volunteer with and why?
15. Write a summary of the last workshop or conference you attended.
16. Describe your “aha” moment – the moment that changed your career.

16 Articles and Blog Posts for Facility Professionals to Write

2009-12-11T10:57:00.002-05:00

1. How did you come to be a facility professional?
2. How do you collaborate with other building industry professionals on a project?
3. What or who inspires you?
4. How do you ensure good customer service?
5. Give advice to your clients to create a smoother relationship.
6. Give advice to other service providers to create a smoother relationship.
7. Write a review of your favorite building or space.
8. Describe the best project you ever worked on.
9. Describe the project you are most proud of.
10. How did your firm or department improve the operation of any particular facility over the last 12 months?
11. Give advice to those entering the facilities profession.
12. Give advice to improve the facilities profession or the building industry as a whole?
13. What trends do you foresee in facility management for the next five or 10 years?
14. What organizations do you volunteer with and why?
15. Write a summary of the last workshop or conference you attended.
16. Describe your “aha” moment – the moment that changed your career.

16 Articles and Blog Posts for Contractors & Builders to Write

2009-12-11T10:47:00.005-05:00

1. Why did you become a builder or contractor?
2. How do you collaborate with other building industry professionals on a project?
3. What or who inspires you?
4. Write a review of your favorite building or space built by someone else.
5. Write a review of your favorite building or space built or worked on by you.
6. Describe the best project you ever worked on.
7. Describe the project you are most proud of.
8. Give advice to those entering the construction industry.
9. Describe the relationship between contractors and materials suppliers and how it can be improved to better serve the end-user.
10. What trends do you foresee for the construction industry for the next five or 10 years?
11. What are the trends for your niche market in construction for the next five to 10 years?
12. What makes you a leader in your niche market?
13. Describe your hobbies and how they may relate to the construction industry.
14. What organizations do you volunteer with and why?
15. Write a summary of the last workshop or conference you attended.
16. Describe your “aha” moment – the moment that changed your career.

16 Articles and Blog Posts for Architects & Interior Designers to Write

2009-12-11T10:40:00.003-05:00

1. Why did you become an architect or interior designer?
2. Who is your favorite designer or architect?
3. What or who inspires you?
4. Write a review of your favorite building or space designed by someone else.
5. Write a review of your favorite building or space designed by you.
6. Describe the best project you ever worked on.
7. Describe the project you are most proud of.
8. Give advice to those entering the architecture and interior design profession.
9. Give advice to improve the architecture or interior design fields, or the building industry as a whole.
10. What trends do you foresee for architecture or interior design for the next five or 10 years?
11. What are the trends for your niche market for the next five to 10 years?
12. What makes you a leader in your niche market?
13. Describe your hobbies and how they may relate to architecture or interior design.
14. What organizations do you volunteer with and why?
15. Write a summary of the last workshop or conference you attended.
16. Describe your “aha” moment – the moment that changed your career.

Pre-Qualify Your Prospects

2009-11-12T14:22:00.004-05:00

When business slows and funds are trickling in, it’s tempting to just take the next project that comes along to keep operations flowing. But will that project be worth your time and effort? Do some planning before accepting just any client or project that comes calling.

- What are the characteristics of your ideal client? Think back to those clients with whom you have enjoyed working in the past.

- What’s your ideal project? For instance, if your focus has been on educational design, you may not want to take on a residential remodel.

- What is your work style? If you have a short attention span, reconsider that year-and-a-half-long project (unless you can get yourself to think of it as several smaller projects). You don’t want to get bored and end up giving your client less than your best.

- How do you relate to people? Say you’ve determined that the prospect who calls several times a day will turn into the client who asks for daily progress reports. If you’re not a good hand-holder, maybe you should consider referring that prospect to someone else.

Resolve that it is okay to keep a list of business partners to whom you can refer prospects if you don’t think they’ll be a good fit for you. Your partners should do the same for you.

Is pursuing that project worth the effort?

2009-11-09T13:00:00.003-05:00

It’s a money-making (and saving) Monday.

Have you ever considered how much it costs you to pursue a client before an agreement is signed and before the actual project begins? Consider the following to save time and money and avoid frustration:

- Determine the average number of meetings – including phone meetings – it takes before you sign an agreement. Can the number be reduced?

- Ask your prospect if they are qualifying other professionals for the job. If they are, ask for names and research your competition so you can position yourself as the best candidate.

- Prepare a list of questions to determine if your prospect is really ready to begin their project.

- Explore ways to win the project without providing work product (sketches, cost estimates, etc.) before signing an agreement.

Do-it-yourself Career Tactics

2009-10-27T12:23:00.008-04:00

I’ve met lots of good people lately. Good, talented, hard-working people who are looking for jobs or consulting opportunities, and some who may have temporarily thrown in the towel.

In the face of lay-offs, downsizing, unemployment and underemployment, a professional has to continue to move forward – and that means setting the wheels in motion to create his or her own career opportunities.

What services do you offer? Tell everyone you know. If they can’t use them at the time, they may know someone who can. (Send me an e-mail at kadavis@buildingsource.net so I know, too.)

Network and keep in contact with positive people, sharing and trading ideas. Yesterday, I had coffee with my friend, interior designer Kiana Doggan-German. Our meeting generated ideas for collaboration, not only between the two of us, but also for the larger building industry community. You’ll hear more about that shortly.

Here are five articles that provide more strategies for opening the opportunity pipeline:

1) You are your best brand advocate

2) Are you communicating your career brand?

3) They tell you you’re over-qualified. Here’s a solution.

4) Tell your network what you need

5) 8 Ways to Stay Marketing-minded During a Recession

Presentation: Social Networking for the Building Industry

2009-10-19T16:35:00.006-04:00

A little over a week ago, I had the opportunity to present the workshop, Social Networking for the Building Industry, at the National Organization of Minority Architects Conference in St. Louis, MO. The presentation, below, outlines: reasons building industry professionals and firms should utilize social media sites; an overview of social media sites utilized by the building industry; principles for social networking success; creating a social media strategy to fit with traditional marketing methods; and engaging potential clients and collaborators.

