Revealing the secrets of attracting consulting clients

Not knowing how to find a steady stream of consulting clients has stopped many an experienced Change Management practitioner from making the lucrative leap to independent consulting. And while consistent clients are absolutely essential to a thriving consulting business, hunting clients down, winning pitches, and annihilating the competition is not at all the way that I run my independent Change consultancy, Passion Pioneers, nor what I’d recommend to budding Change consultants. I take a super different approach, and given I was awarded the “Best Independent Consultant” from the Change Awards in the UK last month, I know a thing or two about building a successful and sustainable consulting business. Rather than finding clients, which one of my business mentors Jacquelyn Atkins would describe as a very yang (action-oriented, masculine, effort-based) approach, I lean more towards attracting clients which is more yin, feminine, flow, authentic and easeful.  

But how do you attract consulting clients? A big part is by building a brand - not for your consultancy, but for yourself. Here’s 9 secrets to start building a personal brand to attract consulting clients:

1. Write blog posts and articles

You don’t need to be a great writer! All you need is to have views, ideas, or comments on events or trends, then write the way you speak! Trust me – it makes your writing so interesting. Tap it out and post it to your blog or publish on LinkedIn as an article – here’s my blog. 

2. Do Facebook Insta or LinkedIn Lives

Social media is an awesome space to share the value you have to give. Spruik your live for a few days beforehand then jump on your preferred platform at the allotted time and share your views or tips or the launch of a new product, service or offer.

3. Guest write for industry

Industry mags, online sites, blogs, news sites, LinkedIn collaborative articles, websites of organisations you align with – all of these are always looking for great content from industry thought leaders like you. Take the stuff you write and pitch your content. 

4. Podcast away

Let’s get this straight – you don’t need to START a podcast. But you can absolutely be a guest on a podcast or vlog and get interviewed to share your views or thoughts or experiences working in your industry (ask me how I know!). Find a podcast you love and get in touch. Click here to listen to all my podcast guest episodes. 

5. Perfect your bio

For your blog, when speaking, or even just when doing intros. A great format I learnt is – your name and title, where you’re from, and 3 things about you that make you you. Then you can talk more about what you’re qualified or experienced in. See mine for inspo:

I’m Lata Hamilton, a Change Leadership and Confidence expert, the Founder & CEO of Passion Pioneers, author of "Pioneer Your Career Change", and creator of the Leading Successful Change program. I live in Sydney, Australia. I’m an absolute foodie, a cardio junkie, and an avid thrift shopper. I help women carve their own paths for change in career, leadership, and life. 

6. Share future-focused industry content

People in your industry are really interested in where your industry is going so they can plan and prepare. Set up Google Alerts or follow industries or hashtags on LinkedIn for industry content and share this stuff on socials or in your articles and blog posts. 

7. Teach via webinar

Got a skill or technique that you have developed in a unique way? Chances are people would love to learn it from you. Set up your own event on a platform like Eventbrite, or work with a training provider like General Assembly, and when the time comes – teach! 

8. Get a professional shot

That pic of you at your sister’s wedding looking glam is not the you that people are going to see in the workplace. You don’t need to don a suit and look wistfully at an imaginary sunset, but you do need to get a professional shot that brings your personal brand to life. 

9. Attend industry events

It’s great to stay connected in your industry, meet people, build networks, and also stay up to speed with what on earth is going on. You could attend in-person or online events for your profession or for the industry in which you work. It’s all good!

I’ll be going deeper into the consulting mindset and the award-winning approaches I use in my free live Change Advisor Bootcamp tomorrow Wednesday 28 May at 6.00pm-8.00pm AEST (Sydney time). If you'd like to learn more about becoming a trusted change advisor with influence and impact and all my consulting secrets to get a seat at the table, build strong relationships, and lead complex change to success, register ASAP to join us on the free bootcamp. A replay will be provided for a limited time - and only to registered attendees!

Register your spot ASAP for my free Change Advisor Bootcamp tomorrow

All my belief,

Lata xx