San Jose, CA – October 24, 2011—While the two-year worldwide recession has devastated many businesses, results from the 10th annual Best Practices and Compensation Survey by Women in Consulting (WIC), a collaborative community of professional consultants and small business owners, offers proof that optimism about opportunities for the next 12 months is strong and following multiple best practices helps consultants earn much more.

“For the majority of those surveyed, business momentum continues and their optimism for the next 12 months grows unabated,” said WIC President Avery Horzewski. “Following best practices, like increasing the ways in which you network, outsourcing to other experts, and being price smart, is the surest way to grow a consulting business.”

Key findings show gross revenues climbed eight percent over last year. Median net revenues, after paying subcontractor fees, rose 16 percent. The past 12 months’ strong revenue growth is credited to more available work, a greater use of subcontractors, and an emphasis on using the full spectrum of best practices to attract and retain clients, survey respondents report.

“There’s a very strong uptick in requests for services across the board and the ability to pay for them. More cash is available and clients are less paralyzed by fear of the unknown and are quicker to decide,” said Emily Hall, president of Olive Grove Consulting of Belmont, CA, whose business more than doubled since last year.

Revenues Climb for Many

Survey responders nationwide reveal compensation increases:

• 57 percent of survey participants saw a revenue increase during the past 12 months
• Median gross revenue in 2011 was $130,000, up eight percent from $120,000 in 2010
• Median net revenue was $117,000, up 16 percent from $101,000 in 2010
• Median gross revenue among the top 20 percent of earners rose eight percent to $325,000 after holding stable for the past two years
• Median net revenue among the top 20 percent of earners jumped 10 percent to $270,000, up from $245,000 in 2010
• Hourly rates have rebounded, after dropping significantly in 2009, and are the highest in the history of the survey—topping at $150

“While the business climate is still tough for some, the majority are experiencing steady improvement with some even reporting explosive growth during the past year,” Horzewski said.

Consultants’ optimism that the economic turnaround is happening is clear, as 60 percent anticipate more revenues in the coming 12 months. This represents a significant shift from attitudes in 2009, when only 35 percent expected increased revenues. Optimism even reigns among surveyed consultants who experienced decreased revenues during the past 12 months, as 61 percent of them expect to earn more revenue next year.

“There is a lot more work this year. My telephone is ringing off the hook,” said Sue Raisty-Egami, president of Sure Product Consulting of Los Gatos, CA.

Best Practices Generate New Business

Use of social media continues to be pervasive with LinkedIn far ahead in usefulness for generating new business compared with other networking tools, followed by online communities. Facebook slipped in popularity slightly with 67 percent of respondents counting it among must-use networking and communication tools.

While networking and communicating have always been top ways to grow a consulting business, the combination of many best practices is how top earners are pulling in much more new business and retaining clients.

To grow a consultancy, survey respondents recommend following a variety of best practices, such as broadening networking beyond traditional in-person events and forming collaborations, partnerships, and joint ventures with consultants whose expertise complements your own.

Use of subcontractors is also recommended. Among those surveyed, 70 percent employ subcontractors—an increase of 10 percent over last year’s survey. Meanwhile, among the top 20 percent of earners, 90 percent of them report relying on subcontractors to grow their businesses.

A December 7th webinar detailing the survey results is complimentary for WIC members and $30 for nonmembers. To attend, register online at www.womeninconsulting.org. A free summary of the 2011 WIC Best Practices and Compensation Survey is available on the WIC website, and detailed findings are available online exclusively to WIC members.

About WIC

Women in Consulting (WIC) is a vibrant, diverse, and powerful community of consultants and small business owners working to build strong businesses. Founded in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1998, WIC provides its 400+ members and affiliates a forum to connect and share with like-minded professionals. Established as a nonprofit, collaborative community to foster successful businesses for its members, WIC sponsors programs and activities to help members network, improve their skills, and thrive even in a tumultuous economic climate, and also provides consulting leadership and support to the community at large.

For more information

• Visit our website
• Follow us on Twitter
• Chat with us on our blog
• Become a fan on Facebook
• Join our LinkedIn group
• Email us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Avery Horzewski Named Program Advisor and Instructor for First College-Level Social Media Certificate in Bay Area

San Jose, CA – March 14, 2011 – AVE Consulting (AVE) today announced its participation in a new Social Media Marketing (SMM) Certificate Program at San Francisco State University’s College of Extended Learning. AVE President Avery Horzewski was named program advisor, along with Susan Barnes, and will teach the program’s course on social media campaigns.

