Buckshon addresses the architectural, engineering, and construction industry's marketing challenges with a positive and practical approach especially for business owners who don't want to be bogged down in clichs and who have been encouraged to try a variety of marketing ideas which simply don't work.

With a jolt you pull your car to the side of the road, and read the job sign that can't be over one day old: New Home of ABC Inc.; General Contractor, XYZ Construction Co. You think out loud, "I knew the property had been sold," and your eyes roam over the real estate sign with the angled "sold" sticker pro claiming to all that the agent has been successful. "Thought the job would have come out on the bid list by now," you mutter as you move back onto the road and head for your office. Later in the day you get the agent on the phone: "Jim, how did XYZ get the ABC job? I saw nothing on the builders' exchange about it." "John, XYZ has been negotiating with ABC for the past six weeks. They did one fine job of selling on old McDuff. Understand they just called on him out of the blue asking for a chance. They put the whole package together, plans and all." "Didn't that tightwad McDuff get another price, Jim?" "Sure did; two, as a matter of fact. He asked me to get two other contractors capable of doing design-build projects. He liked XYZ better. I don't know the prices, but I really feel those boys impressed McDuff by going to him. Were you planning to bid the job?" "Thinking about it," you answer, trying to sound very casual.

With a jolt you pull your car to the side of the road and read the job sign that can't be more than one day old: New Home of ABC Inc.; General Contractor, XYZ Construction Co. You think out loud, "I knew the property had been sold," and your eyes roam over the real estate sign with the angled "sold" sticker proclaiming that the agent has been successful. "Thought the job would have come out on the bid list by now," you mutter as you move back onto the road and head for your office. Later in the day you get the agent on the phone: "Jim, how did XYZ get the ABC job? I saw nothing on the builders' exchange about it." "John, XYZ has been negotiating with ABC for the past six weeks. They did one fine job of selling the owner. Under stand they just called on him out of the blue asking for a chance. They put the whole package together, plans and all." "Didn't he get another price, Jim?" "Sure did; two, as a matter of fact. He asked me to get two other contractors capable of doing design-build projects. He liked XYZ better. I don't know the prices, but I really feel those ix x Preface boys impressed him by going to him. Were you planning to bid the job?" "Thinking about it," you answer, trying to sound very casual.

This book covers the whole range of marketing principles, skills and knowledge that the modern construction manager - from whatever discipline or profession within the industry - requires to generate effective and profitable business. While aimed primarily at students in the later years of degree, diploma and professional courses, it will also appeal to students in related disciplines and those following postgraduate and post-qualification courses. The approach underlines the importance of adopting a proactive attitude towards the marketing of a company's services in the construction industry. It reflects the reality of the transformation that has taken place over the past twenty years where there has been a shift from a highly protected domestic industry to an unprotected global industry. The already huge and increasing pool of expertise in the field means that there is much greater choice available to clients and and potential clients. The choice of contractor is therefore going to be made increasingly on the basis of factors other than pure expertise. Therein lies the importance of marketing. Factors such as price, quality, value, volume, time, client satisfaction and confidence all come into play - and these are presented and differentiated through marketing. The book covers all the principles of marketing, including strategy, marketing campaigns, product and service, price, promotion, access and research. It also deals with client perceptions, confidence, expectations and understanding. The critical question of operating in a fully globalised industry is also addressed.

"How can architectural, engineering and construction businesses profit from social media? Learn the do's and don'ts of Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Google Plus and other services and what you can actually expect to achieve establishing and maintaining profitable client relationships. This book offers straightforward and practical ideas on how to put social media to work economically."--

How do successful architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms become leaders in their markets? While there is not one formula for all AEC firms, a common characteristic is effective marketing. These firms don't view marketing as an expense, but as a strategic approach to winning. Leading With Marketing embodies how an AEC firm approaches their business, their marketplace and their customers. When companies lead with marketing, they strategically choose which markets to target, what to offer, how to differentiate, how to communicate, and how to win. To truly lead with marketing, a firm's marketing strategy must be an ongoing, dynamic process. The process must enable a company to focus its resources on the right opportunities to increase profitability, while satisfying the customer needs and achieving a sustainable competitive advantage. Leading With Marketing will provide you with the insights, expertise and knowledge needed to lead with marketing. "Having worked with Brian and Kimberly for many years and seeing the direct results of their wisdom help Structural Group grow to over $500 million in sales, now having their wisdom detailed in this great book will allow more of us to apply marketing strategies to our everyday business. I highly recommend this book to every Architectural, Engineering and Contracting company that desires a profitable growth strategy."- Peter Emmons, CEO, Structural Group "Kimberly has helped ACI develop many successful communications and program-launch campaigns by integrating key message development, online and traditional marketing, public relations, and so much more. Brian helped guide ACI into and through several new promotion, search, and communications initiatives as member, then chair of our Marketing Committee. Their combined expertise in marketing and how to market concrete has been a huge asset to our organization and our members."- Kevin Mlutkowski, Manager, Marketing; American Concrete Institute www.LeadingWithMarketing.com

This book is aimed at anyone working in the construction industry wishing to obtain new work. It draws upon the reader's own experiences as a consumer to introduce the key principles of marketing and relates how these principles can be used to advantage in the construction industry. The book explains marketing strategy as the means of assessing where customers are likely to be, deciding what to offer them and what to say to them to persuade them to work with the reader's firm rather than with a competitor. Emphasis is placed on the development of personal relationships as a route to developing new business. Practical guidelines are offered for obtaining competitive advantage, for securing an initial meeting with potential clients, for the design and use of brochures and other publicity material, and for many other marketing and sales related activities.