Ballard Remodel

By Robert LaBenz, AIA

CRAN Members Share Their Best Marketing Ideas

For this issue of the CRAN Chronicle, the focus was on marketing. The CRAN Chronicle team asked you, the members of the CRAN community, to give us your best tips for marketing your architectural services and we have compiled your responses into this article. Thank you for your contributions!

It's Not The Media: It's The Work

By Duo Dickinson, AIA

A very nice woman emailed my office last week, and was interested in auditioning me to be her architect after seeing my Houzz profile. I had created that series of images and words at the behest of my publisher before my last book. That contact was nothing new, but the process of connection was nothing like it was 30 years ago.

Houzz, CRAN and the AIA - How Does the Partnership Benefit You?

By Liza Hausman, VP, Industry Marketing, Houzz

Attending the CRAN Symposium in Charleston on behalf of Houzz was a real treat for me; it was my first visit to the city and I was captivated by both the aesthetics and history of the piazzas, secret gardens, gas lamps and bow ties. But what really captured my attention were the dialogue and questions raised during the symposium and how they resonated with so many practitioners around the country. 

Interview with Mark Hutker, FAIA

By Kevin Harris, AIA

Mark, thank you for agreeing to share updates of your marketing best practices with the CRAN Knowledge Community. The CRAN community was introduced to your methods for marketing architectural services at the 2012 CRAN Symposium. Just two years later, and in this issue of the CRAN Chronicle on marketing, this interview is, in many ways, a follow up on what you presented during that seminar.

Architects Are Fighting a Silent War

By Enoch Sears, AIA

Make no mistake – architects are facing a silent war. After 8 years of study and professional training, an architect should be respected like a doctor and paid like a highly qualified professional.

Building Blocks Series: "How to Talk with Your Clients: Words of Wisdom from Architect Jeremiah Eck, FAIA"

By John Altobello (part 2 of 2)

This is the second installment in the “Building Blocks” series that deals with the all important question: how do architects effectively communicate with clients? A successful design project is often attributed to the mastery of good communication skills. The first installment explored landing the commission and laying the groundwork for successful relationships. In this second installment, Jeremiah Eck explains the role of communication in presenting the initial design and in getting the project built with the contractor.

Watch On-Demand: CRAN Symposium Session Videos

We received a fantastic response to live-streaming the CRAN Symposium. If you couldn't attend Symposium and weren't able to catch the live-streamed events don't worry! There are now video recordings of the sessions available on-demand at www.houzz.com/AIACRANSymposium.

Please also keep an eye out for the live-streamed CRAN Symposium sessions to soon be available on AIAU, a place for architects to learn and earn continuing education credits.

Membership Report

By John L. Stewart, AIA

The National Membership Committee of CRAN is headed by Mary Cerrone of Pittsburg, PA and John Stewart of San Carlos, CA (30 miles south of San Francisco). They have been co-chairs of this committee for the past few years. The emphasis this year has been reaching out to the Chapter CRAN Committees.