How to Break Into The Marketing Consulting Niche

9 years ago

If you have a "knack in marketing strategies", then you should already know!

We started with SEO services and evolved. We now focus mostly on customer reactivation and JVs. IMHO these two give you the biggest up front bang for the buck. We're expanding a little into defining the ideal customer and USP, as we've found this can easily give a 30% boost in anything that follows.

Figure out your own USP, elevator speech and get out there and start building relationships. Use your marketing knowledge to get the message out there...

I'd start with people you already know. Focus on those with influence. Getting a testimonial or referral from a prominent businessman is far more powerful than one from someone who is unknown (celebrity factor). So find anyone within your own circle who fits that criteria. Don't know such a person? Then join your C of C and get to know the leaders, the heads of the committees and such like.

Some other ideas here

Thanks

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gjabiz

9 years ago

A marketing consultant for who?

Many different types of businesses, one size does not fit all unless you are Dan Kennedy or someone with that type of background.

I have several marketing consultant friends.

One specializes in fast food franchises. His partner in sit down restaurants.
Another does remote direct marketing; mail, postcards, letters. etc..
Yet another consults with Dentists.

When I was active, I consulted with mom and pop small businesses and offered a FREE marketing APPRAISAL, since I didn't represent anyone; radio, newspaper, TV, magazine, Valpak, etc. etc., I could give them an unbiased appraisal of their marketing, and there were always holes in their methods, so, they would hire me to fill in the gaps.

Marketing consultants are a dime a dozen, so, SPECIALIZE if you want to have a go at it.

Maybe start as a Content Writing Marketing Consultant.

gjabiz

Originally Posted by fated82

Hi warriors,

I would like to seek your advice on breaking into the marketing consulting niche. I am currently running a content writing firm but I believe i can do much more than just content writing.

I have a knack in marketing strategies as well as applying those strategies in my own business and I would like to take advantage of that and help those businesses in my community.

Having said that, most businesses are skeptical and without a good portfolio, it will be hard to convince them that I could help them.

So I am seeking advice as to how do I approach them and let them give me a chance to help them?

Any offline marketing consultant here that can share with me on how you get started?

Thanks

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joe golfer

9 years ago

You are already a marketing consultant. As Gordon says, you are a Content Writing Marketing Consultant.

You are that now.

So the real question is. "How can I expand the services of my marketing consulting firm?"

Start having deeper conversations with the clients you have now, and find out what they need.

There are lot of threads here on how to do that, but I would start with Andrew Cavanaugh because that is how he built his business.

Then determine if you can develop the skills or hire the talent to meet that need, just like you did with content writing.

Thanks
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savidge4 9 years ago

I think I would focus less on end user clients, as I would focus on service industries that deal with clients, and servicing them directly.

You have value to a SEO firm. you have value to a web design firm. you have value to an advertising agency.

Keep in mind... you DO have a portfolio and a previous client.. it happens to be you. As much as you are "Starting out" you really are not. you have experience.. and you have dealt with the worst client in the world.. and that's yourself. It comes down to applying that knowledge and experience in attracting what you think would be your perfect clients. Basically do what you do best - and market yourself.. or better yet market your new business.
- Thanks
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Freebiequeen1999

9 years ago

JMO you can easily expand your content consulting to offering email services, ad writing services, social media content posting, blog writing etc....as was pointed out here too - some seo/marketing agencies would probably have some gigs for you.

Be active in networking locally - and active on LinkedIn (where people don't troll around like they do on other forums trying to peddle their stuff haha).

Thanks

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wolfmmiii

9 years ago

I'm not trying to be a Debbie downer here - I'm really not; but, how can you offer marketing services to clients when you don't even know how to market yourself???

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TrumpiaTim

9 years ago

Well the first step to breaking into the consulting service is decide exactly what will you be consulting on?

There's a huge space that you can cover:

- Email Marketing
- Website Design
- E-Commerce
- Social Media Strategy
- SMS Mobile Text Marketing
- PPC / Adword Management

The above are just a handful of things you can consult on but that would be the first step so you can decide what your pitch will be from there to businesses.

