Advice from the experts

There's no hard and fast rulebook to being a consultant, but there are certain personality traits and habits that distinguish the great from the good. Some of these you'll have intrinsically, while others have to be worked on, but either way, both you and your clients will notice the difference.

You don't have to 'go it alone', even as a consultant. Calling on other expert contacts, and asking for outside help when facing a project you're struggling with, is just another resource up your sleeve; not an admission of failure.

Your profession has unlimited possibilities, and an endless source of work, regardless of the niche you specialise in. Businesses will always need a fresh pair of eyes, and someone ready to get the work done - but there’s a lot more to it than that.

Securing your first client is paramount to securing your future as a self-employed consultant. It might take days to find a project, or it might take weeks; but either way, there are some tried and tested methods to help you land that first job and start building up a successful portfolio.

It’s never been easier to keep your customers updated. All you need is their email address and you’ve got a direct line to their eyes and ears. But before you hit ’send’ read these tips from Constant Contact on getting the most out of your mail.

How to build your brand Got a great business idea, but no brand to match? Here are some top tips on how to build and design your brand world, from MOO’s very own Brand Manager Cat Totty.

Conferences can be a hotbed of contacts and potential profit – if you know how to make them work for you! So what can you do to make sure your experience at any event is fruitful? Follow Eventbrite’s guide to habits of highly successful attendees.

As a small business owner, Christmas is a great opportunity to reflect on the year that’s ending, and to plan for next year. Read Emma Jones’ tips on how to make the most of it.

When people are waving their wallets during the festive season, what’s the best way to make your online shop even more enticing? Here are some top tips from our friends and expert online sellers, Etsy.

Edesia is part of a global network of manufacturers that produce nutritious, peanut-based, ready-to-use foods for humanitarian organizations. They also produce beautiful postcards to show their real life success stories!

While an unpaid invoice is not good for anyone, for a start up business it can cause real problems. That’s why it’s important to do your research beforehand and know who you’re dealing with.

In a crowd, web-hosting providers can all seem the same. These are the 4 areas you should look for when searching for a web host.