unbillable hours - a podcast about better professional services marketing (Ash, Flo)

And here it is (finally, sigh!): In this episode, Ash and Flo present their model for what, exactly, "strategic" consultancy marketing is and how it works within a firm. It's a bit of a tying together of lots of loose ends from previous episode into something coherent - and we sure hope it'll be helpful to you and your work.

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Is your marketing function providing in-house trainings to consulting colleagues? If not... you might want to consider changing that. Listen to Ash's and Flo's reasons for why marketers should train consultants and their tips for how and in what. They even share some tips for how to get your "training service" started!

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Since we seem to have screwed up last week's upload ... here's the very same episode, yet again, in full length and quality. Apologies, everyone!

Ready to systematize your consulting firm's business development inititiatives? Well, let's start you off the right way then ... and discuss objectives, metrics and targets (yay!). Listen in to this "monologue" episode to hear Flo explain which benchmarks to pursue with your efforts... he'll keep it light on the math, we promise!

Credits Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Credits Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Show notes

Credits Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Show notes

Show notes

Link to the SPI research report Flo mentions A news release by SPI featuring some of the market stats 

Yes, we've discussed productizing before on this podcast... but we hadn't done so with Eisha Tierney Armstrong yet, who literally wrote the book about it. So, Ash and Flo invited her on - and she kindly hopped on to share what she knows about structuring, templatizing, and tech-enabling services before building entire "products." A Highly recommended listen!

Episode guest: Eisha Tierney Armstrong, co-founder, Vecteris, and author, "Productize" (among other things)

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Please find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com

"Specificity" is crucial in all things consultancy marketing: Ideal client profiles, firm positioning, service design, messaging ... etc. So, how can marketers get as specific as they should be? Ash and Flo discuss a framework they've found in the wild and which you might find helpful:

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Ever heard of "effectuation?" No? Well, it's one of these management frameworks or something. And it contains a bunch of principles you might find helpful when preparing your marketing programs for execution. Here goes: Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

We've already told you how important it is to refine your firm's value proposition before you refine its bizdev strategy. So, let's explore a framework for doing just that, shall we? Listen to Ash and Flo explaining the "five questions" you can answer to create a compelling proposition, and hear their tips for differentiating your promise to the market. Credits Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Show notes Link to Luk Smeyer's and Flo's piece on TheVisibleAuthority.com (it's titled "Building a Winning Consulting Value Proposition")

It's still an under-utilized source of differentiation, marketing success, and firm growth: Proper market segmentation. We mean the kind where you DON'T just go after entire industries but create much more helpful sub-segments to increase your marketing's effectiveness. And in this minisode, we explain how you can get to them by viewing your market through four simple "lenses."

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

We're revisiting all things KPI, targets, and measurement in this one... and Flo and Ash share their method and model for building a dashboard that will enable you to predict and report on business outcomes. Oh, and a note: DO make sure to grab the shownotes on unbillable-hrs.com ... they come with a fully editable PowerPoint including the model Ash and Flo discuss here, plus a collection of Benchmark conversion rates for your own funnel!

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

On to the next part of our strategy/value proposition design series: Describing your ideal clients' needs and struggles - or, more specifically, jobs-to-do, hurdles to success, and options for overcoming said hurdles. Sounds complicated? Don't worry, it isn't - Ash and Flo will explain!

Credits Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Show notes

No notes for this one!

You've spent all this effort on your firm's thought leadership efforts... so what did you get in return? Here's how you might get to an answer:

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com

In this episode, Ash and Flo chat about the difficulties of getting your organic social media posts to work these days... and then share a framework that helps you write effective posts. Plus, we also talk about how AI-generated content can help optimize your posts...

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Alright, alright: It's the new year, so we should spend at least some time thinking about what's coming in the world of consultancy marketing. And to make it more valuable to you, our excellent listeners, we invited a true industry expert with a firm view on all the key trends and shifts we should know about: Luk Smeyers, founder of thevisibleauthority.com (and now three-time returning champion at unbillable hours!)

