Consulting Matters Podcast Update

How do you build a reliable client pipeline as a consultant or coach when you've run out of people to ask for referrals? If you've built your consulting or coaching business on referrals, you know how well that goes. It works really well… right up until the moment it doesn't. You've asked everybody you know. You've worked your first and second degree connections. And then one day you realize there's nobody left to ask. My client Tim Schwarz, a leadership coach for school and educational leaders, found himself in this exact situation. In this episode, we get into some real talk about the strategy and messaging clarity it takes to go from relying on referrals to a reliable client pipeline, one where the right clients find you instead of you having to go after them. You'll discover the four signs you've actually built a reliable client pipeline, why clarity on who you serve is the first (and for real, the most challenging) step, why smart and talented consultants and coaches get so tripped up writing their own messaging and copy (and what to do about it), and why you should never have to choose between living your purpose and having the financial security you and your loved ones deserve. If you're ready to trade the hustle and chase for consistent client attraction, this conversation is for you. Still figuring out who your ideal client is? Start with Episode 180, How to Pinpoint Your Ideal Client as a Consultant or Coach → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/podcasts/consulting-matters/episodes/2149280168 Prefer a quick read of the main takeaways from this episode? Read the distilled version on the Consulting Matters blog → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/blog/relying-on-referrals-reliable-client-pipeline NEXT STEPS Learn more about my VIP brand-building & messaging services, custom-designed for purpose-driven consultants and coaches → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services Book a free call with me (and ask me about my brand new DIY brand positioning course) → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/schedule Get free templates and guides to nail your niche, clarify your value, craft compelling messages, and position yourself for the right clients and opportunities → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/downloads See the website and messaging Tim and I worked on together → https://timschwarz.org If you're on LinkedIn, come say hi! → https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-jordyn/

For the last two years, we were told DEI was dead. So what do the 2026 midterm results say about the people-centered values so many consultants and coaches have built their careers on?If you've been wondering whether all that work still matters, you're not alone.Quick disclaimer: I'm not a political pundit, and this isn't a political commentary. It's not about which party you should vote for. It's an episode about values, and what the results tell us about whether the values we've been championing really took hold. (Spoiler alert: they did!)In this bonus episode, you'll discover why I see the last few years through the lens of "artificial architecture" (the scaffolding you put in place during a change and take down once the building can stand on its own), the glass ceilings that broke on both sides of the aisle, why these wins poke a big hole in the argument that DEI rewards mediocrity, and why "people over profit" turned out to be the winning message.Then I bring it back to you, the people-centered consultant or coach: why it's time to celebrate the change you helped create, the hidden gift of not being able to lean on the DEI label in your messaging, and why now is the time to get your brand positioning, website and marketing ready for what comes next.If you share this passion, this one is for you. Celebrate, get ready, keep going.Want to be part of the Common Good Consultant Consortium conversation? Reach out to Kristin Chase → [email protected] episodes:What Every Consultant & Coach Must Know About Stakeholder vs. Shareholder Capitalism (Ep149) → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/podcasts/consulting-matters/episodes/2149164611Classical vs. Progressive Management with Bob Emiliani (Ep150) → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/podcasts/consulting-matters/episodes/2149167772NEXT STEPSLearn more about my VIP brand-building & messaging services, custom-designed for purpose-driven consultants and coaches → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/servicesGet free templates and guides to nail your niche, clarify your value, craft compelling messages, and position yourself for the right clients and opportunities → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/downloadsIf you're on LinkedIn, come say hi! → https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-jordyn/

Pinpointing your more profitable ideal client and niche is the most important decision a consulting or coaching business owner who wants to build a standout brand and predictable client pipeline can make. And the most challenging. In this quick win episode, get my #1 strategy I use with my brand positioning and messaging clients to unlock their ideal client clarity and confidence - FAST. If you’re looking to not just attract more clients but specifically the RIGHT ones who are the perfect fit for you and the unique consulting or coaching you do, this episode is for you. Prefer a quick read of the main takeaways from this episode? Read the distilled version on the Consulting Matters blog → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/blog/pinpoint-ideal-client-consultant-coach NEXT STEPS Learn more about my VIP brand-building & messaging services, custom-designed for purpose-driven consultants and coaches → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services Get free templates and guides to nail your niche, clarify your value, craft compelling messages, and position yourself for the right clients and opportunities → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/downloads If you're on LinkedIn, come say hi! → https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-jordyn/

