The Built Environment Marketing Show: marketing strategies and tactics for architects and engineers

Welcome back to The Built Environment Marketing Show hosted by strategic marketing consultant Ayo Abbas. This week I'm joined by Tim Heatley, co-founder of Capital&Centric, an investor, developer and operator spending three to four million pounds a week on regeneration across the UK. We talk about how he builds trust with communities before a single plan is shown, why his advice to architects and engineers is to take a naff scheme off their website, and, with the UK's political leadership in flux, what the rest of the country can actually learn from Manchester. Recorded just before Andy Burnham was confirmed as UK Prime Minister, this conversation already had us talking about the rise of Manchesterism and what the rest of the UK can learn from it. What do you think, could this approach work beyond Manchester? Let me know in the comments. Don't forget to like this video and subscribe to the channel for more from the people shaping marketing, BD for Architects, engineers and contractors. Want help with your own marketing and BD strategy in architecture, engineering or construction? That's what I do at Abbas Marketing. Get in touch: ayo@abbasmarketing.com or head to abbasmarketing.com SUBSCRIBE TO MY YouTube CHANNEL HERE https://youtube.com/@abbasmarketing?si=Gskm6EAkj56xWEHO FOLLOW THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT MARKETING SHOW LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/built-environment-marketing-show/ FOLLOW AYO ABBAS LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayoabbas Website - https://www.abbasmarketing.com/ #BuiltEnvironment #BuiltEnvironmentMarketing #architecture #MarketingStrategy #developers

In this episode, Ayo talks to Rachael Bernstone, founder of Sounds Like Design and former architecture journalist of nearly 25 years, about why marketing has such a bad reputation inside architecture practices — and what changes when firms stop avoiding it. Topics covered: Why marketing feels like a "dirty word" to architects, and where that resistance comes from The link between university crit culture and adult reluctance to self-promote Why referrals remain the most important (and most under-used) channel The shift from "client as patron" to "client as customer" Why most architecture websites fail to speak to actual clients Gateway/entry-level services and why partial offers are winning trust faster than full-service models How framing a project distinctively builds authority that compounds across media and AI search Lead magnets as a thought-leadership and list-building tool Why only 59% of architects say strategy is their real blocker Resources Rachael Bernstone / Sounds Like Design Rachael's original " Is marketing a dirty word in your architecture practice?" email Rachael's marketing quiz for architects Ayo's strategic advisory services About the show The Built Environment Marketing Show is a show that is unashamedly about marketing for architects and engineers, as well as bringing forward voices that we don't always get to hear. Ways you can support this show Donate to help cover the costs for making this show 📲 Share about the show on socia ls 🔗 Follow us on Apple or Spotify 📝 Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify 💬 Tell a friend about the show who you think will benefit.

The Built Environment Marketing Show hosted by Ayo Abbas, strategic marketing consultant from Abbas Marketing. Book an intro call with Ayo Today's episode is all about what actually happens when things go sideways midway through marketing execution? In this episode, I get honest about two moments where marketing didn't go to plan — a content cliché bingo card for a campaign that was derailed by Wi-Fi not working and a bid submission that never arrived thanks to an incident...... Both carry real lessons about margins of error, adaptability, and how constraints often spark the best creative thinking. If you've ever had to pivot fast and figure it out on the fly, this one's for you. Resources Content Cliche Bingo Interactive App Abbas Marketing About the show The Built Environment Marketing Show is a show that is unashamedly about marketing for architects and engineers, as well as bringing forward voices that we don't always get to hear. Ways you can support this show Donate to help cover the costs for making this show 📲 Share about the show on socia ls 🔗 Follow us on Apple or Spotify 📝 Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify 💬 Tell a friend about the show who you think will benefit.

