Biz Consulting/ Coaching

Marketing Your Consulting Business - ideas part 3

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Warm Calling. Warm calling is similar to cold calling, but instead of contact completely new entities, you are either re-calling past cold calls that have given you more information regarding their business details, which will afford you an easier time turning a phone conversation into a workable potential client meeting OR you are calling entities for the first time since another third party has given you information regarding the called. So-called warm calls are much more desirable that cold calls, as the warm variety does not have the same uncomfortable breaking the ice factor that you have when doing the coldest of cold calls. Furthermore, if you have more information regarding the business structure of the called party, you have a much better chance of directing your call to individuals in a position to give you business.
Volunteer. In the beginning of your consultant career (and, indeed, potentially throughout your career), you may find it necessary and/or useful to give away your talents for free. This can be frustrating, but there are MANY benefits to this approach. For starters, EVERYONE likes to get something for free, and the recipient of your good will is much more likely to pass on a positive reference or otherwise provide free word of mouth advertising. In addition, if you are an advertising or marketing consultant (or, indeed one of many different types), you may use volunteer work as a portfolio piece which is another way to draw in more customers. Perhaps most importantly, by working in any capacity, even a free one; you will be exposed to a myriad of potential clientele within the industry of your choice. All things considered, volunteer work when executed properly can be a win-win situation.