Episode guest: Luk Smeyers, founder, thevisibleauthority.com

Voices by Ash and Flo. Production by crossing the river studios Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

And, here we are: This is the sixth and final episode of our "value proposition design" mini-series introducing the "Value Proposition Canvas" by TheVisibleAuthority! In this one, we'll cover why your firm needs both a point-of-view and a method of delivery, how the two are connected - and how you can go about designing yours. Enjoy!

Credits Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Show notes No notes for this one!

We're not saying this is always the case... BUT: Sometimes, when consultancy marketing efforts seem to "not do much," it's not marketing's (or: marketers') fault - but the consequence of misconceptions. Here's more:

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Surprise episode! For this one, we'll break from our pre-planned curriculum of "how-to" episodes to syndicate a conversation between Total Growth Ownership's Matt Hodkinson and Flo for Matt's "Consultancy Edge" podcast. Listen to the two of them discuss positioning, productisation and pushing boundaries in consulting!

Credits Voices, production, etc. by Matt Hodkinson and the "Consultancy Edge" team Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover for the unbillable hours podcast by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Show notes Find all "Consultancy Edge" episodes over at: https://podcast.totalgrowthownership.com/  Find Matt's LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthodkinson/ And do check out Matt's full YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNyv2M0jJ-zAtGzxOgW7cpw

Most consultancies "do marketing" like they think it should be done, which is: as mere promotion. The most successful firms, however, do it differently - and follow a process which, Ash and Flo argue, is much more similar to scientific publishing... Listen in to learn how, why - and why you should consider 'copying science' in this way, too.

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Ash and Flo discuss a recent think piece from Source Global Research, pointing to interesting changes in professional services buyers' spending patterns and service buying preferences. Is it time to tweak your firm's messaging? 

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Please find the shownotes to this eposide at unbillable-hrs.com.

"Market segmentation" remains the most under-utilized source of differentiation in all of consulting... So how can you segment properly, and create an edge for your firm? Ash and Flo discuss:

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Still not happy with your consultancy's marketing performance? Then follow Ash and Flo along the causal chain of issues causing your pain - in this full-fledged "causal chain analysis" where, when, and how professional services marketing breaks down.

Voices, production, etc., by Ash and Flo Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com

Happy holidays, dear listeners - and thanks for following the podcast so far! Since Ash and Flo had to take time off to finish some festive preparations, we'll be re-playing S7E4 "Saying no" for this one, our handy guide for constructively declining sh#tty requests. 

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com!

"Why don't professional services firms win work?" Turns out this question - which is (almost) the title of a recent thinkpiece by research firm Source Global - has a lot to do with "marketing"... and Ash and Flo discuss why in this episode.

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Please find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Let's discuss "ecosystem" partnerships, joint go-to-market, and co-marketing with someone who's crushing it with their consultancy, shall we? Ash and Flo interview Stitch's Michael Burton about how his firm partners with software vendor, Twilio, to help clients digitalize their marketing. It's a case study!

Episode guest: Michael Burton, co-founder and CEO, Stitch

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com!

"How can I convince a consultancy exec who 'doesn't believe in marketing' to invest in marketing?" is a question both Ash and Flo are hearing more often these days - and so we decided to answer it, comprehensively, in a single episode. Enjoy!

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Ever heard of a "diagnostic funnel?" It's like one of the old buzzfeed.com quizzes, but better - and for consultancy marketing. Ash and Flo explain how you might use these, and give examples (pls. see our shownotes for links!).

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

It's funny, isn't it? Consulting, as an industry, is all about "creating value" - and yet, so many firms struggle with communicating what, exactly, they mean by it. Let's try and fix this with a single episode of this very podcast, shall we?

