New approach to potential clients

[Spooner04]

I'll be moving to a new town about 8 hours away soon and I've been contemplating marketing strategies, business plans and all that stuff. What I'm wondering is this.

 

Why do we constantly approach the architect for work? Our end client isn't the architect. While it is true that they can provide us with work, why don't we approach the end client. The board of construction and development for the city, University, College, School district, whatever. Why don't we approach developers and property owners more often?

 

I see it kind of like selling a shampoo in a hair salon. While it does make sense, how much more successful would it be if it was put in a store and marketed it to the end user?

 

Do you guys have any thoughts about what materials would be necessary to market to a municipal entity or a large developer?.....Other than connections? Do you think some kind of case studies or cost analysis would be necessary or is the added value of our services apparent up front? I'd be curious to hear your thoughts, or even some of the approaches you have taken in marketing.

 

Thanks.

[Brodie Geers]

Interesting idea. One reason, though, is because of repeat business. A school will only hire you once.

 

-Brodie

[Spooner04]

True, a school would probably not give you frequent business. What about the school district though? In my home town they probably put up 4 new high schools in the last 10 years, plus middle schools and grade schools. And then there are 4 districts in the city, so maybe one or two more had some growth as well.

 

Do you think this is a hair brained idea I have or does it sound like I can put some legs on it and make it work? I'm asking earnestly. With all the talk over the last couple of years about things being in the tank I can't help but think there has got to be a better way to get ourselves out there. I couldn't really use any of my previous work because it was done freelance for other firms. Just wondering if you guys think there is enough possibility there to warrant creating a new portfolio/website/marketing campaign.

 

Thanks for your reply Brodie

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

It is a very valid idea, but you need to be thinking more about the developers, and less about the school districts. The school districts barley have enough to pay for what they need, while the developers are looking for ways that will help them generate more money.

[Brodie Geers]

Another thought. Some areas require some sort of 3d rendering as part of the city approval process. I don't know how common it is but, we've run into it particularly in California where they want to dictate exactly how the building looks. I wonder if there would be any benefit to hooking up with a city like that. Either some way to be recommended by the city for builders who don't have a 3d rendering or perhaps some way to find out who the builders are in the early stages so you could market to them specifically.

 

-Brodie

[Wrender]

As an architect myself I see some benefits and some negatives of doing this.

 

1. Typically, fees associated with doing renderings are directly integrated into Owner/Architect agreements and contracts. There are a few reasons for this - one is the owner is fully capable of entering into a separate contract with the 3D artist, however, the architect is not obligated to provide or share any drawings or services to aid the process unless it's covered under additional services (meaning, more fee for the owner).

 

2. Many of the organizations/institutions you listed are public entities. If they are going to contract directly with the 3d artist, this has to be done on a competitively bid platform. Meaning, if you market directly to them, they still have to allow other artists to bid for the prescribed rendering work.

 

3. Litigation. If a rendering is approved by the architect designing a structure, they will indemnify you as the render artist against any legal claims rising out of discrepancies between rendering and con. docs. I've seen it before where the contractor or client is mislead by renderings of a building and creates a financial discrepancy in bidding scenarios. In the end, the artist could potentially take on personal risk in regards to the building's design and function.

 

 

That said, it still may be a profitable strategy (especially for developers as mentioned above). If you can sell your talent to a developer, they can suggest or contractually obligate the architect to use you for rendering services.

 

Just a few thoughts....