Marketing Consultancy

[luckyj]

Hi, I am researching into starting consultancy, I am a recent graduate in Business and Marketing (viral for my dissertation). In the current climate I feel that several businesses are wasting money on the wrong type of marketing for their business, and would like to help.

I'm guessing there are a few of you on here who are consultants and would like your insight into breaking into the industry. I'd also love any reading material anyone can recommend.

Thanks

 

[S-Marketing]

Start some proper businesses and use them to perfect your marketing knowledge. Then in 10 or 15 years start to think about consultancy, as long as your businesses have been successful and you truly know what you are doing.

If you have just finished your degree you won't realise it yet, but you know about 10% of what you need to know to be a top consultant.

 

[luckyj]

Hi, thanks for the reply, I am well aware that I am at the very bottom of my consultancy days. Was mainly looking at targeting SME's who I know have bad marketing practice etc, in order to gain some experience which can help lead to a contracted job at a real company. Having just graduated its very difficult getting my foot in the door.

 

[S-Marketing]

Hi, thanks for the reply, I am well aware that I am at the very bottom of my consultancy days. Was mainly looking at targeting SME's who I know have bad marketing practice etc, in order to gain some experience which can help lead to a contracted job at a real company. Having just graduated its very difficult getting my foot in the door.

If you want to end up being a consultant for large companies go and get a job in a large company. Skills learnt working for small businesses aren't transferable to large organisations. The opposite is also true, consultants who come from corporate work make bloody awful consultants for small businesses.

It depends what kind of environment you want to work in. The money is about the same in either if you are good. I do consultancy for small businesses and also run my own businesses which I find is the perfect blend, but others would probably hate it.

 

[Richard Glynn]

Stretchy speaks the truth .. again!

When I'd newly graduated I though I knew it all. And I went to great trouble to tell everyone how much I knew.

I actually only knew enough once I stopped feeling an overwhelming urge to tell everyone how badly they're doing it wrong!

You need some work experience. Demonstrate some passion, flair and results. Maybe offer some help to a college business start up you know? This will give you a better chance of gaining some paid employment, real results and fast track you in gaining the credibility you need to launch your consultancy.

"Don't tell me you're funny - make me laugh."

P.S. Most SMEs are blissfully ignorant about marketing inefficiencies. Furthermore they are bombarded with messages from consultants and advertisers telling them you are going to make them millionaires. How you stand out from the crowd will make or break you!

 

[S-Marketing]

Stretchy speaks the truth .. again!

When I'd newly graduated I though I knew it all. And I went to great trouble to tell everyone how much I knew.

I actually only knew enough once I stopped feeling an overwhelming urge to tell everyone how badly they're doing it wrong!

You need some work experience. Demonstrate some passion, flair and results. Maybe offer some help to a college business start up you know? This will give you a better chance of gaining some paid employment, real results and fast track you in gaining the credibility you need to launch your consultancy.

"Don't tell me you're funny - make me laugh."

Guess I still have a lot to learn too then. I often have the urge to tell people they are doing it wrong, ask the Mrs.

 

[Richard Glynn]

Guess I still have a lot to learn too then. I often have the urge to tell people they are doing it wrong, ask the Mrs.

.. It's the other way round in our house. I'm always wrong!

 

[S-Marketing]

.. It's the other way round in our house. I'm always wrong!

Yes but you should never admit it.

 

[luckyj]

Stretchy speaks the truth .. again!

When I'd newly graduated I though I knew it all. And I went to great trouble to tell everyone how much I knew.

I actually only knew enough once I stopped feeling an overwhelming urge to tell everyone how badly they're doing it wrong!

You need some work experience. Demonstrate some passion, flair and results. Maybe offer some help to a college business start up you know? This will give you a better chance of gaining some paid employment, real results and fast track you in gaining the credibility you need to launch your consultancy.

"Don't tell me you're funny - make me laugh."

P.S. Most SMEs are blissfully ignorant about marketing inefficiencies. Furthermore they are bombarded with messages from consultants and advertisers telling them you are going to make them millionaires. How you stand out from the crowd will make or break you!

Hi Richard, some very good points, I will sideline this for the mean time unless I stumble across any opportunity via family and friends to give some free advice. When I finally do reach the stage that I am able to give full blown professional advice Ill probably use a similar approach I use to everything.

 

[More Sales Performance]

Apart from any marketing knowledge you have it also takes a long time and hard work developing consultancy skills as clients will spot such a lack of experience a mile off and most of your time will be spent negotiating fees of you get that far as a recent graduate lacks much true value as there's no substitute for experience.

I feel the advice so far is spot on - a few more years will do nicely. In that time offer your advice to businesses you know for free to begin with, measure ROI get testimonials and then you can hit the ground running.

Good luck

 

[sultane]

Apart from any marketing knowledge you have it also takes a long time and hard work developing consultancy skills as clients will spot such a lack of experience a mile off and most of your time will be spent negotiating fees of you get that far as a recent graduate lacks much true value as there's no substitute for experience.

I feel the advice so far is spot on - a few more years will do nicely. In that time offer your advice to businesses you know for free to begin with, measure ROI get testimonials and then you can hit the ground running.

Good luck

Excatly, Very nice and accurate advice

Regards,
Sultane Meho
London,UK

 

[hayfj]

..dont appreciate why their marketing isnt working, and it's not necessarily because of the obvious points. Many tend to dislike, or worse, do a bad job of their marketing for 4 simple reasons:

• Ego
• Ignorance
• Insecurity
• Laziness

I elaborate further on this, HERE

Your 3 biggest "competitors" from a prospect's perspective will be Ignorance, Apathy and Fear.

Be aware of that and where prospects are in their marketing evolutionary process, and you'll be a quarter of the way there.



Hope that helps.

Regards


Fraser

 

[ronicamittal]

Before starting a consultancy you must have complete knowledge about any business and know that best way for marketing a business and also have an idea that how cab a business