SmartSKILLS Courses
Welcome to SmartSKILLS
Practical Strategies for Growing Your AEC Firm
SmartSKILLS delivers straightforward, expert insights tailored for AEC marketing and business leaders. Led by experienced fractional CMOs and marketing strategists, these sessions provide actionable guidance to help you focus on the right clients, align your teams, and achieve measurable growth.
Available SmartSKILLS Courses
Account-Based Marketing for AEC Firms
How to Build a Smarter Pursuit Strategy
Most AEC firms say they do “targeted marketing.” However, few are doing Account-Based Marketing, and even fewer are doing it well.
In this SmartSKILLS™ session, we’re breaking down what ABM really is, why it works in the AEC industry, and how to align your efforts across marketing, BD, and operations to drive growth. You’ll learn how Smartegies builds ABM strategies that move the needle from identifying high-value targets to executing campaigns that convert.
This is not about buying software or hiring influencers. This is about focus. About putting your time, your team, and your dollars toward the prospects and clients that matter most and tracking real return.
We’ll cover:
- What ABM looks like in the AEC context (beyond the buzzwords)
- How to prioritize high-value targets and expand share of wallet
- Aligning your BD, marketing, and operations teams around a shared pursuit plan
- Examples of successful ABM strategies in action—from public sector wins to private development growth
- How to measure success without overcomplicating it
This class is for AEC marketers, seller-doers, and firm leaders who are tired of the “random acts of marketing” and want a smarter way to grow. Whether your goal is to win more of the right work, cross-sell to existing clients, or make better use of limited BD resources, this session will give you the playbook.
Because in today’s market, chasing everything means winning nothing. ABM helps you choose what matters—and win it.
The Art of the Pitch
How to Stand Out When Everyone’s Qualified and Has Relationships
When the shortlist hits, you’re no longer competing on qualifications; you’re competing on clarity, chemistry, and connection. And the firms that win? They know how to deliver a story that resonates.
In this SmartSKILLS™ session, we’re pulling back the curtain on the same methods Smartegies has used to coach thousands of AEC teams over the past 16 years, contributing to our 75% win rate on shortlist interviews. You’ll learn how to lead the pursuit process with precision, prep your technical teams quickly and effectively, and shape a narrative that makes the client feel like they can’t imagine doing the project without you.
You’ll learn how to craft a pitch that is client-focused, cohesive, and compelling, even when your team is short on time and buried in deadlines.
- What you’ll learn:
What it really means to be client-focused in a shortlist interview - How to align the team, the message, and the visuals with speed and clarity
- AI tips that reduce prep time and lift the burden on your technical staff
- How to handle Q&A with authenticity and control
This class is built for marketers who lead pursuits and seller-doers who want the interview process to run smoothly, feel more strategic, and actually move the needle. If you’re looking for a better way to prepare, one that respects your time and delivers results, this session is for you!
Because in a room full of resumes and relationships, the best story still wins.
SmartSKILLS: AI for Proposals
What if your proposal process could be faster, sharper, and less exhausting?
Most marketing coordinators are expected to do more with less. Less time, fewer resources, tighter deadlines. SmartSKILLS was built for exactly that. This session teaches you how to plug AI into your current proposal workflow to save time without cutting corners. From uncovering buyer insights to cleaning up final drafts, you’ll learn how AI can boost your efficiency and help you focus on strategy, not scrambling.
- What we’ll cover:
Real-World Prompts You Can Use Today
Learn exactly how to use AI to help you research faster, draft smarter, and clean up content, without relying on perfect inputs from your technical team. - Tools to Break Out of the Copy–Paste Cycle
Stop reinventing the wheel. You’ll see how to build smarter content libraries, reframe boilerplate, and make every proposal feel customized, even when time is tight. - A New Way to Stand Out—and Win
Discover how to position your firm more strategically by using AI to mirror the client’s priorities, speak to selection criteria, and make your response feel like it was built just for them.