When you work in digital or mobile marketing, you’re probably working as a consultant. Of course, there are some professionals employed by companies, but there is also an increasing number of marketing pros who are opting to work on their own, allowing them freedom and flexibility.
While there are plenty of benefits to working as a consultant, particularly in an industry such as digital or mobile marketing, it can often feel like feast or famine when it comes to finding and landing new clients.
The difficult part about being a consultant can often be the constant need to keep getting clients, but there are some tips like the ones listed below that you can follow to make it at least somewhat easier.
Know Who You Want To Work With
When you’re a consultant, particularly if you’re just starting out, there can be a temptation to try and land any client, even if it’s not your ideal scenario.
That can backfire, however, and end up wasting your time.
The most successful consultants tend to know exactly who they want to work with and who their targeted client is. Sure, this may mean passing on some potential clients, but it can create more value and help you more effectively build your reputation in the long term.
If you narrow your targeted client niche, it can also help you build a reputation more quickly in a particular niche.
Build Your Online Presence
If you’re in digital or mobile marketing and you don’t have a strong online presence, you’re not putting your best skill set to use.
Rather than spending time chasing down clients that aren’t a good fit for you or your growing consulting business, you should instead think about putting that time toward things like blogging, networking on LinkedIn, and creating highly authoritative content such as case studies and whitepapers.
Ask For Referrals
Referrals are an important component of a successful consulting business, so don’t be afraid to ask for them. You should be proactive when asking current or former clients for referrals, but you don’t have to be aggressive about it. Simply send a quick email asking for any referrals that might come to mind if they’ve been pleased with the quality of work you’ve provided.
Learn How to Entertain Clients
There are plenty of digital and mobile marketing firms and consultants clients can choose from, so sometimes landing clients comes down to your personality and ability to make yourself stand out on that level.
Learn how to entertain clients in a way that’s engaging and is going to help you land the contract. Your unique personality is one thing that no other consultant is going to be able to offer potential clients, so make sure you’re using it to your advantage.
Paid Advertising
To conclude this list of ways to get more consulting clients, you might consider paid advertising. Facebook Ads is a simple, efficient and inexpensive way to get the word out about consulting services. Give yourself some time to explore Facebook Ads if it’s something you haven’t done before so you can optimize your ads and your spending.
Being a consultant comes with plenty of perks, but it’s not without challenges. If you can follow tips like the ones above you can make sure you have a steady stream of opportunities to combat the primary challenge of consulting, which is finding clients.