Like most small businesses, you may be wondering where to put your marketing dollars. The Yellow Pages is calling, your website host is constantly pitching online advertising, and advertising salespeople in droves promise you the next best thing in advertising. Where do you start? In this three part series, we’ll discuss the foundation of effective marketing … [Read more...]
Interested in the pilot of the WIC Mentoring Program?
July 7, 2009 By 3 Comments
WIC Members, are you interested in: - Mentoring other WIC members as they grow in their practices? - Being mentored by WIC members from whom you can learn and improve? We're creating a new member benefit, the WIC Mentoring Program, and we're starting a pilot program. This new program falls within my area of responsibility as a 2009 WIC Board member. The pilot will be a six-week mentoring program where groups convene once a week by phone. Each group will be focused on one area of business, … [Read more...]
Send The Right Message
May 29, 2009 By 1 Comment
Have you ever come across a company logo that looked like a jumbled mess of drawings? Where there were so many elements competing for your attention that you didn’t even know where to look or what it all meant? The job of your logo is to communicate what your business is all about in an instant. But if you try to say too much in that instant, it’s more likely your customers and prospects will either not get the message or get the wrong message. The key to avoiding a confusing logo is to … [Read more...]
50+ Tips to Brand Yourself Online
April 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment
A quick read on Small Biz Internet Solutions offers "50+ ways to brand yourself online." For anyone starting to explore online marketing, it's a nice laundry list of things to try. The key is selecting the ones that work for you. You can't do them all at once -- well you could, but it sure would be hard to get any client work done -- so choose the components that will deliver the most benefit. On a side note, while the author has a category called "Tactics," I'd argue that these are all … [Read more...]
The Most Useful Marketing Materials for Consultants
April 1, 2009 By 2 Comments
In today's economic climate, it's more important than ever that all of a consultant's marketing materials be as effective as possible. But, if you're just starting your consulting practice, it would pay off to know exactly which pieces you'll really need to have for your business. Here's what I recommend: A logo. Having a logo quickly takes a consultant from having an image of being a person working at home in their pajamas to looking like a real business. It shows your potential … [Read more...]
Should I Become a Consultant: Part III
October 8, 2008 By Leave a Comment
In Parts I and II of "Should I Become a Consultant," the focus was on already-established professionals who were contemplating making the jump from corporate to consulting. If you're a new college grad, the question takes on a whole new dimension. I recently asked the WIC Community List members the following question, "I'm a new college graduate, and I'm thinking of going into consulting. What would you advise?" About 20 WIC consultants replied. Here's a summary of their advice … [Read more...]
Should I Become a Consultant: Part II
October 8, 2008 By Leave a Comment
In Part I of "Should I Become a Consultant," I wrote about understanding what a consultant's life really involves, exploring the waters a bit, answering the question about whether the entrepreneurial life is right for you, and researching the field that interests you, whether its marketing, management, sales, or some other field. Next, research specific areas and ways you can help clients. What Problems Can You Solve Well? Think about the types of problems you want to solve, the … [Read more...]
Should I Become a Consultant: Part I
October 8, 2008 By 1 Comment
With the current economic uncertainty, more and more people will likely be contemplating a consulting career. Odds are, if you're reading this blog, either you know someone who's entertaining the idea or you, yourself, are considering making the move. So, what's the first step in deciding to become a consultant? Start asking questions. Understand what's involved. Explore your options. Some may think it's easy to start, manage, and grow a consulting practice, while others may be frightened by … [Read more...]
