#48: How to Grow a Consulting Business in Uncertain Times

52 snips

Dec 1, 2025

Kris Jones, founder of Red Door Stories and a seasoned StoryBrand Certified Guide, teams up with Luke Pastina, Director of Certification, to dive into the nuances of growing a consulting business amidst economic uncertainty. They discuss the importance of uncovering clients' real problems through active listening and collaborative processes. Kris shares strategies for refining messaging, raising prices confidently, and building trust with potential clients through testimonials. Discover how storytelling can elevate your marketing approach in challenging times.

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ADVICE

Start By Listening To Their Words

Meet the client where they are and ask targeted questions to surface the deeper problem they may not name.
Use a magic-wand future-state question to reveal desired outcomes and underlying motivations.

INSIGHT

Make The Client The Hero

The StoryBrand story centers the client as the hero, not the founder or company origin story.
You enter later as the guide to lead them toward transformation.

ADVICE

Design An Intake That Gets Useful Answers

Use a clear, simple intake question with a short video to model the expected answer and reduce vague responses.
Automate intake but follow up with a Zoom when answers are insufficient.

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Running a marketing consulting business is never simple. In uncertain times, it's even harder. Clients are cautious, timelines stretch, and budgets shrink. You know your services create real results, but closing new business feels tougher than ever. If you're not clear and confident in your message, potential clients will hesitate or move on. And the longer you stay vague or unfocused, the more you're stuck in survival mode instead of scaling. So how do you position yourself as the obvious choice, especially when the market feels shaky?

In this episode, host Kyle Reed is joined by veteran StoryBrand Certified Guide Kris Jones and StoryBrand's Director of Certification Luke Pastina to explore how to thrive as a messaging expert in a season of economic unpredictability. Kris shares how she's adapted her business, adjusted her rates, and built systems that support both clarity and connection. You'll learn how to uncover your client's real problem, what story actually moves the needle, and why collaboration is key to building a thriving consulting business. If you're trying to grow your marketing practice in uncertain times, listen in to get the blueprint.

Hire Kris to get you effective messaging at Red Door Stories and access the free PDF mentioned in this episode.

Click HERE to get in-person help creating your marketing at the next available StoryBrand Your Business LIVE event!

Click HERE to find a StoryBrand certified marketing coach like Kris to help you grow your business!

Unlock the power of a framework that works—the StoryBrand Framework at StoryBrand.ai. It's like having the world's best copywriter create high-converting marketing whenever you need it. Start your free 7-day trial at StoryBrand.ai.

Learn how to make your marketing and messaging work using a proven framework in the updated book, Building a StoryBrand 2.0. Order it now on Amazon or wherever you buy books!