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Most any business found on the Internet today can benefit from using a marketing consultant. With the explosion of companies trying to break into the profits found from online consumers and clients, it’s not as easy as it once was for your website to be found. Before brick and mortar businesses started taking advantage of online storefronts, online-only businesses had an easier time creating an online presence.

With more people trying to break into online marketing and sales, it takes more effort to get your web page discovered by consumers. There are consultants who understand the aspects of marketing a business to consumers, but an online business requires a consultant who can help you create content that ranks your website near the top of the search engines. It’s no longer good enough to just have a unique product and hope that people find you.

Attract Consumers by Pleasing the Search Engines

A marketing consultant can help customers find your website rather than a competitors. To do this the consultant will research keywords related to your business and determine how the words rank in the search engines. The most popular engines use closely guarded algorithms when determining where to place websites in the search results. These algorithms, while kept secret, can be researched and played with in order to achieve the best results.

In the past, website owners thought they could fill their website with randomly placed pages but still achieve results as long as the keywords were relevant. As each search site became more advanced at weeding out the nonsense from the actual worthwhile sites, many website owners were finding their pages pushed farther back in the search engine results page. It became imperative to please the search engines in order to attract more customers.

Differences Between SEO and Marketing Consultants

You may be tempted to cut corners by utilizing only an SEO consultant who promises to market your website. However, there are many SEO professionals who only worry about keywords and search engine rankings. These aspects of your website, while important, won’t necessarily help to increase your sales.

A marketing professional who also has strong knowledge of search engine optimisation will focus on more than just keywords and search engine placement. A marketer will ensure that your landing pages lead to your sales pages and that all aspects of your website encourage visitors to check out your sales pages. With an SEO professional that’s also a marketing consultant focusing on your online business, you can increase your Internet presence and sales.

Subscribing to quantitative consulting services and solutions is a crucial decision point for corporations. With the help of the right consulting firm, corporate clients like you can find solutions to your complex problems, valuation and risk issues, and other critical business needs with the use of highly advanced and well-thought of financial and statistical modelling techniques. If your firm has a financial obstacle or model validity issues, quantitative consulting companies can provide you with the best solution for the problem at hand. Most of the time, businesses have enormous amounts of valuable data and resources but lack the means to analyse optimally and use them for the good of the company.

If your quantitative trading model issues are beyond the scope of your internal staff, it is best to find a consulting service. The consulting service should have the core specialty is in solving complex business problems through their expertise in advanced data analysis techniques and statistical methodologies. Whether your problem stems from huge amounts of hard to manage data packets or from hard to detect/completely unknown sources and complex circumstances, finding the right consulting firm to help you navigate your situation is the best way to fix problems and nip further risks in the bud. Choose a company that offers data-driven, analysis-based solutions, which will ensure a holistic approach to your financial objectives.

Look for a company with expertise in developing sound and reliable statistical methodologies that effectively analyse business problems and in turn carry out requisite solutions to alleviate issues, reduce, and mitigate risks. When seeking out reliable quantitative consulting service providers, look for:

• A firm that takes time to understand fully the problem at hand and looks at the data available to solve the issue.
• A company with all the right tools and expertise to determine the optimal and most potent quantitative methodology that will help solve the problem, or
• One that has the capacity to create the optimal methodology in the absence of relevant data.

Sometimes, data available to your company may be incomplete, ungainly, or disorganized. In these types of situations, a consulting firm must be able to find clever ways to extract useful information out of the jungle of data you have at hand or supplement them with additional data when needed. Your consultant’s job is to specify problems quantitatively and seek a robust yet practical solution to mitigate the effects of the problem and at the same time prevent further risks.

Business consulting services are essentially a collection of different types of features that companies can opt for according to their needs in order to promote business growth, improve workforce performance, create a professional atmosphere, gain clients and get themselves established in the community. These services are integral to a company’s survival in today’s market place. Some of them include, but are not limited to:

· Business Coaching
· Strategic Planning
· Time Management

Due to their enormous popularity, many companies have eagerly incorporated business consulting services within their organization. However, for those who are not completely familiar with these services, this article will go over a few things that businesses should be aware of. It will help them get a clear understanding of how these services work and what to expect from them when they do opt for them in the future.

Business Consulting Services are Designed to Help Businesses

These services are primarily designed to help companies become more efficient and their workforce more productive. For example a marketing consultant will look at all aspects of marketing available to the company, examine its current strategy and then devise a better plan to move forward. Similarly, a customer service improvement consultant will work closely with the customer service representatives, and listen to their phone conversations. He will then sit down with them in order to point out their weaknesses as well as their strength and then create a work plan to make them better at handling callers.

