Start-Over Success Business Under $500 - Consulting
If you’ve been working for someone else for a while, it may be time to go out on your own.
It may be a natural next step for yo to be a consultant, using the same skills you used to offer at your job. The great news with you doing consulting is, you’ve already got the expertise and experience working with people and giving value.
You Can Do This! And there’s such a great potential, you probably should!
JoyBrand Creative, YouTube
Position Yourself for Top Prices
Later in this article, I’ll share lists of services (and even products) you can offer. That’s the easy part. You already know how to give value. The tough part is what to charge like Goldilocks, not too low, not too high, but just right!
As you are thinking of setting your pricing, consider the idea of positioning yourself. I love how Dan Lock advises consultants, “Position yourself as the celebrity authority.” Seriously.
How to Charge for Consulting
You can charge by project or hourly. What you get paid depends on 1) the value you bring your client (ROI) and 2) the client’s perception of your “position” as a known expert, or not.
Following are typical consulting charges for ongoing work.
You’ve already got expertise and experience and are probably perfectly capable of delivering consulting services right now. But, now that you’re on your own, you need a website. Website hosting is just $3/mo from BlueHost.
Later, we’ll talk about how to get more business, one of the best ways will be with video on YouTube (or elsewhere). As a consultant, you’ll want to share your screen and look absolutely professional. Try ScreenFlow ($169/mo) for that.
We’ll also talk about other ways for you to get the word out, I’ll tell you now, SuccessCenter.com is a huge help in many ways. It is $35/mo which is a bargain considering the backlinks alone.
Create a business card, with your face on it. $70 tops
For $207/mo plus $70 for business cards, you’re ready to go.
Get the Word Out - Part 1
If you’ve already been working in an industry or a town for a while, you know people. And more importantly, they know you and your expertise.
Now, let people in your professional circles know that you are available. Even other consultants may have overflow business to send your way.
While you’re at it, share your new position with everyone. Go to live local networking (Try NetworkAfterWork.com and/or Chamber of Commerce), join Facebook and/or Linkedin Groups and get active.
Get the Word Out - Part 2
You must let people know you exist and build credibiiity, trust, and influence.
It’s not enough to have a website and blog, those are like the house of your marketing. You must also get backlinks. Getting backlinks is a big, important task, and can be challenging.
Set yourself up for backlink success by posting articles on SuccessCenter.com, Medium.com, and LinkedIn. Write articles for magazines that will backlink to you.
Start a YouTube Channel and/or Podcast and interview others.
Get on TV and they will link to you from their station website.
Consulting Services to Offer
Each industry and client has different needs from a consultant.
I’ve listed many ways a consultant can offer services and make money. These are not in order. And, not all of them will be for you…especially not in the beginning.
Some of the services you can offer now require upgrading your tech abilities and/or using software. All of them mean more money for you to earn and often means money for you to spend.
More Consultant Services & Products to Offer
Again, these aren’t listed in order. You decide what and when to offer.
Books and other merchandise, as well as print-on-demand products, or even direct sales products may work well for you and your market.
Creating apps and software may seem far fetched, but in today’s world, those may be great for you.
Even More Money for Consultants to Make
As a successful consultant and speaker, you are in a great position to provide even more. Most, if not all of these, require more than one person, along with financial investments that may be significant. But…
If you’re up for it, each of these provides income, audience building, exposure, and sure thing status and influence.
What's Next for You as a Consultant?
This is a path where the sky really is the limit.
Think: Tony Robbins, Bob Proctor (The Secret), Daymond John (Shark Tank), Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad, Poor Dad), and Sharon Lechter (Rich Dad, Poor Dad).
They are (or were, in the case of Bob Proctor) more “trainer,” “entrepreneurs,” and sought-after celebrity speakers business people than consultants,
Each of them grew their reach and their impact, by using many of the items from 1 to 29, listed above.
Reach for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.
- Les Brown
Twitter:
@StartOverGal
@75SOSBiz
#StartOverSuccess
LinkedIn.com/business/start-over-success