To get started in consulting in your field of expertise is it is important that your name is synonymous with trust. By following these seven tips you can go from a beginner in the consultant world to an expert consultant. After these seven tips you should be able to get started in consulting.
1. The most important step to starting as a consultant is to have contacts and references in your field of expertise. To do this you can go to your local chamber of commerce, join linked in or twitter, or follow blogs of other consultants in your field. By participating in each of these and getting to know people in the field you should have some contacts and can thus build your reputation.
2. Once you know some people in the industry its important to offer your services for free in order to build up your name. Go to local businesses or contact some businesses online via twitter, Facebook etc and if you think they could use a hand offer it for free. IF they accept your offer make sure you can do a great job. Ask if you can get a testimonial.
3. Get a website with your own domain. On your website list what your services are and how much they cost. As an incentive to do business with you perhaps offer your initial analysis of what they need to improve for free to get them in the door.
4. Continue building relationships with clients, contacts, and others in the business. The more email addresses or ways to contact someone the better. Do minor favors for others in your field or with other consultants. You can even exchange leads if you know someone who might be a better fit for another consultant.
5. Follow up with your clients and ask for testimonials if they were happy with the job you did. If they are unhappy refund them a bit of money and get it right the next time. Taking care of an unhappy client can be the difference between having a respected consulting name and losing all business.
6. Monitor blogs, twitter search etc, to see what people are saying about you. If most of your business is through the internet people will be talking about you whether the feedback is positive or negative. Thank the people who make positive comments as they are more likely to recommend your services to friends. Address the concerns of unhappy clients in cyberspace.
7. Use sites like Craigslist and other free classified ads to get additional business if your website, social networks, and various other internet mediums aren't bringing in enough business. Last but not least get started.
0 comments:
Post a Comment