Residential architecture · Marin County and San Francisco
How a Sausalito architect went from referrals only to being found by Google and AI
For almost 30 years, every project at Studio Couture came through people Scott Couture already knew. We repositioned the studio, rebuilt its website on a new domain and built its presence in search and AI tools.
A principal-led studio known for getting bold homes approved
Studio Couture is the residential architecture studio of Scott Couture, based in Sausalito, California.
Scott is a licensed architect and a licensed contractor, and he leads every project himself. The studio designs new homes and deep remodels in Sausalito, Tiburon, Belvedere, Mill Valley and San Francisco. Its Tiburon Modern home was approved by design review unanimously, as proposed.
Great work that only people who already knew Scott could find
Scott had never advertised. Work came through past clients, realtors and builders, about two inquiries a month.
His old website had no contact page and showed projects that were a decade old. He wanted ground-up homes for clients who choose on design, and those clients search before they call. In his words, the goal was to “make me look a little bigger, and then reach out and tell people I actually exist.”
Six moves, from a new name to a steady flow of the right inquiries
- 01
Positioning and a new name
We started with the studio’s ideal clients, its value proposition and the messages that set it apart: a principal who designs and builds, and a record of getting bold homes approved. Couture Architecture became Studio Couture, with a new brand book and logo.
From Couture Architecture to Studio CouturePages from the new Studio Couture brand book - 02
A new website on a new domain
We built the new site on studiocouture.co and redirected every page of the old domain to it. The site tells each project as a story, with case studies and service pages built around what clients worry about most: design review, ministerial approvals and approval strategy.
studiocouture.co
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BeforeThe new studiocouture.co, with the old site for comparison - 03
Owning the local search
We published pages and articles for the places Scott works and the questions his clients ask, from Marin County, Tiburon and Sausalito to hillside lots and approvals. Each page is structured so Google and AI tools can read and cite it.
#1 for “Sausalito architects”148 → 4,989 monthly search appearancessausalito architects- 1Studio Couturestudiocouture.co
- 2Another Marin firm
- 3A design directory
- 4Another firm
Google search, May 2026.
Illustrative map. Pins mark the towns the studio’s pages target. - 04
Founder content on LinkedIn
From March 2026, Scott posted weekly on LinkedIn about his projects and how approvals really work. His audience grew 47% in the first 90 days.
Scott CouturePrincipal, Studio Couture41,904impressions in a year22,803people reached19,347reached by one post238 → 592followers - 05
Outreach to the people who refer
Realtors and builders bring many of the best projects in Marin, so outreach went to them first, from Scott’s own LinkedIn account. One realtor wrote back that Scott “will be my first phone call”.
1,533Invitations sentRealtors, own network, referral sources312ConnectedAccepted Scott’s invitation94RepliedConversations opened3Leads2 referral leads, 1 buyer leadLinkedIn outreach to 14 Oct 2026. Realtor newsletter invitations: 16 positive replies from 86.
- 06
Measure and focus
We track search, AI mentions, Google Business Profile calls and inquiries every month, and focus the work on what brings the right clients. In October 2026 the plan narrowed to two channels: content from Scott’s projects, and outreach.
Monthly reportStudio CoutureSearch appearances4,989a month, from 148Page-one searches12273 in the top threeNew inquiries3–5a month, website and AIFound via AI1current client, via ClaudeFocus from Oct 2026Content from Scott’s projectsRealtor and builder outreach
From Couture Architecture to Studio CoutureBefore- 1Studio Couturestudiocouture.co
- 2Another Marin firm
- 3A design directory
- 4Another firm
Google search, May 2026.
LinkedIn outreach to 14 Oct 2026. Realtor newsletter invitations: 16 positive replies from 86.
I think I walk into initial meetings with a little more street cred. Because of the content and the website.
Scott CouturePrincipal, Studio CoutureFrom referrals only to being found by search and AI
November 2025 to August 2026.
Scott now walks into first meetings with clients who have already read his work. Search, AI tools and the realtors he is connected with all point new clients to the same place. As Scott puts it: “I don’t want a ton of people. I just need the right ones.”
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