Consulting is all about selling your expertise. And what better way to let the world know that you are an expert than being a published author in your niche area. A book is quite simply one of the best calling cards you can have as a consultant and a fantastic complement to your consulting skills and products.
So what can you do to set yourself apart and make sure that your consultancy book is a success? Here are some tips to get you started on just that!
1) Focus into your Niche
When it comes to writing, specializing is key. You already have a niche of course as a consultant. For your book you want to try and slice that niche even more finely. For example if you are an HR consultant, try and find a specialisation within HR, such as wellbeing. Then see if you can slice it even more finely, like wellbeing amongst mothers returning to work.
If you can find a niche that you’re passionate about and knowledgeable about, you’ll be able to market yourself more effectively. Plus, clients will know that they can rely on you for quality content in that area. Once you’ve found the niche, the next step is to find book publishing services. These companies can help you get your book published quickly and efficiently.
2) Create Your Writer Platform
Before anyone will want to work with you, they’ll want to know that they’re getting quality work. The best way to do this is by creating a website (or blog) for your book. This could be a section of your consultancy website. Make sure the website highlights your experience; offer writing samples that are relevant to your niche; include articles or posts that relate to your niche; update the site frequently with new content. Doing this will not only set you apart from other writers, but it will also help potential clients find you.
3) Build Your Brand
You may not think of yourself as a brand, but you are! And that means that you need to work on your brand awareness. Make sure that clients know who you are and why they should hire you. You can do this by blogging regularly, creating social media accounts specific to your business, putting together a newsletter, and being active in your niche. Your website and social media accounts will help clients learn more about you and will also allow them to see examples of your writing.
4) Network
Networking is fundamental for any consultancy business. It is also a great way to promote yourself as an author. You never know who might be able to recommend your services, give you referrals or invite you to speak about your book at an event. As for networking online, spend some time each day sharing posts from other writers and interacting with others in your niche. Networking doesn’t have to be difficult. It can happen naturally by simply sharing information or interacting with others about similar interests.
5) Collaborate With Other Businesses
One of the best ways to grow a business is by getting involved with other businesses in your area. You can do this by offering joint promotions, co-hosting events, or just fostering a relationship with them. Even if you’re not going into business with that other company, you’ll be seen as more trustworthy. Plus, doing this can lead to some great opportunities. For instance, you may partner with a business for a promotion and they’ll mention your name on their website or vice versa.
6) Invest In Marketing
Make sure that you are investing in marketing! There are many different kinds of marketing out there, but word-of-mouth has always been the best for small and consultancy businesses. Investing in other kinds of marketing can help you grow your business as well, so long as you do it right. For instance, you should only invest in SEO if your website is ready for it. And paid ads should be left to the experts so you don’t waste money on something that won’t benefit you. There are many other forms of marketing depending on your niche and business type, but you should always have in mind your target audience. If you’re writing educational-related books, for example, you may want to focus on getting yourself out there to schools or libraries.
7) Maximize Your EBook Sales
Finally, one of the best ways to grow your business is by maximizing your ebook sales! Today, many companies are looking to purchase ebooks for their staff, as they’re easy and inexpensive. And because it’s so much easier to carry around an ebook (vs. a physical book), employees are more likely to actually use them! With this in mind, make sure that you have your own ebook available on Amazon and other marketplaces. Also, offer promotions where employees can get a certain number of ebooks for free. You can also ask businesses if they want to buy ebooks in bulk.
If you want to grow your consultancy business by writing a book, there is no shortage of things that you can do. From networking with other businesses, investing in marketing, or getting involved with other companies in your industry, the sky’s the limit!