Why having the right support—whether in-house, outsourced, or both—can drive your business forward.
By: Lindsey Mathieu
I’ve spent more than two decades in the AEC industry, working in roles that span from marketing coordinator to principal. I’ve juggled award submissions with multiple stakeholders. I’ve birddogged obscure project statistics just minutes before uploading the final proposal. I’ve updated PowerPoint slides riding shotgun en route to a shortlist presentation. I’ve pinch hit on introductory calls to deliver the right message. I understand the intricate mashup of marketing, business development, and operations—and I know exactly what it feels like to need support, but not have the time, budget, or bench to get it.
Today, I lead Golden Egg Concepts, and we’re on a mission to help AEC firms cement a presence by articulating their value, putting their best foot forward, and winning more work. We serve as a true extension of our clients’ internal teams—or the team, when one doesn’t exist. Our clients range from firms with no in-house marketing staff to larger companies with full departments that we supplement during busy periods or for strategic projects.
Outsourcing MarComm – A Not So Novel Idea
Outsourcing isn’t new. Most AEC firms already outsource HR, IT, recruiting, bookkeeping, or payroll. It’s a cost-effective way to bring in targeted expertise without the overhead of full-time staff. So why does marketing communications still feel like the exception?
Here’s what we’ve found: marketing is often treated as a fixed internal function when in reality, it’s more like a utility—something you need in different forms at different times. Some months require heavy proposal support. Others call for a brand refresh, conference strategy, or internal communications overhaul. Trying to staff for all of that with one or two people is a heavy lift.
In-House vs. Outsourced Marketing Support: What’s Right for You?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to marketing support in the AEC industry. What works best depends on your firm’s size, structure, goals, and current capacity. Let’s explore the strengths and challenges of having an in-house marketing team versus partnering with an outsourced industry expert like Golden Egg.
In-House Marketing Teams
Having a dedicated marketing team embedded within your firm brings undeniable advantages. These folks live and breathe your culture, know your projects inside and out, and are always just a few steps away when last-minute requests pop up. That long-term continuity means your marketing evolves naturally as the company grows.
But small or even mid-sized marketing teams quickly face challenges. The sheer variety of tasks—writing copy, designing graphics, managing RFP responses, keeping social media fresh, updating websites, organizing events—can overwhelm a handful of people, never mind an individual. Hiring and retaining full-time staff is expensive, and scaling up quickly for urgent pursuits is often unrealistic. These limits can leave firms stretched too thin just trying to keep up.
Outsourced Marketing Partners
This is where an experienced partner like Golden Egg shines. We offer flexible engagement models that adapt to your workload and budget. Our multidisciplinary team includes strategists, writers, designers, and even a licensed Professional Engineer, so you get expert skills across the board without the overhead of adding full-time staff.
Outsourcing brings fresh perspectives that can sharpen your messaging and energize your brand. Plus, we’re built to scale up fast when you need us—whether for a major proposal, brand refresh, or campaign rollout. While we’re not physically down the hall, many clients say working with us feels like having us right there. Like any partnership, great communication and collaboration are key—we thrive on your input and engagement to deliver our best work.
What We Do at Golden Egg
Golden Egg is organized around three core service lines:
1. Strategic Communications – Messaging, brand voice, thought leadership, email marketing, internal communications, and websites—to articulate your story, and convey it consistently.
2. Graphic Design – Capability statements, brochures, branded templates, social media graphics, internal documents—whatever you need to look polished and on-brand.
3. Proposal Management – From go/no-go to strategy, technical writing, subconsultant coordination, response preparation, and interview coaching—we help you pursue (and win) the work you want.
We also work hand-in-hand with trusted partners in photography, videography, and strategic planning. You don’t have to cobble together a piecemeal team—we’ve already done that for you. We’re efficient, integrated, and collaborative. Most of all, we’re here to make your life easier.
Ready to Rock with the Flock?
Whether you’re a growing firm with no marketing staff or a large company with a maxed-out department, we meet you where you are. You don’t have to do it all in-house. You just have to do it well—and we’re here to help make that happen.
If your list of marketing to-dos keeps getting longer, or if you’ve got strategic goals that never seem to move forward, let’s talk. We’re ready when you are. And the good news? There are a number of ways we can work together—hourly as needed, project-based, on-call for overflow, or on retainer for ongoing partnership. Whatever the structure, we’re here to make your life easier and your message stronger.