CIM MBA Program

Showing posts with label kimberly kayler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kimberly kayler. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Coming Soon...A New Book on Social Media for the AEC Industry

Coming soon...a new book on social media in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. Building Business with Social Media: A guide to results oriented social media marketing will soon be available on Amazon.com. Brian Gallagher and Kimberly Kayler take a deep dive into social media marketing for the AEC industry.

Technology continues to revolutionize how companies in the architectural, engineering, construction (AEC) and manufacturing industries do business. In response to this trend, these firms need to leverage social media to establish and maintain a competitive marketing advantage. Building Business with Social Media is an introductory level book geared towards leaders, principles, and marketers for business-to-business companies and organizations.

Social media presents interesting opportunities for business-to-business firms to engage in authentic dialogue and conversation with customers, position themselves as thought leaders, leverage marketing content, amplify and spread their message, generate leads and compliment marketing activities. This book will help you understand how the Internet has changed the way people seek and find information, communicate, collaborate, and engage.

Building Business with Social Media is designed to provide AEC, manufacturing and other business-to-business marketers with a basic understanding of social media tools, while providing ideas to enhance your firm’s online presence, build brand awareness and generate demand through the strategic application of social media tools.

Tuesday, October 09, 2012

Leading With Marketing

Successful construction firms don’t view marketing as an expense, but rather a strategic approach to business. The “leading with marketing” philosophy embodies how a company approaches its business, marketplace and clients. When companies lead with marketing, they choose which markets to target, what services to offer, how to differentiate, how to communicate and how to win.

Marketing is the art and science of creating awareness, delivering value, selling services, satisfying needs and getting clients to buy again. While marketing is an integral part of the business world, too many construction firms do not understand how to use and apply marketing tools and strategies. Now is the time to take the lead and embrace a strategic and integrated marketing program.

Defining the Role of Marketing
The role of marketing within a construction firm should focus on understanding, creating, communicating and delivering value. A construction firm’s marketing strategy must set the direction and scope of the organization while supporting the company’s business plan and strategic objectives.

Ultimately, the role of marketing is a summation of activities designed to identify opportunities, win projects, satisfy client needs and win more work. Contractors earn revenue by successfully completing profitable projects. Marketing efforts must be built around strategies and actions that position the firm to get more profitable projects.

Establishing a Competitive Advantage
Every day, more firms enter the construction market, and existing firms grow and diversify into new markets. To survive and thrive, contractors must establish a competitive advantage.

A competitive advantage can be derived from a number of sources, but ultimately it is based on the value a firm brings to its clients. This value can come from a unique combination of resources, a cost advantage, a market position, niche focus, financial resources, relationships, reputation or experience.

Differentiating from the Competition
Differentiation is the process of distinguishing services from the competition. Not all construction firms are the same, but not every company capitalizes on its differences. Part of the marketing process is to identify those differences and turn them into meaningful value propositions.

The client value proposition consists of the sum of benefits and value derived in return for payment of the product or service. In other words, it’s what clients get for their money. For construction firms, the value proposition shouldn’t speak to the services offered; rather, it should focus on the benefits clients derive from those services.

Positioning
Deciding how to position a firm’s products and services needs to flow from its business plan and align with its differentiation strategy.

Positioning is the process by which a company creates an image or identity for a particular service or brand in the minds of its target audience. A position is considered relative in comparison to competitive offerings. Ultimately, positioning should help the client answer the question, “Why should I buy from you?”

Messaging Well-developed messaging is the backbone of branding. Given the rapid pace of technology today, the marketing message has taken on new forms and is engaging with audiences at an unheard-of rate.

With the Internet, mobile technology and digital media, clear marketing messages can have a far-reaching impact. The development of an effective marketing message is essential to building a brand and implementing a marketing strategy.

Integrating Marketing Communications Marketing communications are designed to deliver a clear, compelling message to the right decision-maker or influencer. However, more ways to communicate this message exist than ever before. Marketing efforts must continue to more effectively build brand awareness and preference, while also delivering a measurable return on investment. Savvy construction marketers increasingly embrace the concept of integrated marketing communications—a strategic approach designed to harness all aspects of marketing communication tools to work in coordination as a unified force.