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com

Imagine all your firm’s subject matter experts were, like, really visible and influential online. What would that do for your clients and your firm? Oh, and, more importantly: How could you make this vision a reality? Flo asks Liz Harr from Hinge, who just co-published a book about these very questions.

Episode guest: Elizabeth Harr, partner, Hinge. 

Voices, production, etc. by Flo (Ash wasn’t in for this one) Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

How can consultancy marketers make firm-wide change? We asked someone who should know because “making change” is part of their marketing executive day job: Marc Appel, head of content and editorial strategy at Accenture.

Episode guest: Marc Appel, head of content and editorial strategy, Accenture.

Voices, production, etc., by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Keen for some practical tips for improving your firm's business development AND delivery success? Then listen to this replay of a recent Deltek webinar, which has Flo summarize a few key pointers around value proposition refinement and "signature method" design! Episode host: Deltek, through their "Powering consulting efficiencies" series.

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota Pls. find the webinary-accompanying blogpost here.

In this episode, we'll dive even deeper into value proposition design ... and discuss the next critical issue: Defining your consulting firm's ideal client profile or "ICP." Flo will guide you through all key steps, from defining "ideal" to reviewing your best recent engagements, to deriving a crisp description of your ICP.

Credits Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Show notes Link to our handy "Best Engagement Review Guide" (a Google Doc)

Is digital marketing really the end-all, be-all of consultancy business development? Our guest for this episode, Interview Valet's Tom Schwab, disagrees (and so do Ash and Flo) - and explains why, right now, the greater opportunity might be exploring everything besides digital ads, SEO, and social selling: Episode guest: Tom Schwab, Chief Evangelist Officer & Founder, Interview Valet. Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

We've been discussing "digital-first" bizdev and marketing for a bit now... and we're getting even more into the weeds of the concept with this one: Ash and Flo discuss how you might derive a "digital-first" marketing strategy using a real-world example from Flo to keep things (hopefully) helpful and practical. Do give it a listen and tell us what you think?

Voices by Flo (Ash couldn't join this one) Production by crossing the river studios Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Ever heard the idiom "sh#t in, sh#t out?" Well, it's very much true for business development, too. Which is why, for this first episode in our mini-series about "strategy," Ash and Flo explain which inputs need to go into your bizdev strategy if you're to be successful with it.

Credits Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Show notes No notes for this one!

Ready to systematize your consulting firm's business development inititiatives? Well, let's start you off the right way then ... and discuss objectives, metrics and targets (yay!). Listen in to this "monologue" episode to hear Flo explain which benchmarks to pursue with your efforts... he'll keep it light on the math, we promise!

Credits Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Show notes

Link to the SPI research report Flo mentions A news release by SPI featuring some of the market stats 

You'll be planning events for your consultancy, no? Then you might as well go ahead and listen to this episode, where Ash and Flo get some tips for how to run them well in '23 by consultancy event expert Lynda Field (she's awesome!).

Episode guest: Lynda Field, founder, Lynda Field Productions. 

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Ready to change how your consultancy "does bizdev?" Great! But chances are, you'll have to convince a few other people in your firm... which is why, in this episode, Ash and Flo sketch out the case for shifting to a more strategic, more systematic way of business development. Enjoy!

Credits Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Show notes 

1. Link to Simon Nathan's LinkedIn-post with the Kennedy Insight data
2. Link to AI solution vendor "fifthrow.com" (an example for AI solutions "eating into" consulting)

Has your firm "productized" its services yet? If not, then this episode will hopefully change that - because our guest, Luk Smeyers, explains not only why you should do it and to which ends - but also shares tips for getting started: 

Episode guest: Luk Smeyers, founder, The Visible Authority.

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com

Ever wondered whether setting up one of those LinkedIn-Newsletters we're all constantly invited to subscribe to would be ... worth it? We always had our doubts... until we came across Westofcenter's Andy West, who, clearly, aced the LI-NL with his helpful, concise, and, above all, highly social "Agency Advisory." So... we invited him to the show, and asked him to explain ...

