
Specializing lets consultants command higher prices—the key lever in profits—and sustainable moats come from economies of scale or customer captivity, the latter protected by switching costs.
Focus messaging on end results and jobs to be done to attract clients. Highlight specialized skills, network, and bottom line impact to turn referrals and speaking engagements into leads.
Explore four specialization paths for consulting growth: target client, problem solved, services offered, and business model. Layer them to expand your market with pricing schemes.
Explore the psychology of persuasion for consultants, learning to build client buy-in along the way using reciprocity, scarcity, authority, consistency, liking, social proof, and unity.
Explore agile specialization strategies, identify high-value target customers using LinkedIn ads, and apply the Pass framework to define services and business models that scale with profitability.
Develop pricing power through specialization in professional services, use McKinsey as a north star, become a visible expert, and become a trusted advisor for clients.
Transition from a visible expert to a trusted adviser within a collaborative relationship. Aim for the client value zone, offering depth, breadth, and insights.
Position yourself as a specialist on Upwork and similar platforms to command rates and reach your clients. Build case studies and outcomes-focused content, then offer free consultations to convert leads.
Use cold email to grow your consulting business without ads or search engine optimization. Automate outreach with a warm-up domain, improve deliverability, and personalize messages to generate new clients.
Learn to set up Lemlist campaigns for influencer outreach in consulting business growth, including free sign up, personalization, LinkedIn follow-ups, and lead import; monitor opens, clicks, and replies.
Identify target clients with LinkedIn Sales Navigator, scrape emails into a CSV for import, and verify addresses to reduce bounces; assess lists from directories, niche providers, and brokers for quality.
Drive monetization on social media by automating conversations with Manychat, turning comments into clicks, leads, and sales; automate funnels, list building, and DMs across Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, and Messenger.
Scale your consulting practice by optimizing labor allocation across a partner, principal, associates, and analysts, while pricing engagements to sustain margins.
Scale your consulting profits by becoming a specialist, pricing higher for high-paying clients, and selling more cases through implementation services that deliver measurable value.
Explore pricing approaches for consultants, from moving beyond hourly billing to fixed project pricing, retainer models, and value-based pricing, while productized services and guarding against scope creep to drive results.
Learn practical mind-changing strategies for consulting growth, using reactants, endowment, distance, and corroborating evidence to persuade clients with options, pilot projects, and risk reduction.
Leverage existing audiences through guest contributions on podcasts or YouTube to win clients faster. Use RFPs, job boards, and automated follow-ups, plus proven past work to attract new clients.
Learn direct marketing fundamentals from Dan Kennedy, including offers, tracking, lead generation, follow-up, and high-contrast copy to grow consulting business and acquire clients.
Learn how to grow a highly successful and profitable consulting business -- whether you're a freelance consultant or run a consulting firm. This course is based on academic research, advice I learned from top consultants at companies such as McKinsey, as well as my own personal in the consulting business.
Key consulting lessons in this course:
The #1 most successful growth strategy for consulting firms and freelance consultants
Consulting specialization workbook with the 4 ways to specialize
PhD research on what drives growth in the most successful professional service firms
Achieving pricing power and competitive advantage in the competitive consulting business
How to acquire consulting clients cheaply through automated emails and other techniques
How to become a trusted advisor to your clients
How to scale your consulting business quickly, cheaply, and profitably
How to price your consulting business services to maximize profits
How to persuade prospective clients to buy your consulting services--and to keep buying your services
Various approaches to client acquisition that don't break the bank
Best practices from top management consulting firms such as McKinsey and AT Kearney
My consulting credentials:
Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management
Former VP of Marketing, Division Director, and Board Director
Learned from some of the highest paid consultants in the USA from companies such as McKinsey and AT Kearney
Experience as an independent consultant and as a Fortune 100 employee
Build a Highly Profitable, Fast Growing Consulting Business | Based on Academic Research & Direct Experience of an MBA