Member profiles are used to display information about member consultants on the IMC USA website. Based upon your profile, visitors to the site can use the Find A Consultant search engine to seek out specialists in specific areas of consulting.

The narrative portion allows you to provide a description of your background, practice, and training. In addition you can list areas of specialization as well as the industries you serve. The narratives are keyword searchable when using the search engine.

To make changes to your profile, please follow the steps below:

• Visit the IMC USA home page, www.imcusa.org, and click on the “Find A Consultant” button, or go directly to the 'Find A Consultant' page. (If you try to login from the IMC USA Home Page, this will only allow you to access documents and member-only areas of the site.  It will not allow you to update your profile or narrative.)
• In the menu on the left of the screen, click “Login” and enter your e-mail address and password. If you’ve forgotten your profile password, follow the prompts to have it reset.
• Once you are logged in, click “My Profile” which will appear as an option in the left-hand menu.  You will then be on the 'Edit My Information' page.
• Click on “Edit” (next to 'Profile Information' under your name) to make changes to your contact information. Click “Edit Demographics” (under 'Personal Information' and to the right at the top of the page) to add or update your chapter, company name, practice description, technical competencies, industry specialties, and training and speaking experience. Click the blue “Save” button when finished, and then click the blue "Save" button again from the 'Edit My Information' page.
• Your changes will be effective immediately in the search engine.
• For assistance please contact Greg Maciog: greg@imcusa.org.
  
  
   
  

Interesting preliminary results of a February 2007 survey of independent consultants conducted by student Laura Mills, contains some compelling findings about consultants and how they grow a successful practice.

As a background, those surveyed ranged from 25 years and older and had from five to forty-five years of experience in their craft. 

While the dissertation is not completed, we've provided some interesting findings noted below.

• 70% are male
• Over 40% had earned a masters degree or higher
• 35% had earned at least one professional certification
• 31% practiced in organizational development and change management
• 52% were mid-career when they decided to begin a consulting practice, 35% in their late career before beginning a consulting career
• 70% worked in the private sector

The greatest number of consulting practitioners had at least 15 or more years of experience in their field. Yet the majority had been practicing as a consultant for 10 years or less.

In asking their most important source for consulting work, the numbers support a common theme.
From highest to lowest:

• 47% receive referrals from previous clients
• 29% listed other
• 17% receive work from former coworkers and colleagues
• Only .93% received leads from employment agencies
• 1.85% from print media or email groups
• 1.85% from directories

Interestingly, the formal networks that consultants find to be of help to their practice are:

• Alumni Associations   (57.3%)
• Former Employee Alumni Networks  (19.3%)
• Occupationally Related Networks  (85.8%)
• Consulting Consortium or Network, (like IMC) (97.7%)
• Chambers of Commerce   (31.7%)
  

When Laura has completed her dissertation, we will post  her completed findings.

One of the leading global trade associations has relayed some interesting information in a recent study revealing growth trends in today's economy.  This is important information to consultants as they seek focus in defining their key value to their target customers.

Just over 500 surveys were completed and some of the key findings are included below.

• Industry wide this is the 14th consecutive quarter of positive results.
• Agencies have shown the greatest revenue growth versus single consultants or practitioners.

Improved profits have been attributed to 1) cleaner database practices, 2) targeted prospecting and 3) increased surveying of what customers want. 

Also, the coordination or integration of prospecting tools such as:  direct mail, telephone, email and search engine optimization strategies.  One client noted a very successful prospecting campaign that utilized a three touch process implementing a newsletter, webinar and a product announcement via email.  These tools used to communicate to an opt-in list have been extraordinarily successful for highly qualified lead pool development.

Most professional marketeers are optimistic for 2007, however their concerns are not unique to the business world. Those surveyed cited four main issues that affect their ability to drive business. Those include from most important to least important:

• Marketing Response Rates
• The Economy
• Internet, E-commerce and e-mail
• Consumer Confidence
• List, Data and Segmentation Issues

The largest area of sales growth was in the Business to Business segment. Sales revenue in 2006 in the $1-20 million range had the largest growth. With less than a million with the second highest increase in revenue.

And with business client growth, most has arisen from helping to develop new channel opportunities, launching new products and global sales and marketing.

Because of globalization, pricing pressures are forcing many industries to mergers and acquisitions for competitive survival.  The reality that client budgets directly affect consulting income will force consulting practitioners to focus on the right client experiencing healthy growth and budgets to support the relationship.

Send your input of what you would like to see in this area for Members Only.