In order to separate yourself from the herd as an IT specialist, you need to focus on company branding.  Sell your company name with the spin of its new industry on it.  

You don’t need to blaze into meetings wielding your certifications and logos, because you will be seen as a product.  You should include this as part of your background information and a topic of conversation, but announcing your IT specialist status should not be your first statement.  Market and sell your brand and its unique value to the industry.

IT Specialist:  What Needs are Going Unfulfilled?

If you can find a local niche that is struggling to have its needs fulfilled and take control of it, you can do well as an IT specialist.  Ask around to find out what people in the community need.  

IT Specialist:  How Do You Find Your Industry Spin?

When you are at chamber meetings or other organizational meetings and talking to prospects, ask to see which big problems are not fulfilled.  One day you will find something you never thought of – a problem that you can solve for a lot of people in the area to differentiate yourself as an IT specialist.  

IT Specialist:  You Might Not Agree with Clients on Problems and Vice Versa

You won’t be very successful at selling solutions to problems of which people are unaware.  Prospects need to understand the many components of their business before they can embrace every solution.  You can educate, but you can’t force people to ask you to solve problems they do not understand.

If you are there for half an hour and can’t convince your prospect of the problem you are pushing, there may be someone else that does get it, and you should move on.  

IT Specialist:  What is the Competition?

Study your local competition as an IT specialist, most particularly the top five competitors.  Look at websites and brochures to see what others are doing and if their businesses look similar to yours.  This can give you ideas on how you can set yourself apart from the rest as an IT specialist.

Added By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit