A day in the life of a consultant can be a funny thing. The flow of ideas you come up with to help your clients is seemingly unending. An idea can be born from a simple, random thought or just by observing something in your daily world. Most agree that the most difficult part of developing a new offering is settling your ever-pinging mind enough to turn your ideas into offers for your clients.
A documented process for moving an offering from infancy to launch is a must-have for any consultant. The purpose of this article is to give you an overview and a template for turning your ideas into offers that you can use over and over again. With a process in place, getting a needed service to your clients will be quicker and easier to accomplish.
Define
Let’s kick things off with the fun part – defining what your service is all about. No need to dive into the nitty-gritty just yet, but we want to give a taste of why your service is a game-changer.
Imagine you’re at a cozy get-together, explaining your idea to a group of friends. That’s the kind of vibe we’re aiming for here – friendly, informative, and a tad exciting.
Be sure to outline what your service covers and what it doesn’t. You are setting up some friendly boundaries when you do. You are saying something like, “I’m here to offer you this awesome service, but we won’t be venturing into ______________.” Clarity is kind! If you are not clear, your prospective clients will be confused.
Now, picture yourself sitting across from a curious friend at a café. You’d probably jot down the perks your service offers on a napkin, right? That’s what you want to do next. Create a neat list of all the key benefits your clients will get when they say yes to your offer.
Research
Next is the step that shines a light on your sprouting idea. Before you dive headfirst into the development journey, let’s ensure your idea aligns with what your clients truly crave. Think of this phase as your market research playground.
Put on your detective hat. Look into the minds of your potential clients – what’s on their wish list that your idea could fulfill? Tune in to their frequency and really listen. If you’re not sure, don’t hesitate to ask them directly. Their insights are pure gold!
Once you have researched the needs of your clients, we’re not finished exploring! It’s time to research your competitors. Check out what other consultants or coaches are up to in this space. Now, remember, it’s not about copying; it’s about spotting those little gaps and filling them with your unique abilities. Think of it as giving your clients exactly what they need, with a dash of your special magic.
The research phase is like that wise friend who guides your next move. It’s here that you’ll uncover the precious nuggets of information that will show your path forward.
Develop
Now you are ready to leap into the exciting phase of bringing your service offering to life. Roll up your sleeves and get creative!
Picture this phase as your artist’s studio. You might sketch out a framework, draft a curriculum, weave captivating content, lay out a clear pathway, or create a tool that solves your client’s need. Or more likely — you will blend these ingredients into a masterful combination that serves your clients best.
This is where you dive into the nitty-gritty — it’s like crafting a mosaic, placing each piece with care. You’ll pour time and passion into refining your creation until it looks just like you envisioned it way back in the idea stage.
With your service elegantly laid out on paper and your vision clearer than ever, it’s time to tackle the pricing puzzle. Avoid picking numbers out of thin air. Instead, consider a tool like the Van Wentendorp Price Sensitivity Model. This model asks insightful questions that paint a vivid picture of what your market might pay.
Promote and Launch
Now that your service offering is neatly mapped out and the pricing is set, turn your attention to the work of crafting your marketing plan. Picture it as adding vibrant colors to your masterpiece.
You might opt to add your specific marketing plan template right within this template or keep it in its own space outside this project – whichever feels easiest for you to manage.
Craft a sales funnel – it’s like shaping a journey that guides your audience step by step to solve their problem. Start with something small that your client needs. Then give it to them for free in exchange for their email. From there, continue to serve them through your email sequence, guiding them to fill a need they have. Ultimately, the best solution is in the product that you developed, so your goal is to see them to the bottom of that funnel so they can experience the success that you have envisioned for them from the start.
Don’t forget to create a strategy and then the copy for your social media channels. The words you weave here draw from that magic “define” stage we talked about at the very beginning.
Next, ask yourself: how can you introduce your service to those closest to you in your network? Your initial objectives and benefits from step one come in handy here, helping you communicate your service’s key benefits in a bite-sized version. Remember, simplicity shines, so let your words be few and clear.
Evaluate and Improve
You’ve spent many hours mapping out exactly what your clients need and incorporating that in your offer. Now it’s time to let them give you some direction. Think of your clients’ feedback as your compass on how to continue moving forward.
How can you collect these valuable insights? Imagine you are having a heart-to-heart chat with a friend. You might invite them to share their thoughts through a survey, or simply have a casual conversation. Each piece of feedback becomes a stepping stone toward enhancing your offering.
Create a space to jot down the ideas you have for continuous improvement, sparked by client experiences and feedback. Make it a practice, setting aside dedicated time at least every quarter to review feedback and decide on changes. It’s like checking in with a friend. This ensures your service remains relevant and valuable.
Conclusion
It’s clear that the entrepreneurial path can trip you up with endless ideas strewn all along the way. Your ideas are the lifeblood of your business. Therefore, bridging the gap between your vision and the needs of your clients is a challenge worth conquering.
Now you hold a secret key in your hands — a well-documented process that transforms ideas into offers. As a consultant, this blueprint is your compass, guiding you from the origin of an idea to the unveiling of a service. It’s not just a one-time strategy; it’s a template you can revisit and refine, making the journey of delivering impactful services faster and more seamless than ever before.
I’ve made it even easier for you to start using this process today. Grab the written SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) that outlines the exact steps. It’s absolutely free!
So, now there is no excuse for letting those ideas sit and stew in your brain. Take the next step and let’s go solve our clients’ biggest problem!
About the Author
Paula Holsberry is the founder of Tessera Virtual Business Solutions, specializing in optimizing work processes for remote teams. With experience in both start-ups and larger companies, she helps teams maximize productivity through efficient Asana training and consulting.
