Tips for promoting new practice

[The Stig]

This is my very first post on this forum so here goes.....

I have set up a new practice. At present its only a part time venture until i can get enough work in to give up the day job.

At present the jobs i do get in come in from Builder contacts. They are one man bands so the level of work is not going to be great.

That leaves advertising. Never done it before so i would be grateful for advice. Its a far from cheap exercise so i will need to be carefully selective.

Advice would be very welcome.

[csintexas]

Sorry, didn't mean to make you feel unwelcome. I didn't notice your thread.

I think community involvement is a good way to promote business.

[Richard Haut]

Stig

I think that you are in the U.K. - not the easiest market at the moment.

Basically promoting an architectural practice is a matter of letting people know that you are there, and what you can do, with some back-up based on your experience.

It is a ripple-effect - the nearer to your office the wider the range of people whom you are likely to want to contact.

Have you considered the type or work/clients that you are looking for ?

Make sure that you are on "standard" lists and therefore that your practice name comes up if people are looking for an architect in your area.

Keep any promotion simple and clear - and cheap. You want the maximum coverage. Set up a simple website (if you haven't already) and - basically - let people know that you are open for business.

Advertising costs - much better to think up a relevant area of interest for your potential clients and then suggest that the local newspapers and radio stations might like to interview you or for you to write an article.

Good luck.

[djswan]

One of my degrees is in Marketing.

I would suggests what works for me. Put on a show. Find a place to perform and start performing. The bigger the audience the more likely you will find someone who wants to hire you. I can ride a unicycle and juggle too. Welcome aboard.

Derek

[Madimel]

what have you done to network so far? Are you a member of the RIBA? Are you actually attending meetings and volunteering for events? Start networking with suppliers as well. Enter your designs in publications and other competitions. A simple formula to follow is to under promise and over deliver. It takes a long time to establish your reputation, but you only need one bad project to ruin it all.

[Basri]

I recently started my own structural practice.
I heard and it is true: the first year is probably be the hardest. Try to meet as many people as possible. Search online for local businesses or associations. Do not let your feeling of being inferior or inadequate, if you experience any, keep you down.
Do not run business on loans or mortgages; It may lead to financial disaster. Keep your overhead low, otherwise bills will add up much faster.
I should post again sometimes next year to let you know if I survive this first year