Thanks to the NOMA Conference Planning Committee for selecting the Building Industry Resources presentation to be included at the Conference.

Social Networking For The Building Industry

View more documents from Building Industry Resources.

The Bottom Line: Finding Work

2009-09-29T12:44:00.006-04:00

Get complimentary access to the Building Intelligence section of the Building Industry Resources site.

The news is reporting it, and if you do a little research, you will find signs: the economy seems to be in an upturn, albeit ever so subtly. With the amount of information that comes our way daily, it may be difficult to find the projects relevant to our targeted segments and markets of the building industry.

Building Industry Resources has sifted through websites, magazines, newsletters and other media to compile a list of recent articles: who’s designing, who’s building, who’s developing, and who’s selling and leasing. You need to know where the work is in the building industry; who is getting it done, and how you can get a piece of it. One of our goals is inform you of potential projects and provide you with the information you need to build your business and cultivate new relationships.

Retailers are expanding. Some cities are growing, and there is work in hospitality, transportation and other industries. We’ve listed reference articles and the location of projects by state. There are also useful articles to help run your business, and professionals and firms who’ve made significant moves in the industry.

What do you do with the information once you retrieve it? Look at it inquisitively. Mine the articles for the possibility of a new contact, a new market to research, or consider going the extra step to make one more phone call to find out if there is any work available on an upcoming project. If you don’t have the time, contact Building Industry Resources. We’re here to assist you in your business development efforts.

See the most recent Building Intel list here. We invite your feedback: What other information would you like to see? What would help you get leads and build relationships? Let us know if this information is useful and what else we can do to help you build business.

The How's and Why's of Blogging

2009-07-28T11:12:00.007-04:00

I'm a big proponent of social media. You probably know that already. And one of the best and least expensive ways to promote yourself and your business is through blogging. What is blogging, and what is a blog? Well, you're reading one. Blog is the abbrieviated form of "weblog," an on-going written journal of your thoughts on a particular subject.

When promoting your business, you want to present yourself as the expert in your particular field. What do you know better than anyone else about real estate, or construction, or design? Blogging allows you to present your expertise in an open forum to thousands or millions of people. As you surf the Internet and read articles, you can share the information, and your commentary, with your readers through links in your blog (This is also another way to make contacts; other writers appreciate you passing on their information.)

Keeping a steady flow of ideas and maintaining a blog can be difficult and time-consuming, but plan to update it regularly - maybe bi-weekly at first, then weekly or more often. Jot down topics you'd like to address. Create an outline of ideas for your posts. Follow other blogs related to your profession for inspiration. Copyblogger, a blog dedicated to writing for marketing success, has compiled "73 Ways to Become a Better Writer." It just takes time, persistence, focus, and imagination.

Business writers, Seth Godin and Tom Peters, present their reasons for blogging in the video below. Tom, who has authored over 10 books, says "... no single thing has been more important to my life... professionally, than blogging. It has changed my life..." It's a great marketing tool, and it's free. (For Bloggging and Marketing Coaching and Consulting, contact me at kadavis@buildingsource.net.)

Using Competitions as a Marketing Tool

2009-07-10T11:26:00.012-04:00

By Karen A. Davis

“… for someone who is young and who has no experience, the only way to get big projects is through competitions.” Bernard Tschumi

There are hundreds of design and construction competitions sponsored by various trade magazines, professional organizations and industry groups. Maybe you have never entered a competition or it’s been years since you have. Consider including competitions in the overall marketing strategy for your company. If you’re short on client projects, or even if you have ample workflow, entering a competition is a low-cost way to promote your name, explore new ideas, and motivate you to try new project types.

Competitions can inspire and offer an opportunity to be more imaginative. Your current projects may have very tight budgets, or your creativity may be stifled by the requirements of your client. A competition can be a design exercise – or a charrette – for you and your employees. Think back to those “open-ended” projects you had in college – no funding restraints, loose client requirements, and a little time to dream.

Once you enter the competition, the design can be included in your portfolio to highlight your capability in that particular niche. Does your body of work have a high concentration of office projects, but you would like to work more in hospitality? A competition sponsored by a hospitality design magazine can allow you to sharpen and show your skills in that market segment.

Utilize competitions as cost-effective marketing tools. They typically have no or relatively low-cost entry fees, and are an excellent way to get your work in published. In most cases, even runners-up get their name listed as an honorable mention. Once published, reprints and press releases can be sent to clients and potential business partners.

Plan ahead to include competitions as part of your annual marketing efforts. Create a calendar of upcoming calls for entry, including registration dates, binder requirements, and submission deadlines.

Bernard Tschumi, quoted at the beginning of this article, won the 2001 competition and commission for the New Acropolis Museum in Athens Greece. Tschumi estimates that he wins one out of four competitions he enters. Learn a few of his strategies in the Architect magazine article “Playing to Win.”

© Copyright – Karen A. Davis. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Side Note: CSI Student Competition Winning Entry

2009-06-25T15:37:00.004-04:00

See CSI's video of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville's winning entry from the Segway Shelter Student Competition at the Construct Show, June 2009. Samuel Barringer, Lauretta Cocke & Nathan Kocaj designed the shelter.

Side Note: Segway Shelter Competition at the Construct Show

2009-06-24T14:50:00.001-04:00

The Segway Personal Transporter has many uses. Segway is marketing its PT's for use on guided tours of local attractions and for commuting.

As part of the Construct Show & CSI Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana last week, the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) sponsored a student competition: design a Segway shelter for use along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. The Cultural trail "connects neighborhoods, Cultural Districts and entertainment amenities, and serves as the downtown hub for the entire central Indiana greenway system."

Using a standard kit of parts, college and university students were to design a safe, secure, weather-resistant enclosure where guests could leave their transporter on the trail for hours at a time. Students were then to build the shelter over two days of the Show.

See the entries below.

