Developing a Niche Consulting Practice

When I started drafting contracts for international clients, I made a checklist that I still rely on today. Sharing it with you because it truly saves time, errors, and embarrassment: 1️⃣ Title Make it clear, industry-recognized, and aligned with the relationship. 2️⃣ Recitals This is the story behind the contract. When written well, it removes 80% of future confusion. 3️⃣ Definitions Your in-house glossary. One well-defined term can prevent an entire dispute. 4️⃣ Scope of Work (SOW) Who will do what, how, when, and with what deliverables. If something goes wrong, this is the first clause everyone opens. 5️⃣ Term & Termination Start date, end date, renewal, and exit routes—because no contract should trap either party. 6️⃣ Payment Terms Amount, timeline, taxes, milestones, late fees. Include everything. 7️⃣ Confidentiality Protect what must not be shared. Especially in founder–freelancer or startup–consultant relationships. 8️⃣ IP Rights Don’t assume ownership. Write it. Highlight it. Reconfirm it. 9️⃣ Liability & Indemnity Your risk-management heartbeat. Saves clients from unnecessary surprises. 🔟 Governing Law & Dispute Resolution Because knowing where a fight will happen is half the battle. If not structured properly, you might end up losing more in travel than in litigation fees. I hope this helps you draft with more confidence and fewer mistakes. I am attaching a more detailed document with this post that is downloadable. Happy learning! --------------------------- Hi, I'm Arshita, your legal mentor and compliance partner. I guide law students and legal professionals through mentorship and practical training, and I work with founders and startups to simplify contracts, compliance, and legal issues. If you are a law student or legal professional who needs guidance with internships, jobs, freelancing, or legal consultation, you can book a consultation call here: topmate.io/arshita_anand

In a crowded marketplace, the businesses that win aren’t always the ones with the best products. They’re the ones that make their value unmistakably clear. I was walking through the Bryant Park Holiday Market in New York City. A swirl of lights, music, and more than a hundred vendors all trying to grab attention. Most booths were charming. Clever names. Cute displays. Plenty of personality. But they all blended together because you had to stop and figure out what they actually sold. Then I saw it. A simple sign. No fancy design. No clever branding. Just three words: “Gifts for Golfers.” Instant clarity. Who they serve. What they offer. Why someone should stop. In a sea of generalists, they stood out because they were specific. And it made me think about how often we bury our own value under jargon, creativity, or complexity. We assume people will get it, but most of the time they’re busy, distracted, and making decisions in seconds. So here’s the real filter to use: Can someone understand who you help and how at a glance? Because whether it’s your LinkedIn profile, your website, or the way you introduce yourself, clarity is a competitive advantage. The easier you make it for people to see themselves in your message, the faster the right opportunities find you. Clarity isn’t the opposite of creativity. Clarity creates space for the right kind of creativity that attracts the people you’re meant to serve.

