Attract New Architecture Leads with ClientPay

According to the AIA’s 2020 Firm Survey Report, approximately 21% of billings are derived from new clients who were acquired as part of a competitive selection process. What this means is it’s imperative that you identify unique selling points that help your firm stand out from your competitors and make you more attractive to architecture leads.

Fortunately, ClientPay can help.

The core benefit of ClientPay is that it enables you to offer clients multiple payment options and securely accept credit, debit, and eCheck payments from anywhere—a powerful, though seemingly simple advantage.

But when you take a step back and consider the implications of being able to accept payments online (coupled with the more specialized benefits ClientPay’s individual payment features can offer), it becomes clear how much broader the potential impact is.

Here are five competitive differentiators made possible by ClientPay that can help you attract clients looking for architects.

1. Greater flexibility and convenience

Outside the context of discussions about architectural design projects, architecture leads are first and foremost consumers. And as consumers, they have come to expect a certain level of flexibility and convenience when it comes to bills—even those sent by professional service providers.

They don’t want to be in a position where they have to make a special trip to an ATM to withdraw cash, deal with the hassle of mailing (or hand-delivering) a check, or wait until office hours to call and dictate their credit card number. Your prospective clients want the ability to pay invoices using their preferred payment method (e.g., credit card, debit card, or eCheck) at any time from any location.

With ClientPay, you can offer the kind of flexible, convenient payment experience clients looking for architects want and expect.

2. Socially-distanced and eco-friendly payment acceptance

With the exception of site visits, nearly every aspect of an engagement can be conducted virtually when you make the right investments. This is particularly significant in 2021 since, for the foreseeable future, remote work and socially-distanced interactions will be the norm.

Accordingly, your ability to accept payments online makes partnering with you more attractive to architecture leads not only because it’s more convenient and flexible than working with competitors who aren’t using an online payment solution but also because it’s safer for all parties.

Further, using an online payment solution like ClientPay reduces waste by eliminating the need for paper invoices and receipts. And as eco-consciousness and sustainability become increasingly more important in the AEC industry, prospective architecture clients will be more inclined to work with architects and designers who are actively trying to reduce their carbon footprints.

3. Dedication to a modern, professional client experience

Whether you work as a sole practitioner or part of an architecture and design firm, brand perception and reputation are two major factors architecture leads take into consideration when determining if they want to work with you.

Since one of the first places clients looking for architects go to find out more about a potential partner is their website, your online presence must have a professional, modern feel to it. In addition to having a user-friendly, aesthetically-pleasing site design, this means providing the ability to pay invoices directly on your site.

With ClientPay’s custom Payment Links, you can create secure payment pages, branded with your logo and contact information, that allow you to present a professional payment experience without redirecting to a third-party site or requiring clients to log into a payment portal.

4. Ability to extend payment plans to clients

A potential client’s budget plays a huge role in every construction project. And finding an architect who can help them adhere to their budget is a primary concern for a large percentage of architecture leads, according to the AIA Client Insights Report.

If a client has the option to pay a deposit and then spread the remaining payments over a period of months, it’s considerably easier for them to keep track of their budget and appropriately allocate resources to make sure the project is properly funded throughout the timeline.

ClientPay allows you to offer prospective architecture clients the opportunity to pay in installments, without the risk of non-payment.

With Scheduled Payments, you enter the client’s payment details, select the withdrawal amount and frequency, and then at the designated intervals, the client’s credit card or bank account is automatically charged. Clients looking for an architect will appreciate knowing they would be working with a professional who is willing to help relieve some of their financial burden.

5. Commitment to client privacy and data security

With cybersecurity incidents on the rise, data security and privacy is top of mind for architecture leads. Your prospective clients want to be sure that you are taking the necessary steps to keep their sensitive information safe.

ClientPay has over a decade of experience with payment technology, which means we know how to protect your data. All payment data is managed in our secure servers, and we use advanced end-to-end data encryption to ensure private information is safe from interception.

Our solution exceeds standards for internet security and PCI Level 1 compliance (the highest there is) and receives quarterly scans as well as an annual audit from a qualified security assessor. In other words, architecture leads would be hard-pressed to find another provider whose solution is more secure.

Ultimately, what ClientPay offers is an opportunity to substantially grow your pool of available architecture leads by giving you tools to make your services more accessible without increasing your liability. Gain a competitive advantage while providing a better client experience with simple online payments from ClientPay.