Staying informed about trends is essential for any successful consulting business. It helps build credibility and value, and shows that you know where your field is heading in the future. To help busy professionals stay on top of industry trends, members of the Forbes Coaching Council recommend 11 effective methods. One of my favorite ways to stay informed is to connect with thought leaders in my field on LinkedIn.
I build relationships with them, support their work, and eventually collaborate. This way, I can keep up with industry best practices and create new connections. For a wider range of content, consider Google News or Apple News, which will collect news from different sources based on your search history. Organizing regular meetings with co-workers, professionals from other departments, and industry colleagues is another great way to stay up to date.
These meetings are a great opportunity to learn about emerging technology, how others are using it, and the changes expected in your industry. In the Internet age, potential customers should be able to find your consulting business online without any issues. If you're considering how to start a consulting business and want to launch it successfully, you know that the relevant trends can help you achieve it. Nowadays, customers are familiar with the subscription pricing model, so you can try implementing it in your consulting business.
This model can be perfect for organizations that just finished a project with you, or for small businesses that can't afford a full-time consultant. Felicia Fahey and her team have created a consulting business to help high school and college students succeed. As an independent consultant or director of a consulting firm, you probably know the importance of staying up to date on trends. For a more original example, consider Fahey Associates, a boutique consulting agency based in Palo Alto, California, that specializes in educational consulting.
Instead of working month to month, this hyperlocal marketing consultancy offers a one-year marketing partnership for new and established companies.