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Be a Consultant
by Rudolf Friedrich

You want becoming a consultant! The first question to ask is, "Do I have the physical and emotional stamina to run a business?" if your answer is YES Great, but lets see what is needed to set up a consistent and successful consulting business.

So first lets emphasize on the subject "What is a consultant" what are You doing and what abilities are needed for a successful consultant business.

So first what is a consultant?

Dictionaries proclaim that a consultant is an expert who gives advice. He is an advisor, not a miracle worker. He/She is an individual who possesses special knowledge or skills and offers his or her specialized services or skills to a client for a fee as an independent contractor and not as an employee of the requiring organization. An effective consultant is sensitive to the needs of their clients. The main duty is to transfer external know-how to the client. He/She might be a generalist, not necessarily from a particular discipline, but someone who brings strong problem-solving methodology and experience. The basic presumption is that the consultant assumes the role of a partner and the consultant is completely involved in all aspects of business enhancement.

The very reason you're a consultant is that you're the subject-matter expert and are supposed to know what you're doing. So first of all you have to define very clear what you are doing and what kind of services you offer. (For example I will give you all the necessary steps to set up a successful consultant business that means I will describe all the essential abilities that are needed and where you can get this knowledge and help etc.. You have not to struggle through try and error to find out what is essential and where to find it.) Beside this there are other abilities/knowledge needed e.g. a

contract for services.

It is critical that the consulting agreement specifically state what services the consultant is to provide. It has to line out what you are doing, the timeframe involved and costs. Be so clear that there is little room for interpretations and that everyone knows what to expect. The professional relationship continues to exist as long as the consultant is participating in care; liability ends when service is effectively concluded.

Marketing skills/strategy that includes no-cost promotion.

Lets face it, in order to make money, you gotta get customers which are in need of the services You offer. They have to know that You have exactly what they need. A good way is to use the internet. There are tons of ways to do that on the Internet and I've tried nearly all of them. Find what works for you and spend a full day each week promoting your site.

A unique and professional web site with your own domain name.

Your web site will be the cornerstone of your success online. It should look different than the 'rest of the pack' and it should have a unique domain name. I could go on and on with this one but I won't. Just surf the web a while and decide what sites YOU would buy from. That will tell you volumes.

Communication skills e.g. An email strategy.

You MUST continually grow a list of prospects. It's the only way you can 'capture' a percentage of the folks who visit your site and do not buy the first time. (Which is nearly all of them!) An email strategy works best when you give something of value away in exchange for a visitor's name email address. Then you must stay in touch with these people on a regular basis, providing VALUE for them.

Project management skills

A fundamental assumption of project management is that the project can be planned at the outset, then this plan becomes the guide to executing the project. It is an art, science and process too but, most of all, Project Management is a lot of Common Sense. Of course, the most important skill for successful project management is communications. It is still critical, but done a piece of the project at a time. Project Management is a formalised and structured method of managing change in a rigorous manner. Project management is planning, milestones, objectives, dependencies, scope, control, estimating, quality, risk, human factors and more. A frequent mistake made in project management is setting objectives without understanding scheduling and resource requirements. In other words project management is an investment that results in the project costing less than it would otherwise cost. Project Management Training usually covers those skills that are measurable.

Proposal services

Submitting a proposal is a two- or three-step process. A successful proposal is one that is well-prepared, thoughtfully planned, and concisely packaged. Writing an effective proposal is different from other sorts of writing. Provide as much information as needed to make it clear what the proposal is for and how it would be achieved. Make sure that the proposal is presentable and complete. Services shall be based on all provisions, conditions, instructions and specifications as outlined in the Proposal. Keep in mind what you are doing is to assist in the preparation of a contract if the proposal is successful.

Business organization skills

Simple put it is the ability to organize, plan and run a business. A business organisation is a body set up to meet business needs. It is subject to both internal and external influences. The goal of a business organisation is usually to create products that satisfy and so generate a profit. It is primarily concerned with markets and profitability.

To organize is to arrange the observed products of our contemplation into meaningful patterns. The ability to organize is a must. Like walking or any other skill, the ability to organize is something you can learn. It is a skill not unlike the ability to supervise, delegate or use a computer. How you organize is up to you, but it must be clear that there is some rhyme and reason to the organization you have chosen. Within your organisation you have to set up a business plan. Get all the information on how to create a business plan, including how to organize and write a business plan, and sample business plan templates that you can use. It is one of the most crucial steps in starting a business.

Crises management skills

There are a lot of abilities involved. Significant problem solving and crisis management skills and the ability to be flexible and adapt. An ability to work effectively in small and large groups using problem solving skills. It is the ability to work under pressure and to deadlines. Ability to demonstrate competent listening, communication and the ability to extract information beyond questioning. Ability to work independently and the ability to influence what happens to you. Ability to identify, set and achieve goals.

Offer an affiliate program at your website.

OK, some may say this is not an absolute necessity, but look around. Nearly ALL successful e-commerce sites offer some form of affiliate program. You can pay for visitors, leads or commission sales, but you need to offer SOME way of rewarding folks who bring you business.

While the question might seem self-serving at first, a good consultant is ever mindful of his responsibility to render himself dispensable over time.

Rudolf Friedrich has an university degree in information science and worked in this industry for different companies and in different countries, including the Soviet Union, until 1990. Since then he works as a self employed business consultant and coach. He embraces the servant leadership philosophy and serves as a catalyst for free enterprise, small business and economic development. Rudolf works with growth–oriented companies in technology, manufacturing, entertainment and food industries. His lastest effort have been towards helping others develop a financially viable consulting business. To learn more go to his website: http://www.developeaconsultingbusiness.com Contact the author, Rudolf Friedrich , at info@developaconsultingbusiness.com
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