I love my local community and it is breaking my heart to see what is happening to small local businesses! The #lovelocal challenge I launched last week ends on March 31st as a chance to support the local businesses that make our community. To enter the contest, write online reviews, for each review you write AND then tag in the comments section on Facebook (Gaines Group Architects page) for the contest post, enters you for a chance to win. Enter MANY times.
Online reviews are huge for locally owned businesses. Your endorsement allows them to grow their business, improve their SEO, and maximize their marketing efforts. Your written endorsement encourages others to support these local businesses. Please write from the heart why you support local each business. If I missed a business that should be added, let me know. Write a lot of reviews and tag them on my Facebook page – I want you to enter this contest many many times.
I created some new architectural coloring pages available today! Over the past days I have posted some other options HERE and HERE. All you have to do is download and print the page. If you are willing, email me your finished page and I will post it on my blog for everyone to see your creation.
We love our small business clients like Harmony Square Dairy Queen. Here is a link to the project portfolio. We were honored to work on this project to help transform the standard Dairy Queen design into a site specific energy-efficient solution for local owners. The general building layout is very similar to the standard. The systems, insulation, lighting, and solar pv all make this building unique.
When working with a “standard” corporate design you are limited in what changes can be made. The local owners of this restaurant were determined to build the most energy-efficient and durable structure possible. They included solar PV on the roof, high performance insulation, natural daylighting into the core space, and reduced the water usage of the facility.
We love working with small local businesses to make sure their buildings reflect their business culture. We can work with your budget, schedule, and goals to develop the right solution for you and your business.
I started a #lovelocal challenge yesterday on my facebook page HERE. It is simple and easy to enter and you can enter multiple times. All you have to do is follow these steps:
Find the post pinned to the top of the page outlining the contest
Write online reviews for local Harrisonburg companies – there is a list on blog posts HERE and HERE. If I missed someone, write them a review and I will add them.
I will take one entry for every review you write and put your name in a big bucket. I will draw a winner on March 31st for a $50 gift card to Local Chop and Grill (donated by Beck Builders)
Why is this important? Writing reviews boost the SEO of local companies. As we emerge from this economic disaster companies need strong SEO to be found when there is a web search. You can write reviews on google or Facebook or one of many other platforms. Houzz is another good option for those in the building industry.
We met some wonderful folks that purchased a house in Fort Valley. The views were incredible, but it lacked a rear deck. They gave us a call and presented the challenge: they wanted a rear deck, but did not want to obstruct their views with columns.
We visited the site and evaluated the conditions. Since we did not know the existing footing situation under the existing house we needed to be creative with supporting the new structure. We also wanted to add a deck across the entire rear of the home – with as few columns as possible. So we developed a strategy to create a walkway along the edge of the house to connect two modest sized decks – preserving the light into the main room of the basement and the views out of all the windows.
