March 2007 Top 5 Roundup

post # 343 — April 1, 2007 — a General post

I’d like to thank everyone for all the thoughtful comments on my blog. Here are the five posts that had the most discussion this month.

I REALLY hope that people will keep these specific conversations going: the spirit of a blog is that we all react to each other, and I am delighted when these conversations continue.

1. How to Set Fees

   It seems like a very bad idea to bill by the hour, especially if you are a consultant just beginning your practice. So how do you approach a client to establish accurate value-based pricing? A beginning consultant asks for advice on this crucial skill.

2. Required Reading

   Back to basics: a couple of my favorite entry-level business books and a host of suggestions from the readers.

3. Talking with Reporters

   Press coverage might be a nice pat on the back but is it worth pursuing as a marketing strategy? Here are my thoughts on this following a recent experience with the Wall Street Journal.

4. The Three-Month Rule

   Plans and reviews ought to be conducted on a once-every-three-month cycle — it’s long enough to work around the world’s unpredictabilities both at work and in people’s personal lives.

5. Promoting a New Book

   For some time now, I have been saying that a book is a “20th-century artifact” and that the way to serve your market (and to get your market’s attention) is to write a stream of articles. The challenge I face – and the topic on which I’d like your input – is thinking about marketing the book I am writing based on these articles…