SMPS Atlanta Blog for AEC Marketers

SMPS Atlanta 2011-2012 Calendar

2011-09-19T13:38:00.000-07:00

The 2011-2012 SMPS Atlanta Calendar has been posted! Click to view the calendar on a larger scale and/or print. These calendars will be available online and at every SMPS Atlanta event and program. We have some great events and programs planned for this year including our always popular Boot Camp Series and a new program titled Group Therapy which will be regularly held to address lessons

SERC: Call for Presentations!

2011-08-17T05:28:00.000-07:00

The SMPS Southeast Regional Conference (SERC) Programs Committee invites you to submit a proposal for a breakout session for Get Down In Crown Town, the 2012 SMPS Southeast Regional Conference, March 28-30, 2012, in Charlotte, NC. Please download the Call for Presentations in MS Word format (at the conference website: www.smps-seregconf.org), complete, and email to Michele Lewis (mlewis@

10 Reasons Why You Should Join SMPS

2011-08-01T11:36:00.000-07:00

SMPS can help you, as a member, build your business and advance your career. SMPS membership gives you access to: 1. Networking Opportunities Make local, regional, and national A/E/C business contacts through SMPS to build your business. Networking suggestions: Attend chapter meetings and programs or participate in Build Business or a national workshop. Volunteer for a chapter or national

Why Social Media is Useful to A/E/C Firms

2011-07-20T11:15:00.000-07:00

isThese days, just about everyone has jumped onto the social-media bandwagon. Whether through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or some other medium, millions of people and businesses are constantly connecting and interacting with one another. In fact, social media have become one of the top methods used to collect news, information, or learn about new products and technologies today. But given the

Designing a More User-Friendly Web Site

2011-06-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

From time to time, firms revamp their Web sites. You want your firm to look current, maybe even cutting-edge. Your Web site is the face you put out there in cyberspace for the world to see, particularly for your clients and your prospective clients. You want to put your best face forward.For most firms in the A/E/C sector, the Web site is primarily an electronic brochure. You want people to see

Who is going to sell you?

2011-05-02T12:44:00.000-07:00

(originally posted by Mr. Ronald D. Worth on Apr 25th, 2011 on mysmps.org) We live in a world of political correctness while striving to be considerate of others we encounter during work. That is all very well and good, but during the course of a day you need to take some time to focus selfishly on yourself, if you plan to move forward with your career and achieve your goals. No one

Social Media- Revolution or Fad?

2011-04-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

Interesting video on social media- posted almost two years ago, but still relevant. It's interesting to see how the AEC world is handling social media- we're seeing some firms embrace it and others shirk from it like the plague. How is your firm handling the social media revolution? Is there really any question anymore to whether it's just a fad?

Why Do Implementations Fail?

2011-04-06T08:56:00.000-07:00

Many studies have been done on why implementations fail. Through our own success and failures, we’d like to share with you eight (8) key areas that impact implementations: 1. Executive Support – In order to get buy-in from employees on the importance of using any system or adopting any process you implement, you first MUST have executive support. Your firm is investing a lot of time and money

How Social Media Helps Me Think Like a Client

2011-03-21T07:13:00.000-07:00

For the record (in this era of full disclosure), I have participated actively in social media communications for the past three years. I post regularly in both the professional and personal worlds. And allow me to state clearly: Never the twain shall meet. But in reviewing my postings and reading others’ posts, tweets, updates, musings, and diatribes, I have noticed that my eye is invariably

Do You Speak Architect?

2011-02-25T07:24:00.000-08:00

All professions have their own jargon, their own shorthand. When speaking with your peers, it’s often easier and quicker to use those verbal shortcuts to convey your message. But too many of us forget that we’re not in-house when we speak to the rest of the world. Marketers, particularly, need to remember to speak English, not Architect, when we communicate with the rest of the world. The same

SERC: SMPS Regional Conference, March 16-18

2011-01-31T14:00:00.000-08:00

I love attending the annual SMPS Southeastern Regional Conference (SERC). A regional event with the Atlanta, Alabama, Nashville, Charlotte, and Research Triangle SMPS Chapters, this is much more of a personal, local conference than the National Conference. The crowd is always a great size to: Get to know great people in just two days Make real, concrete local and regional connections Allow for

Is It Possible To Find Fulfillment at Work?