They Need Time to Work

Business consulting services need time to work and start providing results. Companies should not expect a change of fortunes over night. It is a step by step process that requires time and patience in order to have any significant impact. Many companies tend to lose patience and give in too early without seeing any progress and end up not capitalizing on their investments.

It could take anywhere from weeks to months before companies start seeing any noticeable difference. Therefore it is important not to rush and give the consultants their time to make things happen.

Temporary or Permanent?

Depending on the type of business, its finances and the company vision, business consulting services can be availed either on a temporary or permanent basis. Oftentimes companies start out on a contractual basis in order to carefully gauge the consulting company’s progress. For example if a company believes their management needs to brush up on their speech skills, they will hire a speech consultant to boost confidence. He will be given a set amount of time to turn things around and make them better speakers.

Every business, no matter how well it is managed, could use the services of a consultant at some point in time. There might be areas that even though are performing satisfactorily can be improved by making a few minor adjustments. Business consulting services can point that out for your company and offer you solid advice on how to be better at what you do.

When it comes to business, most employers hire an external project management consultant. In fact, more businesses are investing in specialized services to improve performance. In spite of counting on a good internal pool of employees, owners are still counting on external experts to help with business success. Detailed study and research confirms that choosing an external expert can be far better for project work, than choosing an internal employee. It is important for the owners to keep one thing in mind, and that is the expert’s services should be equal in terms of business needs and requirements.

Following are a couple of tips that will help the owners to select an efficient project management consultant for their business.

• Working hand-in-hand – Hiring a project management consultant does not mean that he will be taking over your business. You will remain the owner and decision maker for the business and employees. You have to work closely and hand-in-hand with the consultant so that both of you are on the same page. Being an expert, he may have more knowledge and skills than you; however you are the prime decision maker of your business.

• Planning and documentation – Your business processes should be fully planned and documented so that it is easy for the consultant to make a call. Both the parties should agree to the terms, conditions and working of the business, before the project starts. As per the business plans and strategies, all the required resources should be in place so that the business starts and continues in a smooth flow.

• Open to learning – Project management consultants have a different view to everything. They possess specialized skills and knowledge in the field and they consider each and every detail while working on a project. Thus, if they are highlighting certain issues that are the causes to certain problems, then you must listen to them and take appropriate actions. You must keep yourself open to the views and experience of the consultant, though it is only your decision that will matter in the end.

• Deciding on a temporary or a permanent consultant – As per your business needs and requirements, you must decide whether you wish to appoint a permanent consultant or a temporary one for some particular project. Whatever you select, you must always show support and backup to the newly appointed consultant. You must work closely with him so that everything is clear and transparent between the two of you.

Hiring a project management consultant can be an easy task, but you will have to dedicate yourself to the task so that everything is discussed and planned in the correct manner. Before assigning a task to the consultant, both the parties should be comfortable with each other and with the work. It is wise to address any doubts before starting with the project work. This will make you mentally prepared to face the challenges and risks.

Difference in Objectives:

Unlike the franchisor whose objective is to sell you his franchise if you qualify, the franchise consultant should have no bias toward any specific franchisor or franchise type. Rather, his sole objective should be to assist the franchise business buyer in making and executing the best decision to satisfy his or her requirements and qualifications.

Franchise Consulting Services

As a fundamental step, a franchise consultant should help you determine if running a franchise business is really right for you. For example, some consultants provide a test that profiles your aptitude and commitment against those of other highly successful entrepreneurs.

The franchise consultant should then guide you through an objective self analysis to help you determine your financial, lifestyle, and business objectives.

That information should serve as the basis for pointing you to the best franchises that meet your requirements out of the thousands of options available, and he should assist in your selection process.

He should guide you through a thorough due diligence process, covering all the potential snags such as local licensing requirements with which the franchisor may not be familiar. He should assist in formulating the right questions to ask both the franchisor as well as other franchise owners.

If financing is an issue, the consultant should direct you to potential sources. He also should help you find well qualified legal and financial advisors who understand the nuances of owning and running a franchise business.

He should be there to support you and to serve as your mentor until the franchise deal is closed.

Benefits of Using a Franchise Consultant

In summary, engaging a reputable franchise consultant can save you big time in several ways.

1. First, by establishing a clear process and guiding you through the maze, you can save weeks if not months in completing the selection, evaluation, due diligence, financing, and closing process.

2. The anxiety associated with fear, uncertainty, and doubt about making the right decision is eliminated.

3. By objectively guiding you to the best decision and execution, you can avoid costly mistakes.

The franchise consultant’s primary objective should be to help you become the owner of the best and most cost effective franchise business that meets your objectives.

