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

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 c...

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...

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 a...

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. Resour...

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...

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...

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. Ann...

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 w...

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...

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 Appl...

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 take...

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...

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.linke...

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 engine...

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 beyo...

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...

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 d...

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 m...

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...

Today's episode is part II of a two parter. Make sure you check out part 1 if you haven't had a chance to do so yet. My two amazing guests, Brigitte Clements and Rosie Cade talk about the really important topic of sustainability and climate change which seems to be dropping down in priority of our industry agenda. We covered a lot of ground across the two episodes including: The role of marketing...

We're back for 2025 with a new themed approach where I'll be cover a theme or topic from a range of angles over a number of weeks. Today's episode is part I of II. And do I have a treat for you, with two amazing guests, Brigitte Clements and Rosie Cade sustainability and climate change. Key discussion topics include: The role of marketing in sustainability Tips for effective sustainability communi...

We're back baby!! Welcome to the Built Environment Marketing Show hosted by me, marketer Ayo Abbas from Abbas Marketing. This episode is a short one where I'll be sharing more on how I'm planning to take this show forward this year. I've got lots of excited things lined up so do take a listen and if you've any feedback you'd like to give me do email me ayo@abbasmarketing.com In this episode Being...

Today's episode is a veritable ride around The Built Environment Marketing Show podcast in 2024 in our End of year marketing special. 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 what I think will be happening in 2025 marketing wise. In this episode Data and digits Themes and clips Predictions for 2025...

FIND OUT ABOUT AYO'S END OF YEAR SERVICES - 3 services to help your built environment firm thrive in '25. Marketing Strategy Review, Audit and Recommendations and a LinkedIn power Up session. --- Today's episode is all about brand and storytelling but from a consultant's perspective. My guests Nina Farrell from &Agency and Emma Hutton from Hutton are two consultants that I've known for quite a...

 FIND OUT ABOUT AYO'S END OF YEAR SERVICES - 3 services to help your built environment firm thrive in '25. Marketing Strategy Review, Audit and Recommendations and a LinkedIn power Up session. ----- The UK budget has just finished so I wanted to fast track the release of this episode about the next steps that UK businesses can take to use B2B content to position themselves with the Government age...