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28
Nov

Shutting the revolving door: How AEC firms can leverage marketing for employee retention

November 28, 2023
by: in AEC , Marketing strategy No comments  

Labor woes have the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries in a chokehold. A decreased interest in the trades has caused the pool of skilled workers to dwindle, while the number of AEC professionals entering retirement is threatening to drain the pool altogether. 

The U.S. construction industry had 374,000 job openings in June of 2023, according to a recently released report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These dire statistics underscore the importance of retaining skilled labor and should motivate AEC firms to leverage marketing to combat the exodus. 

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28
Nov

How law firms can speak with one voice through a comprehensive messaging strategy

November 28, 2023
by: in Law , Public relations No comments  

Law firms are known for the diverse minds and unique perspectives they bring to the table for clients. These qualities can be beneficial when developing legal strategies heading into a case or transaction. But that approach does not always lend itself well to law firm PR and content marketing. 

Consider the potential ethics issues that might arise if lawyers don’t have specific client approval to pursue PR on a particular matter. 

Imagine how recruiting could suffer if partners and associates share very different views about what it’s like to work at the firm and promotion opportunities. 

What if the way a firm communicates with clients is far from standardized? 

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24
Oct

The ultimate law firm marketer holiday gift guide: 2023 edition

October 24, 2023
by: in Law , Public relations , Professional services No comments  

The ultimate law firm marketer holiday gift guide

‘Twas the night before holiday vacation, and all through the law firm, not a body was stirring — except for you, that dedicated marketing director finalizing next year’s budget. 

OK, maybe you’re also watching for price drops on Amazon. ‘Tis the season, after all. 

 Since you likely bought, wrapped and sent all the firm’s client gifts, plus dreamed up an awesome holiday e-card, isn’t it time to treat yourself a bit?

With that in mind, we’ve compiled the ultimate holiday gift guide for legal marketers. There’s something on this list for everyone — and you might want to share it on your social media so colleagues and loved ones see it in case they’re at a loss for what to buy you. 

Of course, printing off copies and “accidentally” leaving them lying around is also acceptable. Just as long as you circle your top choices in red ink.

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23
Oct

Looking for a marketing and PR agency? Consider niche AEC specialists

October 23, 2023
by: in AEC , Marketing strategy , Public relations No comments  

If your company or firm’s marketing team needs a little extra help, or you’re starting from scratch and want to build brand awareness and credibility for your business, hiring a marketing and public relations agency can be a game-changer. 

Maybe you’ve already decided to hire an agency and have begun your search, but how do you find one that is right for your firm? Instead of turning to a jack of all trades who reinvents the wheel with every new client, consider hiring an industry specialist agency. 

This kind of agency (you may already know one!) focuses on one or a few particular sectors, such as the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry (we work with legal clients, too). Because these agencies typically represent clients in only a few focused industries, they offer a level of insider knowledge and experience compared to one representing a grab bag of clients with various needs and nuances. 

So, what are the benefits? 

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14
Sep

Do’s and don’ts of podcast interviews

September 14, 2023
by: in Content marketing , Lead generation , Professional services No comments  

I love a good podcast. The ones that make me feel like the host and guest are standing in the same room are instant favorites — doesn’t matter what genre it is.

Personal entertainment aside, they’re also a fantastic business opportunity for B2B companies. Not only does running a podcast enable you to build brand awareness while creating content for your business and your guest’s, it’s also a great way to build relationships and have meaningful conversations with industry leaders and potential prospects.

But how do you do good podcasting?

I didn’t think this question would be so hard to answer when I first started producing our agency’s podcast, “Spill the Ink.” After all, I’m an avid consumer of plenty of great podcasts and have a background in production and storytelling as a former TV journalist. Why wouldn’t it be easy? While a lot of my skills were transferable, I had to come to terms with the fact that podcasts are unique pieces of content that require their own skillset. 

In my opinion, one of the most important skills you can develop is learning how to conduct an interview. I won’t lie and say that this isn’t going to take a lot of trial and error. But I can at least help get you started on the basics.