And the great thing about using a franchise consulting service is that the service may be totally free to the franchise buyer. Because the service provided is of great value to both the franchisor as well as the franchisee, most franchisors are happy to pay franchise consultant’s expenses.

The value of engaging a professional franchise consultant is one of the things you need to know before you buy a franchise business.

Are you a freelancer or a consultant? The distinction between the two terms might not appear overly important at first blush. But in a world where words have the ability to shape our own behavior and the attitudes of the people around you, how you define yourself as a contract worker can actually impact your work environment, your earnings, and the way your customers treat you.

First let’s talk about definitions. The term freelance or free lance, has its roots in the ancient days of horsemen and knights, where independent mercenary soldiers acted on behalf of a king for money. The term today continues to describe, according to “Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary,” “A person who pursues a profession without a long-term commitment to any one employer.” Consultant, on the other hand, is a more modern term to define someone who “consults” or “one who gives professional advice or services,” to quote Webster’s. The term implies a certain amount of expertise, while certainly freelancers and consultants have knowhow.

These days the terms freelancer and consultant are often used interchangeably. But there are some key distinctions:

• A freelancer is someone who usually works at home and the work comes to them. They use and own their own tools and are responsible for maintaining them. A consultant–described perhaps as a more transient type of employee, likely works in client’s office with tools owned by the client. The client controls the tasks you work on and the timeline.
• Consultants may broker themselves through staffing or consulting firms or may sometimes seek out clients independently without an intermediary. They may also get three to four W2s at the end of the year, according to Dan Pink, author of the book “free Agent Nation,” which discusses the growing ranks of self-employed people. These consultants could be almost considered like temporary employees, part of a company’s contingent staff.

Crucial for the economic viability of independent contractor–whether freelancer or consultant–is the ability to stay employed. Even as a consultant contracted with a staffing firm, the minute you start costing the firm money and stop making them money, you have a bulls eye on your back, and are at risk being unemployed.

So to protect yourself, we have developed the Consultants Bill of Rights for those people who work as a consultant and who broker themselves through consulting or staffing firms.

The Consultants Bill of Rights includes:

• The ability to decide what projects you work on;
• The ability to decide when and where you work;
• The ability to decide how much work you do in a year;
• The ability to know and influence your bill rate to end clients;

You should have your own 401k or SEP retirement account and a rainy day fund.

The point of The Consultants Bill of Rights is not to badger or harass staffing companies, nor to be a Prima Donna. Simply put, THE CONSULTANTS Bill of Rights is your reminder to go the extra mile to ensure your security and happiness as part of the independent workforce.

Ten years ago, all staffing firms would tell you when and where to work. It didn’t matter that you had to make a two-hour commute through the winter, you did it.

But today, the consultant has to be in charge of knowing the market so that the attractive gigs keep coming your way.

With so many staffing firms to broker you, and with so much contract work around, there’s no reason to be at the mercy of anyone.

As an independent contractor, “You’re The Man.” You’re making more money, you have more control over who you work for, more control over the types of projects you work for, and you should even have a say over what your billing rate to end clients is going to be. If not, you may find a staffing firm pricing you right out of the market and out of some gigs that you might want.

You’re beholden to stay on top of the market rates, using tools such as HotGigs.com‘s Rate Exchange, where you can report the details of your engagement and compare yourself instantly with other people in your market.

At the end of the day, whether you’re a freelancer or a consultant, you’re the responsible party for making a bright and successful future for yourself – no one else.

Before getting into blood type, it’s worthwhile to define the term “consultant” as I believe the industry has muddied the term to the point of confusion. Unfortunately, it is common today to refer to all labor external to an organization as “consultants.”

Consultants are hired to advise (or consult) in areas which are outside the body of knowledge inside the organization. Consultants will typically have either extensive first hand experience in the subject matter, or a research arm which identifies the issues and best practices in a leading edge area of business. Organizations hire consultants to provide their opinion and “advise them what to do” often for the purpose of driving highly material decisions. This is in sharp contrast to a contractor who is hired to “do as they are told.” [discussed here]

The term blood type refers to the collection of characteristics which are possessed by consultants. Professional consultants typically have all of these characteristics, often in the extreme, and therefore share a unique “blood type.”

Consultants will possess the following characteristics:

Unquenchable Curiosity. Consultants will have an unquenchable curiosity to stay on the leading edge of their area of specialty coupled with a deep desire to apply their knowledge to many varied situations, and in doing so deepen your area of knowledge.