“Social media is no longer a fad, but rather a bona fide communication tool,” said Horzewski. “Whether you like social media or not, if your audience does, you need to consider it —seriously. This program gives marketers the information and tools necessary to manage this communication channel effectively and integrate it into their overall marketing strategy.”

The groundbreaking SMM program, which kicked off in January 2011, is the first college-level certificate in social media offered in the Bay Area. The six-course program provides a solid foundation in the ever-morphing world of social media and gives students an array of skills and tools that they can immediately apply in the workplace. Courses in the program include:

• The Power of Community: An Introduction to Social Media
• Mastering Social Media: 3 Essential Tools for the Business Professional
• Engaging Your Community: Creating an Effective Social Media Campaign
• Social Media in the Real World: Successful Applications of Social Media Strategies
• Social on the Go: Trends in Mobile Technology
• Integrating Social Media into the Overall Marketing Strategy

“A lot of courses show participants the successes of others, but offer no opportunity to apply that knowledge,” continued Horzewski. “All of the courses in San Francisco State’s SMM program are highly interactive with plenty of opportunities to put into practice what’s being learned—and receive feedback on the plans, tools, and ideas developed during each course.”

Added SMM Program Director, Lauren Vanett, “We’re excited to be at the forefront of executive education for marketing professionals with this new program here in the Bay Area, where such key social media players as Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter were launched and many media luminaries are located.”

About AVE Consulting

Based in San Jose, California, AVE Consulting (AVE) is a marketing and customer communication company that helps businesses communicate with their customers. Whether assessing existing approaches, developing strategies, or executing strategies, AVE brings an audience-focused perspective to the process that results in authentic interactions that truly engage customers. Clients have included such companies as Adobe Systems, ACT Medical, Borland, CareFusion, Cooley Godward LLC, E*TRADE, Exordium Group, Hitachi Data Systems, Logitech, TD Ameritrade, SAP, and Xerox DocuShare.

About San Francisco State’s Social Media Marketing Program

The Social Media Marketing (SMM) program, an offering of San Francisco State’s College of Extended Learning, is designed to provide participants with a solid foundation in the basics of social media marketing, as well as skills that can be applied immediately on the job. The program is designed for working professionals and offers a Certificate in Social Media Marketing, as well as the opportunity to earn continuing education units (CEU) for courses taken on an individual basis. For more information on the program, contact San Francisco State at 415.817.4247; to register, call 414.405.7700, press 5, or go to www.cel.sfsu.edu.

Press Contact:
Renee Maler
PhilosophyPR + Marketing
For AVE Consulting
925.968.9495
renee@philosophypr.com

New Board to Focus on Expansion of Member Benefits Nationwide

San Jose, CA – February 14, 2011—Women in Consulting (WIC), a collaborative community of professional consultants and small business owners, today announced its 2011 Board of Directors. The all-volunteer board is especially strong this year, with ten returning and two new members, all of whom are leaders in their field and bring years of professional experience to the organization.

For 2011, WIC is putting increased emphasis on delivering services that members throughout the country can access, such as its highly rated webinars and value-based partnerships with companies like Apple Computer, Office Depot, and Armstrong & Associates insurance brokers. In addition, the board will continue to add new programs, as well as further strengthen existing offerings in social media, mentoring, and events.

“This year’s board brings with it a powerful combination of strong leadership skills and a broad range of successful experience,” said WIC President Avery Horzewski. “I’m excited to see where our collaborative efforts will take us this year, as we focus on strengthening the valuable programs we started last year and introducing new benefits designed to help consultants at every stage grow and expand their businesses.”

The 2011 WIC board of directors includes:

President—Avery Horzewski continues for a second year as president. Under her leadership, WIC has launched several exciting programs and partnerships and continues to extend its online presence, bringing the organization’s services to consultants across the United States. Founder and owner of AVE Consulting, Inc., she helps companies develop effective and authentic customer-centric marketing and communications strategies that encompass everything from websites to social media to print collateral. Avery regularly speaks on communication topics, in particular social media, and serves as a program advisor and instructor for the new Social Media certificate program at San Francisco State University’s College of Extended learning.

