Grow Your Independent Consulting Business

Twelve years into her consulting career, Rachel Hughes has built a business that attracts inbound leads, top-tier engagements, and industry recognition, without sacrificing her sanity or freedom. In this episode, Melisa talks with Rachel about the mindset and strategy shifts that transformed her from overthinking and reactive to intentional and in-demand. Rachel opens the doors to her consulting p...

If you’re avoiding thought leadership because you “don’t know what to say”, this episode is your turning point. In Episode 227, Melisa dismantles the most common blocker independent consultants face when it comes to publishing thought leadership: not knowing what to share, or fearing they’ll just add noise.  She introduces a powerful mindset shift and practical system to consistently generate valu...

You’ve made it halfway through the year — now what? Too many independent consultants either stay the course out of habit or abandon their goals altogether. In this episode, Melisa walks you through a five-step framework to recalibrate and intentionally design a second half that actually aligns with what you want, not just what you committed to back in January. This isn’t just another planning sess...

What are enterprise buyers really looking for in 2025 when they bring in external talent?  This week, Melisa is joined by industry veteran Brian Hoffmeyer (known as “Hoff”), who returns to the podcast to share invaluable, behind-the-scenes insights from his vantage point at Beeline, the world’s largest independent vendor management system. Whether you're working directly with enterprise clien...

Think building a seven-figure consulting pipeline in just 16 weeks is impossible?  Think again.  In this episode, Melisa Liberman sits down with Ellie Holbert, a first-year independent consultant, who shares the real story of how she went from zero pipeline and a canceled contract to 56 opportunities and a multi-seven-figure funnel without prior sales experience. Ellie lays out the practical steps...

It’s common for consultants to think of AI as a tool to boost efficiency, enhance insights, automate tasks, and improve client deliverables.  It can help you scale your processes and routines. But have you also considered that AI can help you scale your thinking? In this episode, Melisa talks with Amanda Long, marketing strategist and custom GPT builder, about how consultants can create private GP...

Most consultants think physical products are only for authors or e-commerce brands, not for them. In this episode, Melisa challenges that assumption head-on and takes you behind the scenes of a new physical product line she’s launching. This isn’t a product pitch, it’s a case study. She’s sharing the full backstory of  why she started this, what’s working, what surprised her, and how she’s thinkin...

What if your consulting business wasn’t meticulously planned, but evolved from one bold decision after another? In this episode, Melisa talks with longtime client Alison Jeffrey, a strategic fundraising consultant, about how Alison went from leaving a full-time job with no safety net to building a seasonal, profitable business rooted in authenticity, intention, and relationships. Alison shares can...

Client delivery is one of the most critical — and underleveraged — parts of your consulting business. In this episode, we walk through a practical, three-part framework to increase the value of your delivery, both for your clients and for your business. Most independent consultants tell me they feel confident once they land the work. But that doesn't always translate into knowing how to posit...

Sometimes you need a client win — fast. Whether it’s to refill your pipeline, create a cash infusion, or just shake off a dry spell, this episode walks you through how to create and implement a quick-win strategy that actually works (and doesn’t feel like a scramble). We’re not talking about discounting your value or saying yes to low-quality consulting client leads. This is about designing a repe...

Does this situation sound familiar to you? You send a consulting proposal. Or you email your one-pager, expecting a next step.  Then — silence. You don’t hear back. If you’re questioning your follow-up strategy, not sure what to do to follow-up, this episode is for you. In this week’s episode, Melisa dismantles the outdated (and ineffective) habits independent consultants fall into when it comes t...

You solve problems. That’s what you do best as a consultant. But what if you’re focused on solving the wrong problem in your own consulting business? In this episode, Melisa breaks down a counterintuitive truth: many consultants plateau or underearn not because they don’t have solutions, but because they’re solving problems they’ve already outgrown. Melisa shares a real client case study that illu...

