| Before you open the doors to your computer | | | | related user group or trade group, and possibly an |
| consulting business, you need to get your ducks in | | | | industry-specific trade group. |
| a row. You'll need to pick a company name and | | | | Start Where You Know |
| get your business cards printed. Then you'll need | | | | Many times it makes sense to pick an industry |
| to consider what types of customers you want | | | | focus where you come from. There's always |
| to pursue and where you can meet them. In this | | | | opportunity to branch out into other places. But at |
| article, you'll learn how and why you need to | | | | least if you start with a niche, you're already |
| accomplish these steps. | | | | familiar with, you'll already have some credibility. |
| Get Your Business Cards Printed | | | | You'll find it easier to come up with a marketing |
| Get your business cards printed, even if you don't | | | | message that hits home. You'll find it easier to be |
| think they'll last you forever. If you decide to | | | | memorable, because you're not looking like |
| change your company name, phone number or | | | | everyone else who's in the phone book or |
| address 6 months down the road, that's | | | | everyone else who could conceivably do the job |
| okay-you can get them reprinted. At least in the | | | | who doesn't have expertise in that particular niche. |
| mean time, you can start getting momentum | | | | Evaluate Your Computer Consulting Niche for |
| going by handing out a couple of business cards | | | | Enough Prospects |
| to all of your friends and family members. | | | | With that nursing background, for example, you |
| Get the Word Out about Your Computer | | | | could focus some of your early marketing and |
| Consulting | | | | business development activities on small doctor's |
| Whenever you're in networking situations, | | | | offices in your local area... as long as you have a |
| whenever you're meeting people at your kids' | | | | fair amount of confidence that there are at least |
| soccer games, or church or synagogue, or you're | | | | 500 or 1,000 prospects in a one hour radius of |
| standing on line talking to people at the movies, | | | | where you're located. Your knowledge should be a |
| you'll have the opportunity to tell them about your | | | | big hit with both the key decision makers and the |
| business and hand out your business cards. These | | | | individual PC users. |
| people can then become part of your extended | | | | You may even want to consider branding yourself |
| sales force. | | | | by putting your industry focus in your name. For |
| Get Involved in Your Business Community | | | | instance, you might add health care systems, |
| Get involved in some local organizations where | | | | medical office systems, or medical office |
| small business owners meet. Look for three or | | | | technology as part of your computer consulting |
| four good local trade groups to get involved with. | | | | company name. |
| One might be your chamber of commerce, | | | | |