These KPIs help your team turn an active project into a business development powerhouse — something that builds trust, attracts attention, demonstrates growth, and creates future opportunities long before the project is complete.

selecting projects with bd potential

Create criteria to evaluate which upcoming projects have strong BD value (visibility, strategic client, innovation, community interest).
Select at least one project per year to elevate as a BD “flagship” project.
Confirm with the client early that they’re open to visibility, outreach, and storytelling opportunities.
Ensure the project has potential for meaningful lessons learned, innovation, or public interest.
Assign a small BD/marketing support team to the project at kickoff.

delivering exceptional performance

Maintain schedule performance within agreed tolerance (e.g., no more than X% variance).
Keep budget performance within agreed tolerance and document moments of savings or efficiency.
Achieve high client satisfaction at milestone reviews (qualitative or quantified).
Track “above and beyond” actions taken by the team as they occur.
Hold a formal midpoint review to confirm client delight — not just satisfaction.

measuring quality differently

Identify 3–5 non-standard quality measures specific to this project (e.g., community satisfaction, environmental outcomes, experience improvements).
Capture evidence of improvement using photos, testimonials, surveys, site observations, or metrics.
Document any unexpected benefits or positive ripple effects during construction or design.
Track team innovations that arose naturally during the project.
Collect “before and after” materials where possible (images, interviews, stories).

visibility, media & public engagement

Secure at least one form of public visibility (media coverage, article, interview, feature story).
Hire a photographer or videographer at least once during the project lifecycle.
Host or contribute to at least one community-facing event (on-site or virtual).
Help the client plan a ribbon cutting or project reveal event.
Capture testimonials or commentary from users, community members, or stakeholders.

innovation, growth & doing things differently

Identify opportunities to try at least one new method, tool, or community-engagement approach on the project.
Document each innovation’s impact (savings, efficiencies, quality improvements, client confidence).
Apply relevant lessons learned from past projects and track the results.
Record how team members grew or added new skills because of this project.
Showcase at least one improvement that demonstrates your evolution as a team.

story collection & bd asset creation

Capture at least five meaningful project stories during design and construction.
Create a BD asset library for the project (photos, videos, diagrams, quotes, lessons learned).
Produce one strong case study or video summary by project completion.
Identify at least three proposal win themes derived from the project’s successes.
Use these stories in presentations, proposals, onboarding, and thought leadership.

Choose a KPI from each category to transform a single project into a long-term business development engine — one that demonstrates excellence, growth, visibility, and the kind of leadership clients look for when awarding future work.

Turning a Project into a Business Development Powerhouse

Delivering with Marketing in Mind

Engaging Clients Beyond the Scope