Dearth of architect's websites

Cat Melodeon

Why do so few architectural/building firms have websites? I have another thread on here looking for recommendations and only about 10% of the firms/independent architects I've been referred to have websites. Surely at this point people realise how important having a web presence is? To me, not having a website is the equivalent of not having a phone number and strikes me as being a bit unprofessional at best, shady at worst. I would have imagined that architectural firms could benefit from a very simple website - photos/drawings of previous projects etc, and that as architects themselves are concerned with design, designing a simple website should not be particularly problematic.

Anyone know any reasons for this?

RKQ

Cat Melodeon wrote: »

To me, not having a website is the equivalent of not having a phone number and strikes me as being a bit unprofessional at best, shady at worst.

In a word, Reputation.

Let me explain, most Architects / Designers get work by recommendation from previous Clients. A lot of work comes from existing Clients that provide continous work.

Referral is very important to any Practice. I also think that a lot of Firms tend to specialist in certain building types. As their work is noticed it gets new Clients, so a good building is much more impressive and beneficial than a good web site.

While I can see your point I have to say that its possible for anyone to have an impressive web site but its not possible for anyone to have a good reputation, proven track record.

Cat Melodeon

That's grand, but why not have both? I'm not going to engage an architect on the basis of their website, but if I get references from someone and find no internet presence for the person they have recommended, it puts me off.

And if they have positive feedback from previous clients, would it not do their business the world of good to publicise such feedback?

Qualitymark

Good point - why don't you ask on the Archiseek forums, see what they say?

RKQ

Cat Melodeon wrote: »

That's grand, but why not have both?

I suppose a few years ago a good Practice was like the A-Team - "if you could find them and they wanted to help you then you could hire the A-Team". People were so busy, they hesitated at giving their business card or being photographed at too many official openings etc.

Maybe it makes sense in a recession to build an impressive web site. But to be honest if I wanted a good Solicitor I wouldn't go on the web or Goldenpages, I'd ask around, get recommendations and choose on reputation.

DOCARCH

RKQ wrote: »

I suppose a few years ago a good Practice was like the A-Team - "if you could find them and they wanted to help you then you could hire the A-Team". People were so busy, they hesitated at giving their business card or being photographed at too many official openings etc.

Have to agree with RKQ, there was so much going on that architects were almost trying to hide! There was more than enough work from previous clients and references to keep one busy.

In my own case, I was engaged by clients to carry out projects and was able to defer starting the projects for months on end - clients were happy to wait. At one stage, I even once considered taking my name out of the yellow pages, as I was getting so many time waster calls!

I have a website registered and up an running with the usual - 'website under construction' - sine 2002! It's only now I am getting around to actually doing something with it. It's only in the last year that I have started putting up site boards (my name) up on every project. All changed now!

Dabzarch

RKQ wrote: »

In a word, Reputation.

Let me explain, most Architects / Designers get work by recommendation from previous Clients. A lot of work comes from existing Clients that provide continous work.

Referral is very important to any Practice. I also think that a lot of Firms tend to specialist in certain building types. As their work is noticed it gets new Clients, so a good building is much more impressive and beneficial than a good web site.

While I can see your point I have to say that its possible for anyone to have an impressive web site but its not possible for anyone to have a good reputation, proven track record.

Couldn't agree more with you, any one can fork out a couple of grand to have 'the look'. As RKQ states, for me the most important part would be a good reputation and a proven track record.

RKQ wrote: »

I suppose a few years ago a good Practice was like the A-Team - "if you could find them and they wanted to help you then you could hire the A-Team". People were so busy, they hesitated at giving their business card or being photographed at too many official openings etc.

Maybe it makes sense in a recession to build an impressive web site. But to be honest if I wanted a good Solicitor I wouldn't go on the web or Goldenpages, I'd ask around, get recommendations and choose on reputation.

Last part so true. its is nearly always on family/friend or word of mouth recommendation.

Still it is a very valid point about exposure. Why not...it can only be for the good of the practice. Maybe there is a bit of old school 'never needed it before' thinking regarding websites etc...

Cat Melodeon

Qualitymark wrote: »

Good point - why don't you ask on the Archiseek forums, see what they say?

Thanks for that idea - lots of links to architects sites there, but still very few in comparison to the number actually practising. A basic site with contact details etc is all that's needed to reassure the likes of me, many listings in the Golden Pages don't even include email addresses. If it appears someone doesn't even use email, it would be difficult to imagine them being up to date with all the latest technological advances in sustainable building methods etc. Just my opinion!

ellee

Instructing an architect is a lobour intensive and time consuming process. I would have thought that a website showing clearly the style and type of work they do would assist potential clients in deciding whether this architect can do the kind of work they want.

Word of mouth can only take you so far.

sydthebeat

ellee wrote: »

Instructing an architect is a lobour intensive and time consuming process. I would have thought that a website showing clearly the style and type of work they do would assist potential clients in deciding whether this architect can do the kind of work they want.

Word of mouth can only take you so far.

this may be applicable in urban areas such as dublin where you can have hundreds of architects within a few km of each other.... but when you move to rural areas it a lot less likely. Some bigger towns may have 4-5 different firms, and in those cases websites again would be advantageous, but in small towns or rural areas word of mouth and reputation holds a lot more clout than websites.
Plus, if you have designed a large number of buildings within a geological area, (and you area good ) your style tends to be recognizable.

ninjaBob

I think it's important for any business, especially service oriented businesses to have a website. I understand that word of mouth is perhaps the primary method most architects pick up work.