My Head of Fulfillment Luca Wetzel told me not to share this publicly. But this is the fulfillment playbook we’ve used for over 110+ Personal Brands at notus: For us, fulfillment starts when the client signs the contract. We then: • send an onboarding survey • schedule a kickoff meeting The onboarding survey already gives us an understanding of the client's situation. This allows us to clarify what gaps need to be filled. __ Fulfillment Phase 1: Personal Brand Sprint (4-6 weeks) Step 1: Kick Off We host a 1-hour call to: • align on goals • introduce the content strategist • run through the setup process • pre-block time in their calendar From the client's POV: • They filled out a questionnaire • Jumped on a 1-hour call → Now they have the first 4 weeks of the project already planned & scheduled. __ Step 2: Deep Dive Interview We conduct a 2-hour podcast where we talk about: • Their backstory • Their business case • Industry trends • Personal interests → Now we have all the input we need to get to work. __ Step 3: Setup Deliverables These are the 3 main strategic assets we create: 1. Media Strategy An overview of the (organic) marketing motion: • ICP analysis • Competitive landscape • Offer stack • Funnel visualization • Tone of voice • Etc. 2. Content Archetype The communication lenses that guide all content efforts and define: • What they talk about • Why they talk about it • How they talk about it It's our editorial compass. 3. Profile Revamp Here we turn their LinkedIn profile into a B2B landing page. Among optimizing core elements like: • Profile picture • Banner • Slogan We also make it easy for leads to access the next step in the clients funnel through their featured section. __ Step 4: First Content Call The goal: 4 weeks of content pre-planned before we go live. We go into the call with 4-8 content ideas drafted. By asking targeted questions, we get the input we need to turn content ideas into content pieces. __ Step 5: Client Review & Feedback Both the client and us have set blockers to give and implement feedback. After implementation, we have a finalization meeting. Now, we're ready to go live. ____ Fulfillment Phase 2: Content Engine (Ongoing) From here, we transition into our flagship content engine process. The goal is to maintain a bi-weekly content call cadence to ensure we always have fresh content input. The client only has to check the notion portal for around 1h per week to review and approve posts. The result: high-performing LinkedIn content: • with 1 strategic goal • in the client's tone of voice • churned out like clock-work Smooth like butter - just how we like it. ____ We’ve been refining this process for 3+ years - and we’re not done. This is an ever-improving motion that will be upgraded for years to come. I’ll update you here once we have a new process to share. Until then, feel free to use this as a blueprint for your own content operations Happy execution :)

LinkedIn helped me set up and scale my businesses— ‬ here’s what I have to share.‬ ‭ When most businesses think of LinkedIn, ‭ They think of a place to post jobs or search for candidates.‬ ‭But if you're still using LinkedIn just for hiring, you're missing out on its true power.‬ ‭LinkedIn is a goldmine for inbound leads and an unlimited resource for growing your business.‬ ‭Here’s how I used LinkedIn to build and scale two businesses:‬ ‭ 1. 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞 = 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭‬ ‭Your LinkedIn profile is not just a resume—it’s your first impression.‬ ‭ I transformed my profile into a landing page that clearly communicated‬ my expertise and business value.‬ ‭ ACTION:‬ ‭ Shift the focus from just listing your achievements to explaining how you solve problems for your‬ clients.‬ ‭ 2. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞-𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 = 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 ‭People come to LinkedIn for insights, not ads.‬ I regularly posted valuable content—industry insights,‬ ‭ personal experiences, and tips that my audience found useful.‬ ‭ ACTION:‬ ‭ Share content that adds value to your audience's journey and solves their problems. This is‬ what creates consistent inbound leads.‬ ‭ 3. 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 = 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬‬ ‭It’s not just about posting. I built genuine relationships by engaging with comments,‬ joining discussions, and offering advice.‬ This wasn't just about visibility, it was about building trust.‬ ‭ACTION:‬ ‭ Take the time to build real connections by being genuinely helpful and interactive with your‬ network.‬ ‭4. 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐬 = 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬‬ LinkedIn Groups helped me reach niche communities that were actively seeking solutions‬ I could offer. I focused on providing real value in these groups,‬ which turned into meaningful business leads.‬ ‭ ACTION:‬ ‭ Join groups that align with your industry and actively contribute to discussions.‬ ‭This positions you as an expert and helps you reach a targeted audience.‬ ‭ 5. 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 = 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡‬ I took LinkedIn's messaging feature seriously.‬ Instead of sending random connection requests,‬ I sent personalized, strategic messages that showed‬ the value I could bring to them.‬ ‭ ACTION:‬ ‭ Use LinkedIn messages to build genuine relationships and offer solutions tailored to their needs.‬ LinkedIn isn’t just another platform—it’s a business growth engine.‬ An optimized profile, valuable content, real engagement, and meaningful relationships can‬ transform your LinkedIn presence into a constant source of growth.‬ ‭Ready to unlock LinkedIn’s full potential?‬ Let’s connect and I’ll show you how to transform‬! ‭

