Ask HN: What is your experience in tech consulting?

Re:Ask HN: What is your experience in tech consulting? by fhd2 on Monday January 23, 2023 @08:26AM (#34488451)

How would you suggest someone new to consulting handles sales? I've talked to consultants that get all of their leads from old conference talks they did, but you advise against it.

In my book, there is a finite number of options:

1. Go through your network - lots of writing / talking in case someone knows someone who's looking right now.

2. Become famous - conferences, blogging etc.

3. Cold call potential clients.

4. Work with recruiters and dedicated boards for this.

For an established consultant, I can imagine they get a lot of business through referrals, but for someone just starting out, I don't think so. What worked for you in the early days? Did I miss a strategy that works?

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Re:Ask HN: What is your experience in tech consulting? by withzombies on Monday January 23, 2023 @09:13AM (#34488924)

I think that's this bullet:

* Don’t waste time on your website design (but do write)

Specifically, "do write". Your writings will be way more accessible than conference talks.

He also may mean "don't sponsor or have booths at conferences or conventions". I personally find them valuable for connections but you don't need to attend them to make sales.

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