Is there a strong demand for ONline consulting?
I have been a successful Internet entrepreneur for 10 years. After taking almost 2 years off to live a little, I came back to the business world. I tried throwing up some sites and services just to get an idea of what industry I want to be in or business model I want to use. None really got me excited. I am used to being in the middle of large traffic deals and doing millions in sales so messing around with this stuff is boring me.
I don't want to buy a large business or sites because I don't want to deal with a lot of new employees and put in that kind of time. I don't want to mess around with starting a major project from scratch. I don't want to deal with all of the little tedious things that need done to start a large business. I have been spoiled by being at the top and analyzing my businesses and making changes or having employees make the changes I needed.
Basically, I have made my money, I had fun and would love to do it again but, I think I prefer to stand on the sidelines and tell the coach what plays he should run based on my experience rather than be the Owner of a team, the General Manager, the coach and the quarterback. I can have a hand in the success, get paid for my time, have satisfaction of what I can do for the team, and have plenty of time the rest of the week because I don't have to do all of the other jobs.
So, I am thinking consulting. I see so many sites that can be vastly improved.
Anyways... to my point...
I have been doing some research but I am having a hard time digging up any good information on consulting because it seems to be all over the map.
-In the IM industry there seems to be just the self labeled gurus who push products and build mailing lists. They run consulting on the side. Their business mainly targets people starting out in Internet marketing.
-Then there is seo consulting. This is good but I don't want to concentrate on this. I could help many sites increase their traffic with seo but I am thinking this would be just one service I offer.
-The other consulting seems to be major corporate consulting. The corps probably will have major demands and tight deadlines. I don't want to compete for such clients.
-I will ignore offline consulting since I don't want to be in that.
I would like the market in between newbies and major corporations. I would like to help the small businesses and affiliate marketers increase their profits. This is the market that I am having a hard time finding information on.
Are there consultants out there who help affiliate marketers who are already making $5k+ a month? Are these affiliate marketers interested in help from a consultant? What about other small businesses such as site owners making $5k+ a month. Any demand from them?
Can you point me to consultants who directly target these businesses? I am having a hard time finding them.
Anyone familiar with the standard fee structures or is it usually
custom? If custom, then what is the price based on? Results? Size of business? Set packages of services? Set packages of services X size of business?
I was thinking of offering services such as seo, how to improve site design, improve ctr (one of my specialties), how to improve membership sites and retention, increase traffic, help with affiliate marketing, niche marketing, monetization, etc.
I don't really want to do the "coach" thing. I am not interested in motivating people and get them to follow some "how to make money" thing but, I would be interested in consulting for people starting out as long as they have a business model in mind that they need help executing. What would the fees be for this? I see some people offering coaching for under $200 per month but it seems to be cookie cutter coaching such as "follow my steps".
Maybe for this group I can set up some packages starting at $100 that would include a few email exchanges starting with a how to execute their plan correctly, help with traffic, improve ctr, improve design, seo etc.
Sorry for the long post. Any information for consulting in these markets will be very helpful.
Thanks
Joe
I don't want to buy a large business or sites because I don't want to deal with a lot of new employees and put in that kind of time. I don't want to mess around with starting a major project from scratch. I don't want to deal with all of the little tedious things that need done to start a large business. I have been spoiled by being at the top and analyzing my businesses and making changes or having employees make the changes I needed.
Basically, I have made my money, I had fun and would love to do it again but, I think I prefer to stand on the sidelines and tell the coach what plays he should run based on my experience rather than be the Owner of a team, the General Manager, the coach and the quarterback. I can have a hand in the success, get paid for my time, have satisfaction of what I can do for the team, and have plenty of time the rest of the week because I don't have to do all of the other jobs.
So, I am thinking consulting. I see so many sites that can be vastly improved.
Anyways... to my point...
I have been doing some research but I am having a hard time digging up any good information on consulting because it seems to be all over the map.
-In the IM industry there seems to be just the self labeled gurus who push products and build mailing lists. They run consulting on the side. Their business mainly targets people starting out in Internet marketing.
-Then there is seo consulting. This is good but I don't want to concentrate on this. I could help many sites increase their traffic with seo but I am thinking this would be just one service I offer.
-The other consulting seems to be major corporate consulting. The corps probably will have major demands and tight deadlines. I don't want to compete for such clients.
-I will ignore offline consulting since I don't want to be in that.
I would like the market in between newbies and major corporations. I would like to help the small businesses and affiliate marketers increase their profits. This is the market that I am having a hard time finding information on.
Are there consultants out there who help affiliate marketers who are already making $5k+ a month? Are these affiliate marketers interested in help from a consultant? What about other small businesses such as site owners making $5k+ a month. Any demand from them?
Can you point me to consultants who directly target these businesses? I am having a hard time finding them.
Anyone familiar with the standard fee structures or is it usually
custom? If custom, then what is the price based on? Results? Size of business? Set packages of services? Set packages of services X size of business?
I was thinking of offering services such as seo, how to improve site design, improve ctr (one of my specialties), how to improve membership sites and retention, increase traffic, help with affiliate marketing, niche marketing, monetization, etc.
I don't really want to do the "coach" thing. I am not interested in motivating people and get them to follow some "how to make money" thing but, I would be interested in consulting for people starting out as long as they have a business model in mind that they need help executing. What would the fees be for this? I see some people offering coaching for under $200 per month but it seems to be cookie cutter coaching such as "follow my steps".
Maybe for this group I can set up some packages starting at $100 that would include a few email exchanges starting with a how to execute their plan correctly, help with traffic, improve ctr, improve design, seo etc.
Sorry for the long post. Any information for consulting in these markets will be very helpful.
Thanks
Joe