2009-06-24T14:45:00.003-04:00

Segway Shelter Competition: Oklahoma State University Entry

2009-06-24T14:42:00.002-04:00

Segway Shelter Competition: University of Tennessee Entry

2009-06-24T14:33:00.004-04:00

Segway Shelter Competition: Indiana University/ Purdue University Entry 2

2009-06-24T14:15:00.004-04:00

Segway Shelter Competition: Indiana University/ Purdue University Entry 1

2009-06-24T14:06:00.003-04:00

Segway Shelter Competition: University of Memphis Entry

Moving Past No

2009-06-04T14:24:00.004-04:00

by Karen A. Davis

I just began reading I’ve Seen a Lot of Famous People Naked, and They’ve Got Nothing on You! by personal trainer to the stars, Jake Steinfeld. In his book, he talks about his relationship with director, Steven Spielberg, and I discovered something new: Steven Spielberg was declined admission to both the University of Southern California and UCLA film schools. (He was turned down by USC three times.)

A few pages into the book Jake says of his friend, “Sure he’s brilliant and talented, but like the rest of us, he struggled until he found his niche and his genius was recognized.”

Well, most of us know how the story progressed. Spielberg became such a great filmmaker that USC had to take notice, and the university awarded him an honorary degree in 1994.

We view celebrities’ lives through the mainstream media’s filter, and typically what we see is the result of years of diligent, hard work. Sure, some have it easy and quickly rise to fame, but in most cases they are the ones who fall the hardest. For those whose careers endure, conventional media doesn’t really show us the struggle: the planning, reworking of the plan, the closed doors, and the tears when things don’t happen as expected. What we see is the end of the movie, or the beginning of the sequel – how it all turns out after the plans fall into place.

Whether you’ve been let go from a job, moving into a new career, working to get your own company off the ground, or if your long-standing business is experiencing lean times because of the current economy, stay focused on your strengths. Make sure you have solid goals and objectives in place for the job hunt or for developing new business for your office. If you’re working from an old plan, take it out and revise it, recognizing that the methods you used a year or two ago may be outdated.

Determine your niche: the place where you fit – and thrive – in your field. Are you defining your position, or are you letting someone else do it for you? Determine what you do best, work to make yourself the best in your niche, and promote your craft every chance you get. When you move yourself to the top, your audience will have no other choice but to recognize you as the best.

© Copyright – Karen A. Davis. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Reach Beyond Your Contact List

2009-05-22T12:01:00.006-04:00

Live networking is key to building your business. You must establish new relationships and put yourself in the right places at the right times in order to position yourself for the upturn in the economy.

It's important to reach outside of your current contact list and explore new resources for networking. Architects, attend an Engineering convention. Construction professionals, try a Real Estate trade show. 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.

Building Industry Resources has compiled a listing of upcoming conferences, trade shows and other events where you can meet building industry professionals, network, and expand your reach throughout the industry. Get your free networking guide: Building Relationships 2009

Make More When the Marketplace Says Less

2009-05-05T10:31:00.005-04:00

Have you taken a day to look at the total situation of your business? Look at the big picture and identify all opportunities - not just for you, but also for your clients. Sales guru, Jeffrey Gitomer, says, "Write down what you intend to do to help the customer, do more business with the customer, gain more referrals from the customer, and make the relationship with the customer a financially rewarding one." Read his article here.

Build Your Network and Market Your Business with Twitter

2009-05-01T11:19:00.014-04:00

I have a short attention span. I skip to the end of a book to find out the ending, and it’s difficult for me to sit through movies. I often tell friends and family, “When you tell me a story, just give me the highlights.” Maybe that’s why Twitter is currently my favorite social networking site. I can get the gist of what a person wants to say in 140 characters or less (including spaces).

Marketing and business promotion have changed; you can’t just build your website, put it out in cyberspace, and hope customers will come. You should be building relationships, participating in discussions and conversions, and helping people solve problems. Twitter is a medium for all of that, and you can use it to drive traffic to your website.

Why use Twitter?
Twitter is free and simple. You can reach hundreds in just a few clicks and point clients in your direction, all in a few minutes per day.

(See, you just got loads of information in 138 characters.)

Who’s on Twitter?
No, it’s not just celebrities. Organizations and publications you know use it, too, including: ASID, Big Builder magazine, ENR, Architectural Record, Professional Remodeler, Newsweek, and the National Building Museum. And you know what? They’re following me! That means whenever I post a new article I’ve written or twitter about a project I’m working on or what I’m teaching my students, those posts come up on their Twitter feed.

There are also real estate agents and developers, architects, interior designers, builders, sustainability specialists, attorneys, magazine editors and other professionals in the building industry who share their expertise with a short post. Most often, each person’s profile (160 characters or fewer) provides a link to a website which can provide a way to contact him or her.

Who to follow?
You don’t have to listen to (read) all of the Twitter chatter; choose who you want to follow. Upon registering, you can see anyone’s followers or whom they are following. Start by following me at www.twitter.com/buildingsource (or as you might see it abbreviated @buildingsource). I typically do not follow anyone who does not post a profile, so click on a photo and find out a little about someone who intrigues you. You’ll find that I am mainly following people in the building industry, some marketing folks, a couple of news sites, and a few just for fun (like @cookbook who tweets recipes in 140 characters or less).

Once you choose a few from those on my page, select from the ones they are following. You’ll soon discover that you’ll gain followers because many are doing the same routine that you are. Also, try We Follow, a Twitter directory site that categorizes Twitter users and ranks them by number of followers.

What to post?
Post items of interest to those in the industry in general or those within your niche. What articles are you reading online? Tweet a link with an interesting introduction. What are you working on? Do a feed of the process of completing the project. Post your portfolio. Trying to sell a property? Tweet it. Got advice for colleagues or clients in your niche? Do a series of tips. Post a link to your blog.

From a conference or trade show, tweet information on the workshops you attend and the vendors and professionals you meet (they’ll appreciate the publicity, too).

