Stop Overthinking & Start Consulting: 3 Steps to Get Paid for What You Know
- Written By: Melanie Borden
- February 27, 2025
Transforming Fear into Empowerment: The Power of Personal Branding.
MAKE THE CONNECTION
Starting a consulting business can feel overwhelming—like there’s a never-ending list of things to figure out before you can take that first step. Want to know something? You don’t need a website, a fancy logo, or even a perfect plan to get started. You just need clarity, confidence, and action.
The biggest misconception? That you need to have it all figured out before you start. The most successful consultants didn’t wait until everything was perfect—they took the leap, refined as they went, and built their success step by step. We sometimes forget many who consulted before us did this without socials, without a website, just with a business card, a phone, and a Rolodex (which is now LinkedIn!).
This week, I’m sharing three simple, high-impact steps that will help you confidently launch your consulting business and start attracting your first clients.
What You’ll Learn in This Issue:
✅ How to position yourself as an expert (even if you don’t feel like one yet).
✅ The biggest mistake I made when launching—and what I should have done instead.
✅ A simple way to turn your knowledge into a high-value offer.
1
The most powerful asset in your consulting business is your unique experience. You don’t need to be the world’s foremost expert—you just need to be a few steps ahead of the people you’re helping. Consulting isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about guiding others with the insights and solutions you’ve already mastered.
Ask yourself:
• What have I accomplished in my career that others would love to learn from?
• What challenges have I consistently solved?
• What makes my approach unique?
Pro Tip: Instead of saying, “I help businesses with operations,” try, “I help small business owners streamline operations so they can scale without burnout.” The clearer your positioning, the more compelling your value becomes.
2
When I first launched, I spent too much time focusing on the aesthetics of my brand—logos, fonts, website —when I should have been dialing for dollars and having real, in-person conversations. Your first consulting opportunity isn’t going to come from a perfect brand aesthetic—it’s going to come from a conversation. Instead of worrying about marketing materials, focus on connecting with people you already know. Former colleagues, friends, and LinkedIn connections can all become clients or valuable referrals.
Action Step: Pick up the phone. Yes, literally. Call or message 5 people in your network this week and let them know about your consulting services.
Example Outreach: “Hey [Name], I was thinking about you! I recently started consulting to help [ideal client type] solve [specific problem]. If you or someone in your network could benefit, I’d love to chat!”
3
A common mistake? Trying to sell consulting instead of selling solutions to their problems. Instead of saying, “I offer consulting services,” create an offer that makes it crystal clear how you help.
Example Offers:
“The 90-Day Growth Accelerator” – A structured plan to help small business owners increase revenue without adding more hours to their week.
“Executive Leadership Coaching” – A personalized 6-week program to help leaders build confidence, communication skills, and influence.
“Fractional CMO for Startups” – A high-impact strategy to help early-stage companies generate leads and build brand awareness without hiring a full-time marketing team.
Each offer should include: What problem it solves. What’s included. What results clients can expect.
Your consulting business won’t grow from the perfect logo or the right shade of blue on your website (trust me, I know from my own experience of focusing on the minutia that doesn’t matter); it grows from real conversations, solving real problems, and taking real action.
Ask Yourself This:
Who is one person in your network that you can pick up the phone and call this week about your consulting business?
Building a consulting business isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about taking action and learning as you go.
• Own your expertise and share your story.
• Focus on conversations over aesthetics.
• Create a simple, clear offer that solves a problem.
You don’t need to be perfect—you just need to start. Remember, when it comes to your future clients, you DO have the answers!
With Gratitude,
Melanie
P.S. We’ve built the systems and processes for you so you can focus on what matters—getting clients and growing your business. Check it out here: Human to Brand Creator Store 