Launching your consulting business can be tough… you need to choose a niche, build a website, and create your marketing message. But for most first-time consultants, the most difficult part of launching is finding your first group of clients.
If you are just getting started in the consulting industry, you need to know how to promote your consulting business. This is a vital step to ensure that your name is out there and clients are are able to find you when they have a problem your business can solve. With proper promotion, you will find it easier to get clients, resulting in more business and more revenue.
How to Promote Your Consulting Business
If you’re wondering how to promote your consulting business, you’re on the right track. It means you are interested in marketing your brand, which is essential to your success. It also shows that you are willing to put in the work to build a pipeline of clients for your consulting practice.
Many consulting startups make the mistake of believing that business will magically come to them. Sadly, this isn’t the case. You have to be diligent in creating an action plan and sticking to it. Therefore, one of your first goals should be to promote yourself and your business.
Here are 5 great ways to promote your consulting business without breaking the bank:
#1: Your Website
A website is the first impression that you’ll make on many of your potential clients. This can be a very important factor in their decision to hire your consulting company. Knowing how to promote your consulting business online is key. But with the abundance of web design options, it’s easy to get lost and not know where to start.
To help you focus on the essentials, you should do everything you can to ensure that your website looks professional. Your goal is to attract potential clients, but you won’t achieve this if your website is clunky and cheap-looking. That being said, most first-time consultants can use an off-the-shelf theme and build a simple but functional WordPress site that looks good enough to get your started.
Once you get people to visit your website, your next goal should be to have them sign up for your e-mail newsletter list. This will allow you to promote your brand to prospective clients with minimal effort.
A complete website should also detail the services you offer. After all, you want to show people the value in hiring you. Moreover, make sure your website has a section dedicated to testimonials. Whether from former clients or employers, this is another great way to show your worth.
For more tips on using your online presence to find more consulting customers, read The 5 Best Ways to Find More Consulting Clients Online.
#2: Your E-Mail Newsletter
One of the most valuable components of how to promote your consulting business is an e-mail newsletter. No matter what your consulting niche is, newsletters provide a fantastic platform for communicating with prospective clients. E-mail newsletters can be used to announce new products or services, share company updates, and even answer questions from customers.
A newsletter should be a regular part of your marketing strategy. Use this is a platform to share free how-to advice as it relates to your services. It’s best practice to send your newsletter at least once per month, if not more frequently. Take this opportunity to offer free, no-obligation calls or anything else you can think of help you turn prospective clients into paying customers.
For more tips on building and growing your e-mail newsletter, read How to Build a Bigger E-Mail List for Your Business.
#3: Seek Referrals
When learning how to promote your consulting business, one of the best strategies is getting referrals. This is an excellent way to grow your consulting business and build a steady pipeline of new clients. It requires some work on your behalf, but the results are more than worth it. You can get referrals in a variety of ways, but the best place to start is by asking your friends, neighbors, family, past coworkers, and anyone else you are connected with if they know anyone (or any company) that might be a good fit for your services.
If someone in your network gives you a referral, ask them to make an introduction for you. The most effective types of referrals are when your contact is willing to send an e-mail or make a call to introduce you to the person they are referring. A simple e-mail introduction can go a long way in getting the person to agree to set-up a call or meeting with you to hear more about your consulting practice.
Another great way to get referrals is to ask your clients for feedback after they’ve worked with you. This gives them an opportunity to share their experience with someone they know and trust instead of just leaving a review on your website or Facebook page.
#4: Attend Networking Events
Networking events are an invaluable opportunity for consultants to make contacts and connections. The world of consulting is competitive, with many different types of firms competing for the same clients. So if you want to stand out in the crowd, you need to know how to be a standout consultant.
You have many opportunities to network, whether it’s through your local Chamber of Commerce, trade association events, or seminars.
#5: Line Up Speaking Opportunities
In your journey to promote your consulting business, be sure to take advantage of any speaking opportunities you can. You may have to step outside of your comfort zone. But the more you do it, the more natural it will become. And this will only help you in your consulting efforts.
Look for events scheduled in your area and reach out to book yourself as a speaker. Likewise, call local business groups and trade associations related to your consulting niche. Many of these groups are always looking for speakers for their meetings and conferences. This is an excellent way to get your name and brand out there as you seek new clients for your consulting business.
How to Promote Your Consulting Business: Create a System
Now that you know how to promote your consulting business, you can start taking steps to put these tips into action. The key to your success lies in consistently attracting and signing new clients. As such, promotion needs to be an ongoing effort on your part.
So whenever you find success in one method, don’t rest on it and hope for the best. Put your efforts into as many methods as possible to ensure that you’re getting the most traction from your promotions.
With that said, you can easily become overwhelmed if you don’t have a system in place. Therefore, create a working system that helps you more easily manage your actions. With dedication, diligence, and action, you will see more success in your attempts to secure clients.
Photo Credit: Campaign Creators on Unsplash
