A proposal is nothing without prepared technical professionals, but preparedness takes a lot of legwork before even the RFP drops. Positioning in advance puts proposals at an advantage throughout the entire process.

Successful proposals begin with clarity at the top. AEC Principals decide who among their staff does what, when more training is needed, and whether it is necessary to step in to provide support.

With electronics being such an integral part of life and work in this era, it is critical to establish boundaries and standards for ourselves when it comes to etiquette. Our phones are the biggest culprits, so tackle that pesky multipurpose tool first so that you know what is polte as you interact with clients and coworkers.

For sites like Instagram, the learning curve is tight for creating and curating our most appealing images. We have seven apps for our AEC marketers to make finding your feet easier—specifically for stories, but you'll find that they help with the entire process!

One of the steepest learning curves in the social media sphere is the jargon particular to each platform. Some networks share terms—others have their own. Brush up on them or learn more!

As marketing coordinators, know that projects are not the only content to elevate your firm and extend their influence. Likewise, marketing should not be a mere copy-paste between social media platforms. Know and understand the diverse range of possibilities open to you in order to make sure your time in social media marketing is well spent.

Social media marketing needs a balance of diversity and consistency to be at its most effective—that means new content within a reliable plan and system. Consider both the big picture and the minutia to create social media feeds that your followers can rely on.

A visible expert is a professional with high marketplace visibility and a reputation for expertise. In this day and age, social media will bring you there.

One of the most challenging demands in marketing is maintaining authenticity, but it is an easier problem to solve than it seems. The sheer number of experts behind every firm in the AEC industry makes achieving authenticity a cinch—so long as technical professionals take a step out.