Finding your first project: A guide for young architects

As an Architect, your first project is a great step in the career. Continue reading to learn how to find your first project and establish a prosperous future.

For a young architect, the first project is a significant benchmark. It kickstarts the career and paves the pathway to niche specialisation. 

Getting noticed by potential architecture clients when they are looking to hire a professional is the strategy for finding your first project. And the key to getting in front of the client is establishing a foundation of relationships, connections, and resources that will endorse you, set the stage for your new firm, and get you noticed.

Whether you are offering services as a freelancer or a full board design-build service, the market is always competitive – defining your unique edge or USP is an excellent way to demonstrate your expertise and value and, hopefully, win new contracts. – Explore tips to define your career

Tips to gain new projects

Here are some strategies that new architects can employ to land new projects.

Use a lead generation service

Signing up for a lead generation service is the simplest way to get new architecture clients. The companies specialise in running online ads to attract people looking for an architect in your area based on AI-led databases.

When your ads generate a response, nurture the leads with emails, newsletters, and material highlighting your unique capabilities and offers.

There are some advantages and disadvantages of using this method

Pros

• The advantage of using a lead generation service is receiving project leads as soon as you register.
• Another advantage is that the leads are local to you.

Cons

• The service is not suitable for obtaining large commercial projects; instead, it focuses on residential and small commercial projects.
• These services do not sort candidates, so be prepared to receive many unqualified leads. Also, make thorough inquiries before signing a contract because people sometimes provide inaccurate information.

Join professional communities

The fact is that people lead people- join niche communities to find your dream client and impress them. 

A professional community of individuals enables you to tap into the network to make connections and gain visibility more quickly and effectively. They provide personal and professional connections to industry stalwarts and thought leaders who can assist your business in growing.

Establish your presence in communities such as LinkedIn and Collaborate by India Nirmaan – reach out to share about your niche offering and your interest in new projects.

Pros 

• Joining a curated community keeps you up to date on events that may affect your business, as well as ideas that may alter your strategy or perception of what your customers need and want.

Cons

• You have to build and grow connections through engagements, a boon in disguise as the more you engage, the more visible you are to the community.

Share your thoughts

Leverage social media and the internet to voice your creativity. One of the key roles of Architects in a project is to provide a vision – getting published is an incredibly effective way to market your architecture firm.

Self-publish your ideas and work on social media channels. Start a blog and publish your views and opinions in a local magazine, newspaper, or industry-specific publication. 

Pros

• Having your work published increases your authority and credibility. It is far more effective if you are featured in a reputable newspaper or magazine.
• This strategy may not cost you anything if you have connections with journalists and editors.
• You can repurpose the article as marketing material by sending it to current and previous clients.

Cons

• It would help if you stood out with your article. You need a good engaging story to get noticed.
• As journalists and editors often get a lot of requests for publication, your article has to be creative and engaging.

Reach out 

Referrals are one of the sure-shot traditional methods of finding new work – call or visit your existing network, including friends, faculty, relatives, and acquaintances, to let them know about your work. They can endorse your potential and expertise to prospective clients.

Reaching out to previous leads, who may have inquired about your services in the past but have yet to proceed, is a great marketing strategy. 

Pros

• The strategy is easy to implement and doesn’t cost much money or time. You need to connect with relevant people. Write a short, crisp email or message to your probable clients.

Cons

• If you are starting new, you may not have any previous leads or work to showcase your potential for referrals.

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These long-term and short-term strategies will aid in marketing your architecture firm and acquiring new clients. Building quality relationship with those around us is central to the profession and is directly related to your development, opportunities, and ultimate success.