What makes us different from other construction marketing agencies

The Harris difference

We think we are pretty good at what we do – but we would say that wouldn’t we?  Although the feedback we get from our clients and our colleagues is the preferred way to benchmark our performance, we would be lying if we said that we didn’t also like the recognition of an industry award! Whether we win or lose, we always take pride in our nominations and the process of completing the submission itself can be a great way to review and evaluate our work. As we look forward to the PR Moments Awards at the end of the month, I find myself in a reflective mood and have been considering what makes Harris the award-winning agency it is. As one of the longest-serving members of the Harris team, indulge me as I take you on a journey into the inner workings of Harris Creative…

We don’t see ourselves as ‘just’ an agency

Many companies work with at least one marketing agency and although we are paid to provide a service, we prefer to build relationships rather than just revenue. Our ideal way of working is to make a connection with our clients so that we are seen not just as an external agency but as an extension of the in-house team. This approach has created many long-lasting relationships with clients that have retained our services for many years, or have regularly kept in touch so we can support them on various new projects and initiatives. Over our 35-year history, we’re proud to have a number of clients that have been with us for decades.

We are flexible

So how do we successfully integrate ourselves and work seamlessly with our client’s in-house marketing teams? By working in a way that works for you. We take pride in the fact that we rarely work in the exact same way for all our clients and this flexibility allows us to create a much more personal service.

This flexibility also extends to our team and we have long been champions of bespoke working arrangements to promote wellbeing and work life balance. Of course, there are practical benefits to this, such as allowing working parents like myself to keep all those plates spinning, but a more relaxed, hybrid structure is also a great catalyst for problem-solving and creativity. And that is something everyone can benefit from.

We don’t like to stand still

Construction marketing is an evolving market and we always want to be able to be able to provide our clients with everything they need to get the most out of the marketing activity. This is why we have evolved over the years to offer several new services to what were historically our core disciplines of PR, design, and photography. We can now offer in-house social media management, full website delivery and SEO, as well as video and many other solutions. And if we can’t do something just yet, chances are we know someone who can and we have a trusted network of freelances and specialists on hand to support us when the need arises.

We love construction

There have been plenty of changes over the years but one thing that still holds true is that we remain one of the leading construction marketing specialists in the UK. From manufacturers, distributors, and merchants, to trade and commercial contractors, all our clients work in the construction sector. With years of experience in delivering B2B marketing campaigns that meet our clients’ business objectives, we not only know what communication channels are the most effective but have a greater knowledge of the issues that are relevant to the construction sector. This all helps to reduce the learning curve and we are just as comfortable talking to you about the latest e-marketing techniques and social media features as we are discussing the latest Building Regulations and supply chain challenges.

We prefer plain speaking to marketing cliches

We are certainly knowledgeable but that doesn’t mean we don’t want our clients to fully understand exactly why we have suggested a particular approach or how the budget can be best utilised. Now don’t get me wrong, we love a good pun (in fact I have been ‘building’ up to one ever since I mentioned we were construction marketing specialists) but we prefer clear and honest communication, both with our clients and with their target markets. You may never hear anyone from Harris suggesting we circle back to fly an idea up the flag pole, but you will hear plenty of new ideas and solutions for problems you know you have, and those that maybe you don’t. If something isn’t working, we will tell you straight and we encourage the same honest feedback from our clients. The other benefit of working with a plain-speaking Yorkshire agency is that all feedback comes with a brew and a biscuit…

We are Harris

We are growing and we are evolving, and it’s lovely to see that our team not only now includes many more women but also colleagues from different backgrounds and with various areas of expertise. Our client base comprises both long-standing relationships and new partnerships, many of which are taking us in new directions as we embark on new projects and campaigns. Our trophy cabinet is also reassuringly full but, in my view, the real measure of our success is our longevity and the notes of thanks that we regularly receive from our clients.

If you would like to know about the difference we can make to your construction marketing campaign, get in touch with us today.