If you’re a high-achiever SURELY, you’ve considered …...HOW TO DESIGN THE IDEAL (AND MOST PROFITABLE) CONSULTING BUSINESS with Betsy Jordyn If you’re a high-achiever SURELY,

HOW TO DESIGN THE IDEAL (AND MOST PROFITABLE) CONSULTING BUSINESS with Betsy Jordyn

If you’re a high-achiever SURELY, you’ve considered starting your own corporate

consulting business by now (if you haven’t already.)

Here’s the deal: When you say “YES” to your dreams of running your own business, you

are saying “YES” to THE most rewarding and significant career moves you’ll ever make.

There is nothing like being your own boss, having total control over your calendar and

time and experiencing no cap to your earning potential – all while making GREAT money

(and a difference) doing what you love.

“Can you consult to our team?” Imagine the excitement when you get asked this question

DAILY from high-paying clients all around the world?

There is no shortage of advice and mentors that can help you learn how to market and sell

yourself. But the reality is…

…Growing a consulting business is unlike any other business!

To achieve sustainable success, you have to think broader than just finding clients.

On the following pages, you’ll find the 5 Stages of a Consulting Business Launch. It is

both a roadmap and checklist that shows you exactly how to set up your corporate

consulting business right…the first time. If you follow these steps, you’ll be well on your

way to quickly replacing your income with consulting revenue and have what you need to

achieve long-term sustainable consulting success.

You need a business foundation that positions you to optimize your credibility and earning power.


PHASE 1: THE PRE-LEAP PHASE The key outcome of this phase is COMMITMENT to your own success. ¨ Discern if corporate consulting is the right fit for you:

o Do your background and experience translate to being a consultant?

o Are you comfortable guiding leaders (vs. being a leader yourself?)

o Does the work of a consultant have genuine appeal for you (vs. just the

flexible lifestyle and other perks of consulting?)

¨ Determine if you have the right mindset for being an entrepreneur:

o Do you have the drive to run your own business and work for yourself?

o Do you have the tolerance for the up’s and down’s of a variable paycheck?

o Are you comfortable taking risks and being vulnerable?

o Do you have the personal resilence to handle setbacks and challenges?

o Are you willing to address the ways in which you may inadvertantly play

small or sabotage your own success?

o Can you flex and adapt to market responses to what you put out there?

o Are you comfortable with not having everything perfect (because in more cases than not – done is better than perfect?)

¨ Decide the right timing for starting your business:

o Own that there is no perfect time to make a major change and just set the

date for your business launch

o Set defined launch date

¨ Assemble the right resources to support your business launch and career transition:

o Find a mentor/guide who can show you the way

o Make sure your family and significant others are on board

o Hire an accountant/financial advisor

o Create a launch budget to pay for specialized support, business systems and

website


¨ Set goals and financial targets for your new business:

o Determine achieveable year one revenue goals

o Set aside financial reserves to make up the difference

o Create a project plan to accelerate achievement of those goals

¨ TOLLGATE: COMMIT to your new business with your mind, heart and guts.

PHASE 2: THE PLANNING PHASE The key outcome of this phase is CLARITY on who is your ideal client and the value you can create for high-paying corporate buyers. ¨ Determine what type of business you want to create:

o Do you want to be an independent entrepreneur?

o Do you eventually want to have associates/employees?

o Do you envision your business become a small company that provides more

than consulting related products/services?

¨ Create your credible consulting brand and value proposition:

o Who is your ideal client? What role do they hold in the organization? What

company size is most relevant to your expertise? What needs do they have

that motivate you to action?

o What is your expertise? What do you offer that addresses your ideal client’s

needs?

o What value or outcome does your consulting create? What tangible business

results can you help your clients create? What intangible value do you

provide? What transformation can you invite your clients into?

o How is your consulting distinct from others who provide similar types of

services?

o What is your source of authority that gives your clients confidence that they

can trust you to deliver on your promises?


¨ Choose a name for your business:

o Can you withhold the temptation to create a fictious name for your business

and simply use your own name for your business name?

o If you plan on staying a one-person show, consider:

§ (insert name) Consulting

§ (insert name) Consulting & Coaching

o If you are going to have associates at some point, consider:

§ (insert name) Consulting Group

§ (insert name) and Associates

¨ Work with your Accountant/Financial Advisor to incorporate your business:

o Determine if you are going to be an LLC, S-Corp, etc.

o Go through right channels to incorporate your business officially

¨ TOLLGATE: CLARITY on your business strategy with identified target market

and credible brand and value proposition

PHASE 3: THE DESIGN PHASE The key outcome of this phase is establishing a CREDIBLE online presence. ¨ Find and select a web developer:

o Do you want to create your own website or get specialized support?

o If you choose to develop your own website – choose your web platform and

provider

o If you choose to outsource – look for a web developer that has digital

marketing, design and analytical expertise (not just programming)

o Determine where and how the website will be hosted

¨ Choose a domain name and set it up:

o Choose a domain name and go to GoDaddy (or similar service) and register

for it.


o While talking to GoDaddy (or similar service), set up your email address,

email hosting (and website hosting if needed)

o Point new domain to your website

¨ Design (or work with web developer to design) a powerful web presence that

includes:

o A WOW design that incorporates high quality professional photos of you

o Consistent visual branding that includes logo, colors, fonts, etc.

o Web copy that connects to your ideal client as a human (not a vague

corporate entity)

o Extensive use of case studies, testimonials, client list and typical client

results to showcase the tangible value you consulting creates

o Inclusion of relevant content in the form of articles, videos, podcasts,

assessments and white papers to attract and warm up leads by establishing

your credibility and thought leadership

o Clear calls to action (including an offer for a FREE consultation)