Episode 101 of The Built Environment Marketing Show is a solo milestone, a chance to reflect, celebrate and take stock of six years of conversations about marketing in one of the most complex, overlooked sectors in business. Ayo Abbas shares what 101 episodes, 20,000+ downloads and 70+ guests have taught her about the state of built environment marketing in 2026, and what separates the firms who are winning from those watching their pipelines dry up. She covers four defining themes: the real role of AI in your marketing toolkit why brand has finally overtaken portfolio as the key differentiator the industry's persistent failure to value marketing talent what the LinkedIn algorithm shift actually means for how you show up. This one's for anyone who's ever had to justify a marketing budget, fight for headcount, or convince a partner that the work doesn't just speak for itself. Resources DOWNLOAD - 101 practical ideas to get more from events checklist Abbas Marketing Barbour ABI - The Case for Marketing Investment in the Built Environment Previous episode links Mace with Danielle Regan and Dave Hendy Episode 23 Part 1 and Part II Rachel Bell and Rob Sargent, Stride Treglown- Episode 1 Rick Robinson - Episode 6 Magnus Strom - Episode 25 Tristram Carfrae - Arup Episode 47 About the show The Built Environment Marketing Show is a show that is unashamedly about marketing for architects and engineers, as well as bringing forward voices that we don't always get to hear. Ways you can support this show Donate to help cover the costs for making this show 📲 Share about the show on socia ls 🔗 Follow us on Apple or Spotify 📝 Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify 💬 Tell a friend about the show who you think will benefit.

Today's episode of the podcast features Nathan Spencer , MD of UKREiiF which is taking place at the Royal Armouries in Leeds from May 19 - May 21. We talk through: What's happening at the event this year including must see sessions How to navigate the programme and events so you reach your business goals How to manage your marketing and BD approach so you get the biggest bang for your buck. Resources DOWNLOAD - 101 practical ideas to get more from events checklist UKREiiF Abbas Marketing About the show The Built Environment Marketing Show is a show that is unashamedly about marketing for architects and engineers, as well as bringing forward voices that we don't always get to hear. Ways you can support this show Donate to help cover the costs for making this show 📲 Share about the show on socia ls 🔗 Follow us on Apple or Spotify 📝 Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify 💬 Tell a friend about the show who you think will benefit.

What does it look like when comms professionals get fed up of seeing the same mistakes and decide to do something about it? That's exactly how the BE Comms Collective was born. In this episode, I’m joined by Aceil Haddad (founder of Matt PR) and Lisa Levy (independent comms consultant) to introduce the BE Comms Collective, a group of senior strategic communications specialists tackling the chronic comms failures they see across built environment organisations. Together we break down the seven deadly sins of built environment communications: from missing the bigger picture to a lack of crisis preparedness, short-term thinking to leadership that fails to listen. We also introduce a free diagnostic tool that helps organisational leaders identify which comms challenges are most pressing which you can access here https://www.matt-pr.com/get-diagnosed , and we explain how the Collective brings the right senior expertise to each brief. If your organisation is navigating major infrastructure, stakeholder engagement, or reputation management, this one's for you. About the show The Built Environment Marketing Show is a show that is unashamedly about marketing for architects and engineers, as well as bringing forward voices that we don't always get to hear. Ways you can support this show Donate to help cover the costs for making this show 📲 Share about the show on socia ls 🔗 Follow us on Apple or Spotify 📝 Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify 💬 Tell a friend about the show who you think will benefit.

Welcome back to The Built Environment Marketing Show hosted by me Ayo Abbas. In this solo episode, I share real data from my own LinkedIn performance (impressions down 17%, engagement up 19%), unpacs how the new 360Brew algorithm is changing the rules, and explain why passive scrolling is quietly killing your reach. If you've been wondering why fewer people seem to be seeing your content, or whose content you've stopped seeing, this episode gives you the answers and a clear action plan. Key takeaways LinkedIn organic reach is declining across the board Engagement now matters more than reach Being connected no longer guarantees visibility Hashtags are losing their role as content signals Comments can outperform standalone posts. Resources and links BEMS roundup episode from end of 2025 Reports on the 360Brew algorithm LinkedIn Post Performance Tracker and/or training ayo@abbasmarketing.com About the show The Built Environment Marketing Show is a show that is unashamedly about marketing for architects and engineers, as well as bringing forward voices that we don't always get to hear. Ways you can support this show Donate to help cover the costs for making this show 📲 Share about the show on socia ls 🔗 Follow us on Apple or Spotify 📝 Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify 💬 Tell a friend about the show who you think will benefit.

