You need more prospects, so does everyone. Marketing is usually very foreign to most computer consultants. If you want to build your business or even have enough income to put food on the table, marketing needs to become a focus for you. Marketing strategies and tactics tend to vary in effectiveness in different markets, so which ones work in computer consulting.

Here are a few ideas:

Write white papers

There are so many different technologies in so many different sectors in the computer world. Pick some that you are extremely familiar with and write white papers. These can then be submitted to various white paper repository sites. This will help you to establish credibility.

Join Professional Networking Organizations

Here is a small list to get you started:

1. BNI - www.bni.com
2. Local Chamber of Commerce (just google your closest city along with ‘chamber of commerce’

There are usually many more, just google ‘<your city> professional network groups’ or try without the word professional.

Cross Promote

This is one of the more powerful marketing methods for computer consultants. Does your computer consulting computer do cable and wiring services? Some do and some don’t. What if you contacted some local cable and wiring companies and offered to have them do all your cable and wiring jobs if they would promote the computer services that you offer? I have used this method many times myself and I have helped others use this method as well. It is extremely effective. Do not pass it up.

Radio/TV Spots

While these have their associated costs, it may be worth testing for effectiveness. At our local football stadium, we have one local computer technology company who has a large sponsorship. Because of a close connection I have with the team, I have seen the continuation of their contract year after year. Trust me, they are likely not losing money and continuing this contract. Make sense? It has been so effective that our local Bell company has joined in with their technology services advertising.

Newspaper Articles About Your Business

This one takes some work, but can also be very effective. You need to learn the art of press releases. Just keep sending these and refining them so that you make it as easy as possible for editors to put your press releases in their publications. Editors love statistics, so you may get more of their attention if you use these in your press releases.

There many more methods that we will cover in time, but hopefully this will get your brain thinking.

-Zachary M. Morvik