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Boo Blizzi

9 years ago

I got started by crashing a local Chambers of Commerce meeting and handing out business cards that said...

"Have you thought about advertising your business online, but don't know where to start? If so, give me a call and I'll help you map out a plan to get your business in front of customers on Google, Facebook, Yelp, and more!"

Handing out that card got me 6 phone appointments and 2 clients.

People are at these meetings to network and discover new services or ways to grow their business. They will approach you and ask you about your business. All you have to do is speak intelligently about what it is you do and if they are interested you will know.

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ewenmack

9 years ago

The original poster has a long history of asking for help,
not responding and not thanking for assistance.

History is being repeated here.

That's the reason I no longer offer assistance to him.

Best,
Doctor E. Vile

Thanks
2 replies

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Freebiequeen1999

9 years ago

Originally Posted by ewenmack

The original poster has a long history of asking for help,
not responding and not thanking for assistance.

History is being repeated here.

That's the reason I no longer offer assistance.

Best,
Doctor E. Vile

Interesting...

we have a lot of people who come and many give very good advice, and then they never come back, we don't know what happened..

where is the young guy with the (new-not new) idea of selling html websites..I have a good memory , he lived in England, his dad drove him to his job every day, and I thought some of the guys here were going to be his second Daddy...he was going to do some sites and he slacked off?

Where is the Underground guy - he had a high end directory going in London - is it booming or ?

What about the guy who doesn't live in Florida but was making a directory, only it pretty weird, so many out of biz or "not great" biz listed, very fake listings....what happened there?

Thanks
1 reply

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Ron Lafuddy

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Freebiequeen1999

Interesting...

we have a lot of people who come and many give very good advice, and then they never come back, we don't know what happened..

where is the young guy with the (new-not new) idea of selling html websites..I have a good memory , he lived in England, his dad drove him to his job every day, and I thought some of the guys here were going to be his second Daddy...he was going to do some sites and he slacked off?

Where is the Underground guy - he had a high end directory going in London - is it booming or ?

What about the guy who doesn't live in Florida but was making a directory, only it pretty weird, so many out of biz or "not great" biz listed, very fake listings....what happened there?

All part of the circus that goes on here.

Many have multiple ID's and drop one for another from time to time.

They do leave unmistakeable tells, though.

Some post questions under one ID and then slide in to answer it 2 minutes
later under another. The answer is about an ebook's worth of detailed info
that they somehow just came up with on the spot...zippity-do-dah!

There's some excellent information in this forum.

If you have some experience under your belt, you know what's real world and what's BS.

If you're a newbie...beware!

PS: Keep callin' BS where you find it, Freebie. You're absolutely correct.

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bizgrower

9 years ago

Originally Posted by ewenmack

The original poster has a long history of asking for help,
not responding and not thanking for assistance.

History is being repeated here.

That's the reason I no longer offer assistance to him.

Best,
Doctor E. Vile

I looked, briefly, at his thread history. He might be trying to gather info for his next WSO.
He does have a few of those.

Thanks

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writeaway

9 years ago

If you’re looking to become a marketing consultant to address an offline market, you have to have a solid track record.

Unfortunately, for most people getting into this game, it’s a classic case of the chicken and egg problem.

I would look to working with a friend or a relative who would have need of marketing consulting services and try to produce results for them, track my efforts, and use that experience as a case study to attract new clients.

You have to remember that if you don’t have a past track record, you’re always going to run head long into the empty restaurant effect,

What is the empty restaurant effect?

Very simple.

Woud you eat at an empty restaurant?

I thought so.

People would assume that if nobody’s eating at a restaurant then that restaurant is no good.

The same applies with business consultants.

If you don’t have a long track record of happy customers, along with case studies with proven results then it’s going to be very hard to get that first client.

Jumpstart this process by working with somebody you know and produce real results.

You have to walk your talk at some point in time.

Thanks

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How to Break Into The Marketing Consulting Niche

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