They're Talking About You

Manage your online reputation with Google, Twitter, Technorati, Backtalk, Boardtracker and Friendfeed. That's a lot to keep track of, but you want to know what people are saying about you. Read Six Free Tools for Online Reputation Management : MarketingProfs Articles

Get the most out of LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a great business tool: social networking without all the fluff. I've made some great business contacts there. Leo Babauta gives some great tips on WebWorkerDaily » Archive 20 Ways to Use LinkedIn Productively «

Using Twitter as a Twool

Want to get th most out of the Twitter and use your tweets to your advantage? Check out How to Change the World: How to Use Twitter as a Twool

Through the Spider's Eye

What the search engine spider can and cannot see on your website. Beware of graphical text, images and flash when creating your site. You want search engines to be able to index your content. See Web Site Creation and the Eye of the Spider : MarketingProfs Articles

Design Competition Alert - Custom Home

Another magazine, Custom Home, has extended the deadline for its 2009 Design Awards. There are nine entry categories with an entry of $125 for each. You must register online by December 3, 2008, even you are paying the registration fee by check. The completed entry packets are due by January 9, 2009. See the Custom Home registration page

A reminder: Competitions are tools for you to market your potential and capability in a design area and can allow you to be recognized for your talents.

For more competition dates see the Building Industry Resources calendar or request calendar info through the B.I.R. contact page.

Environmental Due Diligence Begins During Site Selection - Business Facilities - Real Estate Trends

John Katze and Bill Gibbons of EBI Consulting suggest retaining an environmental consultant early in the real estate transaction process to perform environmental due diligence, generally conducted for the purpose of assessing a property for the presence of contamination . This step can reduce the severity of future liabilities and can affect the outcome of an imminent real estate transaction. See Environmental Due Diligence Begins During Site Selection

Going Green Makes Good Business Sense

Recently, Los Angeles became the largest American city to enact strict environmental standards on private-sector construction. Through its Green Building Act of 2006, Washington D.C. was the first major U.S. city to mandate green construction for all privately owned real estate. Then Boston went a step further when it adopted a zoning code that stipulated requirements for renovation projects of existing buildings. Fourteen percent of U.S. cities with populations of more than 50,000 have green building programs, and many more will soon follow. See The Greening of America

Sustainability a Factor in Leasing Commercial Space

Sustainable environments are becoming increasingly more important within the workplace. Businesses are learning of the economic benefits, and green offices and retail spaces can help boost employee and customer retention. See Seth Werner's GlobeSt.com article: Greening Your Commercial Space

Become a More Productive, In-demand CAD User

Learn to program AutoCAD and you may become a more productive, self-sufficient user, and more in demand by employers. See Robert Green's CAD Manager's Newsletters #203, 204 and 205 on Cadalyst.

Simple Ways to Build Green

Five articles expolore ways to incorporate green building materials and methods in residential design, including photovolatic roof modules and insulated concrete forms. See 5 Great Green Building Examples by HousingZone.com writers Susan Bady, Felicia Oliver, Bill Lurz, Mark Jarasek, and Jennifer Powell.

PreservationNation » Blog Archive » Farnsworth House Offering Restoration Tours to Raise Funds

The Farnsworth House located near Plano, IL was designed and built by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1951. Unfortunately, the house, considered one of the most famous examples of modernist domestic architecture, was flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. The house is open on a limited schedule to raise funds for its repair. Sarah Heffern give more info for the National Trust for Historic Preservation

AutoCAD 2009 Review

I am using ACAD 2009 to teach a Basic AutoCAD course at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn, MI. I like it, but there are a lot more short-cut/quick dialogue boxes/palettes to contend with. See the Cadalyst review of AutoCAD 2009 by Bill Fane.

Do You Know Your Company's Ideal Staffing Level

We know the drill. Because of the cyclical nature of the building industry companies tend to hire personnel when business is booming to get the work out the door, and then when the lean times come so do the pink slips. How can you avoid the hiring-lay-off cycle? A design-build company owner suggests cross-training employees. See Chris Keimig's article on Remodeling: What's Your Company's Target Weight?

Is Green Building Risky?

With an increased number buildings seeking LEED certification, building owners and their consultants and service providers must consider the use of new, untested products and materials and any liability claims that may result. Matt Hudgins interviews insurance executives in Are You Covered?

Consulting Tip: Words to Avoid in Proposals

You may be submitting quite a few proposals now. In his article, Michael W. McLaughlin, co-author of Guerilla Marketing for Consultants advises proposal writers to avoid the superlatives. Instead, make sure your goals for the project are in line with your potential client's and tell them how you'll go about achieving those goals. See the article: Words to Avoid in Proposals

School Facilities: In Need of Extensive Repair or Replacement

Many of the crumbling school facility infrastructure problems that drew attention in the 1990s remained unresolved. Repairs are delayed until the need becomes unavoidable. See the article...

(Source: American School & University)