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Training for Consulting Online

These days, anyone wishing to get into consulting almost has to face the challenge of building a business that incorporates technology and social media. And, sure, it may feel easy to do. What’s so hard about creating posts, statuses, or blogs, anyway? In all actuality, it is complicated and strategic.  So beyond training to actually learn how to consult, we also need to prepare for how to become, in a sense, digital communicators.  

So becoming the best consultants and communicators means we need to know about the changes that have happened in technology. These days, anyone can become a consultant because there are plenty of online certification programs. So what will set a consultant apart from the crowd? First, it is simply not enough to learn only about how to sleep train an infant; a true professional will care about the ethical standards of the job  -- both as an in-person consultant but also as a digital communicator. One way to establish guidelines is to follow the ethical standards, such as the International Association of Child Sleep Consultants, which can be found here, or even American Marketing Association’s code of ethics., which can be found here.  Secondly, consider working on soft skills that will prepare you to make appropriate posts and communicate effectively with clients. 

(infographic can also be viewed here)

The fact is, caregivers are trusting consultants with their children. We can’t forget that just because anyone can create a post, doesn’t mean that we can post without careful consideration. Are we respecting our clients and their privacy? Are we representing the profession in a positive light? Are we considering if every post is coming from a position of empathy? Understanding that 72% of adults in America access social media daily means that a single post could launch or ruin a business. Finally, look to others as mentors, rather than competition. There’s a community of other consultants online, and you can find inspiration in what others have achieved.  Don’t copy, for obvious, ethical reasons. But see what the market likes and doesn’t like. Ultimately, we have to learn how to use the tools at our disposal to give potential clients the information they want, the way that they want to consume it.

References

“Code of ethics.” (2020). International association of child sleep consultants. 

http://www.iacsc.com/membership-information/code-of-ethics

Doyle, L. (2019, January 25). "What is digital communication & why are skilled

professionals in such high demand?" Northeastern university. https://www.northeastern.edu/bachelors-completion/news/what-is-digital-communication/

“Social media fact sheet.” (2021, April 7). The pew research center. 

https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/social-media/

“Statement of ethics.” (October 21, 2021). American marketing association. 

https://myama.force.com/s/article/AMA-Statement-of-Ethics

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