Free Guide: 5 Starter Growth Tips for Solo Consultants

When I took the leap from my corporate executive marketing job into independent, solo, consulting - I knew my world was going to get flipped upside down.

I knew it was a risk.

I knew I was going to face stress, complexity, hard decisions, and long hours to make it work up front.

But I also knew how much I wanted to start building something for myself.

I wanted to own my time.

I wanted to choose the work I was passionate about and explore projects I could learn from.

I've been operating as a solo consultant since Jan of '22 - and I can say it's the best career decision I've ever made.

It hasn't been easy, but I have:

-learned more
-made more ($$)
-had the most flexibility

... I've ever had in my working life.

Becoming a solo consultant is not for everyone.

And looking back there were a few critical things (errors in my planning) I wish I had prepared for that cost me time, money, and business.

And no wonder.

According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, around 80% of new consulting businesses folded within their first two years.

The problem is that when you're planning to transition or just starting out, it's CRITICAL to focus your time and energy on fewer things that drive the most impact.

In this article, I'll share my 5 starter growth tips for solo consultants to start out strong.

(My disclaimer - I'm still learning too. But I've found there's more benefit in sharing my journey and learnings with others -- than waiting for the day I'll understand it all. My goal is help others who are also on this path or considering it.)

Let's get started.

#1 - Define your business niche

When I made the employee ---> solo consultant transition, I was incredibly lucky and had one retainer client lined up. For the first year I had no website, and no information on social channels about my business.

For the few months before and after my transition, I focused mostly on figuring out the operations nuances of running a solo business (managing my books, state filings, invoice process, taxes, calculating mileage, creating proposals, etc.).

I didn't even consider at a larger scale:

1) My business purpose
2) My overall ideal client
3) My services to help fulfill my clients' purpose

About 6 months in, I started thinking about what it would take to fill my optimal client load.

That's when I realized...

I hadn't spent time considering one of the most important and foundational pieces of a successful solo consulting business.

My niche.

Big miss in hindsight.

Justin Welsh uses a quote in his LinkedIn OS course (I highly recommend. It's worth every dime. And if you purchase through the previous link I get a small commission.)

-
"If you don't understand who you're targeting and why, then nothing else matters."
-

To define your unique niche, you need to get super clear on three things:

1) Why your business exits

2) Who, very specifically, is your ideal client

3) What is their purpose and the roadblocks to achieve it (your services)

How do you get super clear on these?

Step 1: Start by articulating/documenting your areas of expertise (my example: marketing strategy)
Step 2: Find a niche inside of your broad areas of expertise (my example: B2B marketing strategy)
Step 3: Research, how you can differentiate through your experience? (my example: Technology B2B marketing strategy)
Step 4: Create a clear and compelling value statement (my example: I help tech solopreneurs, startups, and small businesses build a powerful brand and attract their ideal customers).
Step 5: Chill about getting specific. Opportunities might come along that are outside of your niche. That's OK and awesome. We'll take them if we want! But when you talk to everyone, you talk to no one.

Want to learn from THE EXPERT on niche-ing down as a solo consultant?

Check out the The Positioning Manual for Indie Consultants by Philip Morgan.

I still have post-its all over this thing. ↑

#2 - Create that business plan, financial roadmap, and transition timeline

Short and sweet here, peeps.

If you're thinking about solo consulting, it's a good idea to have your business plan, financial projections, and transition timeline baked out ahead of time.

When I started, I created a light business plan. Looking back, I wish I spent a bit more time building this out.

Things might change as you progress, but it will help you stay on track and think ahead to the challenges you'll face.

Do the deep work to understand how to align your purpose, niche, and unique value. 

And learn everything you can about your buyer.

Nuff said.

#3 - Create a foundational, simple digital presence

Once you've finished your plans and defined your business niche, it's time to create or update a couple priority digital resources that speak to your ideal client, define your value and impact, and show your credibility.

Create a website:
This is your "digital storefront" and the first place people will look to learn about your services. It should be visually appealing and create a good first impression, be easy to navigate, and include CLEAR LANGUAGE about your services and how they benefit potential clients.

Optimize your social channels:
For B2B (selling to business) consultants, LinkedIn is where it's at for branding, relationship building, nurturing connections, and generating leads. For other types of consultants (ex: financial) that focus on B2C (selling to consumers) other social channels may be more beneficial. Knowing your ideal buyer will help you determine which social channels to focus on. Ensure your social profile (personal pages and business pages) are complete and up to date with clear information about your business value.

For both your website and social channels, don't forget to:
- Get an updated head shot (I need to do this! I'm still blonde in mine lol!)
- Use relevant keywords (words or phrases that your client uses to describe your services) to help your buyer find you in searches.

If you're just starting out and running solo. Don't get wrapped up with everything you could do for digital branding. Focus on the basics.

Startup mentality.

You can do more later.

Need help with these? I can help you get the ball rolling. Contact me.

#4 - LinkedIN + an obsession with networking = supercharged solo funnel

This is where the magic happens.

(For B2B consultants anyway.)

I'm talking about the combination of learning how to REALLY use LinkedIn and building a robust network of supporters that understand your unique niche.

LinkedIN:

- Join relevant groups
- Identify potential partnerships
- Learn about and attend events
- Connect with others in your industry
- Map out potential referral connections
- Share your knowledge through content
- Participate in conversations with your network

Again, I highly recommend Justin Welsh's LinkedIn OS course to kick start getting the most out of LinkedIn.

Embrace and obsession with Networking:

- Lead with curiosity and seek always to help or collaborate (read more: Learn How to Connect with Anyone in 60 Seconds or Less)
- Make your niche, client value, and "how you can help me" crystal clear with everyone you meet
- Be strategic. Identify key influencers, super-connectors and create a plan to connect with them
- Be prepared, do your research, and be ready to ask questions
- Make networking a daily habit
- Set networking goals
- Give back
- Follow up

#5 - Set up systems and processes, automate anything you can

Holy moly did I find out the hard way that it's easy to waste a ton. of. time. on. all. the. things.

Managing your time, workload, and staying organized is a battle each and every day.

Creating and documenting systems for accounting and content creation really helped me streamline my precious time as a solo consultant.

I use a combination of time blocking and the Pomodoro productivity timer for my schedule (working in 25 minute intervals).

I also create templates and checklists to streamline my deliverables.

Bonus tip - a tool that I could not live without. Notion - I keep all my business knowledge, operating systems, and content templates here.

Examine your daily work. What systems, processes, or templates, could you document to streamline your work?

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So, there you have it.

If you're curious about the solo consulting life and want to start out strong, follow these 5 starter growth tips.

• #1: Define your business niche
• #2: Create that business plan, financial roadmap, and transition timeline
• #3: Create a foundational, simple, digital presence
• #4: Leverage LinkedIn + an obsession with networking to supercharge your sales funnel
• #5: Set up systems and processes, automate anything you can

That's all for now, hope you found this helpful.

For further reading on creating a successful solo business, check out these free guides:

How to Grow an Audience from Zero as a Solo Entrepreneur
How to Harness the Power of Purpose to Grow Your Business
 



Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:


1. Coaching for consultants. Want to grow, but need guidance on how to build your consulting growth engine the right way? Contact me now


2. Consulting for startups and small businesses in Tech. Let's build and execute revenue-focused marketing that grows your business, community, and brand. Contact me now


3. Follow me on LinkedIn for daily tips on audience and revenue growth. Follow me