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Top Bloggers in the A/E/C Industry

Tim Klabunde — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:00:12 +0000

On several occasions I have been asked for a list of the top marketing blogs in the A/E/C industry. Below is a list of the blogs and bloggers that I believe lead the industry. I hope that many of these bloggers likewise consider Cofebuz an industry leader, yet as this blog is also read extensively outside of the A/E/C industry, I will leave that call to someone else. In addition to being industry leaders in Web 2.0, these bloggers are on my “must read” list each week. I encourage you to check them out also:

Construction Marketing Ideas by Mark Buckshon

E-Quipblog by Mel Lester

Harding & Company by Ford Harding

PSMJ Resources by Ed Hannan (and others at PSMJ Resources)

Let me also add Help Everybody Everyday by Matt Handall. This is a new blog for the A/E/C industry, but on that I believe deserves placement in this list due to Matt’s success with Construction Netcast and his long history of excellent writing for Marketer and A/E Rainmaker.

A Final Note:

I don’t want to downplay some of the other great blogs in our industry. Note that the list above was for marketing blogs. I also recommend checking out the SullivanKreiss blog, and I always enjoy the unique and fun SEI Design Group Blog.

The Digital Crutch

Tim Klabunde — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:00:00 +0000

On Wednesday this past week Ford Harding (the author of one of my favorite books “Rain Making” and the Harding & Company blog) spoke at the DC chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services. As we sat prior to Ford’s talk, I was amazed at the group that had gathered at the head table. In addition to Ford, multiple Web 2.0 experts from the industry, including Mark Buckshon (Construction Marketing Ideas) and Matt Handal (Construction Netcast and Help Everybody Everyday) were engaged in conversation.

I couldn’t help but note how interesting it was that Mark and Matt had taken the time to attend the event in Washington, D.C. Mark had flown in from Ontario Canada and Matt had taken the train from Philadelphia that morning. Each of them showed the importance they place on in-person communication in order to make their businesses succeed, even in light of their prominence in the Web 2.0 world.

The Digital Crutch

Many people I know use technology as a crutch, rather than a tool to build relationships. It is an easy and important form of communication, but what we can’t do is use digital communication to replace human interaction. Even the leading Web 2.0 experts in our industry know that in order to keep their relationships strong, nothing can replace in-person communication.

Are you limping?

Are you limping by with e-mails and a linkedIn account that isn’t focusing on the development of relationships? Perhaps it is time for you to step away from the computer and focus on in-person communication this week.

Creative Networking

Tim Klabunde — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 12:00:40 +0000

I was reading some internet articles this morning on networking and ran across a great article by Fiona Robyn entitled “Creative Networking.” In it she expands on five suggestions of how to be a good networker.

Of special interest to me was her 5^th suggestion, “Network with people you want to keep in touch with anyway.” As I expand my network I often run across individuals that I like and respect; people that I truly desire to keep in touch with. For me these individuals have included Hank Chase of Integrity Consulting, Mark Buckshon of Construction News and Report (blog: Construction Marketing Ideas), and Ken White of Architecture Incorporated. I find it easy to network with these people simply because I enjoy their thoughts and respect their opinions. It is important to remember that networking isn’t bound by industry or location; networking is developing relationships that we can enjoy throughout our career and lives.

Let me leave you with a quote from Fiona’s article:

If you like and respect someone enough to keep in touch with them then that should be enough – you may be useful to each other’s careers at some point and you may not. Enjoy building your network and marvellous things will begin to happen!