How a Nairobi Architect Started Getting Enquiries from the UK, UN, and Tanzania Just by Fixing One Page

The Accidental International Firm

David, a Nairobi-based architect, had a decent portfolio site. It showcased his work—beautiful renders of homes in Karen, office blocks in Westlands. But his enquiries were exclusively Kenyan. He wanted to break into the regional market, maybe get some diaspora clients, perhaps even work with the UN agencies based in Nairobi.

Then he made one change to his website: he created a dedicated "Regional & International Projects" page. Within three months, he received enquiries from a UK-based Kenyan diaspora client, a UN consultant looking for a local partner, and a developer in Dar es Salaam. The total project value was over KSh 8M. And it all stemmed from that single page.

Here's exactly what he did, and how you can do it too.

What the Old Site Was Missing

David's old site was implicitly "Nairobi-only." It showed projects in Nairobi neighbourhoods, used local terminology, and had no indication that he could (or wanted to) work across borders. International clients didn't see themselves in his content.

The "International Projects" Page Structure

1. A Headline That Speaks to the International Client

"Kenyan Architects with Regional & International Experience: From Dar es Salaam to London, We Design Spaces That Work." This immediately signals cross-border capability.

2. Logistics & Compliance Clarity

A small section addressing the practicalities: "We are registered architects in Kenya (BORAQS) and can partner with local architects in Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda for seamless project delivery. We are experienced with UN procurement processes and can invoice in USD or KES." This removes a massive unspoken barrier: "Can they even work with me?"

3. Case Studies with Regional Context

Even though David's direct international projects were limited, he reframed relevant Nairobi projects. For example: "Residential Villa, Karen: Designed for a diaspora client based in the UK. We managed the entire process remotely, with weekly video updates and a local project manager." This proves he can handle remote clients.

4. A "Cross-Border Collaboration" Credibility Block

Logos or mentions of any international partners, suppliers, or even just professional memberships in international bodies (e.g., Architectural Association of Kenya's international affiliations). This builds trust for the non-Kenyan reader.

5. A Direct CTA for International Clients

"Based outside Kenya? Let's schedule a video call. We work across time zones. WhatsApp / Zoom / Teams."

The SEO Windfall

This page also captured search traffic for keywords like "architect in Kenya for diaspora," "East African architects," and "UN architect partner." These are low-competition, high-intent searches that his old site completely missed.

You don't need to open an office in London. You just need a page on your website that speaks to the client in London. David did it. You can too.

Build My International Projects Page →