No matter what you have to say about your services, you can never compete with your most powerful marketing asset– your clients’ own stories, in the form of case studies or testimonials. Are you using this asset? Does your website … Read More
referrals
Consulting positioning math
As a consultant, nailing your niche is hard, but consulting positioning math can make it easier. I think we’re wired by evolution to fear “scarcity”, even when it’s not “rational” for us to do so. We seem to hate niching … Read More
Convert Consulting Visitors to Leads and Conversations
Your consulting website has one job: to get you leads. But once you have those leads, it’s your job to have a conversation to see if and how you can help the lead. We looked into having a Call to … Read More
Ways to define your ideal consulting client
If you don’t know who your ideal consulting clients are, how will you work with them? Not knowing your ideal client profile, and not therefore not being able to position yourself and your services to your ideal client, is the … Read More
Are we having fun yet?
As consultants, project work is usually fun (at least if you have the right clients), but business development can seem like a slog, or even, as I thought of it, a “necessary evil”. But if you’re not having fun with … Read More
The Introvert’s Edge to Networking
If there was something I hated more than “selling”, it was probably “networking”. Now, Matthew Pollard, author of The Introvert’s Edge: How the Quiet and Shy Can Outsell Anyone, is back with a new book, The Introvert’s Edge to Networking. … Read More
Consulting Positioning: 4 techniques to nail your niche
Positioning your consulting practice is perhaps the most critical sales and marketing decision you can make, but it’s also hard, so a lot of consultants don’t really do a great job with it. This leads them to struggle unnecessarily. Why … Read More
As a consultant, are you a business owner or a subcontractor?
The phone rings and you can see the name of your client. What’s the feeling in your gut? Is it, “oh, great, I’m looking forward to talking to so-and-son”? Or is it, “not again, this so-and-so is draining the life … Read More
passing the bar test for positioning
What do you say when people ask what you do? In person? On your website? On LinkedIn? When you’re talking to your friends? What do your clients say you do for them? Is your answer consistent and authentic? For many … Read More
Our own beliefs are the biggest sales obstacle
Sales is hard for anyone, but especially when you start your own professional services business, your own beliefs are often the biggest obstacle to sales. I started with some strange, self-limited beliefs about sales. Over time, I realized that I … Read More