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Grow a Small Business
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Independent consultants are constantly on the grind, looking for business development—and often the road to new business goes through the C-suite. Presenting business proposals to a new client or to an executive of a large company is unlike presenting to peers. Here are three tips to help you develop your content and approach and present…
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When you create an online profile as a self-employed professional, it is important to put your best foot forward and show prospective clients who you are and what you have to offer. While it’s important to fill out all of the information that’s typically required like your education and work history, there are a few…
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One of the most common fears as an independent contractor is the constant uncertainty of industry competition and how you are faring compared to other businesses. This is a legitimate concern, as what your competitors are doing can dramatically impact your ability to earn or maintain current clients. The first step in staying on top…
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You’ve taken the leap and started your own business—you have a few projects under your belt and a reliable pipeline of clients, but what’s next? There are many ways to grow your business, and your choice of how to do so will depend on many individual internal and external factors. You may want to maximize…
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At first glance, it seems like it would be easy to sell something you’re knowledgeable and passionate about. However, just because you’re an expert in your industry doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve developed the skills and techniques to excel in the sales aspect of your business. We all know someone who is a natural-born salesperson, but…
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Branding is an essential part of marketing your services as a small business owner. Your brand defines how the outside world sees and experiences your business. It helps you reach potential clients, keep them engaged, and form a strong, lasting relationship. Your brand should also communicate what problems you can help solve and target a…
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Business management is one of the unfortunate realities of being self-employed. Back-office management consists of all of the administrative and support tasks that need to be done to run your business such as filing paperwork, tracking expenses, filling taxes, and billing clients. In addition to your daily project work, these tasks can take up a…
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Seeing your time and effort pay off by finding that perfect project feels good, but nothing is finalized until a contract is signed. Whether you’re meeting with an existing client to review opportunities for additional work or speaking to a potential prospect about a proposal, it is important to create a solid business case and present…
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Attracting prospective clients is an essential part of your job when you run your own business. Bu marketing your services and growing your network are just the first steps. On the path from initial discussions to signing a contract, how you handle the process of closing a sale is critical to gaining new clients. Below,…
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Figuring out how to land your first clients is one of the most intimidating aspects of becoming an independent professional. Visions of cold calling and repeated rejection can quickly cloud your thoughts, and worries about being able to find any clients at all can feel paralyzing. These fears can sometimes scare potentially successful independent consultants away…