As with many businesses, there are a lot of myths about consultancy. You must be aware of the most common consulting myths so that you can disregard them and create a successful consulting business. Let’s take a look at the most popular myths about being a consultant:
You need to know Absolutely Everything
Some people believe that a consultant has to know absolutely everything about their niche. This is not the case. Of course, you need to know more than your clients do, but as long as you are perceived as an expert by them this is all that matters.
Imagine that you are a technology consultant and are helping clients implement the best solutions. It is impossible for you to know everything about technology. There are new products and services launching all of the time. If you have any gaps in your knowledge then you can easily rectify this with learning.
Being a General Consultant is best
This is untrue. You should specialize in a particular area. People believe this because they think that being a general consultant will open more doors for you. You can’t be skilled in all areas and provide the best advice on everything. Choose a niche that fits with your skills and experience, and stick to it so you can be an expert.
You need to charge Low Prices to get Clients
When you are starting as an independent consultant, there is a myth that you need to charge the lowest prices to get work. While it is true that you can charge a lot less than the big consulting companies would, it does not mean that your prices cannot be high. Clients will perceive that you are not a good consultant if your prices are too low.
It’s Easy to be a Successful Consultant
Not sure where this consulting myth comes from but there are certainly a lot of people that believe becoming a successful consultant is an easy thing to do. If you want to be a high earning consultant then you need to do the right things. You need to be able to attract clients and then provide them with the results that they want.
You will need to work hard when you are starting your consultancy business. After you have established yourself then things should get a bit easier. It is foolish to think that making a lot of money as a consultant is going to be easy. If it was then everyone would do it.
You need a Lot of Leads to get Business
For some reason, people believe that you need a ton of leads to gain clients for your consultancy business. This is not true at all. Of course, you need some leads, but you do not need that many to obtain clients. Focusing on a smaller number of leads is likely to yield better results for you.
You don’t need a Website to be a Successful Consultant
While it is true that some successful consultants do not have a website, we disagree with this. These days, clients will expect you to have a professional website that showcases your skills and experience. You cannot just get away with a phone number and an email address.
