Graphicmachine wasn't built by marketers who decided architecture was a good niche. It was founded by someone who practiced in the profession: drawing, specifying, developing elements for client approval, and seeing firsthand how architecture firms win and lose work.
This means we understand the project cycle, the client relationships, and what can make the difference in earning a commission or winning an RFP. We also know the marketing strategies that can shift a firm from pursuing work to attracting it.
Since 1999, we've worked with firms in architecture, building materials, and construction. We're a proud member of the AIA and the USGBC. Our podcast As Built has featured conversations with some of the most respected names in the profession because the architecture community trusts us to understand what they've built and why it matters.
When you work with Graphicmachine, you're not educating your marketing agency. You're working with people who already speak your language.
Expanding into a new market or project type where nobody knows you yet
Over-reliance on referrals as your primary business development strategy
Leadership transition where firm reputation feels tied to one person
Losing projects to less-qualified but more visible firms
Competing for talent against firms with bigger profiles
Feast or famine pipeline with no predictability
A mid-sized architecture firm had grown rapidly, nearly doubled in size, and changed their name, but their marketing wasn't keeping up. Their website was invisible in search results, their outreach was limited to print with no trackable results, and many former clients thought the firm had closed. Smaller competitors were outmaneuvering them simply by being more visible.
We wrote the book on architecture firm publicity. Literally. Publicity for Architecture Firms: What Actually Works Now is a free guide for firm principals who are tired of being outmaneuvered by firms with weaker portfolios and better visibility. Written by Graphicmachine Principal Patience Jones, based on decades of real-world insights.
Complete the form below to receive your free electronic copy.
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First, we learn your firm.
Everything starts with a conversation. We want to understand where you are and where you want to go. What kind of work do you want more of? What markets are you trying to reach? What's working in your business development today, and what isn't?
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Next, we develop a plan specifically for you.
You don't deliver templated buildings, and we don't deliver templated marketing strategies. We build a customized plan around your goals and your timeline.
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We work with you, not around you.
Some of our clients have in-house marketing staff, some have an architectural designer wearing a part-time marketing hat, and others have no marketing support. We meet you where you are. We can lead the full effort or fill the specific gaps your team can't.
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We measure what matters and we're transparent about the results.
At the very beginning, we establish how success gets measured. You get access to the same dashboards we use. If something isn't performing the way it should, we tell you and we tell you what we're doing about it. No vanity metrics, no monthly reports that look busy but say nothing.
At the beginning of our work with you, we establish how we’re going to measure the results. We provide you with access to the dashboards that we use to measure our efforts, and we communicate what we’re doing to improve if something isn’t working the way it needs to.
We also track how well our strategies generate leads, ensuring that your firm is consistently attracting potential clients.
Because things change all the time: digital tools, human behavior, business models at competing firms. When an architecture firm doesn’t have an effective marketing strategy, it cedes its ground to another firm, person, or technology. Over time, this makes it harder to attract new work and new talent. A robust digital marketing strategy maintains visibility and competitiveness.
Your website is the foundation for all of your marketing and publicity efforts. If you already have a website that performs well and supports other marketing efforts, we can build on that with a combination of services including SEO, AEO, and social media to improve your firm’s discoverability.
Sometimes, an architecture firm’s website doesn’t function the way that it needs to, or there is something about it that is actively harming your marketing. We review this with you so you understand the ground conditions and can make informed decisions.
That depends on the client and the project. We tailor meetings and communications frequencies based on what the project needs and the client prefers.
We often work with firms that have in-house marketing staff or even an entire department. We provide strategy, guidance on one-off items, execution of items that are outside the skills or time your staff has, and training where it is helpful. We also help you move beyond traditional architecture firm marketing approaches, which often miss opportunities to engage a broader audience.
“It’s just architecture – what’s the big deal?”
“If you could just smile more.”
“Mies who?”
“The pillows are what really make the space.”
“Here, dance with this umbrella for a social media video.”
Download our free book Publicity for Architecture Firms: What Actually Works Now. It includes things that you can do now to start building your visibility today.