Remember, as with all social networking, you should actively participate. Comment on the posts. If someone asks a question and you have the answer, respond, or try to refer him or her to someone who might be able to help. Share your professional experiences. Congratulate people on well-written articles or a creative online portfolio.

Schedule Your Twitter time
Finally, don’t try to read the entire feed coming onto your page; it can be overwhelming. Just take a few minutes each day and scan your page for helpful and interesting information. If you feel you’ve missed something valuable from someone you like to follow, put in their Twitter URL and check their profile.

Twitter can be a useful and productive method for promoting your services. Log on, be sure to complete your profile (with picture or logo), and start networking.

© Copyright – Karen A. Davis. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

AIA Convention Goes Virtual

2009-04-29T11:30:00.007-04:00

The American Institute of Architects 2009 National Convention and Design Exposition begins Thursday, April 30th in San Francisco, CA with the focus on "The Power of Diversity: Practice in a Complex World." If you want to attend and have not registered, there will be on-site registration beginning April 28th at noon.

If you can't make it to San Francisco, there are a variety of ways that you can keep up with the happenings at the convention online:

1) Architectural Record's web editor, William Hanley, has dedicated a Twitter stream to the AIA Convention. Follow his reports at www.twitter.com/WilliamHanley

2) Receive daily updates on all the convention events from educational sessions to parties by signing up for the Architectectural Record WebInsider e-newsletter. Find the link on the ArchRecord site.

3) Attend the convention from the comfort of your home, office or classroom. Register for the AIA Virtual Convention here. It's free! Get daily keynote addresses, attend continuing education programs (and, yes, you get AIA/CEU credits), and virtually visit the exhibitors.

Marketing Lessons from the Domino's Incident

2009-04-20T08:30:00.004-04:00

To avoid a public relations disaster, Domino's Pizza responded quickly to a negative video posted by two now former employees. The Detroit Free Press lists what companies can do to respond effectively to negative publicity:

Closely monitor social media

Responded quickly and at sites where action can be taken virally

Educate company workers

Foster a positive corporate culture

Set clear guidelines for employee behavior during working hours

See Domino's video in response to the employees' actions

Maximizing Social Networking for the Building Industry – Part 2

2009-04-15T12:23:00.004-04:00

by Karen A. Davis

Social networking is a productive method for meeting colleagues in your field or across the many professions of the building industry. Since reading part one, I hope you’ve developed your plan to increase your presence on the networking sites and updated your profile with professional information and a few personal items, too.

The next step is to make your presence known to potential business partners and clients. When attending a live networking event, you introduce yourself to people in the room and join the discussions taking place. You’ll do the same when you network online.

Don’t be a wallflower, but don’t wave around the business card, either.
Participate in conversations, and start your own. If you say things people want to hear, they’ll join you. As in live networking, the more engaging you are, the more people will gather to hear what the buzz is about in your corner. And, as in live conversations, you have to listen - actively.

Join groups within your chosen networks. LinkedIn and Facebook both have numerous sites for architects, real estate and facilities professionals, designers, and builders. Consider joining discussion groups related to your hobbies also. You never know when someone there might need your professional knowledge. If you haven’t found a group that addresses topics you’d like to discuss, you can start your own.

When you make your way to a discussion group, don’t just jump in and say, “I want to connect with businesses.” Well, isn’t that really why we’re all here? And don’t just post stuff about your company. Like I said in part one, nobody cares about your business unless you can help solve a problem they’re having. Participate in discussions, responding to questions that are asked, sharing your expertise and experiences, or offering to direct people to the right answer. Many times people will post an award or article in which they’ve been featured. Don’t just read it. Congratulate them on a job well done.

Feel free to ask questions. I’ve found that fellow group members are quite open and honest about matters of business and are willing to share their knowledge. Post links to interesting articles that you’ve read or written, and comment on how the information can benefit others. Again, actively participate, and people will find you.

Use your online connections to schedule offline meetings.
Keep a calendar of upcoming building industry events and network online with people who might attend. You can make plans to meet them at conferences, workshops and tradeshows. You’ll already have something to talk about when you get there, and you can discuss potential employment or business ventures. You can also create your own offline meetings in your area through Meetup.com.

Get a grip and manage your time wisely.
Be careful with social media. It’s easy to be drawn in and have it consume a good amount of your time and attention. You don’t want to belong to so many sites and groups that you can’t keep up. Just as you may schedule time to read and respond to e-mail, it’s also a good idea to plan your networking time. You still have projects and deals (with live clients attached) to tend to and complete in a timely manner.

My series on social networking for the building industry will continue, and I will devote separate articles to the sites on which I’m most active: Twitter, Google Blogger, LinkedIn, Facebook and Ning. I’ll also explore other social media sites, discovering how they can be a useful resource for collaboration among architects, designers, builders and real estate professionals.

© Copyright – Karen A. Davis. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Maximizing Social Networking for the Building Industry – Part 1

2009-04-09T12:00:00.005-04:00

by Karen A. Davis

You’re getting acquainted with the social networking scene. Maybe you’ve signed up for accounts on LinkedIn, FriendFeed or BrightFuse. You may have even made a few friends on Facebook or started following people on Twitter. “But,” you ask, as so many do, “what’s the point in all of this? How can I use social networking and its numerous sites – with new ones popping up every day – to promote my business? Is it really worth my time?”

Since I began networking online, I’ve connected with several colleagues I may have never met otherwise. I live in the Midwest, and I now communicate regularly with building industry professionals across the country. Sure, it’s possible that we would eventually cross paths at a conference, trade show or workshop, but social networking provides additional media for meeting and sharing ideas. It’s a way to learn from other designers, builders, and real estate professionals, sharing information across the industry. It’s also a convenient method for keeping in contact with clients and informing them of the work you are doing, while positioning yourself as an expert in your niche of the building industry.

If you’ve only dipped your toe in the sea of social networking sites, or if you want to take full advantage of the accounts you’ve opened and increase your exposure, let’s get started:

Draw up your plan.
We’re in the building industry. We know that if we don’t have a blueprint to follow, things can go wrong quickly. So plan your “course of attack” to determine how you will participate in all of the social networking conversations going on out there. The first thing you’ll most likely discover: you don’t have enough time or energy to participate in every conversation. Choose the sites you can devote real, quality attention to.

