Looking to grow your grant consulting business? Here are a few smart ways to land clients.

➡️ 1. Your network

Reach out to those already in your network and tell them what kind of work you do. They might need your services OR they know someone who needs your services.

How you can start this:

• Go through your phone and find contacts you believe might be able to help
• Browse through your Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn connections - For this particular outreach, I would focus on those you have communicated with multiple times with more stronger relationships -
• Start sending text messages, emails, making phone calls, and sending direct messages on social.

➡️ 2. Make a list of companies you could help

This is called 'Account-Based Marketing or Sales'. You target specific companies who you believe are a great fit for your services.

If you're going local:

• look through a chamber of commerce directory
• pick an industry and find several companies you could help

Then, send them an email, see if anyone in your network knows them for a warm intro, or call them on the phone and tell them what you offer.

If your reach needs to be national:

• connect on social media
• send personalized emails
• make phone calls

And above all, be sure to follow up! We all get busy and forgot, so it's super important to follow up.

➡️ 3. Consultants and agencies who offer the same or similar services as you

It pays to network with professionals in your industry and role. Why?

• they might not have availability for a certain project
• the project or company doesn't fit the services they offer
• they have so much work they could use your help

While you may look at them as your potential ‘competition’, you speak the same language and do the same style of work. They can now refer that potential client to you as an option. It's a win-win for both parties.

➡️ 4. Your current or past clients

You've already built trust and a relationship with past clients, which is one of the best ways to find consulting work and revenue.

If they've worked with you in the past and it was a good fit for you, reach back out to see if they need help!

Pro Tip: Share 1 or 2 ideas with something specific to their company where you could be valuable and tell them you have availability.

➡️ 5. Social media

Social media can be a longer-term game for finding clients, but it can absolutely be a channel for finding clients.

How to do this:

• Talk about your services and how you accomplish projects. This doesn't even have to be self-promotional all the time.
• Write about the steps you took when you completed a project and your thought process. This signals to your potential client what your capabilities are.
• Highlight past clients and the work you've done for them
• Showcase each of the services you offer and how it can help your potential clients
• Be personal - show pictures of your dogs, your art, your hobbies to connect on a personal level

I’ve used all of these to bring in new clients at various times.

Some methods take time, others get quicker wins — but it's worth testing to see what works. Start with 1 or 2 that feel like a natural fit for you.

Which of these could you start testing this week?