What’s news at Sounds Like Design?
The Sounds Like Design blog began in 2016 and since then we’ve covered business development and marketing topics, important policy and regulatory issues that affect the profession, and we’ve featured guest posts from several influential architects.
If you’d like to contribute to the blog about a topic or issue that you are passionate about, or think is important to share with your peers and colleagues, email us with your story idea, suggested images and proposed deadline, and we’ll collaborate to help you tell your story to a wider audience.
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My pitch to the architecture profession
Architecture is undergoing a profound transformation - from client-as-patron to client-as-customer models – which presents new opportunities to make good design more accessible to more people.
Are you taking advantage of "persuasion windows" to grow architecture's market share pie?
This is Part 6 in the series on legal protections for the word “Architect” / architects’ salaries / well-being. It provides insights about how architects can take advantage of new "persuasion windows" to serve more clients, develop new services and grow architecture's share of the market pie.
How to report potential infringements of the protected title “architect” and its derivatives
This is Part 5 of the series that joins the dots between legal protections for the title architect, architects’ salaries and fees, and architects’ well-being. In this article, we look at how to report potential infringements, and whether that’s the best course of action for architects to take
What’s the magic bullet for architects?
This is Part 4 in the series on legal protections for the word “Architect” / architects’ salaries / well-being. It puts forward the magic bullet to help architects communicate the value of good design to clients and the wider community.
Feedback from readers and architects on the blog series about protected titles and architects’ salaries
This is Part 3 in the series on legal protections for the word “Architect” / architects’ salaries / well-being. It brings together feedback from across our community about the first two blog articles.
How do architects’ salaries compare?
Architects’ salaries are typically lower than many others in the construction sector, and doctors and lawyers who also complete five-year degrees This article compares salary survey stats and asks whether there might be a way to improve this situation, going forward.
Protection and projection: two sides of the architecture marketing coin
Architects are fortunate that their professional title is protected under law in Australia, but this legal protection is no substitute for a considered and strategic approach to business development and marketing. This blog series looks at how and why architects should communicate their value, to improve remuneration, well-being and profitability.
Communicating the value of architecture at the National Conference
Rachael Bernstone will present two sessions on business development, marketing and communications for architects, at the National Architecture Conference in Canberra, in late October 2023.
Ask the AACA to add “business development and marketing” to the National Standards of Competency for Architects (NSCA)
Send an email to the AACA to request the inclusion of business development and marketing performance criteria into the next update of the NSCA.
Clarity comes through action: how to help your clients take the first momentous step
Is your architecture marketing focussed on the outcomes you provide (a building or project) or the process you employ (and the clarity that follows for your clients)? Read on to find out how your focussing on your process can help to set your services apart in a crowded marketplace.
Transforming architecture: from take-what-you-can-get to discernment, freedom and choice
Sounds Like Design developed a business development and marketing system that transforms architecture practices, by providing discernment, freedom and choice.
What's the point of marketing for architecture firms?
If you’re an architect, and you’re not sure which marketing channels and platforms to use, you are not alone. The marketing landscape can be confusing and overwhelming. This article explains the simple, single purpose of architecture marketing, and the best channels to use to achieve your goals.
2022 in review: architecture highlights and lowlights
It’s been a big year - we’ve enjoyed seeing many clients celebrating major milestones and winning fantastic recognition for their work, unique approaches, and contribution to their communities. We’ve collected some highlights from practices around Australia that have completed SLD’s Review + Reset consulting package, and a round-up of local and global topics and events that shaped this year.
Is it possible to cultivate a waitlist of ideal clients for your architecture practice? – Part 3
You don’t have to be a world-famous architect to generate a waitlist for your architecture services (although brand recognition definitely helps!).
This article - the third and final part of my waitlist series - describes how to employ marketing techniques to identify and promote your specialist knowledge, and build a waitlist for your services.
Is it possible to cultivate a waitlist of ideal clients for your architecture practice? – Part 2
You don’t have to be a world-famous architect to generate a waitlist for your architecture services (although brand recognition definitely helps!).
In this article - Part 2 of a series - we explore the benefits of cultivating a waitlist, including how it can enhance the appeal of your practice and help you become more discerning.
Is it possible to cultivate a waitlist of ideal clients for your architecture practice? - Part 1
You don’t have to be a world-famous architect to generate a waitlist for your architecture services (although brand recognition definitely helps!).
In this article - Part 1 of a series - discover which Australian practices have cultivated waitlists of dedicated and committed clients, who ONLY want to work with them.
How much time should I spend on business development and marketing, in my architecture practice?
Whether you are working on a new house, a major expansion of a school, or your future client pipeline – the likelihood of success or failure pivots on the interdependent relationships between time, cost and quality. In this blog post, we delve into how much time you should spend on business development and marketing for your architecture practice.
How to market yourself as an architect (especially in your career)
I was invited to talk with Sarah Lebner about marketing yourself in your career, and she’s generously made the recording available to everyone to watch. Sarah asks all of her guests one final question: “What's your number one piece of advice for young architects?” – and I’ve included my response in this blog post.
How much should you spend on marketing in your architecture practice?
Working out how much to spend on marketing in your architecture practice can be tricky. What activities constitute marketing and what are the industry benchmarks you can compare your budget to? In this blog post and video, I tell you what percentage of turnover professional services firms spend on marketing, with insights from Hollywood film marketing and pointers about the best channels to use.
How to generate a steady stream of new client prospects for your architecture practice
A recent “FB whinge” by a well-known Sydney architect prompted this ‘Marketing how to’ post, focussed on lead generation.
It explains how to streamline your marketing and lead generation processes - so they are less reliant on the director/principal to execute - and also to ensure that potential clients you choose to meet with are your ideal clients, in terms of budget, brief and shared values.