Decide the image you want to project. Who is your target audience: your clients or others working in your field? Visit the various networking sites, and you’ll find that there are many of our building industry friends sharing information. Do you see conversations in which you can participate? If not, you can start discussions and draw others in. Remember, one of the main goals of social media is to build relationships.

What will I say?
Introduce yourself, sharing business and personal information. Personal information? Honestly, nobody really cares about your business unless you can help with a problem they’re having. But, generally, people love to get personal tidbits. (Come on, you know you glance at those tabloids in the checkout line at the grocery store.)

You’ll want to start by building your profile on every site on which you participate. Forget the chronological resumes. Start with an “elevator speech.” If you only had a couple of minutes to tell someone about your business, how would you describe it – succinctly? Make it intriguing, and include a bit about how you can make a potential client’s life easier. You want to draw people onto your site, your blog or your networking page. Sprinkle in a few personal notes: hobbies, kids, pets, funny habits. Give your audience something to relate to, but be selective and don’t be gauche – it’s still business.

Don’t forget to add a picture. What would it be like to attend a live networking event and everyone wore a mask? We’re networking here and we want to see the person with whom we’re communicating.

Now, develop your blueprint for success, and tweak those profiles. Part two will continue with “Don’t be a wallflower, but don’t wave around the business card, either.” Also, watch for separate articles devoted to the sites on which I’m most active: Twitter, Google Blogger, LinkedIn, Facebook and Ning, as well as other social media sites.

© Copyright – Karen A. Davis. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Selfless Success

2009-03-24T09:38:00.003-04:00

Being selfless is a good for business and life. See: http://www.cofebuz.com/2009/03/19/be-selfless/

Marketing Strategies that Work... and Some that Don't

2009-03-18T04:13:00.003-04:00

Remodeling magazine posed some tough questions in a series of articles to ten remodelers across the country. Included in the interview were question about marketing strategies. The panel listed grassroots efforts, social networking, and face-to-face interaction as marketing strategies that are currently working for their companies. And they said direct mail, lead-gen services, print ads were among the marketing efforts that are not producing.

5 Keys to Selling Your Services

2009-02-16T10:38:00.008-05:00

Here’s some insight to an online building industry video I viewed recently. Builder magazine editorial director, Boyce Thompson, interviewed William Kraeger, principal at Mithun, on how the architecture firm sells its clients on sustainable design. This interview was only two minutes and 40 seconds, but it spoke volumes about marketing professional services, whether green building or some other market niche. Here are five key points from the brief segment:

1. Study the trends. Mithun foresaw that the housing industry and the country were moving toward urbanity, innovation and sustainability. In business, it’s vital that you monitor the pulse of your industry, understanding what’s valuable to the majority of your clients, and paying attention to the work of your colleagues and competition.

2. Find a niche you can believe in. Mithun decided to focus only on sustainable, contemporary work. It was a market they studied, one in which they excelled, and something in which they wanted all of their employees to take part.

3. Stick to your guns. Even though some of Mithun’s clients were not yet ready to hop on the green building bandwagon, the design firm did not compromise their mission. Leaving the lines of communication open, clients were informed that they could call the firm when they were ready to move forward with sustainable ideas.

4. Get clients to market for you. After moving into a newly constructed Seattle residential project designed by Mithun, owners were so pleased with their new homes that they began blogging about living there and inviting their friends to move, too. Satisfied customers pass on good news.

5. Never stop learning. Kraeger says that this is an “exciting, intimidating, ‘goose-bumpy’ time.” It’s important to stay current on emerging technology and marketing trends in order to keep in contact with current and potential clients. Communication and publicity methods are changing continuously.

See the Builder TV interview.

© Copyright – Karen A. Davis. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

More on Marketing During a Recession

2008-12-13T09:28:00.001-05:00

3 tips from How to Weather the Storm from Inc.com's marketing blog. See Marketing

8 Ways to Stay Marketing-Minded During a Recession

2008-12-10T09:56:00.006-05:00

By Karen A. Davis

Okay, I admit it. Although I am typically quite optimistic, some days, this economy can really get me down. The building industry has taken a big hit in this recession we’re in. But, we know with time, this season of crisis will pass.

So if projects in your office have slowed or if you’ve been laid-off, continue to work toward your goals, develop and review your personal and professional marketing objectives, and stay in top shape – physically, mentally and work-wise – so you’re ready for those new projects and deals coming your way.

1. Stay on a regular work schedule. Wake up as if you have a number of clients to keep happy at the office. It’s easy to sleep in for a while and treat your first few days (or weeks) as a vacation, but you must remain on task: continuing to look for new projects or a new position.

2. Don’t isolate yourself. Make regular appointments to meet with colleagues to discuss job and project possibilities. If you’re a designer, or if you specify products, make regular showroom visits to stay current.

3. Boost your ego. Make a list of all of your skills and qualifications, even if they are not directly related to your profession or the services you currently offer. Next, develop a plan to articulate how these skill sets can benefit others. When you’re going after that next job or project, you don’t want to go in with the attitude, “How can you help me?” rather “How can I help you?”

4. Learn new skills. Download free software such as Google SketchUp. Or locate live classes for other interests through Meetup.com or other social networking sites.

5. Write about the things you know on a blog, whether it’s your profession or a hobby. Include a link to your site as part of your e-mail signature.

6. Take advantage of free education. Many trade publication sites offer free webinars, training videos, and articles for continuing education units.

7. Explore all the possibilities. What’s your passion? If you were not in your current profession what would you do? Determine how you can relate what you really love to what you do for a living.

8. Volunteer. Nothing can make you forget about your temporary troubles quicker than helping someone else. Teaching a student math or a construction skill, or building a house with Habitat for Humanity can benefit your community as well as your resume.

