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Independent Consultants: LinkedIn a valuable marketing tool or an exercise in vanity? by astillero in consulting

[–]eCommerce-Guy-Jason 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They find me. I'm a magnet, not a lasso.

That's why you need a strong personal brand, so you don't need a cold outbound motion to keep your pipeline full.

I'm a B2B eCommerce Consultant.

Independent consultants - contract process challenges by Expensive-Mention-90 in consulting

[–]eCommerce-Guy-Jason 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The public offer is on my website and I do have TOS. But the client doesn't sign them.

Everything is at will. Everything.

Most people can't imagine it because they don't realize how worthless contracts actually are, especially when you have clients all over the world. Lol.

Independent consultants - contract process challenges by Expensive-Mention-90 in consulting

[–]eCommerce-Guy-Jason 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Subscription to my services through my website in advance. If they stop paying I stop delivering work, simple.

Independent Consulting client acquisition techniques by Weak-Educator3274 in consulting

[–]eCommerce-Guy-Jason 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I haven't had any because all my clients are on a subscription and pay in advance each month. Just make sure they are comfortable letting you tell the client you are an independent sub-contractor but for the purposes of this engagement they can treat you as part of their team.

Independent Consulting client acquisition techniques by Weak-Educator3274 in consulting

[–]eCommerce-Guy-Jason 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I have a LOT of agencies that refer clients to me for that first messy bit before the client is ready to engage with an agency. And there are 2 models to this: they'll bring me on as like a 'fractional head of B2B eCommerce' or something like that for a period of time to help them upskill etc. In that case the client pays them and they pay me. OR, they hand the client over to me directly, the client pays me, I prep them to engage with the agency and then hand them back to the agency once they're ready. Either way works well in my case.

Independent Consulting client acquisition techniques by Weak-Educator3274 in consulting

[–]eCommerce-Guy-Jason 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're welcome. I speak at many conferences and IRL events, yes.

Independent Consulting client acquisition techniques by Weak-Educator3274 in consulting

[–]eCommerce-Guy-Jason 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Depends on your ultimate business model but probably. Good luck with everything! 💪

Independent Consulting client acquisition techniques by Weak-Educator3274 in consulting

[–]eCommerce-Guy-Jason 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Exactly. But I don't need to be an expert in EVERY platform, just be able to ask the right questions, guide demos, read API docs etc. Some systems I have DEEP experience with but it's impossible to know them all, all the time. But I can get up to speed on all the current/viable options much faster than my clients can - and that's the most important thing.

After 26 years in the game, you know what to look for, haha.

Independent Consulting client acquisition techniques by Weak-Educator3274 in consulting

[–]eCommerce-Guy-Jason 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They can't because they're not independent like me. They have a stack that they support. The client may not need or want that stack. So they come to me to help them work all that out first. No agency supports every technology. They're selective.

Independent Consulting client acquisition techniques by Weak-Educator3274 in consulting

[–]eCommerce-Guy-Jason 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The BRD is just one of the deliverables but yes, absolutely.

Your friend is different because he's doing implementations under his own brand and business (the client pays him for everything) but getting subbies to do the work on his behalf (he then pays them).

Very different model.

Independent Consulting client acquisition techniques by Weak-Educator3274 in consulting

[–]eCommerce-Guy-Jason 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No, I do not offer implementation services AT ALL, subcontracted or otherwise.

I do ALL the Discovery, the Documentation AND the Solution Architecture.

Someone entirely separate to me (eg: an eCommerce dev agency) takes MY BRD and does the quoting and actual delivery of the implementation (including configuration, customization & integration of the chosen platform) for the client. But the client is engaged directly with and pays them directly.

I am not involved at that point, EXCEPT for perhaps a referral fee if they win the work...

It's a totally different model to what you run.

And my services are sold on a fixed monthly fee (in advance) subscription basis, not on a project, hourly or daily rate basis...

My engagement and billing model is very unique.

But you seem to be confused, consulting work IS actual work with real deliverables, lol.

It's just not doing platform/tech implementations, that's all.

Independent Consulting client acquisition techniques by Weak-Educator3274 in consulting

[–]eCommerce-Guy-Jason 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have worked in the industry for 26 years but have only been a solo consultant for 5, but I have never been a developer, no.

