If you want to start a business as a private college counselor, here’s your marketing plan. Find one family, a family who trusts you, and do your very best work for them.
Do they love what you’re doing? Do they love it enough to tell their friends about you? Not because you asked them to or offered to pay them a commission to send business your way, but because you’re so good they can’t help but tell people about you?
If the answer is yes, your business will grow. If the answer is no, you have a problem, one that more marketing won't solve. It’s that simple.
The same goes for counselors who are already in business and trying to find more clients. If people aren’t talking about you yet, don’t waste time trying to figure out where you can advertise to get more business. Just keep getting better. Keep giving your customers an even more rewarding experience until they talk about you to their friends and do your marketing for you.
Collegewise started with just one student (I helped him fill out college applications at the family’s kitchen table). No ads, no marketing, and really, no formal college counseling program to speak of. Enthusiasm and care made up for a lack of experience. And we had over 100 kids in the program less than one year later.
The best marketing is to be so good that they can’t help but talk about you.