The designer disappeared mid-project. Here’s the 1 clause that saved the deal. It looked like a dream deal. • One SaaS client. • One product agency. • One freelance designer on UI. Three parties. Everyone aligned. Everything moving forward. The agency came to us for the contract. They just wanted something “simple.” Scope, timeline, payments - done. But simple contracts don’t survive complex projects. So we asked the real questions. • What if the client delays feedback? • What if the designer goes missing mid-project? • What if the agency needs to push deadlines? They’re the parts that blow up a deal if they’re not written down. So we built the contract around the "what ifs." Not just the plan, but the back-up plan. • Clear responsibilities. • Fallback options. • Defined resolution timelines. And sure enough - a few weeks in, the designer dropped out. But instead of chaos, everyone opened the contract. Turned to page 5. Followed the steps. • No finger-pointing. • No legal panic. • No awkward emails. And if you want to do the same, then I recommend focusing on: 1) Contingency Clauses: What if feedback is late? Add a clause that pauses the timeline until it’s received.  2) Risks by People: If a designer or developer drops out, have a backup plan - like a replacement within 15 days.  3) Scope Creep If the client asks for extra features, ensure there’s a process for approving changes and costs.  4) Clear Termination Terms Can you exit if the project isn’t working? Include notice periods and payment for work done.  5) Dispute Resolution If things go south, arbitration under Indian law can resolve issues faster than courts. Ultimately, that’s what good contracts do. They don’t just record what you hope happens. They prepare you for what probably will. If you’re drafting contracts based on assumptions, you’re building your business on luck. And luck’s not a strategy. Plan for the messy parts. That’s what keeps the project - and the partnership - alive. --- ✍ Question: What’s the biggest project surprise you wish your contract had covered?

Your first 90 days with a customer can make or break the entire relationship. I've seen it happen too many times: - Great sales process - Solid product demo - Strong contract value - Excited stakeholders Then onboarding happens. And everything falls apart. Why? Most companies treat onboarding like a checklist: - Setup call ✓ - Product training ✓ - Technical integration ✓ - Documentation shared ✓ But here's the truth about onboarding: It's not about your process. It's about their success. After managing hundreds of onboarding sessions, here's what I've learned: The best onboarding isn't standard. It's personalized. Think about it: - Every customer has different goals - Every team has different challenges - Every organization has different paces - Every stakeholder has different priorities Your onboarding needs to reflect this. Here's what works: 1. Start with clear expectations - Define success metrics upfront - Set realistic timelines - Map out key milestones - Align on responsibilities 2. Build a dedicated team - Assign specialists who understand their industry - Create cross-functional support - Have clear escalation paths - Enable quick problem-solving 3. Monitor health signals - Track early usage patterns - Watch engagement levels - Note stakeholder participation - Measure progress velocity 4. Automate the right things - Regular check-in reminders - Progress updates - Resource sharing - Usage alerts But here's where most companies fail: They don't plan for challenges: - Low customer engagement - Complex technical integrations - Unclear success metrics - Resource constraints - Scalability issues The solution? Build feedback loops: - Collect input at every stage - Adjust plans based on signals - Iterate on materials - Improve processes continuously Remember: Onboarding isn't about getting customers to use your product. It's about helping them achieve their goals through your product. The first 90 days set the tone for everything that follows. Make them count. What's your approach to customer onboarding? What challenges have you faced? ------------------ ▶️ Want to see more content like this and also connect with other CS & SaaS enthusiasts? You should join Tidbits. We do short round-ups a few times a week to help you learn what it takes to be a top-notch customer success professional. Join 1993+ community members! 💥 [link in the comments section]

