25 Years on: what's really changed in construction marketing

25 Years on: what's really changed in construction marketing

Author: Ayo Abbas, Marketing Consultant March 6, 2026 Duration: 31:08

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

  1. What great clients do differently (and strategy vs tactics)
  2. Trust, AI, and the role of media / gatekeepers
  3. Expectations, complexity, and measurement in modern marketing
  4. Future-facing skills: brand building, critical thinking, and using AI well

Resources and links

  1. Ayo Abbas on LinkedIn
  2. Abbas Marketing website
  3. Ridgemount agency website
  4. Anna Hern on LinkedIn
  5. 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.

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Hosted by marketing consultant Ayo Abbas, The Built Environment Marketing Show carves out a necessary space for professionals in architecture and engineering. This isn't a general business podcast; it's a focused conversation on the specific strategies and tactics that resonate within the built environment. Ayo brings forward voices and perspectives that often go unheard in mainstream marketing discussions, ensuring the content is both relevant and refreshingly practical. Each episode is built on the premise that effective marketing for these creative, technical fields requires a specialized approach. You'll hear from experts who understand not just marketing theory, but what actually works when trying to reach clients, win projects, and build a reputation in these industries. The discussions move beyond abstract ideas to deliver actionable hints and tips you can apply directly to your practice. Tuning into this podcast means getting a candid look at the challenges and opportunities of promoting design and engineering services, all from a host and guests who have been in the trenches. It’s an independent resource dedicated to making marketing feel less like a foreign language and more like a powerful tool for growth.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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