Marketing as a Strategic Thought Leader
Marketing, whether an individual or a department, must strategically look at the key drivers to the company’s success and growth and help align resources to deliver profitability and build value.

To truly lead with marketing, a firm’s marketing strategy must be an ongoing, dynamic process that enables a company to focus its resources on the right opportunities to increase profitability while satisfying the clients’ needs and achieving a sustainable competitive advantage.


Construction firms lead with marketing to:

Thie article orginally appeared in the September 2012 issue of Construction Executive Magazine

By: Brian Gallagher and Kimberly Kayler

  • frame the company’s vision and direction;
  • gain commitment to strategy;
  • research, target and segment markets, as well as understand client needs;
  • make strategic choices and decisions;
  • align resources to grow and invest in the business;
  • define the company’s competitive advantage;
  • differentiate offerings and define the company’s value proposition;
  • define strategies to target and communicate with audiences;
  • link marketing, business development and account plans;
  • demonstrate a return on investment;
  • uncover unmet client needs;
  • establish a basis for how the company creates, delivers and manages client value;
  • set objectives, strategies and metrics;
  • measure performance; and
  • make a profit.
Brian Gallagher, director of marketing for O’Neal, Inc., and Kimberly Kayler, founder and president of Constructive Communications, Inc., are co-authors of Leading with Marketing. For more information, email bgallagher@onealinc.com or kkayler@constructivecommuncation.com, or visit www.leadingwithmarketing.com. 



Read Article in Construction Executive Magazine

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Leading With Marketing Authors to Speak at SMPS

Brian Gallagher and Kimberly Kayler, authors of Leading With Marketing, will be speaking at the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) Southeast Regional Conferrence (SERC) in Charlotte, NC on March 29, 2012.

Gallagher and Kalyer will present a session on how successful architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms become leaders in their markets. The session will focus on how successful firms don't view marketing as an expense, but as a strategic approach to winning. Leading With Marketing embodies how an AEC firm should approach their business, their marketplace and their customers. When companies lead with marketing, they stragegically choose which markets to target, what to offer, how to differentiate, how to communicate, and how to win.

Join us in Charlotte on March 28-30, 2012 for the SMPS Southeastern Regional Conference.

Wednesday, August 03, 2011

AEC Marketing Veterans to Speak at SMPS

Brian Gallagher and Kimberly Kayler, CPSM, both long-time architecture/engineering/construction (AEC) industry veterans, will discuss the importance of leadership in the marketing function at the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) annual conference.

Their session, entitled “Leading with Marketing,” will be held from 1:30-2:45 on Thursday, Aug. 25 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers at part of SMPS’ Build Business: The Bottom Line.

The presentation will highlight many of the themes in the book Gallagher and Kayler co-authored, Leading with Marketing. Published by AuthorHouse and available from amazon.com, the American Concrete Institute as well as through Hanley Wood at the World of Concrete, the book is a comprehensive resource for creating, building and managing successful AEC marketing programs.

According to Gallagher, investing in marketing initiatives can be a key driver for profitable growth for AEC firms. These marketing initiatives ultimately lead to a constant flow of new business opportunities.

“We have seen first-hand the impact marketing can have on growing AEC firms,” said Gallagher. “Our presentation is designed to provide an overview and a roadmap for all involved in marketing and sales in the AEC industry.”

According to Kayler, Leading with Marketing embodies how a company approaches their business, their marketplace, and their customers.

“Whether it is handled by a department or an individual, marketing is a leadership function in every AEC firm,” said Kayler. “When companies lead with marketing, they choose which markets to target, what services to offer, how to differentiate, how to communicate, and how to win.”