Do you want a predictable client pipeline you can trust, where the right clients who are ready and eager to invest in your consulting or coaching are consistently coming your way? Well, I do too! In this episode, I walk you step by step through how to replace waiting on referrals (or hoping the magical client fairy will send people your way) with a strategy and system for consistent client attraction that you can actually rely on. You'll discover why a predictable client pipeline isn't just about marketing. I share the litmus test I use to know if your brand positioning and messaging are clear enough to fill it, why you probably need fewer leads than you think, and how to choose a marketing approach that plays to your strengths. Plus, why landing clients is the make or break moment for your impact and income, and how to get past the marketing and sales ick that keeps you stuck. If you're done with feast or famine and ready for the peace of mind that comes with a steady flow of the right clients, this episode is for you. Want personalized, step-by-step help building your client pipeline? Book a free strategic clarity call with me → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/schedule Prefer a quick read of the main takeaways from this episode? Read the distilled version on the Consulting Matters blog → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/blog/predictable-client-pipeline-consultant-coach NEXT STEPS Learn more about my VIP brand-building & messaging services, custom-designed for purpose-driven consultants and coaches → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services Get free templates and guides to nail your niche, clarify your value, craft compelling messages, and position yourself for the right clients and opportunities → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/downloads If you're on LinkedIn, come say hi! → https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-jordyn/

How do you deliver results as a consultant or coach when you're no longer the one in charge? My client Sara Guttman is back on the show, and this time she's putting me on the hot seat with the question that stumped me: How do I actually deliver results when I'm not coming from a place of positional authority? You'll discover why your methodology isn't where your value lies, the two traps that turn consultants and coaches into a pair of hands or a surrogate leader (and where to stand instead), why you need to know who you're transferring your knowledge and skills to before the work even starts, and why AI will never replace you with the clients who are meant for you. If you're ready to stop doing the work for your clients and step into the strategic partner role you know you're meant for, this conversation is for you. Want the tools I talk about in this episode? Get my Consultant's Toolbox, with all the templates, swipe files and resources, for only $97 → betsyjordyn.com/toolbox Prefer a quick read of the main takeaways from this episode? Read the distilled version on the Consulting Matters blog → betsyjordyn.com/blog/deliver-results-without-positional-authority-consultant-coach NEXT STEPS Learn more about my VIP brand-building & messaging services, custom-designed for purpose-driven consultants and coaches → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services Get free templates and guides to nail your niche, clarify your value, craft compelling messages, and position yourself for the right clients and opportunities → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/downloads If you're on LinkedIn, come say hi! → https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-jordyn/

Want to know for a fact, in your heart, mind, and soul, that you have what it takes to succeed as a consultant, coach, and business owner today and long term? In this pep talk episode, I’ll help you answer this core, critical question with a solid, unwavering, confident “Yes!” You’ll discover why self-doubt and imposter syndrome, while frustrating and sometimes embarrassing, are part and parcel of growing your own consulting or coaching business; what’s at stake if you don’t deal with them; why “Do I have what it takes?” isn’t the question you’re really asking, and what you’re actually wondering; and three things you need to know to know that you have everything you need to build a thriving consulting or coaching business you’ll love for years to come. If you’re done spinning and second-guessing yourself and ready to start succeeding at the level you’re more than capable of, this pep talk episode is for you. Prefer a quick read of the main takeaways from this episode? Read the distilled version on the Consulting Matters blog → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/blog/know-what-it-takes-succeed-consultant-coach NEXT STEPS Learn more about my VIP brand-building & messaging services, custom-designed for purpose-driven consultants and coaches → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services Get free templates and guides to nail your niche, clarify your value, craft compelling messages, and position yourself for the right clients and opportunities → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/downloads If you're on LinkedIn, come say hi! → https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-jordyn/