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28
Aug

How AEC seller-doers can build relationships, drive revenue through podcasting

August 28, 2023
by: in AEC , Lead generation No comments  

When our Principal and President Michelle Calcote King began Reputation Ink’s “Spill the Ink” podcast in November of 2020, she wanted to try something new. Over several episodes, she began to see the benefits of the podcast, and stuck to it. Now with more than 70 episodes, Michelle has learned a lot about the benefits of podcasting, particularly for B2B professional services firms such as architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms. Her number-one benefit she says? Networking. 

There are many other benefits as well – here’s Michelle’s top five reasons why AEC firms and their seller-doers should consider creating a podcast: 

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28
Aug

How to grow your law practice with a podcast

August 28, 2023
by: in Law , Content marketing , Lead generation No comments  

When our Principal and President Michelle Calcote King began Reputation Ink’s “Spill the Ink” podcast in November of 2020, she wanted to try something new. Over several episodes, she began to see the benefits of the podcast, and stuck to it. Now with more than 70 episodes, Michelle has learned a lot about the benefits of podcasting, particularly in the legal field. Her number-one benefit she says? Networking. 

There are many other benefits as well – here’s Michelle’s top five reasons why law firms and attorneys should consider creating a podcast: 

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28
Jul

How AEC firms can craft a winning DBIA awards submission

July 28, 2023
by: in AEC , Public relations No comments  

The fields of architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) are incredibly competitive. Securing a bylined article in a reputable industry publication isn’t the only way to capture the attention of your desired clients. The prestige associated with winning certain AEC awards (I know, I know. You don’t do it for the recognition) can also bolster your firm’s reputation. But not all awards are the same.

Clients won’t be won over by a participation prize, much less one you paid for! If you’re going to invest money in an annual award submission, the Design Build Institute of America’s national or regional Design-Build Project and Team Awards, similar to the organization’s leadership awards, are a great place to start, as they’re incredibly competitive and highly esteemed. They also recognize a wide scope of projects, from vertical construction to various sectors like aviation, water/wastewater and transportation.

Because the DBIA Awards are so competitive, they require a lot of diligence and documentation to verify design-build best practices were used to improve the project outcome, in a process the DBIA dubbed “Design-Build Done Right®”. Like high school algebra, it’s not enough to show the end result, you actually have to show your work. I know, I know. I’m full of good news today. 

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26
Jul

How law firms can utilize Mansfield certification to drive diversity and inclusion initiatives

July 26, 2023
by: in Law , Public relations No comments  

In the legal profession, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) have become crucial focal points for organizations striving to create a more equitable and representative environment. One prominent initiative attracting the participation of more and more firms is the Mansfield Rule Certification, created by Diversity Lab. 

What is the Mansfield certification?

Named after Arabella Mansfield, the first woman admitted to the practice of law in the United States in 1869, this certification program aims to promote diversity and inclusion by ensuring equal opportunities for underrepresented groups in leadership positions within law firms and legal departments. More specifically, it measures whether law firms have affirmatively considered at least 30% women, lawyers of color, LGBTQ+ lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, formal client pitch opportunities and senior lateral positions. 

The first cohort in 2017 involved 35 American law firms. As of this year, there are now more than 300 Mansfield-certified firms in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as more than 80 legal departments. 

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29
Jun

Media exclusives: how and when to use them

June 29, 2023
by: in AEC , Law , Public relations , Professional services Comment (1)  

Media exclusives: how and when to use them

When I was working at a television station, the first question the news director would ask after a reporter came in with a juicy story was, “Is it exclusive?”

She wanted to know if her station was the only place viewers could find the story or if they would at least be the first to break the news. In a time when just about everyone has 24/7 access to information at their fingertips, regardless of when the 5 o’clock newscast airs, media outlets are looking for any edge they can get over their competitors.

For PR purposes, exclusives can help you squeeze all of the “juice” you can get out of a story and make sure it’s placed with an outlet that will give it the coverage you think it deserves.

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