Episode guest: Andy West, founder, Westofcenter Consulting

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

You've heard how important it is to refine your firm's value proposition - so let's get to it! In this episode, Flo will walk you through the process of filling in box nr. #1 in TheVisibleAuthority's "Value Proposition Canvas," and find a comprehensive (and compelling) answer to the question: Why do clients come to you?

Credits Voices, production, etc. by Flo Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Show notes No notes for this one!

It's a summer break replay y'all ... focused on a key, key topic: Strategic account management - if well executed - is one of the best ways to win new work for a firm. Which is why we invited friend of the show and account strategy expert Ute Wellenberg to explain how she drives effective account planning. And, well ... Let's just say: If your job is to market a consultancy - you can't miss this episode!

Episode guest: Ute Wellenberg, friend of the show and account strategy GOAT (so to say).

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com!

So, how will generative AI change professional services marketing? We’ve promised to revisit this very question for a while now – and, in this episode, do it with the help of Hinge Marketing’s Karl Feldman and Austin McNair, who have a strong point of view on the matter.

Episode guests: Karl Feldman, senior partner, and Austin McNair, senior marketing manager, Hinge Marketing.

Voices, production, etc., by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the show notes for this episode at https://unbillable-hrs.com.

A recent LinkedIn post about how "CRM is a business process, not a software" by friend of the show, Mark Wainwright, prompted us to bring back this hit from our archive: Our conversation with Mark about consultancy sales, sales processes - and CRM software. It's a "director's cut" of episodes S12E2 and S12E3 (combined for your convenience)... and we hope you enjoy it!

Episode guest: Mark Wainwright, principal and owner, Wainwright Insight.

Voices by Ash and Flo. Production by crossing the river studios Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota Please get the shownotes to this episode on unbillable-hrs.com (1) and (2). 

Whenever there are alignment issues between marketing and "the business" in a consultancy, marketing should work to fix them. But how? Ash and Flo discuss their views (and potential solutions) in this "workshopping" episode:

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

In this episode, we tackle the next big question in value proposition design: “What can clients expect from us?” Flo breaks down how to nail your expertise, immediate impact, and business outcomes—from defining your consulting type to describing clear before-and-after states. Quick, punchy, and BD-ready. Tune in!

Credits Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Show notes No notes for this one!

Do your firm's service websites convert... or stink? Chances are, they're at least a bit smelly - simply because that's the expected state of things in this industry of ours. But don't fret... you can make them much, much more effective quickly by using the principle and structure Flo discusses in this episode. Oh, you might want to reference this Bain website as you listen to this (it's our case example for this episode).

Voices, production, etc., by Flo only (just this time). Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

It’s that time of year when consulting firms pull out their crystal balls to forecast the future. But we’re turning the spotlight back on them. Austin McNair from Hinge gives us a sneak peek into their upcoming research on high-growth consulting firms. Curious about what makes firms thrive or want our wild predictions? Tune in and get ahead of Hinge’s newest insights. P.S.: Please participate in their survey to indirectly tell us where we have it all wrong ;) - https://hingemarketing.com/unbillable

Episode guest: Austin McNair, marketing lead, Hinge

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Flo recently hopped onto Alastair McDermott's "Recognized Authority" podcast to discuss some fresh ideas for consultancy content creation - here's the replay for you:

Check out the Recognized Authority Podcast here!

Voices, production, etc., by Alastair McDermott Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com

There's a key trick you should pull whenever creating a marketing or thought leadership strategy for your firm and practice. And in this episode, Jason Mlicki, a true expert in professional services marketing, explains it in great detail. Listen in to hear him explain the idea of "problem-ownership:"

Episode guest: Jason Mlicki, principal at Rattleback, co-creator of the "Profiting from Thought Leadership" conference, and co-host at the Rattle & Pedal podcast (with Jeff McKay).