Vice President—Jennifer Berkley Jackson builds on her past experience and contributions as WIC treasurer and WIC vice president. Founder and owner of The Insight Advantage, she helps businesses integrate customer insight to make key business decisions in the face of emerging customer needs. Jennifer also teaches the Power of Marketing Research at University of California at Santa Cruz Extension in Silicon Valley.

Treasurer and Finance Director—Melissa Stacey returns for a fourth year as WIC treasurer and finance director. Owner and founder of Feeling Organized, Melissa specializes in helping homes, offices, and small businesses create customized organization systems to fit their unique needs and styles. She’s also president of Women’s Networking Alliance (WNA).

Secretary and Communications Director—Deb McClanahan continues as secretary and communications director for a third year. Principal of BroadBand HR Consulting, Deb helps companies with executive search and HR consulting. She’s also developed a practice in expert testimony, helping attorney clients with challenging immigration and employment matters. 

Membership Director—Kathie Sherman returns as WIC’s membership director for a second year. As president of TenFour Marketing, Kathie helps companies develop and implement direct marketing programs focused on increasing response rates, tracking and measuring results, and achieving higher ROI on marketing programs. She’s worked with many well-known companies, including Apple, CapGemini, Sun Microsystems, and Penton Media.

Programs Director—Robin Pieracci is this year’s new programs director. As a pricing and product marketing consultant, Robin helps marketing executives and small business owners drive more profit and revenue from marketing and sales efforts. She brings the strategic focus and implementation expertise necessary to deliver practical solutions for her clients.

Marketing & PR Director—Melody Appleton continues in her role as marketing & PR director. As principal of Avicenna Marketing, Melody draws on over 15 years of experience in high tech to help companies develop strong positioning and messaging that establishes and articulates their competitive advantage, design marketing and public relations strategies that drive demand for their products and services, and develop effective product launch and product marketing that stands out against the competition.

Online Marketing Director—Rachel Melia returns as online marketing director. Rachel is an online marketing consultant specializing in social media marketing, with an emphasis on Facebook marketing. Rachel leads WIC’s website and social media initiatives, including its blog, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter channels.

Partnerships & Alliances Director—Sue Hay  continues her role as partnerships & alliances director. As CEO of BeWhys Marketing, Inc., Sue is passionate about helping clients create and execute demand generation campaigns that deliver real results. She’s dedicated to using the latest and most appropriate technologies and practices—from marketing automation to lead nurturing, lead scoring, and building personas—to help companies cost effectively achieve their vision, reach their goals, and grow their business.

Satellite Director—Angel Rampy joins the board to lead WIC’s ever-growing satellite groups. Angel is the founder and president of Success through Learning. With more than 20 years of experience as a manager, trainer, business consultant, and personal coach, she has the skills needed to empower and transform organizations and individuals. Her work spans from providing and developing customized training to corporations to providing one-on-one coaching to executives and entrepreneurs.

Strategic Audiences Director—Deborah Siegle returns for a third year as director of strategic audiences, overseeing WIC’s Leaders Network. Principal of Strategic Marketing Solutions, Deb assists clients with strategic research, market and product development, technology industry analysis, and customer loyalty and experience projects. With more than 25 years experience, she quickly identifies and addresses core issues, developing actionable strategies and tactics that make a measurable difference to her clients.

Strategic Initiatives Director—Jan Richards continues her role as strategic initiatives director for a third year. A national Baldrige Award examiner for five years, she heads up J.G. Richards Consulting, helping companies streamline and simplify their operations; clarify their vision, goals, and priorities; and implement effective process management. This enables clients to increase profits by reducing costs, growing revenues, and increasing business flexibility.

About WIC

Women in Consulting (WIC) is a vibrant, diverse, and powerful community of consultants and small business owners working to build strong businesses. Founded in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1998, WIC provides its 400+ members and affiliates a forum to connect and share with like-minded professionals. Established as a nonprofit, collaborative community to foster successful businesses for its members, WIC sponsors programs and activities to help members network, improve their skills, and thrive even in a tumultuous economic climate, and also provides consulting leadership and support to the community at large. 

For more information

• Visit our website
• Follow us on Twitter
• Chat with us on our blog
• Become a fan on Facebook
• Join our LinkedIn group
• Email us

WIC Kicks Off the New Year with a Host of Thought Leadership Events and a New Partnership with Apple Computer

San Jose, CA – January 3, 2011—Women in Consulting (WIC), a collaborative community of professional consultants and small business owners, today announced its first quarter 2011 programs, including webinars, networking events, and two new partnerships with Apple Computer and TriNet to augment its already robust member benefits offerings.