A recessive economy doesn’t have to mean idle time. Create a job for yourself and become the building industry professional you aspire to be.

© Copyright – Karen A. Davis. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Marketing Lessons Learned from the 2008 Campaigns

2008-11-07T12:16:00.002-05:00

By Karen A. Davis

Regardless of whether you voted Democrat or Republican in this week’s election, you’d have to agree that the political campaigns of both major parties could give us semesters worth of information about marketing. Through television ads, e-mail and viral marketing, campaign speeches and debates, the candidates aimed to sell you on their brand and ideas, hoping to seal the deal on November 4th. Here are four marketing lessons of the campaigns:

1. Tell your story. The candidates gave you their personal information, and how they came to run for office. Followers responded to John McCain’s military service, Barack Obama’s family history, Sarah Palin as hockey mom, and Joe Biden riding the train to and from Washington every day. Their resumes and life stories came out early and were repeated often.

In this increasingly connected world, we are learning more and more about each other. Through social networking sites, blogs and websites, you have the opportunity to tell your personal and professional story. Let your current and prospective clients know who you are and why you chose your profession or started your business. Be clear about the services you offer and those you don’t, developing your own professional platform. Just as a candidate would in a campaign ad, let them know what you do best. (See if you can do it in 30 seconds!) But most of all, let clients know how your skills and services will benefit them.

2. Become the solution. Obama offered change from typical Washington politics; McCain claimed to be a maverick, breaking rank with his political party for the greater good. Marketers call this the Unique Selling Proposition: how your client’s life, business, or project will improve if they choose you. Let them know what you offer that your competition doesn’t. Differentiate your business, and when they hire you, stay true to your promise.

3. Become a community organizer. Build a network of friends who believes in you and your business and will work on your behalf. Your community includes employees, colleagues, friends, and clients. Listen to their story, show them that what you have to offer is the solution to their problem (or the problem of someone they know), and they will be happy to spread your good name. As we know, word of mouth is the best form of advertising. The candidates had thousands of volunteers knocking on doors, making phone calls, attending rallies, wearing buttons and t-shirts, and posting signs.

4. Tell your story to the world. In 2008, it’s so much easier. You don’t need to pay for television or radio advertising, unless that’s where your audience is. You can utilize the Internet and wireless devices to spread your story inexpensively and build relationships. Use frequent e-mails to update clients on your company’s employees, services and projects (remember to give them a way to unsubscribe). Use a blog to link to your favorite articles or post your ideas on current industry trends. And by becoming active on social networking sites, your friends and connections can link you with theirs, thereby giving you those hundreds or thousands of volunteers who will spread your name. Just think, Obama even used text messaging to announce his Vice-Presidential candidate in the middle of the night, and it made those who subscribed feel important.

By studying the marketing strategies of an unrelated industry, you may discover new approaches not being used by your competition. Your best marketing ideas may come from the least likely places, even political campaigns.

© Copyright – Karen A. Davis. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Networking through the End of the Year

2008-11-03T10:22:00.004-05:00

There are still contacts- and lead-generating events happening through the end of the year. Meeting, conferences and conventions through December include:

November.02 - American Concrete Institute's Fall Convention (St. Louis, MO)

November.03 - Big Builder '08 (Washington, DC)

November.04 - DEADLINE FOR ENTRY: Residential Architect Design 09 Awards

November.05 - Worship Facilities Conference & Expo (Houston, TX)

November.05 - Women's Council of Realtors National Conference (Orlando, FL)

November.06 - RealShare Westchester & Fairfield Counties (White Plains, NY)

November.06 - Transport Summit - Congress for the New Urbanism (Charlotte, NC)

November.07 - Hospitality Design Owner's Roundtable (New York, NY)

November.07 - AIAS Northeast Quad Fall Conference (American Institute of Architecture Students) (Toronto, ON)

November.07 - AIAS Midwest Quad Fall Conference (American Institute of Architecture Students) (Kansas City, MO)

November.09 - Business Facilities Live Xchange (Huntington Beach, CA)

November.09 - TFM Forum - Today's Facility Manager (Huntington Beach, CA)

November.12 - Smarter Asset Management (Orlando, FL)

November.12 - ArchLED '08: LED Lighting for the Built Environment (Chicago, IL)

November.12 - Hazardous Waste Combustors Conference & Exhibition (Galveston, TX)

November.13 - RealShare Dallas (Dallas, TX)

November.13 - RealShare Medical Office Buildings (Dallas, TX)

November.14 - CPN's New York Investment Series (New York, NY)

November.17 - CPN's Washington D.C. Property Opportunities (Washington, DC)

November.19 - RealShare Industrial West (Long Beach, CA)

November.19 - 2008 NAREIT Annual Convention - National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (San Diego, CA)

November.19 - GreenBuild International Conference & Expo (USGBC) (Boston, MA)

December.03 - RealShare Orange County (Irvine, CA)

December.08 - Reinvention 2008: Designing for the Future (Austin, TX)

December.08 - EcoBuild and AEC-ST Fall (Washington, DC)

December.10 - Deadline for Entry - National C.L.E.A.N. Awards

December.10 - Construction SuperConference 08 (San Francisco, CA)

December.29 - American Institute of Architecture Students Forum (Denver, CO)

Networking Opportunities - October 15 - 31

2008-10-13T18:45:00.004-04:00

October.15 - RealShare San Francisco (San Francisco, CA)

October.15 - 22nd Annual University of Michigan-Urban Land Institute Real Estate Forum (Grand Rapids, MI)

October.15 - IFMA World Workplace 2008 Conference & Expo (Dallas, TX)

October.15 - Commercial Real Estate Women Convention (Houston, TX)

October.15 - StonExpo 2008 (Las Vegas, NV)

October.15 - Marble Institute of America Annual Meeting (Las Vegas, NV)

October.16 - RealShare Central Florida (Kissimmee, FL)

October.16 - RealShare New Jersey (Teaneck, NJ)

October.16 - ACADIA 2008: Silicon + Skin (Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture) (Minneapolis, MN)

