| So you plan on starting a consulting business on your | | | | Word- Of - Mouth - Get your individual network to |
| own. You want to consult using the internet because it | | | | spread the word about your product or service. This is |
| is global and that is where the future business lies. You | | | | the most practical and cost-effective way to |
| want to sell a product or service that you think is equal | | | | advertise. Get your friends and colleagues together for |
| to others in the same category or maybe it is better | | | | a small gathering or an online webinar and introduce |
| than the others. The only problem is that you do not | | | | your product or service to them. Keep in mind not to |
| know how to market the product primarily because | | | | sell too much - you are raising awareness and |
| you are starting your venture on a limited budget, | | | | showing that you can provide value to others! |
| therefore having very little or no money for marketing. | | | | Direct Marketing - Go for direct marketing when you |
| In a case like this, how would you promote and | | | | are starting a consulting business instead of going for |
| advertise your product or service to show that you | | | | expensive marketing options such as Pay-Per-Click. |
| bring value the market? | | | | Stay direct by keeping your target audience limited and |
| Commonly, marketing budgets should be about 2% to | | | | targeted. This way you reach them in the most |
| 5% of the overall gross sales, but this varies by | | | | practical and the cost-effective way. As an example, |
| markets and products. The first step in how you plan | | | | fliers found inside newspapers and informative email |
| starting your consulting business is to figure out what | | | | campaigns are two inexpensive direct marketing tools. |
| your marketing budget would be for the first six | | | | Newspaper Articles - You can get articles published in |
| months. | | | | a newspaper that talk about your product in a |
| The following promotion activities could be used to | | | | extended manner. For example, if you are selling a |
| start - internet marketing, industry events, aggressive | | | | consulting service, the article can be about the value of |
| advertising, strategic partnerships, public relations, | | | | a consulting service in a particular niche such as start |
| internet marketing, word of mouth, and direct | | | | up businesses. The article can also have a word or |
| marketing. If you are starting a consulting business on a | | | | two from a well known person in your industry that |
| low budget, the following marketing methods can be | | | | believes in your type of service. |
| very effective and low cost: | | | | You will eventually need to have a more focused and |
| Internet marketing - Get people familiar with your | | | | tighter marketing strategy to promote your product |
| product or service through internet articles and blog | | | | and services. While all these could be effective |
| posts. Most organizations actively use their blogs to | | | | marketing techniques that you can use when you start |
| amass awareness for their products and services. | | | | a business, you should put aside a small part of your |
| This is an extremely inexpensive and hassle free | | | | profits every month for your marketing budget. Use |
| exercise. Furthermore you can market your product or | | | | your marketing budget accordingly, and track of the |
| service via social networking sites such as Facebook, | | | | results religiously. A marketing method should be |
| LinkedIn, and Twitter. Communicate with your audience | | | | dropped if it does not give you the numbers you need |
| about new services, product enhancements, discounts | | | | to build your business. |
| and other new advancements in your business. | | | | When you are starting a consulting business or any |
| Get a Website of Your Product or Service - These | | | | business on your own, you may be on a very limited |
| are easy to do today and are a relatively inexpensive | | | | budget. This is complicated by the fact that you need |
| way to establish a presence on the internet. For | | | | to promote or advertise your service in order to build |
| example WordPress allows you to combine both | | | | the business so you can increase your budget. Plan to |
| functionality of a blog and website pages to optimize | | | | use low cost effective marketing methods to build |
| your internet marketing efforts. Making a website of | | | | your initial marketing capital and raise the awareness |
| your product or service gives you a better chance to | | | | about your product and service that you need in order |
| explain the value you provide to millions of eyeballs | | | | to take your business to the next level. |
| every day. | | | | |