Welcome back to The Built Environment Marketing Show hosted by me Ayo Abbas. To mark me working for 25 years in the construction industry, this epsiode is an interview with my very first boss, Anna Hern from Ridgemount. Together we chart the evolution of construction marketing: from the old PR vs advertising divide, through the explosion of digital channels, to the AI era we're now navigating. Anna brings sharp, no-nonsense realness on what great clients look like, why strategy is still misunderstood, how digital measurement changed everything, and the counter-intuitive case for investing in your brand hardest when the market is at its toughest. Key takeaways What great clients do differently (and strategy vs tactics) Trust, AI, and the role of media / gatekeepers Expectations, complexity, and measurement in modern marketing Future-facing skills: brand building, critical thinking, and using AI well Resources and links Ayo Abbas on LinkedIn Abbas Marketing website Ridgemount agency website Anna Hern on LinkedIn Contact Ayo: ayo@abbasmarketing.com About the show The Built Environment Marketing Show is hosted by marketing consultant and content creator Ayo Abbas from Abbas Marketing . It is a show that is unashamedly about marketing for architects and engineers, as well as bringing forward voices that we don't always get to hear. Ways you can support this show Donate to help cover the costs for making this show 📲 Share about the show on socia ls 🔗 Follow us on Apple or Spotify 📝 Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify 💬 Tell a friend about the show who you think will benefit.

Welcome back to The Built Environment Marketing Show hosted by me Ayo Abbas. Most built environment firms know networking matters but are they actually in the right rooms? In this solo episode, I share a real decision I had to make between two events on the same day, and why choosing the less familiar option led to two potential project conversations by the time I got home. This episode looks at why strategic networking has to match your positioning and what happens when it doesn't. If you're an architect, engineer, or consultant spending time going to events that aren't converting, this one's for you. Key takeaways Your networking strategy should directly reflect your positioning Being 'out there' isn't enough. Visibility only counts when you're visible to the right people Most firms are spending the majority of their networking time with competitors Strategic networking comes down to three things happening at once: the right decision makers, at the right time, in the right context The firms winning better work at better fees go to fewer events — but they make each one count. Focus beats volume every time. About the show The Built Environment Marketing Show is hosted by marketing consultant and content creator Ayo Abbas from Abbas Marketing . It is a show that is unashamedly about marketing for architects and engineers, as well as bringing forward voices that we don't always get to hear. Ways you can support this show Donate to help cover the costs for making this show 📲 Share about the show on socia ls 🔗 Follow us on Apple or Spotify 📝 Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify 💬 Tell a friend about the show who you think will benefit.

Welcome back to The Built Environment Marketing Show hosted by me Ayo Abbas. In this special crossover episode with Keelin Cox from The AEC Marketer podcast. In this episode we're talking about what's really happening with AI in marketing (spoiler: quantity is up, quality is questionable), why AEC marketers still aren't getting the strategic recognition they deserve, and what UK firms need to know before attempting to crack the US market. This is a rare behind-the-scenes conversation between two marketers who've spent their careers proving that marketing in the built environment is far more than just proposals and pretty pictures. This is part II of the episode where I'm interviewing Keelin and if you want to check out part 1 where Keelin interviews me on her show head here http://aecmarketeer.fireside.fm/141 Key takeaways How to use AI as a strategic tool rather than a content crutch - and why the difference matters for quality Why marketers need to speak the language of business: KPIs, win rates, and bottom-line impact The critical mistake most firms make when they think "marketing" means "proposals person" What UK AEC firms must understand about US state licensing, office requirements, and regional differences before expanding How to translate your strategic value into terms that leadership actually understands and respects The game-changing mindset shift: clients aren't buying your time, they're buying your 20+ years of expertise About the show The Built Environment Marketing Show is hosted by marketing consultant and content creator Ayo Abbas from Abbas Marketing . It is a show that is unashamedly about marketing for architects and engineers, as well as bringing forward voices that we don't always get to hear. Ways you can support this show Donate to help cover the costs for making this show 📲 Share about the show on socia ls 🔗 Follow us on Apple or Spotify 📝 Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify 💬 Tell a friend about the show who you think will benefit.

