As a consultant, you advise others on how to run various aspects of their business or their life, for a living. But when it comes to your own consulting practice, planning can be just as critical to success. Like marketing. Here are some of the issues we hear about most frequently from our clients:
- “We’ve always just done our marketing ourselves. But we were wondering if it was time we took our own advice and worked with a professional.”
- “I wasn’t sure I would find someone that could coach the coach.”
- “Marketing is somewhat related to the work I do. But I’m not able to step away with the same objectivity about my own brand.”
- “We can’t compete with the high budget marketing of some of our large competitors. But maybe if we focus our efforts, we can make an impact within our niche market.”
- “In consulting, it’s often feast or famine. If we could figure out how to even out our work, we would have the luxury to plan ahead.”
- “We’ve tried a lot of different things, social media, writing, networking… Everything takes so much time and where is the return?”
The value of a marketing plan to a consulting firm:
If your firm is experiencing any of these scenarios, it may be time for some planning.
Aside from the obvious benefits – a strategic approach to pursue your practice development goals and a solid business case to justify your budget – a marketing plan can also have other positive, unintended consequences critical to a consulting firm’s success. The marketing plan can be the first and most decisive step towards developing a meaningful mission and vision for the firm. As well, a marketing plan that accounts for the individual interests and talents of participants can tap into the motivation that’s critical for implementation.
“…Sandra was a great partner who helped me define just the right voice and tone that conveyed the essence and heart of my practice… I’m confident that my go-to-market channel strategies… will lead me on a path to business success and growth…”Federman, Mark Federman, Ph.D
Despite the value of a marketing plan, it’s equally important to stay nimble and responsive, to reassess and adjust on a regular basis. The right balance between formal planning and entrepreneurial spirit is key to minimizing risk and maximizing opportunity.
Marketing and management for consulting firms:
To discuss how we can work together to develop a coaching program for your consulting firm, contact us for an initial consultation, in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) or via web conference anywhere in Canada.