A well designed and functional website can only contribute to the business. It can be as simple as a business card to something more complex as interactive showrooms.

To put it another way, when you working with a client and for the sake of a few hundred euro they want to pull a certain feature of the build. You in your heart know that this feature is one of many critical elements which make up the entire design. That's what a website is to your business, word of mouth is one aspect, the web is another. Especially these days when it's so easy to Google a company or an individual.

For the sake of a few hundred euro you are eliminating a key part of your business. You could even get away with a facebook fan page....

sinnerboy

ninjaBob wrote: »

You could even get away with a facebook fan page....

Ninjabob , Cat Melodeon - how would you view a Lindekin page in lieu of a website ?

ellee

I have to say I really think professionals can underestimate how intimidated potential clients can be. As a possible client, it absolutely puts me off when I cannot see clearly what kind of work someone does. Word of mouth is all very well but it is very subjective and one person's view may not accord with another's. And it is not necessarily that easy to figure out which arcitect did what, be that out in the country or in t an urban area. It certainly puts all the prospective work on the client to be running about trying to talk to people they don't know or don't know very well.

Think of all the potential customers you are missing simply because you assume everyone in the area knows what you do!

Cat Melodeon

sinnerboy wrote: »

Ninjabob , Cat Melodeon - how would you view a Lindekin page in lieu of a website ?

That would be fine! Any kind of public presence would be reassuring. I understand that it might be easier for architects in the larger urban centres, but rural architects could differentiate themselves by showing how their designs fit within the rural development guidelines for that county etc. Then again, judging by some of the monstrosities that have 'slipped' by the planners and been built in my rural area, showing a knowledge of the local guidelines would be a bit of an effort...;)

ninjaBob

sinnerboy wrote: »

Ninjabob , Cat Melodeon - how would you view a Lindekin page in lieu of a website ?

LinkedIn is a good way of validating your CV, so would be very handy for building up a professional reputation and having it vouched by fellow professionals. Obviously your average joe wouldn't go to such a site, but fellow professionals might and would possibly help with landing contracts or becoming more well known in your field.

If you are looking at targeting once-off build's, or trying to showcase some of your own work. I would start with a very simple Gallery site eg:

http://slideshowpro.net/

(Plenty of free versions out there which work just as well, see how well the blogs work for people doing self builds)

So essentially your site is very simple, information about yourself or your firm (1page, with full contact details). Then another page with a full gallery of previous works.

The next step would be to setup a facebook fan page, put up your images and get your happy clients to become fans. Their friends will see your updates and this may lead to more word of mouth work for you. As they can see you designed their friends house and they see nice photos as well.

You may think people go around recognizing the styles of houses, but the truth of it is most people don't and when they go to build their own home they don't know where to start. That fabulous house that is around the corner, the first question they will ask is who built it, not who designed it....

Granted fellow trades members will recognize each others work, but I and many others couldn't. Infact I could tell you the builder that made the house across the road from me, would have no idea who the engineer or architect is.

If you want I can host a site for you for free. All you need worry about is the domain name and getting some content up there. I can recommend some very simple tools to help you get a presence. PM me if you want more details and I can send you on some links that would help you out.

ellee wrote: »

I have to say I really think professionals can underestimate how intimidated potential clients can be. As a possible client, it absolutely puts me off when I cannot see clearly what kind of work someone does. Word of mouth is all very well but it is very subjective and one person's view may not accord with another's. And it is not necessarily that easy to figure out which arcitect did what, be that out in the country or in t an urban area. It certainly puts all the prospective work on the client to be running about trying to talk to people they don't know or don't know very well.

[Edit]

I'm not a web developer

imitation

I agree, having a website is a good idea. I dont know how much new buisness it will pull in (thats dependent on how novel the website and your work is) but it will reinforce good word of mouth, and let you demonstrate work that may otherwise not be seen.

Cat Melodeon

ninjaBob wrote: »

LinkedIn is a good way of validating your CV, so would be very handy for building up a professional reputation and having it vouched by fellow professionals. Obviously your average joe wouldn't go to such a site, but fellow professionals might and would possibly help with landing contracts or becoming more well known in your field.

Slight disagreement with you there - linkedin, xing etc are basically just facebook for business rather than social purposes. Most average Joes who can afford to build a house will be in employment or be professionals/workers of some sort. Certainly younger ones at least will be web-savvy and well used to sites like these, possibly even having their own account. As such, it would definitely be an asset to any professional to have some good solid contacts and references on there.

imitation

Cat Melodeon wrote: »

Slight disagreement with you there - linkedin, xing etc are basically just facebook for business rather than social purposes. Most average Joes who can afford to build a house will be in employment or be professionals/workers of some sort. Certainly younger ones at least will be web-savvy and well used to sites like these, possibly even having their own account. As such, it would definitely be an asset to any professional to have some good solid contacts and references on there.

Yes, but you have to remember the context too, a builder / architect may have spent the most of his time working for his own company, or in some cases another small company. Likewise there contacts are going to be other smaller contacts in the industry. To an average joe building a house who knows nothing about the industry its going to be of little use.

On the other hand if a joe looked at a programmers linkedin he may have had a few jobs with some large multinationals/companys and links with likewise that would indicate he was pretty good to a man on the street.

imitation

I just saw a very good example from a small glazing company of how to do a website. They basically just made blog page and posted pictures of there work, theres about 10-15 examples with decent pictures. It straight away sets a good tone to see a company displaying its work, especially if they are starting out.