Navigating Consulting Niches

Wes Wheless helps solo consultants bottle their secret sauce.  To do so, Wes offers two services: The NicheFinder Sprint and The IP Builder Sprint. He believes that consultants need to identify a niche or specialization and a unique approach to serving that niche, typically codified into intellectual property (IP). Each sprint is delivered one-on-one over 1-2 weeks.

Niche Finder Explained

NicheFinder is designed for early-stage solo consultants who are struggling to narrow down their niche. It involves working one-on-one to identify their zone of genius and then lay out potential ICPs. The client and the consultant come up with three specific ICPs, which are then run through a custom GPT that runs a detailed viability analysis on each lane.  The GPT also derives three additional ICPs based on context and evaluates their viability as well.  With an identified niche, the consultant can now decisively focus on building a market position around that specific problem and buyer.

Examples of Niche Consulting

Wes shares an example of a client whose determined niche is fractional CMO for B2C subscription companies that have hit a growth plateau and have not invested in brand marketing.  Another example is a client who went solo from a boutique consulting firm that specializes in change management. Her genius zone was being the translation layer between strategic vision and operational teams. She had a keen understanding of internal issues and also helped new executives acclimate to their roles. The GPT analysis suggested that she should focus on innovation teams running pilots but not getting traction due to organizational resistance. Wes explains that the GPT analysis includes 12 viability factors, including access, lifetime value, competitive alternatives, and target revenue numbers. These factors help narrow down options and identify red flags, ultimately leading to a more viable solution.

Sourcing Consulting Opportunities Before Niching Down

The discussion explores the approach of starting with potential buyers from your existing network, rather than relying on staffing firms or referrals. Will suggests starting with decision makers or influencers. This approach can help you identify your potential universe of buyers and determine what services they are willing to pay for. Wes adds that this approach can help you learn about selling yourself and what people are interested in. However, Wes points out that it can also lead to triangulating into a specialty that might not be interesting or appropriate for you. If you continue to work for anyone who will hire you at the moment, you may end up working in areas where you don't have much business taking on that kind of work.

Identifying and Validating a Consulting Niche

Wes discusses the process of developing a niche through the NicheFinder sprint. He emphasizes the importance of having a strong understanding of the client's pain points and interests before proceeding with the niche finder. Wes suggests that the process should be followed by market validation conversations, where potential clients can share their ideas and validate their interest in the service. This process should take around three to five conversations. Wes suggests changing the LinkedIn headline and content to be specific to the identified problem. He also suggests codifying relevant IP and developing visual assets that can be shared.

The IP Builder Sprint and Intellectual Headshots

Wes suggests that consultants should have served at least two or three clients within their niche before starting the IP Builder sprint. Wes suggests that consultants should display their expertise prominently through visual assets, which Wes calls intellectual headshots. These are instantly digestible visual articulations of your expertise that can prompt and streamline conversations. They can be distributed at scale and can look like typical consulting frameworks. Some clients have created headshots that look like comic strips or memes, which can open up dialogue and help clients see their problem or pain point. In conclusion, The IP Builder Sprint is a valuable investment for consultants to showcase their expertise and engage clients. By creating intellectual headshots, consultants can instantly telegraph their unique expertise, ultimately leading to elevated sales conversations and more client conversions.

Examples of Client Intellectual Headshots

Wes shares examples of client intellectual headshots. The first quickly communicates the five service models and personas in the consulting industry. The framework is designed to help consultants understand their roles and potential career paths.

Another example is a line chart showing the client mix over time, with a warm network starting at zero and gradually increasing. Word of mouth referrals also increase over time, but the social plateau indicates that word of mouth referrals will eventually hit an asymptote.

Wes then presents a client example,, a fractional general counsel for B2B SaaS companies. Mark wanted to address the stereotype that lawyers are not liked and can gum up the process. They created a visual to illustrate this point, using a skier jumping off a ski ramp to demonstrate that lawyers can build momentum rather than kill deals. This humorous approach makes fun of the stereotype and encourages clients to focus on building momentum rather than killing deals.

In this discussion, Wes Wheless and Will Bachman discuss their approach to business and the importance of memorable and easily digestible content. They discuss the Grim Reaper, a humorous concept that addresses the elephant in the room and highlights the co-creative nature of the sprint. They also discuss Mark's ability to speed up the sales contract process, which is crucial for closing deals faster and increasing sales revenue. Mark's approach is not about charging by the hour but about making sure deals close, rather than covering his own assets or inflating his billable hours. He uses simple, clear language to convey his main point, making it easy for people to understand and remember. 

The final topic discussed is the sale contract process, which can lead to deals losing due to the lack of a clear and concise presentation. Mark's approach focuses on shrinking the contract process, reducing the risk of losing the deal once it's won. This differentiation with Mark and his ideas can lead to increased revenue and better deals for the company.

The Benefits of the Intellectual Headshot

Wes highlights the importance of posting these assets on LinkedIn and other platforms to ensure they reflect the work done. Wes also emphasizes the role of visuals in reducing pressure on consultants, especially new ones, who may feel anxious about speaking their expertise. By providing a simple visual that serves as a common ground for conversation, it allows consultants to focus on the main points of the conversation without having to deliver a lengthy spiel. On the client side, Wes emphasizes the importance of reducing cognitive load and freeing up time for the discussion. 

Timestamps:

0:02: Introduction to Wes Wheless and His Services 

01:11: Details of the Niche Finder Program 

12:43: Implementation and Validation of Niche Finder Results 

20:53: Introduction to IP Builder and Intellectual Headshots 

32:43: Examples of Intellectual Headshots 

Links:

• Website: developmyip.com

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wwheless/

• The Lightbulb daily newsletter for solo consultants: developmyip.com/daily

Unleashed is produced by Umbrex, which has a mission of connecting independent management consultants with one another, creating opportunities for members to meet, build relationships, and share lessons learned. Learn more at www.umbrex.com.