2011-01-19T07:40:00.000-08:00

Thank you to Ron Worth for his daily blog information. Below is one of his most recent postings.We all have to do it. Work that is... if we expect t achieve any of the goals or dreams we have for tomorrow. I am one of those odd birds who actually enjoys work and have been very fortunate over the years to have jobs that were challenging, rewarding and very satisfying. Lucky also since we all spend

With Our Economy in the Red, Green is the New Black

2010-11-08T09:02:00.000-08:00

@font-face { font-family: "Courier New"; }@font-face { font-family: "Wingdings"; }@font-face { font-family: "Calibri"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }ol { margin-bottom: 0in; }ul { margin-bottom: 0in; } Nearly every business seems to have turned “green.

SMPS Atlanta Sponsoship Opportunities

2010-10-11T10:35:00.000-07:00

As we enter into a new SMPS Year, 2010-2011, it’s time for our annual Sponsorship Campaign for 2011. Our Sponsorship team has worked hard to revamp our sponsorship packages to include exceptional values for vendor and industry firms alike. We’re excited to roll out these new packages and hope you will consider supporting SMPS Atlanta in 2011! This year our Chapter Partner and Platinum

AEC Mega Meeting: Show Me the Money

2010-09-24T06:12:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Mega Meeting was focused on a most fitting topic for the current economy: MONEY! The panelists came from a variety of backgrounds to give an overview of the private and public market sectors to discuss about where project opportunities are coming in the short and long term.ModeratorGena Evans, Executive Director, Georgia State Road and Tollway AuthorityPanelists Linda M. Daniels, Vice

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Marketing Your Firm’s Green Initiatives

2010-08-17T13:06:00.000-07:00

“Sustainable” and “green” are the big new buzzwords, and many AEC firms are looking at their own marketing to see how they can better promote their own green or sustainable efforts.Maybe you’re already pretty green and work with LEED® consultants on building certification, whether it’s new construction or LEED-EBOM (LEED-Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance). Perhaps you are a

Key Business Strategies for Design Firms

2010-08-03T09:55:00.000-07:00

The following major points come from the seminar “Maximize Profits/Minimize Risks” given by Ames & Gough:The art of design can coexist with the business of design.Conducting a survey of project managers reveals which tasks and responsibilities are viewed as being more important than others. The strengths and weaknesses identified through the survey become the starting point for in-house training

Social Media: New Wave or Tsunami?

2010-07-27T11:59:00.000-07:00

Blogs, Twitter, Skype, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn…. Social media are unavoidable. But whether and how you use them can either enhance your firm’s success or land you and your firm in court.Many firms have a presence on Facebook and LinkedIn. Some include buttons for Facebook and Twitter on their homepages. To the extent that you use these and other social media for

InDesign Tips and Tricks

2010-06-17T11:18:00.000-07:00

SMPS Atlanta's Boot Camp Series has had great speakers all year long. The last Boot Camp session on InDesign Tips and Tricks was no exception. Attendees didn't want the session to end. Claudia McCue's content was information packed. She is proficient in InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, and Photoshop and also provides "Realistic Training for Real-World Applications".Tips included:Setting up

Program: Social Media Marketing - Useful Tool or Passing Fad

2010-02-23T09:37:00.000-08:00

Do you tweet? Are you LinkedIn or on Facebook? According to Forrester Research, since 2007 social networking users have doubled. In 2009, 55.6 million adults or just less than one third of the U.S. population now visit social networks at least monthly. A breakdown from the study is provided to the right.Jim Walton, Chief Executive Officer of Brand Acceleration, Inc. presented at the SMPS Atlanta

Business Lessons We've Learned from Dogs

2009-12-14T06:50:00.000-08:00

For those of us under stress this morning from a weekend of holiday shopping and massive traffic on the way to work…a little humor from MyBUSINESS Magazine on secrets your dog won’t tell you: “Always greet customers with excitement and enthusiasm even when you just saw them three minutes ago. They never grow tired of thinking they’re the most important thing in your life.Don’t confuse you tail

Getting Started with Google Analytics

2009-12-01T12:20:00.000-08:00

In order to set up your website with Analytics, you will need to have the capability to edit your website. If you do not have access, you will need to contact your webmaster. This is necessary so you can insert the code that allows Analytics to track the activity on your website. Once you can edit your website, just go to the Google Analytics page and create your account. There you will be taken

