Everyone Hates Marketers | No-BS Marketing & Brand Strategy Podcast

How April Dunford Built a 7-Figure Solo Consulting Biz

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Jan 16, 2024

Marketing executive April Dunford shares her journey to building a 7-figure solo consulting business, highlighting the importance of focus and narrowing down. She also discusses her struggles with positioning, the criteria for selecting B2B clients, transitioning to higher pricing, and future plans including a new book release.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

The Importance of Focus and Narrowing Down in Starting a Business

02:10 • 2min

Struggling with Positioning as a Consulting Service

03:40 • 18min

Criteria for Selecting B2B Clients and Engagement Process

22:02 • 10min

Transitioning to Higher Pricing and Raising Profile

31:48 • 17min

April Dunfolds' Plans for the Future and New Book Release

48:35 • 2min

Expressing Gratitude and Sharing Feedback

50:14 • 2min

I’m so f*cking happy to announce that my book, Stand The F*ck Out, is officially available for PURCHASE! To buy the book—and more!—DIRECTLY from us and support our small business, go to: book.stfo.io

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***

In today's episode, you will learn how the most charismatic and no-nonsense consultant in the tech marketing space has built a 7-figure business, flying solo. The story goes like this.

On December 15, 2017, an email from a Canadian friend landed in my inbox, “If you're looking for suggestions for upcoming interviews, have you looked into April Dunford? She's a marketing executive who's now focusing on consulting practice and positioning for startups. At every conference I've heard her speak at, she has literally blown everyone else out of the water. She's got a unique mix of saucy wit and laser-sharp insight honed over years with the big boys of the tech space. And I think her communication style would lend itself well to your approach to interviews.”

And so I did interview her. Twice. Then, I watched from the sidelines as April rose to the top of the B2B marketing world.

But I never got to ask the questions I REALLY wanted to ask her… Mainly: “How did you do it? How did you become the most famous B2B marketing expert in less than five years?”

Until today…

Topics Covered:

(00:00) - Intro
(04:09) - Starting a business on the right note
(04:53) - April’s journey to positioning consulting
(13:24) - Scattered engagements, impact concerns, and a beachside epiphany
(14:04) - April's ultimate business aspirations - best work, good people, fair compensation.
(15:42) - Shifting focus and finding prowess in positioning
(16:31) - Tips for identifying unique skill set and honing specialisation
(19:45) - Refining engagements, focusing on B2B, and vetting potential clients.
(25:04) - Methodology over execution, simplifying messaging, and speeding time-to-value
(34:04) - Expanding reach via public speaking, social media, and the release of a game-changing book
(40:04) - How April transformed her client base from smaller startups to pre-IPO companies

***

→ Buy my book: book.stfo.io
→ Join 14,000+ weirdos who learn to stand the f*ck out with my daily (Mon-Fri) emails: everyonehatesmarketers.com
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Finally...

If you're curious about putting your brand in front of my 14,000+ daily newsletter subscribers and/or podcast listeners, email me: louis@stfo.io

🤘