HELP with what to search for....

angelboy

I wonder if anyone can help me.

What would you search for if you were looking for a new extension or loft conversion or maybe a new build house?

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I'm setting up a website and I'm interested to know what search terms I'd have to include.

I know that I provide Planning Permission drawings and Building Regulation drawings but would you search for that?

Would you use the word 'plans' instead of 'drawings?

Would you know to search for planning permission or building regulations in the first instance?

Would you automatically search for 'Architect' or maybe 'Builder'? (I'm neither so I'd hate to promote my search terms in a misleading manner)

Would you know or search for an 'Architectural designer'?

If you wanted a loft conversion (for example) would you search for this first?

Would you use the word 'house' or 'home'?

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As you can see, I've just scratched the surface but it's hard to get inside the head of potential customers when they could be coming to me with varying levels of knowledge.

Any ideas or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

angelboy

Anyone?

I'm not looking for an SEO company or other marketing advice, just what YOU would search for given the fact that you might not know (or know) what you need when undertaking a building alteration at home.

browneyedbazzi

I'd personally search for 'architect' if I wanted someone to design an extension/new build and provide the drawings etc. But that's because I would want a qualified architect to do the job.

If your service is more about helping people with the planning permission/building regs side of things then perhaps those words plus 'advice' or 'consultant'.

System

saw someone got done by the arb for using the word architect on their website - so tread carefully.
The problem you have is that unless you can get links posted on other sites and have lots of content with similar words all over it, the search engines won't rank you that highly.
Just submit your business to as many directories as possible and build up some links.
I don't think there is an answer to your question tbh - you just have to describe what you do and people will find you.

angelboy

I know it's illegal to pass yourself off as an Architect when you haven't trained for 7 years and are registered to an official body but the term Architect is defined as someone who designs buildings not by someone who is a qualified Architect registered/licensed.

To me, I think the registered Architects should say just that, that they're a 'Registered Architect' - simple!

I know that part of my website will hope to explain the differences between the different forms of 'building designers' and will point people into the right direction of who they'd need depending on the job they require.

System

you want to simplify something by adding more to the title?!
Someone using the protected title of "architect" tells you what they are trained/qualified/registered to do - how would it simplify the situation if anyone designing a building could use the title architect?!

angelboy

You use a chartered accountant or a chartered surveyor don't you?

How about a corgi registered plumber?

Yet all the above have people operating within the same industries that are officially less qualified as them - accountants, surveyors and plumbers!

Don't be daft, adding 'Registered' to Architect wouldn't be that big a deal and it would help to clarify any confusion. If I tell people that I design buildings they reply, 'So you're an architect then?'

The fact that you even mentioned it to me in an earlier post, to be careful using the word architect or fear the wrath of the ARB or RIBA, points quite clearly that you think that people don't understand the difference or the legal definition of the word architect.

I think your response wasn't thought out.

System

Well, you can be a chartered architect too, what's your point?
Adding another word into a title is not simplifying anything, not being able to use a protected title means that anyone appointing an architect knows what to expect, knows they have insurance, knows they are qualified and part of a profession, opening up the title would mean anyone could call themselves an architect without any of the Qualifications, insurance etc and add confusion...
At least if you're not allowed to use the title then people don't expect you to be bound by the professional requirements of an architect.
You might think it's ok to use the title but unless you follow all the requirements its deliberately confusing clients and to what end?


...and my post wasn't thought out!

Johnandabby

angelboy wrote: »

You use a chartered accountant or a chartered surveyor don't you?

How about a corgi registered plumber?

Yet all the above have people operating within the same industries that are officially less qualified as them - accountants, surveyors and plumbers!

You pick someone suitably qualified for the task - neither overqualified or underqualified. I wouldn't use an expensive Gas Safe heating engineer to change a bathroom tap, or pay an expensive chartered accountant to do a simple payroll or book keeping task. But completely different choice selection if I want a new heating system or audited company accounts.

angelboy wrote: »

Don't be daft, adding 'Registered' to Architect wouldn't be that big a deal and it would help to clarify any confusion.

Personally I think it's a lot clearer the way it it - anyone with the title Architect is registered. I do think it's bad that RIBA with its voluntary membership is more well known that ARB with its compulsory membership. And I feel that this approach should have been rolled out to all professions to differentiate.

Would you have to call yourself an 'Unregistered Architect' then? Doubt that would bring much work in!

angelboy wrote: »

If I tell people that I design buildings they reply, 'So you're an architect then?'

So you have to say that you aren't, but that you can undertake a similar role. I don't know if there's similar protection for architectural technician or architectural technologist which are different routes.

I completed an architectural degree and worked in architectural practices, but cannot call myself an 'architect' as I'm registered with ARB - whether or not I agree with it, this is the reality.

angelboy

Either way, I don't pass myself off as an Architect and I fully appreciate and respect the amount of training they go through to be able to use the title. I'm sure I'd feel the same if I'd achieved what they have.

However, most small scale domestic works don't require this level of knowledge or expense and can manage quite sufficiently with a set of scaled drawings that meet planning guidelines and details to meet building regulations. Thats my demographic and that's who I want to attract with my keyword selection.

If you understand the difference between the various 'building designers' then you'd know exactly what to search for to meet your needs. I'm trying to get to the people who don't know who or what they're searching for and then creating a landing page just for them.

I'd never ever take on work that I know I wasn't qualified to do and would always inform the customer if they'd be better suited to another type of building designer.

But, I do still think that the word 'Architect' is defined as 'a person who designs buildings' and I know first hand that the majority of people I speak to simply don't understand the differnces of a fully qualified architect and one that isn't - so for those people (not you that DO understand the difference) I'm still of the opinion - and I have a right to my own opinion - that prefixing the word architect with 'licensed/chartered/registered' would help them to actually stand out from those building designers who aren't - but who Mr.Layman still considers - an architect.

System

if people already think "building designers" are architects, even when they don't use the title, do you not think it will be significantly more confusing if they did use the title but with a pre-fix?!
Do you carry any PI insurance at all?