What do you do if your building design consultancy is struggling to attract clients in a competitive market?

1 Define your niche

One of the best ways to differentiate yourself from other building design consultants is to focus on a specific niche or market segment that you can serve better than anyone else. This could be based on your expertise, experience, location, style, or values. For example, you could specialize in sustainable design, historic preservation, urban regeneration, or healthcare facilities. By defining your niche, you can attract clients who are looking for your unique skills and solutions, and avoid competing on price alone.

2 Showcase your portfolio

Your portfolio is your most powerful tool to demonstrate your capabilities, creativity, and credibility as a building design consultant. It should showcase your best and most relevant projects, and highlight the benefits and outcomes you delivered for your clients. You should update your portfolio regularly, and make it accessible and attractive on your website, social media, and online platforms. You should also use your portfolio to tell stories, not just show images. Explain the challenges, goals, and solutions of each project, and how you added value and exceeded expectations.

3 Build your network

Networking is essential for any building design consultant who wants to expand their client base and generate referrals. You should cultivate relationships with potential and existing clients, as well as with other professionals in your field, such as architects, engineers, contractors, suppliers, and regulators. You can network online, by joining relevant groups, forums, and platforms, or offline, by attending events, conferences, and workshops. You should also follow up with your contacts, and offer your help, advice, or feedback whenever possible.

4 Invest in marketing

Marketing is not a luxury, but a necessity for any building design consultant who wants to grow their business and reach new audiences. You should have a clear and consistent marketing strategy that aligns with your goals, brand, and niche. You should also use a mix of marketing channels and tactics, such as email, social media, blogs, podcasts, webinars, or ads, to communicate your value proposition, showcase your portfolio, and generate leads. You should also measure and optimize your marketing performance, and test different approaches to see what works best for you.

5 Educate your clients

As a building design consultant, you have a lot of knowledge and expertise that you can share with your clients and prospects. By educating them about the latest trends, best practices, and innovations in your field, you can position yourself as an authority and a trusted advisor. You can also use education as a way to overcome objections, address pain points, and demonstrate the benefits of working with you. You can educate your clients through various formats, such as articles, videos, case studies, or webinars.

6 Ask for feedback

Feedback is a valuable source of information and improvement for any building design consultant who wants to enhance their quality, satisfaction, and reputation. You should ask for feedback from your clients, prospects, and peers, and use it to identify your strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. You should also act on the feedback, and implement changes or improvements that can help you deliver better results and service. You should also thank your feedback providers, and show them how you used their input to improve your performance.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?