This episode is available on: * Spotify * Apple Podcasts Today we talk about building and thriving a consulting business based on our combined SEO and consulting experience of over 10 years. In this episode of Contrarian Marketing, we cover: * How to transition into a consultant role * What makes one a good consultant * Why Neil Patel Digital works as an SEO brand Key Takeaways * Many people do not understand SEO and accept mediocre work as ‘quality output’. Thus, real SEO experts can use this gap as a good opportunity to grow in the SEO industry. * Focus on gaining experience in-house or at an agency before venturing out as a consultant. * Work on creating a strong referral network by building a trustworthy personal brand among your peers and clients. * Learn to pitch and sell your expertise with confidence * The best way to get promoted is to make a switch There is potential in consulting for the SEO industry Eli shares why there is a huge untapped potential in the SEO industry for talented experts and where the opportunity lies: “I don't know him (Neil Patel). I don't know his practices. I've never worked with him. But I do think that Neil Patel and Neil Patel Digital, in particular, demonstrate the massive upside there is in this (SEO) industry. He was recently on the My First Million podcast, and I think he said they do over a hundred million dollars a year in revenue – most of it from SEO. That's the potential. There are so many companies out there that don't understand SEO.” He also shares his experience with PRNewswire on how people accept not-so-great quality output, and true experts can tap onto this potential to deliver great work: “I remember PR Newswire approached me pre-Covid about this webinar and they were charging  $900 to go to this webinar and – they sold it to their customers. There are so many people out there that don't understand marketing. They don't understand SEO. Then, they look at Neil Patel, PR Newswire, and all these other agencies who may not do the kind of work that we think is of high quality, but everyone else thinks it's of high quality. And to me, that's the potential of this industry.” The key is to build a strong personal network Kevin shares how his 12+ experience in the SEO industry via his job, speaker opportunities, and personal branding efforts helped him successfully transition into an independent consultant role: “How people perceive you, whether you're an agency or a consultant, is incredibly important, and I have never thought about it more than right now.  I have been active in this industry for 12-13 years now. I've worked even at Shopify and did things outside of SEO, but I'm still recognized as an SEO (expert). But having the blog, having spoken at conferences and all that kind of stuff has contributed massively. I was lucky to get a full portfolio of clients before I even announced that I am a consultant now. So, a strong network helped immensely. People were so kind to connect me with clients and all that kind of stuff.” Eli agrees by sharing his personal experience about the power of sales and having a strong network: “There was a company I talked to recently, which I was referred to by someone I sat next to at my very first job 16 years ago. So the longer time you spend within companies, the bigger network you'll build, and some of the best deals that I have signed have come from my former coworkers – they've referred me, and they've been at these companies. You have to build that expertise within your network. I don't have a blog, but I wrote a book, which really helps in closing deals. But it's so much more important that you have a network that can refer things to you, whether it's investors or friends, or past coworkers or past clients – that's where you're going to get so many things. And I've met some terrible consultants who do just fine because they have that network.” First, get hands-on experience in the industry  Kevin also