This month is the 25th anniversary of podcast host Ayo Abbas starting work in the construction sector so she shares some lessons she's learned about the importance of articulating value that will help you whether you work in-house or elsewhere. Key takeaways Why you must understand that clients aren't buying your time Identify your unique value proposition and share it via real-world examples Apply the 3-step Value Framework: The importance of articulating your value clearly to avoid the "race to the bottom" Why you need to own who you are and stop apologising Resources and links Abbas Marketing About the show The Built Environment Marketing Show is hosted by marketing consultant and content creator Ayo Abbas from Abbas Marketing. It is a show that is unashamedly about marketing for architects and engineers, as well as bringing forward voices that we don't always get to hear. Ways you can support this show 📲 Share about the show on socia ls 🔗 Follow us on Apple or Spotify 📝 Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify 💬 Tell a friend about the show who you think will benefit. iiXlDJoqObIMMcYPE4od

Today's episode is a veritable ride around The Built Environment Marketing Show podcast in 2025 in our End of year reflections and predictions. It's one where I round up and share the main facts and figures for how this show has performed, who has been on, the topics we've covered and where I'm planning to take the show in 2026. Thanks so much for listening to the show and to everyone who has taken time out this year to contribute to the podcast. It's really appreciated. Resources and links Abbas Marketing About the show The Built Environment Marketing Show is hosted by marketing consultant and content creator Ayo Abbas from Abbas Marketing. It is a show that is unashamedly about marketing for architects and engineers, as well as bringing forward voices that we don't always get to hear. BOOK A CALL TO TALK ABOUT WORKING WITH ME IN 2026 Ways you can support this show 📲 Share about the show on socia ls 🔗 Follow us on Apple or Spotify 📝 Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify 💬 Tell a friend about the show who you think will benefit. Episodes in 2025 Ep 92: AI in marketing: The good, the bad, and the reality Ep 91: Why marketing funnels don't work for B2B and what to do instead Ep 90: Lessons learned from 5 years of podcasting Ep 89: Using spoken communication to build confidence and authority with Tom Coupe Ep 88: Architecture and construction industry awards from three perspectives Ep 87: How to bring 'boring' industries to life with Michelle Garrett and Ayo Abbas Ep 86: Making the most out of your time at UKREiiF, part II, with Nathan Spencer, Jeremy Brim and Ayo Abbas Ep 85: Making the most out of your time at UKREiiF, part I, with Nathan Spencer, Jeremy Brim and Ayo Abbas Ep 84: Reframing sustainability and climate communications - Part 2, with Rosie Cade and Brigitte Clements Ep 83: Reframing sustainability and climate communications with Rosie Cade and Brigitte Clements Ep 82: We’re back for 2025

In this episode, Ayo Abbas kicks off a mini-series exploring how marketers are using AI across industries. She interviews Stuart Wilks and Kristian Downer about the practical realities of AI adoption, sharing real-world examples, concerns, and the future of marketing with artificial intelligence. Key takeaways Stuart and Kristian shared: How to unlock AI's creative potential while preserving brand authenticity Ways to build robust AI governance that enables innovation What effective AI leadership looks like in progressive marketing teams The opportunity to create sustainable competitive advantages in an AI-driven market How to strategically position your team for the AI-enhanced future Resources and links Abbas Marketing Limeslade Dowsocial Marketing Fyxer.ai - Meeting management and transcription tool NotebookLM - Document summarisation and podcast creation Crystal Knows - LinkedIn profile analysis tool Social Media Marketing podcast - AI marketing resources and tools MIT study on AI making people lazy About the show The Built Environment Marketing Show is hosted by marketing consultant and content creator Ayo Abbas from Abbas Marketing. It is a show that is unashamedly about marketing for architects and engineers, as well as bringing forward voices that we don't always get to hear. Ways you can support this show 📲 Share about the show on socia ls 🔗 Follow us on Apple or Spotify 📝 Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify 💬 Tell a friend about the show who you think will benefit.