Programs slated for the first quarter include:

January 5, 11:00am – 12:00pm: “Blogging for Better Business: Get the Results you Want,” presented by Ann Evanston of Warrior-Preneur (Webinar)

• January 5, 6:30pm – 8:30pm: “Help! How Do I Get Paid?,” presented by Sandy McNabb (North Bay Meeting, Unity Center, Novato; Appetizers)
• January 10, 11:30am – 1:00pm: “Mission-Critical Tips to Getting the Most Out of LinkedIn, the Most Powerful Online Tool for Your Business,” presented by Irene Koehler, Almost Savvy (South Bay Networking Luncheon, Los Gatos Lodge, Los Gatos)
• January 12, 11:30am – 1:30pm: “The New Rules for Attracting and Engaging Clients,” with Adrian Ott, called “one of Silicon Valley’s most respected (if not the most respected) strategists” by Consulting Magazine (East Bay Networking Meeting, Pyramid Ale House in Walnut Creek.)
• January 20, 6:00pm – 8:30pm: “Energizing Your Life, Your Business, and Your Clients in the New Year,” presented by Joanne Bond, a certified Hudson Institute coach (Main Monthly Meeting, Michael’s at Shoreline, Mountain View)
• January 26, 5:30pm – 7:30pm: “Courage and Compromise: Redefining the Game in High-Stakes Client Relationships,” presented by Elizabeth Doty (San Francisco Networking Meeting, King George Hotel, San Francisco)
• February 2, 11:00am – 12:00pm: “Storytelling Secrets for Great Presentations,” presented by Alison Macondray and Matthew Clark of Alimat, Inc. (Webinar)
• February 9, 11:30am – 1:30pm: East Bay Networking Luncheon, (Pyramid Ale House in Walnut Creek.)
• February 14, 11:30am–1:00pm: “Be Yourself: Everyone Else Is Already Taken,” presented by Mike Robbins (South Bay Networking Luncheon, Los Gatos Lodge, Los Gatos)
• February 17, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm: “Social Media Research and Trends,” presented by Jen McClure of the Society for New Communications Research and Reimagine Group (Main Monthly Meeting, Quadrus Conference Center, Menlo Park)
• February 23, 5:30pm–7:30pm: “Your Web Presence: Strategies and Best Practices,” presented by Irene Koehler (San Francisco Networking Meeting, King George Hotel, San Francisco)
• March 1, 8:00am – 12:00pm: “Blogging: From Basics to Brilliance,” presented by Ann Evanston, of Warrior-Preneur and Jerry Bates, Creative Director at Fittingsites.com (Workshop, Michael’s at Shoreline, Mountain View)
• March 1, 12:00pm – 1:30pm: Peninsula Quarterly Networking Meeting (Luncheon, Caprino’s, Belmont)
• March 2, 11:00am – 12:00pm: “End-of-Life Planning: Surprising Facts About the Laws Managing Your Life or That of a Loved One,” presented by Kathy Lane, author of “Die$mart” (Webinar)
• March 9, 11:30am – 1:30pm: “Crafting Your Business Narrative: How to Tell Your Business Story,” with Ruth Halpern, (East Bay Networking Meeting, Pyramid Ale House in Walnut Creek.)
• March 14, 11:30am – 1:00pm: “Helping Your Clients with Their Global Presence,” presented by Lucie Newcomb, The NewComm Global Group (South Bay Networking Luncheon, Los Gatos Lodge, Los Gatos)
• March 17, 6:00pm – 8:30pm: “How to Get Along With Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime in Two Minutes or Less,” presented by Janice Neiderhofer of Peerage Consulting (Main Monthly Meeting, Michael’s at Shoreline, Mountain View)
• March 23, 5:30pm – 7:30pm: “Self Care, Balance, Mindfulness: Stress Reduction at Work,” presented by Suvanna Cullen (San Francisco Networking Meeting, King George Hotel, San Francisco)

In addition to networking events and business strategy sessions, WIC starts the New Year with two new partnerships—Apple Computer and TriNet. WIC’s new relationship with Apple Computer gives WIC members access to special pricing on business-related purchases. TriNet, founded in 1988, enables small businesses to outsource the management of human resources, employee benefits, payroll, and workers’ compensation to a single partner in a cost-effective manner. WIC members receive a 25-percent discount on the setup fee and a 10-percent discount on the ongoing administrative service fee.

