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What is Consulting? For our purpose, consulting is the business of giving expert advice to people working in a particular industry. Keywords here are expert advice + particular industry. In simple terms, consulting is helping a specific set of people solve their problems. Is there something people are always asking your views on? Turn it into a money-spinner. Problems could be business, health, emotional, physical, financial and whatever it is that they cannot solve on their own, and are convinced you can solve for them. Better still, package for a global reach. the aim is to charge and earn money. Stop giving away value for free. Consultants are problem solvers. Knowing this is essential in helping you craft the core values you intend to offer. Let's validate this. Finding your niche We will talk more about why having a niche is important. For now, we need to do an inventory. The following questions will help you do that. 1. What skills do you already have? List as many as possible. You know, those things that come easily to you but is a pain for others. It's okay if it seems you have no skills. You can learn new skills. So, here list skills that interests you and that you would like to learn so you can help others solve problems. 2. What industry or set of people are you already familiar with? It could be past work experience, hobby or people around you. If for instance, you have worked as a secretary to lawyers for years, you could start a consulting practice helping solo lawyers solve their administrative problems. 3 . What are the problems, needs or desires of the industries or set of people mentioned in question two? What are their struggles and aspirations? You can even run surveys to get responses to question three. Lots of free online survey tools you can use. Please, get a pen and notebook and write down your answers. You should see a common thread in your answers to these questions and therein lies your niche . Getting Clients So, how do we attract clients and keep attracting them on autopilot? The simple answer is setting up a funnel. Now, there are different ways to set up a funnel. The way a law firm's funnel is set up is different from the way a fitness trainer's funnel is set up. However, they all have common ingredients: 1.Lead acquisition 2. Lead nurturing 3. Lead conversion 4. Maintain contact Each of these ingredients involves different tools and approaches. But it can all be automated. Also, funnels can be built both organically or through ads, just that ads are faster. Although organic is slower, it brings in more quality leads because those organic leads found you while searching for the solution you are offering. Lead acquisition Your goal should be to have an evergreen funnel. Let's use a pediatrician (children doctor) as a case study. For lead acquisition, the doctor would create a lead magnet. This could be a useful short ebook that answers a question for parents worried about their toddlers, or a video of the doctor addressing the same question. To get access, people interested would need to give their contact information which could be email or phone number. Now, let me mention something about giving out FREE resources as a lead magnet. The rule of thumb is to tell them the *WHAT* and the *WHY* , but not the *HOW* . Those interested in the *HOW* would have to pay to get it. Lead Nurturing Now you have acquired the lead, you need to nurture them for conversion into paying clients. This is where email marketing comes in. Although, some also use other channels like closed Facebook groups, closed telegram groups and even closed WhatsApp groups. Whichever one works best for you. Keep nurturing by sending valuable content periodically until the lead says “shut up and take my money!” Lead Conversion This is when the lead decides to book you, depending on the consulting service you are offering. Other ways to attract clients 1. Have a highly optimized website. 2. Active social media presence. You can choose to focus more on a particular platform. 3. Attend events (that your prospective clients attend) and network properly. 4. Speak at events. Some of these could even be paid speaking engagements. 5. Write a book. 6. Sending out proposals. Formalize your operations. Tools for an effective consulting business* 1. Website : I think if you are serious about your consulting business, then please get a website. 2. Calendly: for booking consultation sessions. Block out times you wouldn't be available and let clients choose one that is convenient for them. 3. Zoom/Skype/WhatsApp Video: For holding consultation sessions. 4. Google Sheets : For tracking business finances, income and expenses. Or you can use an accounting and invoice app like Waves. 5. Mailchimp/Convert Kit: For building a funnel - landing page, email marketing, etc.