Solid Domain Specific Frameworks. It was once said that you can judge the quality of the consultant by the quality of their frameworks / tools. There is something to this. Consultants have typically developed and refined (or develop as part of the engagement) a solid set of frameworks to apply to the situations encountered within their body of knowledge. Each time the frameworks are used, they will get increasingly refined and increasingly valuable. [Update: See Chris Brogan's post on Frameworks here]

Framing the Issue Correctly. Consultants have the ability to identify and pull apart the real issue(s) from the situation (as opposed to the stated or too obvious issues). Paraphrasing, it is said that a question correctly asked is half solved. Consultants know how to ask the correct questions, and ask them in the correct way to properly frame the issue solve the real problems.

Focused Deliverables. Consultants typically think through (as defined by frameworks) the deliverables to be produced and work diligently to complete these deliverables. This requires an ability life themselves up to stay above the fray while staying focused on the deliverable set. This is opposed to performing “activities”.

Working in Someone Else’s Home. Consultants need to be comfortable with the fact that the culture they will be working within (culture that helps / hinders the organization to operate) is not the culture which you must follow – referred to as the danger of “going native”. In many cases it is the culture which needs to be fixed in some way.

Hired to Go Away. Consultants are comfortable with the fact that they are hired to go away once they have addressed the issue they were hired to go away. The premium associated with the consultant’s expertise often necessitates a short term for the engagement. It also means that the friendships made within the organizations will last, but the social aspects of the work will not exist in the traditional sense.

Personal Sacrifice. At a personal level, Consultants need to be comfortable with the sacrifices which they will make in order to ply their craft. At one time being a consultant meant living in a hotel in some far off city on weekdays, and at home with your family on weekends. (Strangely, the further a consultant needs to travel to a client site, the greater the perceived credibility – at least initially). Great sacrifices are made by spouses and families as well as the life of the road warrior puts much greater stress on the home life of those carrying on independently. At the beginning of a professional consultant’s career, the travel seems somehow romantic. Within a year, there is very little romance left in the constant travel, and this feeling is replaced with drudgery.

To turn a phrase made famous by Jeff Foxworthy, if you…. have an unquenchable curiosity, develop solid domain specific frameworks, regularly accurately frame issues, work off of focused deliverables, are comfortable working in someone else’s home, realize that you are hired to go away, and endure personal sacrifice by yourself and your family for the sake of your craft,… you might just have the blood type of a consultant!

Being selected for a management consulting internship is the most effective way to break into the management consulting field at the top-tier firms. Top consulting firms like McKinsey, Bain, and AT Kearney have the common practice of hiring most of their interns as full-time consultants. Internships are a great way for you and the firm to make sure the fit is right. As an intern you will be working with consultants on cases and will know if the company culture, workload, and various commitments are right for you – all without having to make a long-term career commitment.

Management consulting firms hire interns at the end of their junior year or at the halfway point of their graduate program. The top firms, such as BCG and Booz actively recruit at the top universities and colleges by working closely with the institution’s career services office. Pay careful attention to the management consulting firm recruiting schedule and know when they plan to be on your campus; they rarely hire for internships at other times of year. In other words, when they come into town, this is your best opportunity. Most firms make their campus visits in the fall and winter. Most hiring that goes on during the rest of the year is for mid-career professionals changing careers or jobs.

The firm will arrive on your campus and conduct some informational sessions talking about the company, the internship process, and what it’s like working as a consultant. After that, interviews will be set up for students who are interested. The interview process will be highly challenging in order for the management consulting firm to see how you stand up under pressure against other equally qualified candidates.

Be prepared to flex your problem-solving, business, and analytical skills during the interview. In addition, you need to substantiate claims that you have the characteristics the firm seeks in its candidates. That’s not to say you should act like some consulting robot, but you will want to do some research on the management consulting company’s website to see what characteristics they look for. For example, McKinsey looks for consultants that excel in the four main areas of problem solving, achievement, relationship building, and leadership. It will be important for you to show the interviewer how you have exhibited those qualities with concrete examples rather than telling them.

The interviewers use the case study method during the interviews, which requires you to think quickly on your feet to come up with plausible solutions using analytical thinking. To do your best in the interview practice analyzing case studies from business textbooks as well as publications like the Wall Street Journal. The top management consulting firms have sections on their websites with sample case studies you can study as well.

Even without top-tier university credentials, you can differentiate yourself and earn an internship spot with a leading consulting firm – just be prepared to work harder to get your name out there. Be proactive in calling your target consulting firms to find out where their regional recruiting events are taking place and plan on attending. Since you do not have the pedigree of a top-tier or Ivy League institution you will have to stand out among your educational peers in terms of coursework, grades, and leadership. You need to leverage all of the opportunities your school offers by networking with business professors and alumni who work at some of these firms.

An internship at a management consulting firm can certainly set you off on a great career path. The business training, networking, and additional skill set you pick will last a lifetime. Good luck!