Getting consulting clients when referrals slow down

TL;DR: What to do when the warm-network referrals that built your consulting business stop producing, and how to start getting clients on purpose instead.

What do you do when the referrals that built your business stop coming?

6 Questions About Getting consulting clients when referrals slow down

My referrals are drying up and I don't know why

Referrals dry up because waiting on them was never a system, not because your work slipped. Here is why the well runs dry and what refills it.

How do I get consulting clients without relying on referrals?

You get consulting clients without referrals by running a marketing system that makes you visible to the right people on purpose. Here is how to build one.

How do I get in front of the clients I actually want?

You get in front of the clients you want by choosing them deliberately, then showing up where they already are. Here is how to pick them and reach them.

Should I be worried that all my clients come from referrals?

All your clients coming from referrals is not a failure, it is a single point of failure. Here is how to tell concern from panic, and what to do about it.

What should I do first when work slows down?

When work slows down, start with the people who already know you, then build the system behind it. Here is the order that gets results fastest.

How do I get clients for my fractional business?

Fractional work is sold the same way as any B2B consulting engagement, with one positioning shift. Here is how to get clients for a fractional business.

Related Clusters

Pillar 01 / Cluster 1D

Business development activities that actually bring in consulting clients

Which activities move a consultant toward new clients, and which only feel like work. The feast-or-famine cycle is named here and answered in depth in cluster 5A.

Pillar 04 / Cluster 4A

Choosing your ideal consulting client and niche

How narrowing your focus makes you easier to hire.

Pillar 05 / Cluster 5D

Growing past the plateau in an established consulting business

What growth looks like after the first wave of clients. Distinct from cluster 1A by stage: 1A is referrals slowing down, this is the first wave structurally exhausted.

Mary G, nonprofit consultant
I just secured a contract for 500% more than I was originally going to quote. I was ready to undervalue my bid and ask for $7,000 but I reached out to Leah and the team for a pep talk and I'm glad I did, because we are now going under contract for $37,500!! I'm stoked!
Denise F, marketing consultant
I was my reviewing my revenue dashboard and it showed that I earned $100K more in 2024 compared to the year before. I joined the Academy in May 2024 and it has transformed my sales approach entirely.
Sarah J, fundraising consultant
We used to book clients just in time to keep income flowing, and we now have a 6-month cushion!

Get more of the clients you want, and get paid more for your work

Leah writes to women running B2B consulting businesses every week, about getting clients on purpose and getting paid for the value of the work.

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