A/E/C Mega Meeting: Retrofitting Suburbia

2009-09-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

Ellen Dunham-Jones was the keynote speaker at this year’s A/E/C Leadership Roundtable Mega Meeting addressing the topic of suburban sprawl. With more than 200 people in attendance, Ms. Dunham-Jones discussed her new book Retrofitting Suburbia and the following topics that relate to our current economic climate and our design/development industry. Our industry is facing massive foreclosure numbers

9 Steps to Motivating Your Team Today

2009-09-18T05:51:00.000-07:00

When it comes to motivation, are you just going through the motions? Make yours a GREAT team to work on. Here are a couple ideas adapted from ‘A great attitude’ www.qpcteam.com. Keep your promises. Do what you say you’re going to do. And if you can’t, tell members as soon as possible.Don’t lie. Even little white lies to sugar-coat bad news destroy trust.Cut down barriers. Remove those obstacles

Drum roll please...the results are in!

2009-08-27T11:16:00.000-07:00

In the SMPS National Publication the Marketer (link access for members only), the article “Silent Presses” discussed how online publications and blogging is resulting in a decline of the newspaper/magazine industry. Although other industries are twittering and involved in the blogosphere, where does the A/E/C industry stand regarding online technology? The National Conference, buildbusiness.org,

Senior Roundtable: Thought Leaders Share Perspective

2009-07-30T06:09:00.000-07:00

While in the midst of economic uncertainty and firms trying their best to stay ahead of their competition, it was refreshing to see firms sharing information to help fellow A/E/C members survive in today’s market at SMPS Atlanta’s Senior Roundtable event. With more than 60 people attending, Steve Setzer, Senior Correspondent with ENR Magazine moderated a panel of esteemed professionals which

Working with the Federal Market

2009-07-13T10:02:00.000-07:00

The Federal Market - it’s so hot right now. Yet for most AEC firms, the phrase “federal market” strikes a chord of confusion, hesitance, and trepidation. What is an SF330? Where do I go to find solicitations? What’s with all the acronyms? These are common questions for those new to this market. With the economic stimulus package indicating an increase in spending on government contracting

Top Ways to Stop Wasting Time

2009-06-09T09:22:00.000-07:00

Often without thought, we allow time wasters to gobble up chunks of our day. It can happen so easily. You can prevent these “minute maulers’ from doing their damage by trying one of the suggestions in the book "Yes, You Can" by Sam Deep & Lyle Sussman below.Enjoy your new found time: When planning a new activity, anticipate all that might go wrong so that you won’t be forced to fight fires when

Get with the Program

2009-05-19T05:46:00.000-07:00

If you've seen the movie WALL-E, raise your hand. That's what I thought, quite a few of you. I am very afraid that the depiction of human beings in this movie may actually come true one day. For those of you who haven't seen the film, picture a cruise ship turned into a space vessel on a permanent voyage somewhere in outer space. Technology has advanced so far that each individual literally

Hard Hat Tour of Gwinnett Braves Minor League Stadium Synopsis

2009-04-23T10:34:00.000-07:00

An unseasonably cold wind was blowing on Tuesday, March 31st, but that didn’t slow the numerous trade crews and their monumental efforts to complete the Gwinnett Braves ballpark. Nor did it stop the many members of SMPS and DBIA from attending a presentation and tour of this amazing facility. Special thanks go out to Ashley Dale of Barton Malow, and the SMPS Programs Committee for all of their

Redevelopment in Georgia Program Synopsis

2009-04-23T10:22:00.000-07:00

Maria Mullins, Director of DeKalb County’s office of Economic Development moderated an esteemed panel of industry experts including Ken Bleakly of Bleakly Advisory Group, Scott Condra with Jacoby Development, Ted Tarantino of MARTA and Bob Roche a City Councilman in Doraville. Maria shared that based on current conversations with GM, there is no information to share at the present time. GM is

International Business Program Synopsis

2009-04-23T09:10:00.000-07:00

The SMPS Atlanta Chapter’s November program focused on international business and local A/E/C firms working abroad. The Panelists were Bill Griffin, Chairman of the Board, Rosser International; Helen Davis Hatch, FAIA, Principal and Vice President of Client Relations with Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates; Richard Taylor, a Partner with HLB Gross Collins, an accounting firm; and

