maybe start with wha
[2023-02-17 09:49:21 AM] : maybe start with what they wrote to you?
1 Reply
[2023-02-17 11:21:34 AM] : what do you mean?
[2023-02-17 11:31:57 AM] : I assume the two clients wrote to you saying "hey we need help", so whatever language they used
[2023-02-17 11:38:26 AM] : i see. it wasn’t exactly like that. they filled out an application form. there is some useful stuff from their responses though. i can use some of that
[2023-02-17 12:34:58 PM] : yep, i'd start with the things that they said in their application form.
the other thing to think about is if you can describe why they hired you and what you've helped them accomplish. if you're not sure, it might even be worth prompting them with an open ended question to get a sentence or two that you can riff on, instead of trying to start from a blank page.
when all else fails, go back to the pain and any clues you have about why they hired you. in the absence of that direct information, try to reverse engineer the pain from the kinds of things you've helped them solve.
[2023-02-17 12:35:57 PM] : FWIW, consulting doesn't really need to be super specific. the expectation is that it's a bespoke service, so the focus would be on what problems they have without you in the mix, and the structure/format you offer for getting past those problems.
[2023-02-17 12:58:19 PM] : the thing to remember is that unlike a product, where the goal is to fully anticipate their needs as clearly as possible, a service lets you interact with the individual to learn enough about what they want help with and use that to say "I can help you and here's how"
so the pitch isn't so much "sign up for the service" but "apply and tell me about the challenges you're struggling with"
[2023-02-17 12:59:04 PM] : and the beauty of that is...people telling you their problems gives you TONS of fodder for future safari, ebombs, and pitches!
[2023-02-18 01:37:47 PM] : this is helpful, thanks!
[2023-02-18 01:38:10 PM] : > so the pitch isn’t so much “sign up for the service” but “apply and tell me about the challenges you’re struggling with”
this is maybe the most helpful part. i think if i reframe it like this i’ll have an easier time