Marketing consultant Anna O'Riordan joins me, Ayo Abbas to challenge the B2B marketing funnel. Often heralded as the gospel of all types of marketing, we explore why traditional funnel thinking fails in B2B environments and share practical alternatives that actually work for complex buying journeys. oh and here are the two LinkedIn posts that sparked this conversation: Ayo's post https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ayoabbas_marketing-b2b-builtenvironment-activity-7342807335859331074-yGd4?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAFPDJgBooVBV0bdyqCqr6gjVCXIR2mUhDA Anna's post https://www.linkedin.com/posts/annaoriordan_life-doesnt-fit-in-a-funnel-and-neither-activity-7341396652613607425-28Dd?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAFPDJgBooVBV0bdyqCqr6gjVCXIR2mUhDA Resources and links Abbas Marketing Afand.co EsTeam.Pro April Dunford Alice Widger - Milk It Digital Katelyn Bourgoin Chris Walker Antonia Wade - Transforming the B2B Buyer Journey About the show The Built Environment Marketing Show is hosted by marketing consultant and content creator Ayo Abbas from Abbas Marketing. It is a show that is unashamedly about marketing for architects and engineers, as well as bringing forward voices that we don't always get to hear. Ways you can support this show 📲 Share about the show on socia ls 🔗 Follow us on Apple or Spotify 📝 Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify 💬 Tell a friend about the show who you think will benefit.

In this episode, I Ayo Abbas, founder of Abbas Marketing and host of this podcast share some of my thoughts on this very podcast turning 5 on July 3rd. Resources and links Abbas Marketing About the show The Built Environment Marketing Show is hosted by marketing consultant and content creator Ayo Abbas from Abbas Marketing. It is a show that is unashamedly about marketing for architects and engineers, as well as bringing forward voices that we don't always get to hear. Ways you can support this show 📲 Share about the show on socia ls 🔗 Follow us on Apple or Spotify 📝 Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify 💬 Tell a friend about the show who you think will benefit.

In this episode, Ayo Abbas interviews Tom Coupe, founder of Design Communication Training and former communications leader at David Chipperfield Architects, Heatherwick Studio, and Squint Opera. Tom discusses how architects can master spoken communications to build stronger client relationships, win more work, and scale their practices effectively. He shares: How to adapt your design language beyond technical jargon to communicate design concepts clearly to non-architects Ways to build client trust through storytelling What makes great architectural communicators stand out - It's not just brilliant design but being adaptable The need for structured preparation frameworks How to handle unknown questions confidently Ways to scale relationship management across a firm And much more. Resources and links Abbas Marketing Design Communication Training About the show The Built Environment Marketing Show is hosted by marketing consultant and content creator Ayo Abbas from Abbas Marketing. It is a show that is unashamedly about marketing for architects and engineers, as well as bringing forward voices that we don't always get to hear. Ways you can support this show 📲 Share about the show on socia ls 🔗 Follow us on Apple or Spotify 📝 Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify 💬 Tell a friend about the show who you think will benefit.

