How do I market my consulting business?

In this highly competitive society that is ours, if you’ve got great service, that’s all you need to offer, it’s insufficient. You could be the most effective consultant, but if no one takes the chance to collaborate with you, your name will not be a prominent figure.

Growing your consulting business to 7 figures and more is a lot easier than you think , but to do this, you must be able to sell your business with a strong selling point and savvy marketing strategies, sales strategies, social proof, networking and more. It will be easy to get your first clients as a consultant..

Are you searching for answers to the problem “How do I market my consulting business?” If you answered yes, then I’ve got some insightful tips to provide to you right now that can aid you in coordinating your marketing strategies and speed up the rate of expansion.

Come, let’s explore!

1. Set your consulting business apart

Peter Thiel rightly quotes- ” You can either be 10x better than your competitors or be different.”

Diversifying your offerings is among the most effective ways to get noticed by the competition’s noise.

How can you create this distinctness? This can be accomplished in many ways, such as in your proposition of value, the pricing of the clients you serve, and so on.

There’s an incredible framework you can employ to stand out from your competitors, and it’s called Strategy Canvas.

All you have to do is place 5 distinctive elements on the X-axis and their strengths from 1 to 5 on the Y-axis.

For example, take examine the following strategy chart to learn how Apple distinguished its business from that of the market.

2. Amazing free content (most efficient way to market your consulting business)

Content is the most fundamental component of every marketing. From captivating blog posts to phone calls and comprehensive guides, whatever you provide will only increase your earnings.

According to DemandMetric, content marketing costs 62 percent more than other forms of marketing and produces around 3 times more leads. CMI reports that 93 percent of B2B marketers employ content marketing, and 62 percent of the most successful B2C marketing professionals have a clearly defined strategy for content. Social Media Examiner reveals that 58% of marketers say: “original written content” is the most valuable type of content. It is more effective than videos and visuals.

Many consultants are aware of the value of the importance of content marketing. However, they do not focus on the way they measure their results. Below are the criteria that will help you determine the effectiveness of content marketing.

Additionally, you must be aware of the current trends in the field of content marketing (and marketing in general). For instance, according to the DemandGen report, usage of infographics increased from 9 percent to 52% over the past two years.

If you offer valuable information, and for free, it rarely causes your customers to wonder what else you can offer them when they buy the premium products and services.

3. Tripwire

How can I market my business consulting services? You’ve considered it for a long time! Here I will provide you with a different method for doing the same. Inviting a customer in the door is among the most expensive and difficult problems. Once you have them, it is easy to keep them. 

Based on Neil Patel, the average per-visitor conversion rate is a mere 1-2 1 percent online. With a tripwire, this could increase up to 5-10 percent.

For instance, take Bluehost (hosting company), for example. They have a variety of amazing offers($3.95 each month) since they know that once they get customers, they will be able to acquire more in the next couple of years.

I’m trying to emphasize that your marketing strategy must be streamlined to get the customer first. This is how you have the chance to show off your skills.

4. Never hesitate for referrals

This is among the easiest and most effective ways of promoting your company. Your customers who you’ve achieved a “Wow” effect have now become your sales team.

You could even make them feel special by rewarding incentives through the form of a referral fee.

I’ll tell you. There’s the only way other than marketing through clients will create trust and credibility about your business.

5. Build strategic alliances

There are many consultants working in the field who are adversaries. As I’ve mentioned, I have a few wonderful friends in the same industry, and they have actually been there for me in times of need.

If you make the right relationships, you can benefit from synergies and be part of an extremely productive community. If you’re asking yourself: how do I market my consulting business? Continue to boggle your mind. Strategic alliances can assist you greatly in this regard. In reality, if you want to promote your consulting business, you definitely need alliances. These connections could refer clients to you, and in turn, vice versa.

6. Find where your clients hang out

Maybe you are employing the right methodology of marketing your business. However, your efforts aren’t reaching the desired level.

Your audience is well-defined. That’s great! But how do you find them? It is important to ensure that your marketing efforts are in line with your intended audience.

For example, if you’re a consultant in the field of health, and you are targeting the health of your body with Nutrition to those within the age range of 65+, social media marketing might not be as successful. Check out the following statistics from the USA.

As per research from the Pew Research Center, 27 percent of the adults over 65 own smartphones. It’s a great sign that people over 65 live the majority of their time on the internet. So when you’re using the internet and mobile channels to reach them, you could encounter difficulties.

Do you really want to leave marketing online? No! However, offline marketing strategies such as free catalogs, seminars, workshops must also be part of your marketing plan.

7. Make your message strong

Your message is your way to get to customers. It is imperative to be particular in order to make sure that your message is clearly tailored to your audience. You must be precise, clear but also impactful.

Many consultants make the mistake of overloading their blog posts when marketing for their consulting company. One thing to remember is that you must present your expertise in a concise way.

The attention span of a human is believed to be 8 seconds. It is important to grasp the most you can.

