9 Effective Marketing Strategies for Consultants and Self Employed

Marketing a consulting business effectively requires targeted strategies to enhance both your visibility and credibility. With some careful planning, creativity, and commitment you’ll be on your way to developing a distinctive and respectable brand.

Here are eight effective ways to market a consulting business:

1. Create a Google My Business Account

Creating a free Google My Business account literally puts your business on the map. This helps people searching for your company to find you by Google search and also adds credibility to your business. Your Google My Business account will feature your contact information, available hours, description of services, photos of your office space, and more. Another huge perk is that people can leave reviews for your business through Google that will appear in search. It’s a win-win.

2. Develop Your Personal Brand

When you start out as an independent consultant, it’s important to remember that you are now your brand. There are many new, emerging ways to market yourself to ensure your small business is visible not only on the Internet, but also in your community and among your colleagues. Remember, everything you do, say, or publish online reflects on your business. Take a moment to assess how you present yourself online and adjust as needed.

3. Write an Effective Sales Pitch

If you’ve done any research on starting a business, you’re likely familiar with the elevator pitch: a concise, compelling statement describing your business. You should be able to give a potential client your elevator speech in no more than 30 seconds. Although this technique may be more common in traditional business, it will help highlight what’s important about your personal brand and share information quickly with others.

4. Create a Professional Website

A credible website is the backbone of a good brand. Your website will likely be the first place potential clients look when they’re researching your credentials, so make sure it is well written, up-to-date, and professional. The quality of your website often speaks to the quality of your work, so be sure to employ professional design help if needed, and ask for candid feedback from friends and colleagues.

5. Prove You Are a Thought Leader

Establishing yourself as a thought leader is one of the most effective marketing tools for independent contractors. Blogging via your own website or through a channel such as LinkedIn is a creative outlet that allows you to share your expertise and reach an audience you may not connect with through traditional marketing methods. Speaking opportunities are another way to promote your name and voice. Reach out to professional organizations, conferences, and local media to uncover opportunities for sharing your expertise.

6. Grow Your Social Network

Social networking has become a marketing force to be reckoned with. What better way to speak directly to people with similar interests and leverage word of mouth referrals to win new clients? To brand your business online, start with LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. Your professional profiles should contain important information clients may need and must be updated with current content. To maintain professionalism, don’t spam your social network contacts at every opportunity. Work to find a balance between sharing what’s interesting to you and what’s related to your business.

7. Determine Your Target Audience

Your target audience is the people who have the most to benefit from the services you offer. Take time to define your target audience and to understand their specific needs, where they spend their time online, and which are the best ways to communicate to them. This research will help you focus your marketing efforts on the people who are the most likely to respond positively.

8. Use Video to Your Advantage

You can give listeners and viewers a sense of who you are as an expert and as a professional with video content. Engage with followers on Instagram, or create video blogs. By sharing your personality, you can begin to build a circle of trust and drive new clients to your business. You don’t need to spend a fortune on video equipment. A good quality smartphone is enough to create videos, and you can ask a friend or colleague for help with lighting or editing titles and introductions. Just pay attention to lighting, background noise, and your surroundings.

9. Take Time to Network

One of the biggest secrets of consulting success is developing a strong network. There are many ways to network, such as attending relevant conferences, local meet-ups, and promotional events to connecting with people online and setting up virtual meetings. Regardless of how you choose to network, be sure to connect with people who have varying interests and levels of expertise. Creating a diverse network will help you spark innovation, collaboration, and creativity.