“We’re thrilled to start 2011 with the Apple Computer and TriNet partnerships,” commented Avery Horzewski, president of WIC. “Both companies provide products and services that our members want and need, and they support our overall mission to deliver essential business resources and solutions that build strong businesses.”

“I’m equally thrilled with the speakers for our Q1 programs,” continued Horzewski. “They’re reflective of the thought leadership and best practices that underscore WIC’s position as a resource leader for consultants.”

For a complete list of upcoming WIC networking opportunities, meetings, workshops, webinars, and other programs, visit the WIC website.

About WIC

Women in Consulting (WIC) is a vibrant, diverse, and powerful community of consultants and small business owners working to build strong businesses. Founded in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1998, WIC provides its 400+ members and affiliates a forum to connect and share with like-minded professionals. Established as a nonprofit, collaborative community to foster successful businesses for its members, WIC sponsors programs and activities to help members network, improve their skills, and thrive even in a tumultuous economic climate, and also provides consulting leadership and support to the community at large.

For more information:

• Visit our website
• Follow us on Twitter
• Chat with us on our blog
• Become a fan on Facebook
• Join our LinkedIn group
• Email us

Upcoming Fourth Quarter Includes Highly Anticipated Webinar on WIC’s 9th Annual Compensation Survey Findings and End-of-Year Charity Event

San Jose, CA – October 4, 2010—Women in Consulting (WIC), a collaborative community of professional consultants and small business owners, today announced its fourth quarter 2010 programs, including workshops, a holiday charity event, and notably, WIC’s 9th Annual Compensation Review presented in a webinar by WIC’s president Avery Horzewski and vice president of operations Jennifer Berkley.

Events slated for the fourth quarter include:

• October 5, 8:00am – 12:00pm: “Positioning Your Consulting Business to Tap Into New Market Segments,” presented by Sherry Prescott-Willis, author of Market This and president of Prescott Marketing (Workshop, San Mateo Marriott, San Mateo)
• October 6, 11:00am – 12:00pm: “The New Rules of Publishing: How to Write, Publish, and Market Your Own Book,” presented by Laura Lowell (Webinar)
• October 6, 6:30pm – 8:30pm: “Creating Social Media Success for Consultants,” presented by Avery Horzewski (Marin/North Bay Networking Meeting, Unity Center, Novato)
• October 11, 11:30 – 1:00pm: “Content Is King—What Does that Mean to Me?,” presented by Massimo Paolini (South Bay Networking Luncheon, Los Gatos Lodge, Los Gatos)
• October 13, 11:30 – 1:00pm: “Fall Networking” (East Bay Networking Meeting, Pyramid Alehouse, Walnut Creek)
• October 21, 6:00pm – 8:30pm: “Best Practices from the Trenches: Learn How to Grow Your Business from Top-Earning Consultants,” a WIC Leaders Network panel discussion with Denise Brouillette, Jennifer LeBlanc, and Lorie Loe, moderated by Deb Siegle (Main Monthly Meeting, Quadrus Conference Center, Menlo Park)
• October 27, 5:30pm – 7:30pm: “San Francisco Networking Meeting” (King George Hotel, San Francisco)
• November 3, 11:00am – 12:00pm: “WIC 9th Annual Compensation Review: Gain Insights Into Consultant Compensation and Best Practices,” presented by Avery Horzewski and Jennifer Berkley of Women in Consulting (Webinar)
• November 3, 6:30pm – 8:30pm: “Leveraging LinkedIn for Your Consulting Business,” by Irene Koehler  (Marin/North Bay Networking Meeting, Unity Center, Novato)
• November 8, 11:30 – 1:00pm: “Prioritizing Prospects to Increase Sales Success,” presented by Cheryl Downing (South Bay Networking Luncheon, Los Gatos Lodge, Los Gatos)
• November 10, 11:30 – 1:00pm: “The Easiest Way to Write Your Business Plan,” with Cynthia Riggs of Business Diva (East Bay Networking Meeting, Pyramid Alehouse, Walnut Creek)
• November 18, 6:00pm – 8:30pm: “Marketing to Apes,” presented by Gavin Johnson, chief anthropologist of Two West (Main Monthly Meeting, Michael’s at Shoreline, Mountain View)
• December 1, 5:30pm – 7:30pm: “San Francisco Networking Meeting” (San Francisco)
• December 1, 11:00am – 12:00pm: “Cloud Computing and the SOHO (Small Office, Home Office): A Case Study Using Zoho,” presented by Mark Buechler (Webinar)
• December 1, 6:30pm – 8:30pm: “Holiday Social Evening” (Marin/North Bay Networking Meeting)
• December 9, 1:00pm – 6:00pm: “WIC Gives Back,” WIC members volunteering at Second Harvest in San Jose and San Carlos, and gathering at TGI Friday’s in Cupertino afterwards to celebrate the holidays—20 percent of WIC’s non-bar tab will go to Second Harvest
• December 13, 11:30am – 1:00pm: “WIC South Bay Holiday Luncheon Celebration, (South Bay Networking Luncheon, Los Gatos Lodge, Los Gatos)
• December 14, 12:00pm – 1:30pm: “Peninsula Luncheon Meeting,” (Divino’s Restaurant, Belmont)