Some questions hit my DMs and instantly tell me someone is thinking like a future consultant. Here’s one of them. “I’m leading regulatory affairs, active in industry bodies, and I’d love to take on advisory or consulting work on the side. How do I position myself?” This is the moment most people wait far too long for. They only think about consulting once they’ve left corporate - which means starting from zero. If you’re asking this now, you’re already ahead. From here, it comes down to four things: 1. Check your employment contract Not exciting, but essential. Some contracts block paid work that overlaps with your day job. Make sure anything you do is clean, compliant and conflict-free before you move. 2. Position yourself clearly “Regulatory affairs” is broad. “I help MedTech startups prepare for EU submissions with speed and confidence” is specific, valuable and memorable. Your niche is what people buy. And if you want to make your positioning crystal clear online, I’ve put together a free LinkedIn profile cheatsheet you can put into action straight away >>> https://lnkd.in/dZhubpFY ! 3. Decide how you’ll package your expertise Board advisory? Fractional? Interim? Mentoring? People won’t buy what they can’t understand. Give your expertise a clear shape. 4. Build visible proof Companies don’t buy years of experience - they buy evidence. Show the problems you’ve solved, the insights you share, the panels you contribute to. Make your track record easy to see. And yes, this approach works. A senior RA professional in our network picked one MDR pain point she understood deeply, shared short, practical insights around it, and within a few months she had inbound requests for paid advisory work - without ever leaving her full-time role. That’s the impact of clear positioning matched with visible expertise. If you’re thinking, “that could be me”, start small. Define your niche. Shape your offer. Get visible. Consulting isn’t about leaving your job. It’s about leveraging what you already know to create more impact, more influence and more income. What do you think - is consulting something you’ve ever considered?

How to Get Consulting Clients Without Sending a Single Resume You don’t “apply” for consulting work. You attract it. Most executives make the mistake of treating consulting like a job search: ❌ Tweaking their resume ❌ Blindly reaching out to recruiters ❌ Hoping someone “gives them a shot” That’s not how this game works. Companies don’t hire consultants the way they hire employees. They hire trusted experts who can solve urgent, high-value problems. 👉 You don’t need a resume. You need conversations. Here’s how you start landing clients—without ever applying for a “job.” Step 1: Tap Into Your Network (Your Fastest Path to Cash) 80% of your first consulting clients will come through people you already know. Your past colleagues, peers, and industry connections already trust you. They just don’t know you’re available. Here’s your script: “Hey [Name], I’m helping companies [solve big problem]. Who do you know that could benefit from that?” 🚀 Example: Maxwell’s First $50K Client Maxwell, 60+, landed his first consulting deal by reaching out to former colleagues. Instead of asking for a “job,” he positioned himself as an external marketing strategy consultant. Lesson? Your first client is probably sitting in your phone right now. Step 2: Build a LinkedIn Presence That Attracts Clients Your expertise is invisible until you make it public. When companies look for consultants, they don’t check job boards. They check LinkedIn. The 3-Post Strategy to Build Credibility Fast: 1️⃣ Your Availability Post – Announce your transition. Example: 🔹 “After 25+ years in [industry], I’m now advising companies on [problem you solve]. If you’re facing [specific challenge], let’s connect.” 2️⃣ Industry Insights Post – Share a valuable tip, case study, or framework. 🔹 “Most companies struggle with [big challenge]. Here’s a 3-step framework I’ve used to solve it.” 3️⃣ Client Win Post – Share a real success story. 🔹 “Just helped [company] increase [key metric] by X%. The key? [Insight you applied].” Do this for 30 days, and you’ll start getting inbound leads. Step 3: Create a Referral Pipeline That Works for You You should never be the only one promoting you. The One-Line Referral Ask: “Who do you know that needs help with [your expertise]?” 🔹 Why It Works: It’s not a sales pitch—it’s an invitation to help. 🔹 Bonus Hack: Offer a free strategy call to build relationships before selling. 🚀 Example: Gordon’s 5-Week Sprint Gordon, a former teacher pivoting into software sales, had ONE interview in two years. After consistently engaging his network, he booked 50 calls in 5 weeks—leading to 3 paid offers. Final Thought: Stop Applying. Start Connecting. 💡 Your network is your client pipeline. 💡 Your LinkedIn is your credibility builder. 💡 Your referrals are your growth engine. Instead of sending out 50 resumes this month… 📌 Start 50 real conversations. 👉 Who in your network needs to see this today? Drop a comment or tag them below. 🚀