Welcome to the Built Environment Marketing Show hosted by me, marketer Ayo Abbas from Abbas Marketing. In this episode, I share some of my experiences of being involved in industry awards from three perspectives, as a judge, as an organiser and as an entrant. This year alone, I've judged three major awards programmes The RIBA Awards West London region, The Brunel University Entrepreneurship Awards, and the global Architizer A+ Awards. On top of this last year I assessed over 100 award entries, so I feel I've got lots to say on this and how to create submissions that make shortlists and even go onto win. I share: How to approach awards strategically Ways to research and select the right awards Tips on what makes award entries compelling The importance of using accessible language How to structure winning narratives and tell compelling stories Ways to prepare for judging visits What judges actually look for Resources and links Abbas Marketing RIBA Awards Judging Applications Architizer A+ Awards About the show The Built Environment Marketing Show is hosted by marketing consultant and content creator Ayo Abbas from Abbas Marketing. It is a show that is unashamedly about marketing for architects and engineers, as well as bringing forward voices that we don't always get to hear. Ways you can support this show 📲 Share about the show on socia ls 🔗 Follow us on Apple or Spotify 📝 Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify 💬 Tell a friend about the show who you think will benefit.

This episode is repurposed from my guest appearance on Michelle Garrett's PR Explored show live on LinkedIn. The lively discussion talks about marketing and PR strategies for so-called "boring" industries. We talk about how to find compelling stories in B2B sectors like construction, engineering, and manufacturing, and why these industries offer a sea of potential riches for marketers willing to dig that bit deeper. We share: How to identify stories in technical industries by looking beyond features to find the human impact, problem-solving angles, and business outcomes. Ways to extract compelling narratives from engineers using the "so what?" questioning method to uncover the real benefits and outcomes. Why we feel B2B marketing is way more rewarding than B2C How to manage client expectations in technical PR What effective content repurposing looks like in practice Resources and links Abbas Marketing Garrett Public Relations minimass About the show The Built Environment Marketing Show is hosted by marketing consultant and content creator Ayo Abbas from Abbas Marketing. It is a show that is unashamedly about marketing for architects and engineers, as well as bringing forward voices that we don't always get to hear. Ways you can support this show 📲 Share about the show on socia ls 🔗 Follow us on Apple or Spotify 📝 Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify 💬 Tell a friend about the show who you think will benefit.

In this second part of our special two-part episode of the Built Environment Marketing Show, we continue exploring UKREliF (UK Real Estate Investment Forum), the property and real estate show taking place in Leeds from May 20-22, 2025. I'm Ayo Abbas and am joined by Jeremy Brim from Growth Ignition and special guest Nathan Spencer, Managing Director of UKREiiF, to talk about how you can make the most of their time at the event. In this episode, we go deep into how to prep before, during and after the event with a host of tips on how you can get the maximum bang from your attendee buck. DOWNLOAD MY UKREiiF PREP CHECKLIST Resources and links Abbas Marketing UKREiiF Growth Ignition About the show The Built Environment Marketing Show is hosted by marketing consultant and content creator Ayo Abbas from Abbas Marketing. It is a show that is unashamedly about marketing for architects and engineers, as well as bringing forward voices that we don't always get to hear. Ways you can support this show 📲 Share about the show on socia ls 🔗 Follow us on Apple or Spotify 📝 Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify 💬 Tell a friend about the show who you think will benefit.

This special two-part episode of the Built Environment Marketing Show focuses on UKREiiF (UK Real Estate Investment Forum), the property and real estate show taking place in Leeds from May 20-22, 2025. I'm Ayo Abbas and am joined by Jeremy Brim from Growth Ignition and special guest Nathan Spencer, Managing Director of UKREiiF, to talk about how you can make the most of their time at the event. In this episode, we have a look at: Strategic planning tips to navigate an event with 13,000+ delegates Tips on networking and how to build fruitful business relationships New features and formats for 2025 at the show Some of the must-see sessions DOWNLOAD MY UKREiiF PREP CHECKLIST Resources and links Abbas Marketing UKREiiF Growth Ignition About the show The Built Environment Marketing Show is hosted by marketing consultant and content creator Ayo Abbas from Abbas Marketing. It is a show that is unashamedly about marketing for architects and engineers, as well as bringing forward voices that we don't always get to hear. Ways you can support this show 📲 Share about the show on socia ls 🔗 Follow us on Apple or Spotify 📝 Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify 💬 Tell a friend about the show who you think will benefit.