You can make use of this formula to create a powerful message:

I [Your name] [Your title], collaborates alongside [the market label] that have been facing [the most difficult problems[top challenges]. I provide [label ] of consultation] to help you achieve [best benefits] [with distinctiveness]. ].

Here’s a good example:

The author, Jan Doe, a health consultant, assists those suffering from chronic fatigue. I provide holistic health advice to rejuvenate your body, without requiring extreme workout regimens or making difficult diet adjustments.

If you’re confused as to what to say, check out ideas and examples that will surely help you.

8. Drive people to your website

In today’s digital age, having a strong digital presence is essential. If you don’t appear in Google searches, you’ll likely have a difficult time expanding your audience.

A well-designed, professional website will reflect positively on your company. Your website will allow people to learn more about your business and your capabilities and experience. Keeping all your social media profiles together will allow you to establish credibility.

Be sure to take care of these aspects on your site.

• SEO- SEO acts as an arrow to guide visitors to your dazzling website. A website that is optimized for desktop and mobile will have a higher chance of having your visitors select your site over the competition. Be sure to have top-quality content that is keyword-rich to get the attention of search engines. Use SEO techniques such as metatags as well as URLs, backlinks, and metatags to boost your chances of being able to be ranked higher in SERPs.
• Amazing DesignThe website you choose to host should feature a captivating user interface that offers an enjoyable user experience. The layout and ease of navigation must leave an unforgettable impression on visitors.
• Call-to-action: Create an appealing call to action on your website, for example, inviting your customers to webinars, filling out the form to grow the number of subscribers to your emails. etc. The website you are using should have elements that will help you make leads quickly.
• Blogs- Write blogs every day to make yourself known as an expert advisor. Apply your 80-20 Rule. The 20% portion of your effort should be directed towards writing blogs, and the other 80% should be directed to promote your blog on different platforms. Explore different social media platforms, like Facebook, Linkedin, etc., as well as alternative formats for content, including infographics, videos or podcasts- to find out what is most effective.

9. Leverage local service clubs and networking groups

You’re not only an expert, but you are the top marketer for your business as well. You need to keep attention to every opportunity you believe could be used to grow your company’s image.

The business networks are an area where people exchange contacts and refer others. Talking at local clubs about topics you’re enthusiastic about and related to your company is a great way to connect with the audience. Don’t forget to give the attendees a handout with your contact information so that people can reach you in the future.

Engage in initiatives and ask for advice. Build credibility through your actions and words. Develop an image that is not to be overlooked!

10. Build your email list

Send out an email to send out regular updates to your subscribers.

One of the most important things you need to remember is to ensure that you don’t over-saturate your customers’ inboxes. If you do that, there is a good chance that you’ll lose a valuable client since they may opt-out.

Be sure to follow a flawless strategy as far as planning and sharing of content are involved. You do not want to upset your potential customers like the one that just caused you to be annoyed, do you?!

11. Newsletters

After you have built your email list, you can send out email newsletters to your subscribers to advertise your consulting business. This can allow your clients to be aware of the latest blog post, special deals, future events, trends in the industry etc.

Newsletters keep your customers informed about your services to ensure that they are able to refer you for any requirements for consulting. It not only shows that you’re up-to with the latest technology and are active, but it allows you to share your knowledge.

12. Social Networking platforms

The number of users is 3.2 billion users on social media (Emarsys 2019).

On average, 2 hrs and 22 minutes are spent on social networks (Global web index, 2018,). 73 percent of marketers believe advertising on social networks has proven to be or was “somewhat effective” or “very effective” for their company (Buffer 2019.).

It is important to not overlook the enormous impact of social media on your campaigns. Utilize different strategies such as videos, posts, information graphics and more to reach your intended public via social media.

The most important thing is to set the goals of any social media advertising strategy. It is essential to be clear about your goals.

Do you want to boost the rate of conversion by gaining more visitors to your site? Do you wish to grow your authority as a consultant? Do you plan to acquire more leads? Do you want to establish lasting connections with your customers?

Once you have figured this out, Here are some steps to be following.

• Do your best to help: Always respond to any questions asked by your audience. Be attentive and active as often as you can to create solid relationships. This will allow you to showcase your expertise as well as your skills. It will also let people know that you are the best advisor for them.
• Be aware of conversations: Sometimes, the questions you ask may not be directed to you, but you’ll be required to contact them. Keep track of the most popular hashtags and phrases your public is using the most to be able to jump into conversations and assist them by sharing your knowledge. Tools for managing social media such as Agorapulse will help you tremendously in managing well.
• Increase your profile so that you can be an influencer. This can be accomplished by sharing the most up-to-date information keeping up to date with the latest trends and new standards, tools, news and technology within your field. Make relationships with other consultants and be as active as you can in social networking.

13. Hold a consulting evening

It’s a great method to gather your customers, prospects, and their associates together. You simply need to provide food or snacks and discuss a particular subject matter for consulting. Your guests have the opportunity to connect with new people and receive an invaluable live chat with an amazing consultant…you!

You could also host workshops for free or at a low cost on topics related to consulting that are relevant to your field. This will help you create your own message, connect with new clients and gain new customers.