Based on years of actual experience with a diverse variety of companies and associations in the AEC industry, the authors wrote this book with the intent of bridging the gap between traditional marketing concepts and emerging marketing trends, while providing a contextual link to the construction business. The authors note that this is not another book about how to write a marketing plan. Rather, the mission of this book is to help change the way those in the industry think about marketing, so firms can select the right target audiences, communicate with them effectively, and create profitable opportunities. It is designed specifically as a tool for professionals in the AEC fields that are providing leadership to the marketing efforts, with a complete overview of marketing process, tools, systems and best practices. Companies that market services such as architecture, engineering and construction services; as well as companies that sell products, such as materials, systems, and other products used in construction, will find the marketing principles outlined in this book to be beneficial.

Gallagher has served in executive level marketing positions with industry leading engineering, construction and manufacturing organizations. In his roles with O’Neal, Inc, Structural Group and Williams Scotsman, he has provided strategic leadership to the sales and marketing teams. His extensive background and knowledge of the construction industry enables innovative and effective marketing programs. He frequently writes and speaks on marketing topics. In addition, he has co-founded a marketing and sales consultancy, GBM Marketing, and launched several industry-specific web portals.

Gallagher holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Towson University and an M.B.A. from Loyola College. He also has served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Marketing at Loyola College. He has served in leadership roles for various committees with the American Concrete Institute, the Associated Builders and Contractors, the Post-Tensioning Institute, the Concrete Industry Management Program, the SC Solar Business Alliance, and other organizations. He also is a member of the Society of Marketing Professional Services.

With a journalism degree and a decade of high-level experience serving engineering, architecture and construction firms as a corporate marketing executive, as well as experience working for a full-service advertising/marketing communications agency, Kayler started Constructive Communication, Inc. in 2001 to serve the needs of technical and professional service firms. Clients include five international concrete associations; a variety of general contractors, engineers and architects from around the country; as well as firms in the aerospace, chemical and industrial sectors. Services provided by the growing Constructive Communication, Inc. team include technical writing, proposal development, public and media relations, social media and marketing/communications.

The author of more than 1,250 published articles on a variety of concrete, construction, design, marketing and other technical subjects, Kayler was the first to earn the Certified Professional Services Marketer designation in the state of Ohio from the Society of Marketing Professional Services. She is a frequent speaker on technical marketing and public relations and is a registered provider through the American Institute of Architects. Although she is a graduate of the University of Arizona, she now calls Columbus, Ohio home. She has a M.S. in Organizational Management with an emphasis in Leadership from Capella University and she is a member of SMPS and the Construction Specifications Institute. She is a volunteer with the Junior Achievement program and she serves on the Board of Directors for the Dublin Foundation, the Dublin Convention & Visitors Bureau. Further, she is co-founder of the Women in Concrete Alliance (WomenInConcrete.org).

To find out more about the conference, visit BuildBusiness.org. Those interested in learning more about the book, its contents and how to order it should visit LeadingWithMarketing.com.

Friday, January 08, 2010

Industry Veterans Author "Leading With Marketing"

Brian Gallagher and Kimberly Kayler, CPSM, both long-time architecture/engineering/construction (AEC) industry veterans, have announced the publication of their book entitled Leading with Marketing.

Published by AuthorHouse and available from amazon.com, the American Concrete Institute as well as through Hanley Wood at the World of Concrete, to be held Feb. 1-4 in Las Vegas, the book is a comprehensive resource for creating, building and managing successful AEC marketing programs.

According to Gallagher, investing in marketing initiatives can be a key driver for profitable growth for AEC firms. These marketing initiatives ultimately lead to a constant flow of new business opportunities.

“We have seen first-hand the impact marketing can have on growing AEC firms,” said Gallagher. “This book is designed to provide an overview and a roadmap for all involved in marketing and sales in the AEC industry.”

According to Kayler, Leading With Marketing embodies how a company approaches their business, their marketplace, and their customers.

“Whether it is handled by a department or an individual, marketing is a leadership function in every AEC firm,” said Kayler. “When companies lead with marketing, they choose which markets to target, what services to offer, how to differentiate, how to communicate, and how to win.”