October.17 - CCIM & IREM Success Series 2008 (Chicago, IL)

October.17 - AIAS South Quad Fall Conference (American Institute of Architecture Students) (New Orleans, LA)

October.19 - International Economic Development Council (Atlanta, GA)

October.19 - National Design Week

October.20 - North American Port & Intermodal Finance & Investment Summit (Houston, TX)

October.20 - Development '08: The Annual Conference for Commercial Real Estate (Las Vegas, NV) http://www.naiop.org/conferences/development08/

October.21 - Industrial Fabrics Association International Expo (Charlotte, NC)

October.21 - National Trust for Historic Preservation - Preservation Conference (Tulsa, OK)

October.22 - DEADLINE FOR ENTRY - Real Estate Florida: Women of Influence (, )

October.22 - Professional Grounds Management Society School of Grounds Management & GIE Expo (Louisville, KY)

October.22 - Wood Products Manufacturers Association 2008 Annual Meeting (Portland, ME)

October.24 - Custom Builder Symposium (Austin, TX)

October.24 - AIAS West Quad Fall Conference (American Institute of Architecture Students) (Tucson, AZ)

October.26 - National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials National Conference (San Antonio, TX)

October.27 - Urban Land Institute Fall Meeting (Miami Beach, FL) http://www.uli.org/Content/NavigationMenu/MeetingsEducation/Meetings/ULI_Meetings.htm

October.28 - Smarter Asset Management (San Diego, CA)

October.29 - Sustainable Development, Green Retrofit & Construction Congress (Baltimore, MD)

October.30 - Associated Owners & Developers National Conference East - Miami (Miami, FL)

October.30 - Society of Industrial & Office Realtors Fall World Conference (Minneapolis, MN)

For more events, see the B.I.R. Calendar.

Volunteers Needed in Galveston

2008-10-13T18:17:00.001-04:00

The National Trust for Historic Preservations is seeking Architects and Structural Engineers to volunteer to perform structural assessments of historic buildings damaged by Hurricane Ike. Fill out the survey for structural damage assessment teams.

6 Low-cost Ways to Increase Your Marketing Efforts

2008-10-10T16:31:00.005-04:00

by Karen A. Davis

Operating a small- to medium-sized building industry business isn’t easy these days. The economy is down, and it seems as though many projects are in a holding pattern, if they’ve started at all.

But you can’t just sit by waiting for the phone to ring. Now is the time to create new strategies for getting your name in front of potential and existing clients, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money to do it. Here are a few ideas:

1. Build relationships. Correspond with clients regularly with an e-mail, postcard, or phone call so your name stays in on the tip of their tongue. You want to be foremost on their mind when a project is in the early stages so they will call you when they are ready to implement the vision.

2. Take on a partner. Contact a colleague you trust who offers complementary services to yours and work together to build business. Share advertising space or swap client lists and give each other a great introduction.

3. Position yourself as an authority. Write an article – or several – for trade magazines. If you’re an architect, try writing one for a construction magazine; there may be less competition. Send those articles to your existing clients so they know you’re an expert, and suggest that they pass the articles on to others who may benefit.

4. No time to write articles? Start an online blog (weblog) and begin to jot down your views on current events and building industry issues and trends. Let your clients know where to find it and how often it will be updated. No excuses; a blog can be started for free.

5. Join online social networking sites. No, they’re not just for kids. According to a recent Detroit Free Press article, nearly half of all Facebook users are 35 and older. Facebook, as well as MySpace, Meetup, Linkedin and many others have professionals that join every minute, and they are looking to connect with people who can help them grow their business, and whom they can help. You can even create your own networking site at Ning.com.

6. Build a website, already. You can create a website with good content for less than $100 per year (not including your editing time). At minimum, list the services your offer, post photos of your most recent projects, and give viewers a reason to contact you.

Marketing doesn’t have to break the budget. Many strategies only require your time and effort. For more tips go to www.buildingsource.net or contact Building Industry Resources for help in implementing these ideas.

© Copyright – Karen A. Davis. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

What's a Tweet?

2008-10-06T15:47:00.007-04:00

Twitter is a microblogging service that allows users to send very short messages (140 characters or less) through the internet or a cell phone text message. Companies are utilizing Twitter to promote their services and to provide other information to their clients. Read Twitter for Business by C.G. Lynch of C.I.O. and respond to a tweet from B.I.R. at http://twitter.com/buildingsource

NOMA Conference Begins Today

2008-10-02T20:24:00.001-04:00

The 36th International Conference and Exposition of the National Organization of Minority Architects begins today in Washington D.C. and runs through October 4th. There will be workshops and seminars for professionals and students, a jury of professional designs, a student design competition, and an exhibit entitled "2% Women of Color," highlighting that population of the architecture profession.

NOMA's aims and objectives include:

- Fostering communication and fellowship among minority architects;

- Fighting discrimination and other selection policies used by public and private sector clients to unfairly restrict minority architects' participation in design and construction;

- Acting as a clearing house for information and maintaining a roster of practitioners;

- Promoting the design and development of living, working, and recreational environments of the highest quality;

- Speaking with a common voice on public policy;

- Working with local, state, and national governments on issues affecting the physical development of neighborhoods and communities;

- Being an effective source of motivation and inspiration for minority youth.

Visit the NOMA website for more information.

