To be a successful consultant, you need at least four things:
1. Credibility
How much proof do you have that you’re competent at what you do?
To be credible, you need to have a demonstrable track record of success. Years of doing things that prove you’re as good as you say.
Case studies and testimonials help. Associations with other trusted people and organizations go a long way. Third party credentials may help, too.
Win them with proof.
2. Awareness
How many people in your target market know about you and what you offer?
To build awareness, you want to try to be “everywhere” your ideal target market hangs out. You should feel ubiquitous to them.
And the only way to do that is by focusing down on who you serve best and showing up in as many places they hang out as possible, offering value.
Be everywhere for a small group of ideal clients.
3. Education
You can’t succeed for long without education.
And if you want to sell your expertise for what it’s worth, it makes sense to constantly upgrade your professional skills and knowledge.
Learning on the job will only take you so far. Courses, books, training, coaching—these are all required streps for a high-paid consultant.
No way around it.
4. Consistency
Being consistent with your publishing shows you’re serious and trustworthy (which lowers perceived risk).
When you first start publishing and putting out your thoughts to the world, you won’t get a big reaction. In fact, you’ll get crickets.
It may take some time, but a funny thing happens when you keep showing up. Small wins turn into big wins. Eventually, you’ll build traction.
In closing…
You can complicate it all you want, but these are the four main core ingredients to succeeding as a consultant.
None of them are easy, and all of them take time and effort.
It’s worth it if you invest yourself in the process. It’s miserable if you don’t.