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com

Consultancies grow through "stages," just like every other business. But which stages exactly - and how should firm marketers behave during each? Ash and Flo discuss with Joe O'Mahoney, Prof. of consulting at Cardiff Business School, author, and consultant to boutique firms.

Episode guest: Prof. Joe O'Mahoney, joeomahoney.com

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com. 

We constantly tell consultancy marketers to speak less about what their firms do, and more about which outcomes they can deliver. But hey, easy for us to say, right? What are you supposed to do if your firm doesn't seem to have any hard outcome data points to share? Ash and Flo explain: 

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

In a year where many consultancies struggled, US martech boutique "Stitch" crushed it. Their secret? Intentionally designing a strategy around a single tech vendor, and then building from there. Stitch CEO Michael Burton is back to share why doubling down on a partnership like this worked, how the tech consulting landscape is shifting, and why 2025 looks even better. Listen in to learn why sometimes "putting all your eggs in one basket" might be smarter than you think.

Episode guest: Michael Burton, Founder and CEO, Stitch.

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com

Ever heard of "Rainmakers" - the bizdev champions of the services world? HBR published a piece saying their game is changing. Ash and Flo dove in to figure out how, exactly (spoiler: it's related to marketing!)

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Please find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

With the economy changing yet again -  should firms update their Thought Leadership strategies? Ash and Flo asked this very question to an expert who should know because he's just researched it: Here's our new episode with Grist's Andrew Rogerson!

Episode guest: Andrew Rogerson, founder and Managing Director, Grist.

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Ding-ding-ding... it's that time of the year! We've officially left Q2 behind and, with it, the first half of 2023. And... uh... where are we now? And where are things headed? Ash and Flo discuss 7 observations they've made in the first half of this year in a run down of the - now official - ubhrs "state of consultancy marketing, year '23 edition." There are even a few tips re. how to cope in here!

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Do your firm's service websites convert... or stink? Chances are, they're at least a bit smelly - simply because that's the expected state of things in this industry of ours. But don't fret... you can make them much, much more effective quickly by using the principle and structure Flo discusses in this episode. Oh... you might wan to reference this Bain website here as you listen to this (it's our case example for this episode).

Voices, production, etc., by Flo only (just this time). Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Next up: How to map your consultancy's content to the service buying journey of your ideal clients, and improve the effectiveness of your inbound efforts (like, literally, that's what's in this week's minisode: We discuss the why, how, and what to watch out for when mapping your content to your clients' service buying journey... let's go!):

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Whether your firm is considering partnering with another vendor or it's pushing to "rise through the tiers" of an existing partnership: You'll likely get asked a few questions about how marketing might help to make the consultancy a more valuable partner. Well... we've got you covered (of course)! Because Ash and Flo spoke to Leahanne Hobson, channel partnership expert, who shared many a great insight about becoming partner-able as a firm:

Episode guest: Leahanne Hobson, founder and CEO, Alinea Partners.

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Please find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Can you position - and then successfully grow - a firm by positioning it around a extreme, if not "radical" candor? Nikhil Suresh and his colleagues over at Hermit Tech (a "radically ethical" data consultancy) sure think so - and continue to make waves by calling out the bullshit in all things digital, data, and AI. Listen in to hear Nik speak to how it's working for them! Episode guest: Nikhil Suresh, co-founder, Hermit Tech

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Q: "Hey Ash, Flo - would love to implement some of the value proposition stuff you keep talking about. But we're a 15-practice firm! Where should I even start?" A: "You start by creating multiple propositions. Here, let me show you..." *proceeds to pull out pins, red string, and a Matryoshka doll* Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota Please find the shownotes to this episode on unbillable-hrs.com. Oh, and: Register for the Deltek webinar with Flo (July 18th, 8pm CET) using this link right here. Thanks!

