Marketing

• Planning your marketing strategy and then executing that strategy are essential to the success of your consulting firm. There are many ways you can learn how to market your consulting business. You can learn online or at a college. There are seminars and workshops available that last from one day to several weeks. You can contract with a trainer who will design a marketing strategy for you and your firm. You can also outsource your entire marketing efforts. Choose wisely and then flawlessly execute your marketing plan.
  
  

Training

• Training on key consulting skills is necessary for the success of a consulting firm. Selling skills, how to overcome client resistance, business strategy, dealing with difficult clients and proposal writing techniques are important techniques needed for success. The American Management Association offers programs and workshops for consultants and many local colleges also provide training and assistance. There are also many training companies that specialize in these skills, and select firms will also be able to customize a training program to fit your individual needs.
  
  

Selling

• Dale Carnegie once said, "There is only one way to get anybody to do anything, and that is by making the other person want to do it." That quote sums up what it means to be in the consulting business. Learning to sell as a consultant is one of the most important activities for your firm, and an activity that will be performed every day. Many training companies offer sales training, and there are thousands of books and articles from which to choose.
  
  

Client Relations

• Getting along with your clients will be the ultimate reason your consulting firm will succeed or fail. Peter Block states that one of the most skills is to be authentic with your client relations.This means being able to put into words what you are experiencing with the client and exactly what your firm can and cannot accomplish. Being authentic in your client relations will build client trust and client trust will build profits.