Taking place during WIC’s fourth quarter events is the highly anticipated November webinar on WIC’s 9th Annual Compensation Report, “Committed to the Long Haul.” The webinar provides participants insight into the compensation trends and the best practices used by top-earning consultants for increasing revenues and clients. The webinar, presented by Avery Horzewski and Jennifer Berkley, will take place on November 3 at 11:00am PDT. Access to the webinar is complimentary for WIC members and $30 for nonmembers. To attend, register online at www.womeninconsulting.org.

“Member response to this year’s findings has been overwhelmingly positive,” commented Horzewski. “They were particularly excited by the best practices for growing revenue and clients, seeing them as either a confirmation of their existing approach or a guideline for steps to take in the coming months. We look forward to presenting the results to the community at large in November.”

For a complete list of upcoming WIC networking opportunities, meetings, workshops, webinars, and other events, visit www.womeninconsulting.org/calendar.

About WIC

Women in Consulting (WIC) is a vibrant, diverse, and powerful community of consultants and small business owners working to build strong businesses. Founded in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1998, WIC provides its 400+ members and affiliates a forum to connect and share with like-minded professionals. Established as a nonprofit, collaborative community to foster successful businesses for its members, WIC sponsors programs and activities to help members network, improve their skills, and thrive even in a tumultuous economic climate, and also provides consulting leadership and support to the community at large. 

For more information

• Visit our website
• Follow us on Twitter
• Chat with us on our blog
• Become a fan on Facebook
• Join our LinkedIn group
• Email us

Entrepreneur’s Advice Featured in 2011 Woman’s Advantage Calendar

San Jose, CA – Avery Horzewski, president/CEO of AVE Consulting, Inc., a marketing and customer communication strategy firm, was selected from over 5,000 submissions to be featured in The 2011 Woman’s Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar. The calendar provides advice for women business owners from influential women leaders across the US and Canada.

Mary Cantando, Growth Expert of The Woman’s Advantage, today announced that Avery Horzewski’s advice has been included in the calendar, which was released on October 1, 2010. Horzewski’s sage advice is core to how she approaches her communication consultancy, “You cannot NOT communicate. Everything you do and don’t do sends a message.”

“Avery Horzewski’s quote was selected because it was powerful yet easy to understand. Her idea is relevant to almost every woman in business today.” says Cantando. “Women business owners and those who dream of starting a business will learn so much from the advice provided by Avery and the other successful women quoted in the calendar.”

The Woman’s Advantage 2011 Calendar provides sound bites of advice on key business issues including: organization, promotion, sales, and human resources.

About AVE Consulting

Based in San Jose, California, AVE Consulting (AVE) is marketing and customer communication company that helps businesses communicate with their customers. Whether assessing existing approaches, developing strategies, or executing strategies, AVE brings an audience-focused perspective to the process that results in authentic interactions that truly engage customers. Clients have included such companies as Adobe Systems, ACT Medical, Borland, CareFusion, Cooley Godward LLC, E*TRADE, Exordium Group, Hitachi Data Systems, Logitech, TD Ameritrade, SAP, and Xerox DocuShare.