We're sorry... did someone just say their firm's marketing planning "s#cks?" No biggie, friend - we've got you ... with this minisode and the planning framework within: Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

For this episode, we re-visit a concept you've just heard about in S17E3 (if you listened to it, that is): "Digital-first" business development, marketing strategy, and marketing. And this time, we dig a little bit deeper: What, exactly, is the concept about? How does it impact consultancy marketing? And which building blocks could you put in place to enable it? Listen to it here!

Voices by Flo (Ash couldn't join this one) Production by crossing the river studios Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

We speak about "stakeholder engagement" a lot on this podcast. And in this episode, Ash and Flo bring it home - to "corporate comms." Listen to hear their views and tips around working with the function to improve your marketing results!

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Ever wonder why consultancy marketing is such an uphill struggle? Well, we've identified the root causes—and in this episode, Ash and Flo will both present them to you and share tips for resolving them. Enjoy! Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Ah, yes... creativity! It is so important in marketing, yet so rare in most marketing materials consulting firms tend to put out (not yours, of course, you're good!). Why is that? Why does it matter? And - how could firm marketers ramp up the creativity of their messaging, collateral, and ads? Ash and Flo discuss:

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Have your value prop, signature method, and offerings defined (as per our earlier episodes)? Great, congrats! Then you're ready to keep improving everything by using client feedback in some of the ways Ash and Flo describe here. Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Unhappy with the business results you got from your firm's content marketing efforts in 2023? Well, then, this is the episode for you! Listen in to hear Ash and Flo discuss where firms tend to go wrong with their content and what they could do to fix it. Includes examples!

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Does your consultancy have a point of view on its clients' industry, business, and challenges yet? No? Well, then, this is the episode for you because in it, Ash and Flo share their framework for distilling one (or several, should you need them). Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota Please find the shownotes to this episode on unbillable-hrs.com.

Allright, so you've played around with ChatGPT, and even installed Discord to get to test Midjourney - but you're still unclear how, exactly, AI might help you with consultancy marketing in serious ways? Then listen to Alastair McDermott tips for practical, no-nonsense ways of leveraging the tech. Episode guest: Alastair McDermott, founder, The Recognized Authority

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com

A new year, a new chapter for the podcast! Listen to how Ash and Flo will focus the show on "systematizing" business development from now on, and hear them explain the concept and underpinning structure so you can understand what's coming (well' be exploring systematic strategy, client journey, firm story and bizdev systems from here on in... we hope you enjoy it!).

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Continuing our miniseries about "digital-first" marketing strategies, Ash and Flo discuss the now-more-important-than-ever discipline of "client journey design" ... and share 10 questions consultancy marketers should ask themselves.

Voices by Ash and Flo. Production by crossing the river studios Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Did "Gen AI" just create a "leopards-eat-my-face" moment in consulting? Ash and Flo aren't entirely sure yet... but they're certain the technology - with all its current issues - has started to impact the industry. Listen in on their discussion how firms and their marketers should respond:

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Need new insights, content ideas - or even content pieces? Don't go off and reinvent the wheel... use the assets your firm already has instead! In this "solo episode", a lone Flo shares our seven tips for "where to find" ideas, expertise, and collateral you can repurpose while Ash is out "doing Ash stuff" somewhere in Europe. Enjoy!

Voices, production, etc. by Flo (Ash is out today!) Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

It's the New Year - and, therefore, time to reflect on how to improve our consultancy marketing game in the next 12 months. But Ash and Flo are still on PTO, and, frankly, still a bit lazy... So they turn to the GPT3-Chatbot to ask it which mistakes they should avoid in 2023:

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com!

A lot gets said about "BizDev," but much of it comes in the form of tactical tips. Surely, there must be a comprehensive strategy and method for it, too? We asked Costas Papaikonomou, who recently wrote a book about both. His central hypothesis: Talk to lots of people over decaf, and often!

Episode guest: Costas Papaikonomou, co-founder, Happen, and author of - among other things - "The Magic Ingredient: Business Development for Creative Professionals."

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com!