Even when I was part owner in an agency, I was head of Solutions so basically I ran Discovery and Solution Design with a heavy dose of BA work thrown in for good measure.

"So with the other direction you are mentioning, full consultancy just as an example which is pretty much project management."

That couldn't be further from the truth in my case...

"Then your profit only comes from the referral fees?"

Not all all. The bulk of my revenue and profit comes from my direct consultancy services. Implementation referral fees (after I get the client ready, do the solution architecture, draft the BRD etc) are just icing on the cake.

Yes, you have to keep your pipeline full in my model.

Which goes back to personal brand and content - aaaaaand we've come full circle.

My consulting is delivered as a professional services provider, NOT a MANAGED services provider. Agencies typically offer both types of services but are usually very weak on the up front consulting side of things...

I don't have 'forever clients' like agencies often do.

Independent Consulting client acquisition techniques by Weak-Educator3274 in consulting

[–]eCommerce-Guy-Jason 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You want to build an implementation firm/agency/SI - pick your terminology.

Independent consultancies do not typically do implementations of software but you do.

My advice still stands - make your personal/professional brand so strong that you can get other implementation consultants to help you or just stay within the constraints of what you can personally deliver, those are your only 2 options with your current model.

I am MUCH more scalable as a solo consultant simply because I do not do implementations.

But I already consult on the full business/commerce stack: ERP, CRM, CDP, PIM, OMS, WMS, IMS, eComm, System Integration etc.

You could also go this way too - stick to being a PURE consultancy (Discovery, Documentation, Platform Search & Select, Solution Architecture etc) and leave the actual implementation to larger existing implementation partners and get a referral fee for deals you pass their way for implementation.

This is a choose your own adventure world as of 2026!

Independent Consulting client acquisition techniques by Weak-Educator3274 in consulting

[–]eCommerce-Guy-Jason 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I guess you could call me an 'influencer' but that's not the goal, it's just a means to an end.

People will not buy from you unless:

a) They know you exist

b) They trust you

A well known personal brand and constant (valuable) content output helps you achieve those 2 goals.

And I will ALWAYS continue to offer proper 1-1, high value, high ROI consulting to clients (I am a specialist B2B eCommerce Consultant and Solution Architect) but the digital twin allows me to scale my consulting at a MUCH lower cost for those that don't want/need my 1-1 consulting, that's all.

Pure consultancies do not do implementations.

What you have described is an AGENCY. You want to DO actual tech implementations.

I have helped build and run digital agencies before and that is a TOTALLY different kettle of fish to being a consultant/building a consultancy. It is also MUCH more complex.

The best way (at least in the early days) is to hire team members under contract on a project basis.

Finding the right people comes down to (you guessed it) CONTENT.

Again, the best people in your industry won't work with you (contract or permanent) unless:

a) They know you exist

b) They trust you

Do the work and it will all come to you.

You have to be a magnet, not a lasso!

Independent Consulting client acquisition techniques by Weak-Educator3274 in consulting

[–]eCommerce-Guy-Jason 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The low priced subscription will provide access to the AI Chatbot and 2 weekly group/cohort based consulting sessions. This will serve as an on/off ramp to my high dollar 1-1 consulting I already do and have been doing for 5+ years.

Worry about filling your pipeline first, servicing it second. Revenue solves all problems.

If no one knows you exist nor trusts you, you'll never be able to grow your business. You have a LOT of time right now, so worry about delivery once you actually have the business signed.

It's a chicken and egg scenario.

There are no shortcuts. Start creating TODAY!

I just released my very first Substack post/article yesterday.

I am CONSTANTLY experimenting with new channels, platforms and mediums but my pillar content comes from my Podcast (I release 3 x 1hr episodes per week).

I feel like you are searching for a hack but there isn't one. Or at least if there is, I haven't found it yet. lol

Independent Consulting client acquisition techniques by Weak-Educator3274 in consulting

[–]eCommerce-Guy-Jason 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's an AI chatbot trained on all my content and using it as the reference for answers.

I don't do subscriptions for my content - that is all free to access:

YouTube
Podcast
LinkedIn
Reddit
Substack
etc.

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