About The Woman’s Advantage

The Woman’s Advantage is a line of information products, including books, workbooks, audio CDs, and calendars designed exclusively for successful women business owners. For more information, call 919-841-0401 or visit www.WomansAdvantage.biz.

As president of Women in Consulting (WIC), one of my responsibilities is to work with Jen Berkley of The Inside Advantage to prepare WIC’s annual best practices and compensation survey. This is my first year doing the survey, while Jen has done all nine!

As part of the process, I make myself available to bloggers and the press who want to discuss the survey. I had the pleasure of talking with Christine Oneto with GirlsinTech.net, who featured the survey in a recent blog post: “Ninth Annual WIC Compensation Survey Shows Increased Revenue, Optimism.”

Jen and I will be reviewing this year’s results in a WIC-sponsored webinar on November 3 at 11:00am: “WIC 9th Annual Compensation Review: Gain Insights into Consultant Compensation and Best Practices.”

I hope to “see” some of you there.

Traditional and Online Networking Among Top Advice for Business Success

San Jose, CA – September 20, 2010 – Women in Consulting (WIC), a collaborative community of professional consultants and small business owners, today announced the results of its ninth annual compensation survey. Key findings indicate that consultants are optimistic about their consulting practices. Almost half (49 percent) of the respondents reported their revenue increased last year, while 69 percent expect revenue to increase this coming year. Moreover, the vast majority (84 percent) are long-term consultants with no plans to stop consulting.

Responses from the nationwide sampling revealed:

• Average (mean) annual gross revenue was $205,000, up from $172,000 in 2009
• Median gross revenue was $120,000, up from $115,000 in 2009
• Net annual gross revenue after paying subcontractors/employees is down this year, suggesting that consultants are making more use of subcontractors to expand their service offerings and keep more business within their practice
• Median gross revenue for the top 20 percent of respondents is stable compared to 2009 ($300,000 vs. $299,000), while net annual gross for this group is higher ($392,000 vs. $336,000 in 2009)

“This year’s survey results clearly indicate a shift in mindset to one that is filled with optimism for the coming year,” said WIC President Avery Horzewski. “Consultants are energized, focused, and employing an array of marketing and business practices, including social media, to ensure they achieve their business goals. More importantly, they’re adopting a positive approach to building their businesses versus buying into the negativity that has surrounded the economic downturn the past two years.”

In addition to compensation trends, WIC’s annual compensation survey also tracks the best practices employed for long-term success. This year’s results show social media coming into its own, while nothing trumped in-person connections with existing and potential customers for building business.

• Social media usage is pervasive, with LinkedIn by far the most popular social networking tool—92 percent of respondents reported using LinkedIn while, the number using other top social media tools ranged from 53 percent (blogging) to 72 percent (online communities).
• Social media effectiveness is up across the board, except for Twitter. General consensus is that social media is best for building overall awareness versus generating specific business. Although many respondents stated that LinkedIn produced work. 
• Traditional networking is seen as the most effective way to proactively generate business, followed by establishing strategic relationships and asking clients for referrals.
• Increasing their confidence is the top reason respondents said they were able to charge more for their services, with value-based pricing, diversifying, and improving expertise, messaging, and marketing materials also ranking high.

“While my gross revenue was similar to last year, my profits grew 250 percent,” said Renee Daggett, president of AdminBooks. “I attribute this to a number of factors. Our increased social media efforts have garnered surprising results and fantastic feedback. We also revised our internal procedures, and updated our website, sales and welcome kits, and e-newsletters, and are pleased with the results.”

A free summary of the WIC compensation survey is available on the WIC website, and detailed findings are available online exclusively to WIC members.

The public is welcome to attend a webinar on Wednesday, November 3 at 11:00am. PDT that will summarize key findings. The webinar is free to WIC members and $30 for nonmembers.

About Women in Consulting

Women in Consulting (WIC) is a vibrant, diverse, and powerful community of consultants and small business owners working to build strong businesses. Founded in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1998, WIC provides its 400+ members and affiliates a forum to connect and share with like-minded professionals. Established as a nonprofit, collaborative community to foster successful businesses for its members, WIC sponsors programs and activities to help members network, improve their skills, and thrive even in a tumultuous economic climate, and also provides consulting leadership and support to the community at large. 