I’ve helped 600+ founders from solopreneurs to CEOs of billion dollar companies build their brands on LinkedIn. I’ll tell you what I tell them: Building a successful brand is not about “hacking an algorithm.” Especially if you don’t yet get the fundamentals. Algorithms get tweaked all the time. So at first, you’re best off focusing on the parts that stay the same… How people think, what they trust, and whether your profile tells them your value in five seconds. Here’s how you can do it: 1/ Find your niche Pick one problem you can solve and exactly who you solve it for. 2/ Profile photo Use a clear, close-up headshot that looks credible on mobile. 3/ Banner Communicate your value simply and one clear action. 4/ Headline Winning formula = How you help + ideal customer + dream outcome + social proof. 5/ Finding content ideas Study posts that outperform and adapt the pattern to your niche. 6/ LinkedIn content funnel Use a mix of TOFU, MOFU and BOFU posts…most people only use one type. 7/ Writing for LinkedIn Use short paragraphs, simple language and one clear CTA. Avoid asking boring questions at the end. 8/ Designing for LinkedIn Stick to readable fonts, and brand colours but experiment with style every few months (like whiteboards right now) 9/ Repurposing content Reuse what already worked instead of starting from scratch. Change the format, update the info or try a new angle for the same topic. 10/ Featured section Have a lead magnet that solves a narrow, painful problem in exchange for email. Consider adding a testimonial. 11/ About section Explain how you help, make it scannable, add a link for the next step - calendar or website. 12/ Posting strategy Post consistently at the same time each day…Sunday’s are a great day to post. 13/ Engaging on LinkedIn Engage before posting. Respond after. Send 10 personalized DMs every day to your dream customers. That’s how you drive sales This is how I went from 3k to 430k followers in under 2 years. Yes, LinkedIn is always changing. Yes, there's more competition than ever. But the fundamentals haven't changed. Treat your profile like a landing page. Post content that actually solves a problem. Engage like a human, not a bot. 📌 Want to high res pdf of this? Get it here: https://lnkd.in/gKzZUq-b ♻️ Repost to help your people win on LinkedIn ➕ Follow me (Will McTighe) for more like this

I improved retention and onboarding success by making a change to the first step in the onboarding process. A few years (and a few companies) ago, I made a small tweak to the way we onboarded new customers—a tweak that ended up making all the difference. We stopped diving headfirst into the technical implementation. Instead, we started with what I called a Partnership Kickoff. This one shift transformed the customer experience, boosting retention and improving onboarding success rates. Here’s why: The Partnership Kickoff brought intention to the relationship right from day one. Instead of rushing to “get things done,” we: 1️⃣ Engaged all the key stakeholders in the partnership 2️⃣ Discussed goals and confirmed success criteria upfront 3️⃣ Set proper expectations on BOTH sides 4️⃣ Clarified roles and responsibilities for onboarding and beyond 5️⃣ Created space to ask questions and address concerns This wasn’t just a feel-good meeting. It was about getting ahead of risks, ensuring alignment, and setting the stage for success. Here’s the secret sauce: ⚫️ Set expectations early Sales aligned on the importance of this meeting, and CSMs communicated the who, what, and why in their first email. ⚫️ Use a New Customer Intake Form We asked customers to provide key information upfront—no assumptions or overreliance on Sales handoffs. ⚫️ Prep the right way Sending the kickoff deck in advance meant our meeting focused on conversation, not presentations. ⚫️ Lead with goals and expectations Capturing customer goals was the priority, setting the tone for how we’d measure success. ⚫️ Clarify next steps We left every kickoff aligned on what happens next and who’s doing what. The result? Customers felt heard, understood, and set up for success. It wasn’t magic, but it sure felt like it. That small change? It delivered BIG impact—the kind every CS leader dreams about. Are you being intentional about how you’re starting your partnerships? If not, maybe it’s time to rethink step one. ________ 📣 If you liked my post, you’ll love my newsletter. Every week I share my learning, advice and strategies from my experience going from a CSM to CCO. Join 12k+ subscribers of The Journey and turn insights into action. Sign up on my profile.