Tips for promoting new practice

[mx2]

[Checkpoint43]

If your work wasn't up to par, people in the building supply stores wouldn't recommend you.
This is where builders talk to other builders.
Posters at a bus stop? Not hardly.

It's more along the lines of "This guy does pretty good work. Can you tell me more about him?"

Anything else is "For Sale By Owner".

[mx2]

Uhhhhh...yeah. See, our clients don't frequent building supply stores. Typically, the builders we deal with may recommend us to potential clients...the ones who hire other people to go to building supply stores. A builder rarely if ever recommends to another builder a project they are bidding on. And Architects don't really sell services to the general public, in general. But if you're selling pre-fab drawings to low-end residential customers, then I can see your marketing strategy perhaps working.

But to clarify my point; reputation and word of mouth is a very powerful tool in getting new work. And what I am emphasizing is that it does not automatically mean an Architect should just do good work and they will come...the Architect has to work hard at promoting that reputation...exploit it even.

mx2.5

[Checkpoint43]

The Stig,

As you can see by the many replies to you topic, "TIPS FOR PROMOTING NEW PRACTICE", some members like myself are willing to offer to help you to promote your business.

Many others will suggest you are on your own, and must rely on your reputation and history. This makes no sense when you are starting out, and have no history yet.

The rest of the replies are from members who claim they are so successful that they don't need any promotion, and proceed to put yours down.
Apparently, competition scares them.

Read all of the replies carefully, and ask yourself:
Is this a forum, or a pissing contest?

Checkpoint43

[mx2]

[csintexas]

I think many stock plans available over the internet are designed by architects. I don't know how many but at least enough to set a precedent for selling stock plans. I think this depends on what market you are trying to serve.

[mx2]

[csintexas]

http://www.architecturalhouseplans.com/architects/

I could come up with a whole page of examples.

[Checkpoint43]

"Stock" plans are originally drawn by both architects and residential designers, so your argument against them shouldn't originate there.

The issue of "Stock" plans is that they are bought by distribution companies, such as coolhouseplans.com or 100dollarhouseplans.com.
Even the copyrights are transferred to these jpeg distribution companies as well.

This means that the original designer (Architect or Residential Designer) no longer has any legal access to them. They can't even create derivatives of the designs.
In short, they have "sold out".

Meanwhile, the distribution companies make multiple copies on a Xerox machine, and sell thru mail order.
They are not able to modify these drawings themselves, because they are not architects or residential designers.
(Here's proof: Reversed plans are sold, but you would need a mirror to read them.)

Requests for modifications of these plans are expensive, because they must outsource this work. Perhaps they have some "Cad Monkeys" they call on.

This practice makes it understandable to object to my business.
The noble practice of architecture and residential design has been tarnished by a "Buy off the rack, and get it quickly" marketing system.

However, I have said several times that displaying your own work is simply an invitation to the customer to come to you directly.
This gives the true architect and residential designer a chance to get back into the minds of customers who have been bombarded with magazine marketers.
It's a chance to level the playing field and take back the customers that were stolen from you.

It may seem like a step down in the way you do your marketing, but in a dog eat dog world, sometimes you have to bite them right back where they bit you.
If they are attempting to pick up customers in supermarkets, bookstores, and even building supply stores, then you should be allowed to advertise as well.

Of course, I don't think supermarkets and bookstores are appropriate, so I have made it a policy to avoid placing displays there. I wouldn't even consider putting a display in Walmart.
You deserve exposure, but not for the price of dignity.

Checkpoint43

[mx2]

I never said that there are NO Architects that sell pre-drawn "stock" plans. Re-read what I did write and try to understand what I am saying. I am NOT contradicting either of you. I am simply disagreeing that this is the way to go. Of course many will disagree with me, as you both do, which is your right and God willing....both of you will make tons more money than I ever will.

What I am saying (and don't get it twisted please) is that stock plans offer little to Architects in general. Architecture by nature is not in the business of prefabricated ideas, planning, designing. Heck, even you Chris do not subscirbe to this business model. Not sure why then you are against me on this. Checkpoint's business in the brokering of these plans so of course his view is biased...he has to sell this point. Whereas I am not buying...which is my opnion and right, of course.

mx2.5

[Checkpoint43]

Any one else with TIPS FOR PROMOTING NEW PRACTICE?
Or just more criticism for a business model which is designed to do precisely that?

www.checkpointplans.com

[mx2]

If you can't take the criticism then don't post in a public forum.

I notice all the big firms and successful architects don't sell predrawn stock plans...sounds like a model of desperation. Good luck!

mx2.5

[Checkpoint43]

mx2,
If you'd like to tell everyone how successful you are, then maybe you should start a new thread.
This one is about offering tips for promoting a NEW business.

I am happy for you, but I don't understand your reason for replying to this topic. You've said a lot, but contributed nothing.

Checkpoint43

[djswan]

You could throw a big party. You are all invited.

[BuildingNUT]

Good tips all around... but I would say the best thing is to network, meet people, make many friends... word of mouth is key.

A lot of people in industries such as ours believe 'networking' means meeting a lot of people to just improve business (which comes across as fake). I would disagree... networking is basically making new 'real, quality' friends, get to know them, maybe find things in common and have good quality discussion. Going to an upscale bar once a week and talking with locals is a good way to broaden your network. Talk with fellow business owners... not just to give them your business card... you can learn a lot from them.