Over the years I’ve come across many websites that can help build your business. Here are six websites that you may find useful when building your business.
1. Twitter – Twitter is a website that helps people communicate "through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?" Twitter has become a popular way to let clients–and potential clients–know what’s new in your business. Twitter certainly isn’t for all consultants, but you’d be surprised at the number of consultants who use Twitter to build their businesses.
2. FreshBooks – FreshBooks is a quick and easy invoicing system. It’s web-based, and they offer a few service tiers. Their free tier (with a maximum of three active clients at once) is perfect for those of you who do consulting as a side job. If you’re a full-time consultant, you may want to upgrade to a plan that offers more features. I like FreshBooks and I’m an affiliate, which means I get a small kickback if you sign up. But I really do like them.
3. Life Hack – A "life hack" is "any hack, tip and trick that gets things done quickly by automating, increasing productivity and organizing." Procrastination can be dangerous for consultants. So if you’ve got the urge to procrastinate, at least read something that’ll increase your productivity!
4. Online Forums – No matter what type of consultant you’re becoming, it’s a wise idea to find a forum that relates to your niche. For example, if you’re a home staging consultant, you may want to find an online forum that covers interior design, new trends in real estate, and so on. Once your business is up and running, forums are a great way to learn more about your field, find a mentor, and stay on top of trends. Try putting your consulting field and "forum" into a search engine.
5. Accounting Coach: I’ve shared many tips about tax write-offs, credit, and more. But if you’re looking for guidance and tutorials on specific accounting principles, try Accounting Coach.
6. YouTube: There are many reasons for becoming a consultant, but when it comes to IT support, quite often you’re on your own which can be maddening. Even if you’re not technically inclined, YouTube has many tutorials that will help you trouble-shoot, install new programs, etc. So the next time you find yourself wishing for an IT professional, do a quick search at YouTube. Try using the words "screencast" or "tutorial" to narrow down your search.
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