What do consultants and coaches who are still successful and thriving after 15-plus years in business know that the rest of us don’t? In this episode, my guest is my longtime friend and colleague Dan Weedin, an author, speaker, and president of Emerging Risk Solutions, for a candid conversation on what it really takes to build a sustainably profitable business that keeps evolving over time. You’ll discover why your consulting expertise alone isn’t enough, how embracing marketing and thinking like a business owner changes the game, and why knowing where your clients actually come from can help you build a more reliable path to new business. We also cover how to know when to stay the course versus pivot, why some things that don’t work can ultimately lead you in the right direction, and the role trusting yourself plays in your long-term success. If you want to build a consulting or coaching business you’ll still love years from now, this conversation is for you. Prefer a quick read of the main takeaways from this episode? Read the distilled version on the Consulting Matters blog → betsyjordyn.com/blog/how-to-build-a-consulting-or-coaching-business-that-lasts NEXT STEPS Learn more about my VIP brand-building & messaging services, custom-designed for purpose-driven consultants and coaches → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services Get free templates and guides to nail your niche, clarify your value, craft compelling messages, and position yourself for the right clients and opportunities → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/downloads If you’re on LinkedIn, come say hi! → https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-jordyn/

What if one simple tool could help you run better discovery meetings, create stronger proposals, close more business, and even write better marketing copy? I'm talking about your intake form. You might think of an intake form as simply a way to collect basic information before meeting with a potential client. But I use mine for a whole lot more. In this episode, I’m sharing how to use an intake form to get more out of every discovery meeting and client opportunity. You’ll discover what to ask potential clients before you meet, how to use their answers to arrive prepared and position yourself as a strategic partner, and how to turn their responses into voice of the client data you can use in your marketing and content. If you want a simple way to improve your discovery meetings while making your entire business development process more productive and effective, this episode is for you. Prefer a quick read of the main takeaways from this episode? Read the distilled version on the Consulting Matters blog →    RELATED EPISODES How to Land Strategic Client Engagements without Pushy Sales (Ep129) → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/podcasts/consulting-matters/episodes/2149081551 How to Use a Discovery Meeting to Multiply Revenue and Impact (Ep132) → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/podcasts/consulting-matters/episodes/2149090265 The Anatomy of High-IMPACT Sales Pages and Proposals (Ep85) → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/podcasts/consulting-matters/episodes/2148233168 How to Conduct a Market Scan and Find Your Niche → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/blog/how-to-conduct-a-market-scan-and-find-your-niche    NEXT STEPS Learn more about my VIP brand-building & messaging services, custom-designed for purpose-driven consultants and coaches → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services  Get free templates and guides to nail your niche, clarify your value, craft compelling messages, and position yourself for the right clients and opportunities → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/downloads  If you're on LinkedIn, come say hi! → https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-jordyn/ 

Are you setting up your consulting or coaching for long-term success? In this episode, I’m sharing five lessons I’ve learned from 20 years of running my own consulting and coaching business. You’ll discover why most of us need a push to finally become our own boss, how the pain that pushed you onto this path can become part of your purpose, and why long-term success requires you to think and act like a business owner, build the right business for you, and stop trying to do everything alone. If you want to build a consulting or coaching business that doesn’t just succeed now but can grow and evolve with you over time, this episode is for you. Prefer a quick read of the main takeaways from this episode? Read the distilled version on the Consulting Matters blog → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/blog/5-Lessons-from-20-Years-of-Running-a-Consulting-and-Coaching-Business   NEXT STEPS Learn more about my VIP brand-building & messaging services, custom-designed for purpose-driven consultants and coaches → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services Get free templates and guides to nail your niche, clarify your value, craft compelling messages, and position yourself for the right clients and opportunities → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/downloads If you're on LinkedIn, come say hi! → https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-jordyn/

See you back on September 24th!  Learn more about my VIP brand-building & messaging services, custom-designed for purpose-driven consultants and coaches → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services Get free templates and guides to nail your niche, clarify your value, craft compelling messages, and position yourself for the right clients and opportunities → https://www.betsyjordyn.com/downloads If you're on LinkedIn, come say hi! → https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-jordyn/