Business Matters "Find an Architect" Feature: What's New and What's Next
AIA Oregon is committed to helping Oregon architecture firms thrive, and that means continuously improving the tools we offer. As part of our recent website update, we've completely revamped the "Find An Architect" feature to better connect potential clients with the firms they need. Inclusion in this feature is a benefit of AIA Oregon Firm Membership.
What We Built
Launched in early April, the redesigned feature was built with one goal in mind: delivering high-quality leads directly to Oregon firms. We also designed it to help prospective clients quickly understand what kind of architectural services they're looking for.
The update includes several meaningful improvements:
Randomized firm ordering | Every participating firm gets an equal opportunity to be seen by potential clients, regardless of when they joined.
Reduced administrative overhead | Streamlined maintenance frees up staff time to focus on delivering more value to members.
Mobile-friendly design | A modernized interface makes it easy for clients to find an architect from any device, not just a desktop.
Service selector tool | A questionnaire that’s built to funnel leads into the architectural service they need and reduce confusion.
After thorough testing and feedback from participating firms, the feature is ready for its next phase.
What's Coming Next
With the foundation in place, we're now focused on driving traffic, because more page views mean more leads funneled to Oregon firms. Here's how we're doing it:
AI-optimized content | We're writing content structured to be cited by AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, so when someone asks an AI for an architect referral, it points them to us.
SEO-driven blog content | We're publishing articles that answer the real questions prospective clients are searching for, so they find us instead of third-party lead aggregators.
Location-specific landing pages | Pages built around city names (like Architects Near Bend) help us reach clients across the state, wherever they happen to be searching.
The Bottom Line
These aren't just website updates; they're investments in the long-term financial stability of Oregon's architecture community. We're building an ecosystem where Oregon firmsare the first call, not an afterthought.
We're excited about what's ahead and grateful to the firms that helped shape this feature. More to come.
Business Matters is a series of articles published by AIA Oregon, focusing on the work we are doing to support the business success of architects in Oregon as a part of our broader strategy to communicate the value of membership in AIA Oregon.