At the end of the day, you can ask your clients to complete the feedback/evaluation form and obtain their address, name, phone number, email, etc. was filled.

14. Podcasting

Another avenue for potential customers to discover prospects to find. If you’re new to podcasting, you can get interviewed by other podcasters or even start the process of creating your own (the latter being quite difficult).

Here are some tips for action:

• Make use of your network: Utilize your networks Post on Social Media platforms to let the world know you’re looking at the opportunity to be invited to be an interviewer. It is also possible to mention some topics you’re interested in discussing to make it easier for people to see the value you could provide to them.
• A podcast swap is a great option if you own your own podcast. This could be the perfect opportunity. If you’re still not there, don’t despair. Try to find a different method to provide value to the host of the podcast.
• Begin now: The earlier you get started, the quicker conversations will start rolling. There’s a good chance that someone is searching for an interviewer for the exact topic you would like to discuss.

15. Video Marketing

CISCO estimates an estimated 80% share of Internet traffic would be video in 2021. Aberdeen further states that video marketers generate 66% more leads annually. If you’re struggling with how to promote my consulting company. Then videos are effective ways to build your brand, particularly for Facebook as well as Instagram. Create a short 2-3 minutes video and upload them to YouTube. Make sure to share the videos on social media.

There are many benefits to video marketing.

• Engaging videos are simple to comprehend. The appeal of content is particularly important in order to draw and retain customers.
• The videos can be reused multiple times by new customers. Reusing the same video can save lots of time, money, and effort, which can be put to use in other projects.
• Videos are a great method of engaging the multiple senses of the audience by combining audio and images that aid in establishing a lasting impression on the viewers.

Make sure to include keywords in the description and title on your YouTube channel. Particularly those that your viewers are most likely to use for specific search results.

16. Charge more

Okay, we’ve spoken enough about free stuff. A crucial method you must be aware of is negotiating the highest costs. You might be wondering how do you integrate this into an effective marketing strategy right? Yes, it does.

What’s your ultimate objective with your entire marketing efforts? Growing your client base and the scope of your consultancy business you think? This is what charging more will help you get to.

The idea is to get lower-priced clients who are offering them superior service and increasing sales as you go along. Are you having trouble? Take a look at some suggestions on how to sell high-end consulting services.

17. Marketing hourglass

The marketing hourglass strategy and the same focus on building trust and providing an unforgettable experience will assist you in creating the needed energy for your consulting business.

The hourglass gives a visual of how people can be divided into various parts as they progress across the path.

Learn about the different aspects of the hourglass.

• Be aware that this refers to the awareness stage. Your articles, advertisements and even referrals must begin here.
• If you’ve attracted clients, this is where you provide reasons for them to come to you again and possibly admire your method of operation.
• Trust is a crucial factor in this phase. Testimonials, reviews from clients and stories of success matter to a great extent.
• Try here – You can shower their eBooks, webinars, and extremely detailed details to help them see the value of your work.
• Buy- Here, the focus is to keep the expectations high and possibly surprise the client.
• Repeat- In this case, you have to make sure that your customers are pleased to do business with you in order that they are able to continue using your products and services.
• Refer- The ultimate goal of hour glass marketing is to turn satisfied customers into referral customers.

18. The 5 step branding strategy

Respond to these inquiries:

• What makes you different?

What is it that gives you an advantage over your competition? What are your strengths and distinctive advantages?

• What is the aspect that makes your company distinctive?

You could, for instance, help your clients lose weight, but not on having to adhere to a strict diet.

• What do your beliefs and values different?

You must compare yourself with other people in the same industry and determine if your values and beliefs are different from yours. For example, consultants might think that there is a way to be a profession that doesn’t require all day, but your rival may believe that work is more than a profession and is a call.

• What makes your audience unique?

As a dating expert, You can focus on introverts or those who have had a breakup. It is essential to recognize that there are many different brands available, and the marketplace is distinct, so the brands are simple to differentiate from each.

• What makes your product unique?

You must answer this question: how does your method differ from others? Does it make it easier to get outcomes? Are you using the most efficient method to achieve the desired result?

19. Get to a podium

Your success as a consultant comes from the ability you have to speak in front of a crowd of prospects, clients, and clients and explain your process. The basic idea is to present your eBook can be presented in seminar format. Your prospecting efforts should have the primary goal of getting the attention of groups by delivering an enticing message.

Make sure you take every opportunity to engage with your public. Avoid self-promotion and focus on sharing information, which will easily attract businesses.

20. An automated sales system

Creating an attractive incentive to get users to sign up to your mailing list is possible. There are three excellent methods to do this.

• Email autoresponder series
• Video series
• Webinar

These provide several ways to contact. Multiple touchpoints can aid in converting the leads into affluent buyers. They are a great method to establish confidence with your customers.

With webinars(my favourite) you can cut down the period of trust-building to as low as 1 hour. Furthermore, they are automated. Your sales automation system will provide you with steady revenue each month if properly packaged.