Consultant Career: How do you market your consultancy?

by Toni Bowers | Apr 17, 2006 7:00:00 AM

Tags: Professional development, NETWORKING, SECURITY, Toni Bowers, career

Takeaway: Another installment of the column that seeks to get answers to consultants' questions.

IT consultants have career issues that are different from those of the corporate IT pro. In this regular column, we will address those issues that are specific to the consultant. Since the best answers to these questions are going to come from the experts themselves--TechRepublic members--I will post the question or concern and ask that you guys weigh in with your advice. This week's question comes from TechRepublic member Maurice, a budding consultant in the area of network security. Here's part of an e-mail I received from him:

"I have started a small company. I would love very much to become a consultant and hope you can give some advice on a good starting point. I have the technical training and expertise to do the work, but I'm not so prepared for the business side. I'm not sure how to go about marketing myself and my business, networking for clients, and reaching my target market, which is the home-based business. I haven't yet found a way to be where they are, know how they shop, where they meet, and what their needs truly are. Any assistance is helpful." Please post your advice and comments in the discussion section following this article.