I've been "consulting" since October of 2008. Currently, I've had sparse offers and thus have mainly focused on my day job (or looking for a day job as the case is now). However, the consulting bug is still deeply ingrained within me. I can't seem to shake the desire to legitimately help companies bring their marketing efforts in line with the best practices of the 21st century.
Social media,blog outreach, targeted and inbound marketing, and content creation/promotion. That's what I can do for a company...at what cost? My salary. Most of the ideas and programs that I prefer to work with merely take a time commitment and a willingness to commit to a new idea about how to do business.
To be honest I'd probably have a lot more luck if I stuck with my direct marketing credentials. I can do anything an old school marketer can do (email blasts, mail campaigns, MSM contacts, PR knowledge...) but I truly believe in the concept of social media's ability to reshape the way people think about interacting with their customers. Do half the people that I talk to think that I am high? Absolutely.
People don't want to rethink anything that works in the hopes that it could work better. That mindset comes mainly from this saying: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." Want to know why you should trust me over a direct marketer? I know that bush. The bush is sentient. I talk with that bush and love hanging out with that bush.
The problem with most marketers is that they believe in the static unchanging nature of customers and the way in which they react to certain stimuli. Customers are people. People are individuals. Treat your customer like an individual and you'll be hanging with that bush in no time.
However, in order for me to share my knowledge with a company or client: I need a chance to put my plans and abilities to work. The best way to do this is to work with another more experienced consultant. I bring the 2.0/fire, they bring the experience and connections.
Therefore, I've been thinking that I need to form a strategic alliance with an already established consultant in the Boston area. Great idea right? Well...it would be if I knew any interested parties, which I don't at the moment. Who knows maybe this blog post will inspire someone to contact me 
?
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tagged as consulting, Customer Service, Marketing, marketing consultant, senior consultant, Social Media, social media marketing, strategic alliance, strategy
I totally agree with most everything you're saying. From a consulting perspective you've got the fire. But Boston's a little too old school for your talent. Come to L.A., where I think there are a bit more burgeoning opportunities for talent like yours.
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