While architecture, engineering, and construction firms recognize that the use of social media is important to their success, some firms still have a less than secure grasp on just how to use social media to benefit themselves. So, what’s the answer? What can you do as an AEC marketer to effectively weave social media into your firm’s marketing strategy?
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Start small. Stop looking at Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook like the behemoths they seem to be. Stop Googling “Social Media Marketing Techniques” and becoming overwhelmed by the thousands of pages that pop up. Start small. Resist the temptation to allow yourself to get overwhelmed.
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No, really. I mean it. I wasn’t kidding. Start really, really small. I mean, 5-10 minutes a day small. You know that really great blog that you read once a week? Or that website you ran across? Or that app your grandson just told you about? Or that interesting e-mail forward from Flipboard someone sent you? Post it on Facebook. Post it on LinkedIn. Make a comment about it. That’s it.
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Don’t be afraid to speak your mind. You spend a lot of time in meetings. You have a lot of ideas—some of them that go against the grain. You know, the ones that you ramble to your spouse about. Write them down: I’m not talking prose, I’m talking bullet points. The next day, put a few of those bullet points into sentences. Then post it on your company’s blog site. And most important—say at the end of the blog post that you’ll be posting another one next week. Promises made to the world wide web are often ones we keep.
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Tweet what you learned. Next time you go to a conference, keep a running tab of points and tips you learned. And tweet them! Tweet the tips along with a few pics of the conference. It’s a great way to keep people engaged, let people in the industry know you’re staying relevant, and reap some potential re-tweet love.
Most importantly, set a goal to be a company that not just knows it needs social media, but knows how to use it. Build your firm's social media smarts, and you'll find that it is powerful business development tool that can establish your firm as a thought leader, extend your brand awareness, and build relationships with your existing and potential clients.
Looking for more business development advice: The AE Business Development Bibleprovides a concise overview of the essential “must-knows” of business development, direct from PSMJ’s marketing and business development experts.This complimentary e-book gives you real, tangible tools and advice.
Other Social Media-Related Posts:
AEC Social Media: Myth vs. Reality
Twitter Checklist: 10 Tips to Increase Client Engagement
How to Turn Employees Into Firm Advocates on LinkedIn
Is LinkedIn an Effective Tool for Marketing in the AE Industry?