For more information

• Visit our website
• Follow us on Twitter
• Chat with us on our blog
• Become a fan on Facebook
• Join our LinkedIn group
• Email us  

###          

For more information, contact:

Renee Maler
Philosophy PR + Marketing
For Women in Consulting
925.968.9495
renee@philosophypr.com

I had the pleasure of speaking with Chip Camden, an IT consultant and blogger for the TechRepublic, who was writing a post on the lack of women in the IT consulting field. The timing was serendipitous, as Women in Consulting (WIC) was in the midst of compiling our (I’m WIC’s current president) annual compensation survey results.

The results of that interview and Chip’s additional research are presented in his post, “Where Are the Women in IT Consulting?”  

Read the full article.

Last year, I had the privilege of working on one of those once-in-a-lifetime projects with a beyond-extraordinary team: the CareFusion Jazz Festival Series. It was fun, it supported two great causes — the arts and healthcare safety — and it covered the full range of marketing communications, from print to digital to PR to onsite events and more.

It was also more than just a pretty face. It was phenomenally successful, as the stats in the press release below show. And now, it’s also award winning.

Thanks to The Exordium Group for making me part of the team, and many kudos to everyone that I worked with on the project. You’re amazing! And a special thanks to Carolyn Rosenberg of C-Design who made burning the late-night oil a pleasant experience.

The Exordium Group Wins Prestigious Event Marketer Ex Award

Agency’s Work on the CareFusion Jazz Festival Series Beats Out Campaigns for Pepsi, Shell and Other Distinguished Brands

PARK CITY, Utah, May 11 /PRNewswire/ — The Exordium Group, an integrated marketing agency specializing in strategic, experiential and digital marketing, today announced that it won the Event Marketer Magazine 2010 Ex Award for “Best Multi-Venue Event (B-to-B).” The award recognized the CareFusion Jazz Festival Series, which The Exordium Group created for Cardinal Health to help launch its spinoff, CareFusion. A leading global medical device company, CareFusion is now a publicly traded company and part of the Standard & Poor’s 500. The Ex Award is the leading recognition program for experiential marketing.  

“Our agency’s focus has always been on creating fully integrated experiential marketing programs that deliver measurable results for our clients,” said Ronda Thomas, president and chief executive officer of The Exordium Group.  ”This international award is very competitive, and we’re proud to have such high-caliber validation of our work with CareFusion on their multi-city jazz series.  Our team is especially honored to bring a new brand to market and be recognized in the company of amazing campaigns created for Pepsi-Cola, Shell, and other distinguished brand names.”

The CareFusion Jazz Festival Series was created to help launch the CareFusion brand, support the arts at a critical economic time and recognize individuals and organizations working to improve patient care.  Program components included sponsorship of leading international jazz festivals in Newport, Chicago, Monterey, Sydney, Paris and New York; live television broadcasts of performances direct to hospitals; and VIP events at the festivals to raise funds and awareness for improved patient safety.

Festival activation was complemented by public relations, full digital activation at www.carefusionjazz.com, sales integration, print advertising and social media. The program ultimately generated in excess of 2 billion measured media impressions, drove over 23 million impressions in leading international media and created significant brand awareness for CareFusion.  The CareFusion Jazz Festival series is returning for its second year this summer.

Partners supporting this program included: The 1st Movement, for assistance with digital; ImagiCorps, in support of design and build of on-site activation; Flying Colors, broadcast; Philosophy PR + Marketing, public relations; AVE Consulting, communications; and many others.  

The Ex Awards are hosted annually by Event Marketer Magazine to recognize excellence in event marketing and communications globally. This year’s entries included over 600 submissions from most major brands for campaigns all over the world. For more information about the award, visit: http://www.eventmarketer.com/.

About The Exordium Group, Inc.

Now in its 16th year, The Exordium Group is a full-service integrated marketing agency with strong expertise in strategic, experiential and digital marketing. Creating programs for global leaders, such as Cardinal Health, CareFusion, Medtronic, Fraxel, AMD, Visa, Microsoft, Getronics, and Sun Microsystems, has brought the agency to the forefront of their industry.  Driven by passion to produce the highest return on investment The Exordium Group maximizes the intersection of sports, arts and entertainment with technology and digital solutions to achieve measurable, accountable results. The Exordium Group has primary locations in Park City, Utah, Silicon Valley and London, England, and services clients on a global basis.  For more information please visit www.exordiumgroup.com or call 435-940-0600.