Based on years of actual experience with a diverse variety of companies and associations in the AEC industry, the authors wrote this book with the intent of bridging the gap between traditional marketing concepts and emerging marketing trends, while providing a contextual link to the construction business. The authors note that this is not another book about how to write a marketing plan. Rather, the mission of this book is to help change the way those in the industry think about marketing, so firms can select the right target audiences, communicate with them effectively, and create profitable opportunities. It is designed specifically as a tool for professionals in the AEC fields that are providing leadership to the marketing efforts, with a complete overview of marketing process, tools, systems and best practices. Companies that market services such as architecture, engineering and construction services; as well as companies that sell products, such as materials, systems, and other products used in construction, will find the marketing principles outlined in this book to be beneficial.

Gallagher has served in executive level marketing positions with industry leading engineering, construction and manufacturing organizations. In his roles with O’Neal, Inc, Structural Group and Williams Scotsman, he has provided strategic leadership to the sales and marketing teams. His extensive background and knowledge of the construction industry enables innovative and effective marketing programs. He frequently writes and speaks on marketing topics. In addition, he has co-founded a marketing and sales consultancy, GBM Marketing, and launched several industry-specific web portals.

Gallagher holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Towson University and an M.B.A. from Loyola College. He also has served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Marketing at Loyola College. He has served in leadership roles for various committees with the American Concrete Institute, the Post-Tensioning Institute, the Concrete Industry Management Program, and other organizations. He also is a member of the Society of Marketing Professional Services.

With a journalism degree and a decade of high-level experience serving engineering, architecture and construction firms as a corporate marketing executive, as well as experience working for a full-service advertising/marketing communications agency, Kayler started Constructive Communication, Inc. in 2001 to serve the needs of technical and professional service firms. Clients include five international concrete associations; a variety of general contractors, engineers and architects from around the country; as well as firms in the aerospace, chemical and industrial sectors. Services provided by the growing Constructive Communication, Inc. team include technical writing, proposal development, public and media relations, social media and marketing/communications.

The author of more than 1,250 published articles on a variety of concrete, construction, design, marketing and other technical subjects, Kayler was the first to earn the Certified Professional Services Marketer designation in the state of Ohio from the Society of Marketing Professional Services. She is a frequent speaker on technical marketing and public relations and is a registered provider through the American Institute of Architects. Although she is a graduate of the University of Arizona, she now calls Columbus, Ohio home. She has a M.S. in Organizational Management with an emphasis in Leadership from Capella University and she is a member of the Society for Marketing Professional Services, the Construction Specifications Institute and the Women Construction Owners & Executives. Her firm is a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise as well as a certified participant in Ohio’s Encouraging Diversity, Growth and Equity (EDGE) program through the Equal Opportunity Division of the Ohio Department of Administrative Services. She is a volunteer with the Junior Achievement program and she serves on the Board of Director for the Dublin Foundation, the Dublin Convention & Visitors Bureau, as well as the Small Business Council of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce.

Although only just introduced to the marketplace, the book has already been well received.

“Leading With Marketing should become a basic primer for anyone or any organization marketing products and/or services in the AEC market arena. Construction management, architecture and engineering programs could use this book as a text or guide. It should be a lesson to us that marketing should and must be a vital part of our overall strategies for success going forward. My compliments to the authors for their well thought out and explicit thoughts on how to create viable and successful marketing programs in the AEC marketplace. This book is a great read,” said Jack Wyatt, Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, Acton Mobile Industries.

"Having worked with Brian and Kimberly for many years and seeing the direct results of their wisdom help Structural Group grow to over 500-million in sales, now having their wisdom detailed in this great book will allow more of us to apply marketing strategies to our everyday business. I highly recommend this book to every architectural, engineering and contracting company that desires a profitable growth strategy," said Peter Emmons, CEO and Founder of Structural Group (Hanover, Md.).

The cost of the book is $49.95. More information about the book, its contents and how to order can be found at http://www.leadingwithmarketing.com/.