Make Time for Networking - October 1-15

2008-09-30T19:45:00.003-04:00

October.01 - Building Component Manufacturers Conference (Denver, CO)

October.01 - METALCON International (Baltimore, MD)

October.02 - RealShare Apartments (Los Angeles, CA)

October.02 - Green Design + Conference (Atlanta, GA)

October.02 - National Organization of Minority Architects Conference (Washington, DC)

October.05 - Professional Builder Benchmark and AVID Leadership Conference (Phoenix, AZ)

October.05 - Women Construction Owners & Executives Mid-Year Meeting (Kansas City, MO)

October.05 - The 33rd Annual Design Management Conference (Ogunquit, ME)

October.07 - Architectural Record Innovation 2008 (New York, NY)

October.11 - Display & Design Ideas Leadership Forum (Las Vegas, NV)

October.11 - International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Fall Symposium (Dallas, TX)

October.12 - Construction Management Association of America National Conference & Trade Show (San Francisco, CA)

October.12 - Society of Fire Protection Engineers Professional Development Conference & Expo (Charlotte, NC)

October.13 - Multifamily Executive Conference (Las Vegas, NV)

October.13 - Solar Power International (San Diego, CA)

October.14 - Institute of Real Estate Management Business and Governance Meetings (Chicago, IL)

October.15 - RealShare San Francisco (San Francisco, CA)

October.15 - 22nd Annual University of Michigan-Urban Land Institute Real Estate Forum (Grand Rapids, MI)

October.15 - IFMA World Workplace 2008 Conference & Expo (Dallas, TX)

October.15 - Commercial Real Estate Women Convention (Houston, TX)

October.15 - StonExpo 2008 (Las Vegas, NV)

October.15 - Marble Institute of America Annual Meeting (Las Vegas, NV)

See the B.I.R. Calendar for more networking opportunities.

5 International Networking Events

2008-09-26T13:17:00.005-04:00

Cityscape Dubai - October 6 - 9, 2008
Cityscape Dubai attracts regional and international investors, property developers, governmental and development authorities, leading architects, designers, consultants and all senior professionals involved in the property industry. It provides an annual forum that celebrates the very best in real estate, architecture, urban planning and design from around the world. In 2007, the event welcomed 51,855 professionals from 136 countries. 849 exhibitors showcased their projects and services on 74,240 sqm of exhibition space. (From the Cityscape website)

India Infrastructure Investment Conference - October 7 - 9, 2008
IIA India 2008 is where global investors, financiers and developers meet Indian regulators & infrastructure owners to discuss investment, capital raising & partnership opportunities, & emerging issues of private investment in India infrastructure sectors. Organized By: Terrapinn Pte Ltd. (From SiteNet)

Airports - Catalysts for Economic Development (Kuala Lumpur) - October 14-15, 2008
See website for details.

Cityscape Latin America 2008 - November 4 - 6, 2008
The portfolio of exhibition, conference and seminar of the cityscape Latin America brings together national and international investors, incorporators, builders, government authorities, architects of great prominence, designers, consultants and experienced professionals involved in real estate industry from a unique experience in networking and achievement business. (Translated from the Cityscape website)

MIPIM Asia - November 19 - 21, 2008
Enjoy access to a large range of development projects and funds through an exhibition area of 9,000 m² highlighting offices, retail and the hospitality industry. Join 2,500 of your peers for FREE to establish new contacts and strike those all important deals. Don’t wait, simply contact us to make sure that you are eligible and get your invitation form. (From the MIPIM Asia website)

Let Me Introduce Myself...

2008-09-15T07:31:00.001-04:00

My name is Karen A. Davis. For the past 10 years, I’ve freelanced as an architectural designer and provided technical support for architects, developers and contractors. I am privileged to have been on the architectural teams for some very prestigious projects, including corporate facilities, sports and entertainment, healthcare and multi-family residential project types. Most recently, I provided interior design and construction documentation for the largest building project in the U.S. to date.

I love the creative part of architecture, but I’ve found that I also enjoy the business side of the building industry, including marketing, business development, and strategic planning. I love encouraging people to do their best and fulfill their dreams. That’s why I’ve taken on the role as marketing manager, publicist, and business coach to the building industry, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses who typically do not have these services in-house.

I’d love to go on about me, but what about you? I’d like to hear about you and your company.

Is your business all that you’ve dreamed it would be? Do you have the luxury of choosing your projects? Have you formally introduced yourself to potential clients, to the world? Are you taking advantage of the free publicity available to promote your business?

By the way, the first two paragraphs were my “elevator speech.” How I would, and do, introduce myself if I only have a couple of minutes to talk (say, in an elevator). Have you developed your elevator speech yet?

2007 Top Architecture Schools

2007-12-05T19:15:00.000-05:00

The Design Futures Council , a global network of design community professionals whose mission is to explore trends, changes, and new opportunities in design, architecture, engineering, and building technology, and the journal DesignIntelligence have ranked architecture schools that best prepare students for professional practice. See the Architect magazine article...

Have Your Say in Green Remodeling

2007-11-28T19:28:00.000-05:00

The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Foundation and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) have partnered to create nationwide best practice guidelines for green residential remodeling for existing homes. The guidelines will be supplemented by training programs and other resources for building professionals and homeowners as part of the REGREEN program.

REGREEN seeks to increase understanding of sustainable renovation project practices and benefits among homeowners, residents, design professionals, product suppliers and service providers.

The public is invited to review and comment on a draft of the guidelines at www.regreenprogram.org before the comment period closes on December 10, 2007. The final guidelines will be released at INTERIORS 08: The ASID Conference on Design in March.

Source: American Society of Interior Designers

Know any outstanding Home Remodelers?

2007-11-28T17:51:00.000-05:00

Remodeling magazine is looking for their next class of Big50 remodelers: those who are running successful, growing companies of various sizes and are taking the lead in raising industry standards. The deadline for entries has been extended to January 1, 2008. See www.remodelingmagazine.com/big50.

Source: Remodeling magazine

Comment on LEED for Healthcare

2007-11-26T18:50:00.000-05:00

The U.S. Green Building Council has invited the public to comment on the draft of LEED for Healthcare Rating System. The public comment period will be open through Saturday, December 15, 2007 midnight PST.

The LEED for Healthcare Rating System promotes sustainable planning, design and construction for high-performance healthcare facilities and was developed to meet the unique needs of the healthcare market including inpatient care facilities and licensed outpatient care and long term care facilities. LEED for Healthcare may also be used for medical offices, assisted living facilities and medical education & research centers. The rating system addresses such issues as increased sensitivity to chemicals and pollutants, traveling distances from parking facilities, and access to natural spaces.

Source: U.S. Green Building Council