What if the biggest reason you're not hitting your revenue goal has nothing to do with strategy — and everything to do with tiny, invisible breakdowns in your business development process? In this episode, I walk you through the concept of “leaks” in your consulting business — those points where value, opportunity, or efficiency is lost without you even realizing it.  These leaks aren’t just...

What if you could run a corporate retreat... for a company of one?  That’s exactly what independent consultant and brand strategist Claire Elvers did. In this episode, Claire joins Melisa to share why she carved out the time and space to take her business offline — and what she learned from zooming out. This conversation is packed with real talk about the real work of running a consulting business...

What if the most valuable tool in your consulting business is one you already have — and didn’t even realize? In this episode, Matty Bakkeren joins Melisa to share his early-stage consulting business experience as an independent consultant and the strategies he uses to create momentum in his business. From listening to this podcast in his car to building his own consulting practice — Matty gives u...

Are you curious what it takes to consistently earn 50K per month as an independent consultant?  In this episode, host Melisa Liberman reveals the four key components you need to implement in your consulting business to create a consistent 50k per month consulting business. She outlines how to create an aligned offer, attract high-quality demand, shape your identity as a sought-after expert, and ta...

Want to know the secrets behind a successful fractional consulting business? Learn how to build trust, sell yourself as a fractional leader, and land high-value clients. In this episode, Melisa Liberman chats with Alessandro Pregnolato, a seasoned fractional consultant.  Alessandro is one of Melisa’s clients and has established himself as an in-demand fractional leader for start-ups and companies...

Do you want to generate inbound leads for your consulting business? Do you want a path to meeting your ideal clients? In this episode, host Melisa Liberman shares how to leverage a podcast for consulting lead generation. She shares four simple steps to put this lead gen strategy into action and record your first episode Discover the proven strategies top consultants use to leverage podcasts for ef...

Do you advise your consulting clients to leverage KPIs but don’t apply the same strategy to your own business? You’re not alone. In this episode, host Melisa Liberman explains how to implement Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to manage your consulting practice more effectively.  Melisa outlines the power of a simple consulting KPI dashboard and shares real-world examples of KPIs, such as financia...

Are you struggling to find time for lead generation? What if you could fill your pipeline in just 7 minutes a day? In this episode, host Melisa Liberman shows you how to do just that.  Melisa breaks down the common obstacles independent consultants face when it comes to lead generation and shares a game-changing strategy to overcome them.  You’ll learn how dedicating just 7 minutes to one focused...

Are you an independent consultant or a fractional executive aiming to grow your business? Have you ever thought about how much easier it would be to land consulting clients if you could understand exactly what buyers are looking for? Don’t miss episode 208, where I, Melisa Liberman, talk with John Healy, Chief Executive of Whrrr.work. John brings a comprehensive 360-degree perspective to consultin...

When you think of a "campaign," your mind might immediately go to ads.  But, in today's episode, Melisa talks about campaigns as a way to center your business development and lead generation activities around a specific theme so you can more effectively fill your pipeline as an independent consultant. Melisa defines the concept of a campaign in the context of an independent consulti...

One of the primary focuses for consulting business owners is generating high-quality leads.  What’s the secret to being effective at generating high-quality leads in a way that’s also sustainable and repeatable? The secret to effective and sustainable lead generation is based on what phase your consulting business is in. In this episode, Melisa shares how independent consultants should approach le...

In this episode, Melisa sits down with Miles Everson, CEO of MBO Partners, a leading marketplace that connects independent consultants with enterprise and mid-sized businesses. Melisa and Miles dive into the key qualities of successful consultants, sharing insights about common mistakes to avoid and strategies for staying competitive in the fast-evolving independent market. Miles also gives listen...

Mastering relationship marketing can lead to significant revenue opportunities in your business.  You might think it either comes naturally to you, or it doesn’t. That’s not the case. You can learn and improve your relationship marketing skills, as a path to grow your consulting business. In today's episode, Melisa is joined by Sara Macauley, principal consultant and owner of Kindred Strategi...