What Clients Look for When Hiring a Solopreneur

After decades of working with some of the worlds’ best consultants, coaches, and solopreneurs, I’ve assembled a list of qualities that contribute to their success. You don’t need to check all these boxes, but if any strike a chord with you, weave them into your marketing, such as your website, LinkedIn profile, presentations, and proposals.

□   Credible: You inspire trust and confidence from the first contact.

□   Experienced: You’re an expert in your field not just based on x number of years, but also by profoundly understanding your specialty. You’re continually learning and staying on top of industry trends, laws, and procedures.

□   The client comes first: It’s easy for you to keep their priorities and interests at the forefront of your mind. You realize that by making them look good to others (especially to their boss or significant other), you’ll end up looking good to them.

□   Attentive listener: Quiet people tend to be talented solopreneurs because they listen more than they talk, and they don’t interrupt. Are you able to concentrate on what the other person is saying without thinking about what you’re going to say next? Are you able to sense what someone is not saying?

□   Personable: People enjoy being around you because you’re authentic, admit your mistakes, leave your ego at the door, and are likable.

□   Communicator: You easily match both verbal and non-verbal styles from a shop-floor worker to a boardroom executive.

□   Collaborator: You create a dynamic teamwork environment that integrates all project team members and their strengths.

□   Facilitator: You effectively manage disparate viewpoints and align people on essential points and project goals.

□   Negotiator or Harmonizer: You make things happen without ruffling feathers—issues get resolved, milestones are reached, decisions are made, and changes move forward.

□   Positive: You keep people moving toward the goal and can find a silver lining in any circumstance. “Glass half-full” people are more successful than “glass half-empty” people.

□   Detail-oriented: Your emails, documents, presentations, meeting materials, and deliverables are flawless and professional with consistent fonts, colors, and alignment, and are definitely free of typos.

And above all:

□   Keep your word: When you promise something—like an email or deliverable by a certain time—you do whatever it takes to make it happen. The cornerstone of solopreneur success is to under-promise and over-deliver. That’s what leads to referrals and repeat business!