In our experience, many consulting workshops are far less effective than they should be – and it really has to change. Which is why we invited Mesozoic’s João Landeiro, an expert in workshop design and facilitation, to hear from him how experts can turn unfocused examples of do-not-much ‘executive education’ into laser-focused productivity sessions driving real results.

Episode guest: João Landeiro, founder, Mesozoic.

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Please find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com

If you haven't been living under a rock (or stuck at your desk for this one big proposal), you have heard about "ABM." But what, exactly, is it - and how could you make it work for your consultancy? We asked someone who knows: Fullfunnel.io's Stapho Thienpont.

Episode guest: Stapho Thienpont, Fullfunel.io.

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

As we inch closer to the end of the year... how about you review ALL your firm's comms to clients? Like... all of it. No, really - it's a great idea. Let us explain!

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Please find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Ever felt like "writing proposals" was kind of broken at your consultancy? You're not alone. We spoke to Charles Boutens about why the RFP process is so full of friction, how firms might fix it - and how consultancy marketers can help.

Episode guest: Charles Boutens, co-founder and CEO, uman.ai

Voices by Ash and Flo. Production by crossing the river studios Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

All consultancies have know-how... but not all of them have it formalized (let alone refined to a point where it might become some form or IP). If your firm is in the latter group - which steps could you take towards a more refined, compelling form of "know-how-packaging"? We asked Curley Thirty Three's Liam Curley for tips:

Episode guest: Liam Curley, Founder, Curley Thirty Three.

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota Please find the shownotes to this episode on unbillable-hrs.com.

Flo recently hopped onto Alastair McDermott's "Recognized Authority" podcast to discuss some fresh ideas for consultancy content creation - here's the replay for you:

Check out the Recognized Authority Podcast here!

Voices, production, etc., by Alastair McDermott Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com

"Ok, what are we doing for Father's Day tomorrow," asks the managing partner for the first time ever as he steps into the marketing office... the evening before. Ever had something like that happen to you? Then listen to our tips for preventing it from happening ever again here:

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Ever wonder how we're producing this humble podcast? Well, Flo spilled the beans when speaking to John Tyreman over at "Podcasting in Professional Services," and John was kind enough to permit us to re-release the episode here, in this feed, so here you go!

Episode guest: Flo Heinrichs, founder, client friendly. Voices, production, etc. by John Tyreman and crew at Red Cedar Marketing. Check out John's podcast over at https://www.redcedarmarketing.com/podcasting-in-professional-services (or wherever you get your podcasts)

Since we, uh... lost our original episode for today (which was all about "misconceptions"), Flo had to go back into the dusty archives and uncover this classic, which is about the capabilities and mechanisms your firm should have within its marketing function. Enjoy!

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Let's close the books for '23, shall we? (Ash and Flo discuss the year and share some podcast metrics to prove how kind y'all have been to us. Thanks for listening!).

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. get the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com

We sure do talk a lot about "systems" and "processes" on this podcast. But today, we'll kick it up to the next level - and discuss "operational excellence" in marketing with expert guest Joseph Paris. Listen to his tips for how to leverage OpEx principles and practices in your day-to-day!

Episode guest: Joseph Paris, author, consultant, and chairman, Xonitek group. 

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Ever wondered "how the sausage gets made?" Like, you know, as in: this podcast is the sausage, and our processes (and results) are the "how"? Well, you're in luck, because Ash and Flo are about to share it all in this episode - from how we started this thing to the numbers we're seeing 80-ish episodes in.

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com

Ever considered LinkedIn ads for your firm or service? We certainly have... and we've learned enough about them to understand we'd need to have an expert explain them to us ... which is why we invited Hannibal, who was kind enough to share his insights. So, here you go: A full episode on "buying ads"!

Episode guest: Hannibal Herforth, consultant, Kvadrant Consulting.