Dealing With The Reality of Unemployment

2009-02-06T10:31:00.000-08:00

Having recently been unemployed, I would like to offer the following insight on how to deal with this new reality for so many in our industry. First and foremost, get registered with the Department of Labor immediately, regardless of your severance situation. They will know if, and when, you are eligible to receive an unemployment payment. In Atlanta, the system is backlogged, so it can take over

Vectors vs. Pixels

2009-01-16T05:55:00.001-08:00

Here's a situation you may be familiar with. You've just joined a firm and you need to do a design that requires a vector image. Your boss doesn't understand why you can't just use a jpg, tif, or gif image and no one knows what a vector image is. If you feel shy or irritated when trying to explain the importance of vectors, or maybe you need an entertaining reminder yourself, check out this

Best Practices Program Synopsis

2008-11-11T06:26:00.000-08:00

For the October 28 “Best Practices” presentation, Karen Courtney of Barton Malow and Pete Kienle, of McKim & Creed featured real world examples and life lessons beginning with some definitions and differences between marketing (one to many), business development (one to one) and sales (closing the deal).As they moved into the “Business Acquisition”: process, they talked about delineating the

What's On My Mind...

2008-11-11T06:19:00.000-08:00

These days I’m finding it’s important to cut through the clutter and focus on what is important. The challenge is figuring out just what is the important stuff.We all have that ever-present balancing act between our personal and professional lives. The way I see it is, as you get older, you really need to “protect” your me time, or the thing that makes you YOU, gets lost. Time is a premium. I can

Freebies!! Everyone loves free stuff.

2008-09-24T07:29:00.000-07:00

Here are some links that will get you going on your stock photography library. Nothing is totally free. You are required to register at each of the sites. Be sure to declick receiving free mailings or offers. Also note the usage requirements. Happy photo hunting!Freebies: Free weekly images at istockphotoEvery week on istockphoto, a free image is provided for download. Downloads continue to be

Choosing the Right Public Relations Partner

2008-07-17T17:03:00.000-07:00

Strategic ApproachPublic relations firms come in all different shapes and sizes. Finding the right firm that fits your company is the first step.Your PR firm should have:Knowledge about your businessIndustry expertise across critical sectors Experience and relationships with local media and industry trade publicationsProven success in the marketplaceSeasoned PR professionals as day-to-day

Smarter Internal Marketing

2008-07-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

I was reading an article in RainToday on 6 Steps for Creating a Marketing Plan that Works Best for You. (If you haven’t utilized RainToday as a resource, you should really subscribe.) The article talked about marketing to the path of least resistance and evaluating how you could make your efforts easier. This is one thing that I think too many marketers continue to overlook in their path of

BIM Recap

2008-06-30T07:57:00.000-07:00

The recent SMPS program featured a panel of team members who worked together using BIM software on the Emory Psychology Building project. One glance around the room, filled with technical staff – architects, engineers, contractors – revealed that this topic was definitely a pace setter in our building community.The panelists included Craig Bullock from Emory University, Paul Hedgepath from Holder

RSS Feeds: What Are They & How Can They Benefit Me?

2008-06-22T17:02:00.001-07:00

What is RSS?RSS, or Really Simple Syndication, is an XML-based format for content distribution on the Internet. RSS Feeds (similar to a bookmark in a web browser) are often indicated by links that say "RSS," "Syndicate this site" or a square orange button with the text "RSS" or "XML" within it. RSS Feeds are commonly used on weblogs (blogs), news Web sites and other places with frequently

Adobe Acrobat Basics

2008-06-02T10:25:00.000-07:00

Although Adobe Acrobat has been around since 1993 for MAC users and 1994 for PC, there are still new users each day. So let's go over the basics.What is Adobe Acrobat and why would I use it? Adobe Acrobat allows users to create PDFs (Portable Document Format) in the attempt to make your office paperless, as well as to efficiently and effectively archive and transmit documents via email or through

Official Launch of SMPS-GA Blog

2008-05-16T12:43:00.000-07:00

So what is a blog?Blog comes from the term web log. A blog displays information in reverse chronological order. Typically a blog provides informal commentary or news on a particular subject.What is the purpose of the SMPS-GA blog?Our blog is intended to be an educational resource for SMPS members on trends, topics, technology in the AEC industry. Additionally, it is content that is beneficial to