December 2003a- Each month this page will be updated with new tips and ideas and the previous content archived. As time goes by our archives will grow. These will always be accessible, and always without charge. Enjoy.

Welcome to the free tips page for December 2003

Choosing a Consultant: What to look for.

Using a consulting service for your firm usually brings two major benefits:

· Additional expertise not available in-house
· Saves you one of the most precious resources available… time.

Although a fee will be involved, using the right firm can usually save you money overall.

But which firm should you select?

The number of consulting firms available to choose from seems endless, so here are some pointers to help you make your decision:

· Does the firm work only in your industry?

· Do the people you will be dealing with come from the your profession themselves?

· Do they have quality consulting firm experience?

· Do they have a communication system that keeps you informed of progress during the assignment?

· What type of guarantee do they give? Look for a firm that is prepared to go beyond the industry standard.

· Is there a money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with progress?

· How deeply involved in your profession are they?

The answers to these quick and simple questions will usually eliminate the vast majority of choices, leaving you maybe with two or three firms, at best, who are well suited to help you with your specific needs.

Then it’s more a question of personal preferences.

‘Can I work with this person?’

‘Do I like this person?’

‘Is their guarantee solid?’

‘What do other clients say about them?’

These are natural concerns and questions that you should answer next. Check out their web sites and marketing materials and if there are any doubts about the potential business partner in question, move on to the next firm.

Make sure you get a reduction in the fee for paying something up front – this is simply a sign of fair play on the consultant’s behalf and any resistance to a suitable reduction in the fee should be seen as a red flag.

But why pay a retainer?

Some consultants only work (or prefer to work) on a retained basis. Why pay a retainer? Well, the simple truth is this: Paying a retainer up front is a sign of commitment on your part. This should be matched by a money-back guarantee from the consultant to give you some peace of mind.

It also gets the consultant’s attention and commitment to your project.

In short, it’s a fund that provides resources to finance the initial efforts of the firm, it funds their work in process, just like you might ask a new client for a part payment before you commence a project for them.

So why do firms rates vary so much?

Like public accounting firms, rates vary among consultants from firm to firm, there is no generally accepted daily or hourly rate but like most things in life, you only get what you pay for.

Cheap isn’t necessarily good.

From the Client’s Perspective

It’s a very big deal, bringing in a consultant. You need someone who you can talk to, in total and complete confidence, for some sage advice.

Someone who has been in your shoes, been successful and can pass-on the benefit of their experience is worth their weight in gold.

You seek someone who will be more of an advisor and coach – not simply looking at you as a ‘product’ to be turned around as quickly as possible to make a quick buck.

Yes the consulting industry, like any other, does have its share of, shall we just say ‘unscrupulous individuals’ but they never last long.

Look for a consultant that you can ‘connect’ with, who speaks your ‘language’ and takes the time to listen to your objectives before jumping in with their own advice and comments.

Like all things in life, you reap what you sow, but you must sow first.

The consulting business in Canada is full of small boutiques, branches of public companies, and large private firms. Each has their own market specialty and area of expertise.

Take the time to get to know several, then choose the one you feel understands your domain better than the rest.

Towards Awesome Client Service - Module Three. The Success Story Continues..

After the success of Modules One and Two, we look forward to continuing the journey towards awesome client service with our subscribers, old and new, with the launch of Module Three in September, 2003.

It's packed full with new ideas and approaches to develop closer working relationships with your clients, and a better yield on your investment in your staff and yourself. The price is held at the introductory rate of $249.95 per module (US funds) so join us now, and if you haven't yet signed up for Module One, you can still do so at the introductory rate.

Module Four is released in December this year, more details will come in next months free tips page.

Find out more at: www.awesomeclientservice.com/details.htm

For those interested in our "Towards Awesome Client Service" program, please click on the logo here:
For those who need a little help in marketing their firm, please feel free to call me direct at:	905-569-2174
If you're ready to get a web site for your firm, go to our web site services page by clicking on the screen shot here:
Or if you simply want to get some great ideas on how to cost effectively market your firm, then check out our eBooks below.

Check out our eBooks:

Our full range of e-books is now available for immediate download. All are now available as "PDF" files AND eBook files - the choice is yours, or download both versions (no extra cost) to see which format you prefer!

Including:

For more details, see our products page

So, that's all for now, if you need more, sign up for our free e-newsletter, LEDGER, on our newsletter sign-up page, or look at our best-selling manual LOW COST HIGH IMPACT WAYS TO WIN NEW CLIENTS.

Thanks for visiting.
Have a great month.
Until next time.

More free tips to come as we next update our site in January 2004. Meantime, Happy New year!