views:

96

answers:

4

How do you make yourself as a consultant stand out from the others? It's frustrating trying to learn how to market yourself when everyone and their brother is advertising themselves as an SEO expert and/or website developer.

I don't want to come off as elitest, but I've seen some sites done by local companies that, frankly, would make Ray Charles flinch (basic HTML errors, etc). I understand that you get what you pay for but still can't help but think that these people are tainting the pool for the rest of us.

A: 

What sort of consultant? What are you selling? I would try blogging, getting an advanced degree, networking, speaking at conferences, and writing articles for magazines. Maybe even try and write a book.

Depends what you actually do though.

Kurt
+2  A: 

Make your clients happy and keep in touch with each one.

kenny
Yes! A happy client brings you back, and are also the best references.
Jeremy
+2  A: 

The obvious way is to have (or create) a body of work that speaks for itself. Put together sites that wouldn't make Ray Charles flinch, and show them to prospective customers.

peejaybee
+2  A: 

There are lots of answers, but two things will help. One, be a niche marketer. You can be a serial niche marketer, but always try to establish yourself as the expert in one niche at a time. For example, SEO and web design is one thing, but how many people bill themselves as the SEO and web design expert for jewelers? Or music shops? You can sell to everyone in a niche if you are convincing, and believe me they all know each other and will refer you to friends (both in and out of the initial niche, which might be the start of the next niche).

Two, more than broadcasting yourself, look for inside connections. Network with peers in a different industry, preferably your niche industry. (Remember that peers are decision makers, not secretaries or salespeople.) Do this by giving talks or presentations, not at a local hot-seat wham-bam-thank-you "networking" group (although every once in a while there are good networking groups, they usually have other functions like politics, charity, community, etc). Freely give information and suggestions. Show that you really are the expert. It will help to be able to mathematically describe your results to these peers (with real marketing research, in which you know exactly what caused the beneficial effect) so that you can really show them. You can do this in a few words or in a presentation to an industry group. When your cross-industry peers need someone with your expertise (or when you've convinced them of the many benefits), they'll be knocking down your doors and blowing up your phones.

Rab