¨ Set up your LinkedIn profile (or enhance it):

o Align your headline to your new value proposition

o Add your new business to your experience

o Begin to write articles that align to your new value proposition

o Ask former colleagues and clients to provide you recommendations and

endorsements

¨ Determine where else on social media you want to be:

o Set up professional page on Facebook

o Align your messages on Twitter

¨ Select email provider and set up your lists:

o Find a email service that allows for email campaigns, automations, list

segmentation and tags

o Upload your contacts into your system ensuring that they are organized in

such a way that you can create targeted marketing messages


o Create a custom email signature on your everyday email system that

reinforces your brand and provides calls to action back to your website

¨ Set up your financial systems:

o Set up your business bank account and order checks

o Create invoices for client billing (project AND expenses)

o Set up your financial/accounting systems to track and record business-

related revenue and expenses for tax purposes and your own financial

statements

¨ Determine what other productivity tools you’ll need:

o Graphic design programs

o Webinar platforms

o Squeeze/lead pages

o System integration support

o Stock photos

¨ TOLLGATE: All of your business systems are in place that will enable you to to

establish CREDIBILITY with your future high-paying clients.

PHASE 4: THE LAUNCH PHASE The key outcome of this phase is CONSISTENCY in growing your network and attracting right-clients.

¨ End your old job/business well:

o Did you collect all of your own intellectual property and contacts before

losing access to internal systems?

o Did you end your current job in such a way that your former bosses and

colleagues will be happy to recommend you?

o Are any emotional loose ends tied up?


¨ Create an exciting launch announcement:

o Share your excitement and backstory for your new business

o Provide calls to action and opportunities for engagement

¨ Set up your content marketing funnel where you are using your intellectual property

and social media engagement to draw in leads and encourage them to connect with

you:

o Create a regular schedule to blog and create content

o Develop routines to post content regularly on social media

o Start a weekly newsletter to create ongoing engagement with your network

o Create onboarding email sequences to engage those who sign up for your list

¨ Set up marketing systems to ensure that attracting leads into your pipeline is an

integral part of your workweek:

o Attend networking events/forums (in person and online.)

o Follow up on leads

o Leverage LinkedIn and social media to grow your network/contacts

o Build your repository of intellectual property

o Ask for referrals

¨ Use more targeted strategies to grow list and create engagement:

o Run ads to a signature article/lead magnet.

o Offer a free event/webinar.

o Invest in google ads

¨ Pop the champagne and celebrate the success of your launch!!

¨ TOLLGATE: You are CONSISTENTLY filling your pipeline with right-fit clients

and referrers to those clients.


PHASE 5: THE PRACTICE PHASE The key outcome of this phase is maximizing your CONTRIBUTION and COMPENSATION by positioning yourself to land high-paying clients and deliver exceptional results. ¨ Become highly effective at landing business:

o Learn how to engage leads in partnership set up conversations

o Master your ability to pivot initial contracting conversations from wants…to

needs

o Learn how to manifest your expertise in compelling offers for partnership

o Determine your pricing philosophy and learn how to set fees for your

services

¨ Deliver results using a consultative approach:

o Learn how to conduct quantitative and qualitative research

o Grow your ability to pinpoint root causes and create customized solutions

o Master politics and the tricky terrain of client resistance

¨ Proactively advocate for additional work with existing clients

¨ Stay on top of invoicing and billing of clients ¨ Review your analytics regularly to track progress and make adjustments

¨ Identify productivity practices that can help you expand your capacity:

o Determine key support you can outsource aspects of your business to (e.g.,

Virtual Assistant, Social Media Management, Email Marketing Support,

Bookkeeping, etc.)

o Determine daily practices to enable you to focus on marketing and

implementation simultaneously.

¨ TOLLGATE: You are converting contacts into high-paying CONTRACTS and

long-term CLIENTS translating into significant COMPENSATION.


Unstoppable, Authentic Consulting Confidence When you work through the steps of this consulting success roadmap, you’ll master

everything you need to know about launching a business, scaling it for profits, landing

clients and delivering results.

But the real transformation?

Rock-solid confidence that is the foundation of a sustainably profitable business...and

makes everything from networking and marketing to landing clients and delivering

results - almost effortless.

You will learn the secrets to owning your worth—how to stand in your own power and

confidently ask a highly influential senior leader for fees that represent the true value

they can create...without hesitation or apology.


Where You Might Get Stuck! If you are like most aspiring corporate consultants, there are three places you might get stuck:

1. Determining who your ideal client is and/or defining your core expertise that creates massive value for your future clients. It’s almost impossible to brand ourselves because of what I call “the nose to the windowpane” syndrome. We are just too close to see how our strengths and passions weave together into a powerful and credible consulting value proposition.

2. The sheer overwhelm of all of the moving pieces and parts.

Now you see what needs to happen, a logical next question is HOW. How do you launch a business, land clients and deliver results? You may now see that you want the best practices to set your business up right…the first time.

3. The typical fears that comes when stepping out of your comfort zone into

something new. If after reading through this checklist you are starting an inner dialogue that sounds like, “Who are you kidding? No one will pay you what you know you are worth?” or “Do you REALLY have what it takes?” – don’t worry, you’re totally normal! It’s actually a sign that you are on the right track and now you need strategies to cultivate your mindset towards greater success.

For Faster Traction On Your Results: I’d love to personally help you overcome these barriers and mindset traps and help you customize this roadmap to your unique situation. Go to: https://calendly.com/betsy-7/roadmap to schedule your FREE “no strings attached” strategy call! Together, we’ll craft your custom path to accelerated consulting success!

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If you’re a high-achiever SURELY, you’ve considered …...HOW TO DESIGN THE IDEAL (AND MOST PROFITABLE) CONSULTING BUSINESS with Betsy Jordyn If you’re a high-achiever SURELY,