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com

Does your firm have a "Point-of-View?" No? Or: not sure? Well, then it's high time we change all of that - starting with this very episode: Listen to Ash and Flo explain what a "PoV" is, why you need one, and how to create yours:

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Are you thinking about your services in the same ways your clients do? And do you use the same words they use to describe them? Well, chances are, you're not—or not anymore. Prospects' categories for thinking about and searching for consultancy services are ever-changing, and Source Global Research's CEO Fiona Czerniawska explained in some detail why it pays to pay attention. Episode guest: Fiona Czerniawska, CEO, Source Global Research.

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Seems like a lot of you liked our "Professionalizing Bizdev" episode - and some of you even sent us some questions. So... we double down on the theme, and explore how firms can push beyond "unfocused" business development and into a much more focused way of pursuing clients and new business:  Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Improving, i.e., focusing, strategizing, and scaling a firm's business development efforts, can be a somewhat lengthy journey. Soo... how could you fast-track it? Listen to Ash and Flo discuss the journey, its usual stages, and what to do during which to get to where you'd like to be much quicker.

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

How can consultancy marketers make firm-wide change? We asked someone who should know because “making change” is part of their marketing executive day job: Marc Appel, head of content and editorial strategy at Accenture.

Episode guest: Marc Appel, head of content and editorial strategy, Accenture.

Voices, production, etc., by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes to this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

We’ve previously referred to consultancy marketing’s key objective as “building trust with strangers,” but, uh, didn’t really answer the question how, exactly, you’d go about doing it… which is a miss this episode will fix: Ash and Flo speak to “The B2B Marketer” and consultancy marketing expert Martin Williams, who has the very framework you’ll need for getting the job done: the “Pyramid of Trust:”

Episode guest: Martin J. Williams, founder, theb2bmarketer.com

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Please find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

Ash and Flo continue our mini-series about "digital-first go to market," and discuss why, and how firms should design a consistent, cohesive story about their clients, their firm, and the services they offer, instead of whipping up disconnected messaging documents and talking points here and there.

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com!

Sure, your firm has frameworks - but does it have a "signature methodology," i.e., a proprietary process designed to help educate prospects and structure engagements? If not, you should design one ASAP - and listen to this to learn how you might do it:

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Does your firm market all its greatest thinking? Or does it keep some stuff not just in the back of the shop? If it's the latter - consider bringing some of it not just into the store but right up in front and into the "shopping window," i.e., your marketing, where everybody can see it right away... Uh, we'll explain:

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Stressed out by "new biz," RFPs, pitches and proposals? Might be your firm's vague value proposition is at fault... Listen to Ash and Flo discussing the "downstream" issues caused by too broad, too generic propositions, and how these lead to much-too-high pre-sales and bid management efforts and business development cost. Oh, and, stay tuned for their tips re. how to do better!

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Here you go, friends: A Christmas Episode (so to speak)! Well, ok - we're not talking about Santa, but about Marketing as a "BizDev multiplier"... and explain why the discipline works in this way. But hey - maybe you can listen to it in a festive spirit? While saving the last PowerPoint decks before signing off? We sure hope you get to sign off... eventually. Happy Holidays, and thanks for sticking with us for another year. You're great!

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

As we're entering planning season, a lot of us are under pressure to "do more with less" next fiscal... so how do we do it? (HOW?!?). Ash and Flo share some insights around where you might, in fact, find some budget you could save in your current budgets ... without hurting your results, of course. Plus, they share a framework for how to find specific darlings to kill... ("imagine a spreadsheet," really?).

Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota

Pls. find the shownotes for this episode at unbillable-hrs.com.

We've discussed "offering development" before, but, since it's so important and all that, we'll discuss it again - and share a dedicated framework for developing entire sets of offerings which, it just so happens, is super-conducive to marketing effectiveness. Enjoy! Voices, production, etc. by Ash and Flo. Creative and design advice by @calmar.creativ Into, outro voiceover by @iamthedakota Music also by @iamthedakota