The Simple Survey That Proves Your Consulting ROI
Just because you can't get access to client data doesn't mean you can't prove the results of your work. It just requires thinking about things a little differently.
Hi, I’m Rich. Welcome to my weekly newsletter where I share systems and frameworks for scaling your consulting practice from $0 to $1m+ in revenue.
You can get 1:1 personal coaching or explore my new program: Indispensable Consulting Systems.
How Do You Prove The Results Of Your Work?
One of the most frustrating parts about consulting is proving the results of your work.
The work I do with a client today might not be fully implemented for months or even years. Not only does this make it exceedingly hard to access data showing results after such a long period, but it also makes it difficult to showcase my work to others (e.g., by creating good case studies).
And on our ranking of the top trust signals required on a website, case studies and testimonials rank extremely highly.
Evaluate Your Outcomes Using This Survey
As you’re bringing a consulting project to a successful close/new beginning, it’s critical that you measure the results of your work.
This can be done periodically, but after 3 to 6 months, send your client this survey to complete and review their results.
To simplify things, you can simply duplicate this survey (and add your branding).
Alternatively, copy and paste them into the Google Forms AI prompt - it will recreate the survey faithfully for you to edit/adjust as needed.
Use The Outcomes To Showcase Your Results
The great thing about this is that it immediately provides data you can use without accessing the core data that a client might be hesitant to share.
Better yet, it gives you an average that can be verified over time. For example:
“83% of my clients said the ROI far exceeds the investment.”
“92% of my clients said the positive results were either sustained beyond the involvement or continually improved after the engagement.”
“86% of my clients said the deliverables were embedded into standard operating procedures.”
You can back this up by providing anonymised raw data to anyone who requests it.
You can also use these for individual results, too.
Use a simple testimonial template from Canva for both individual quotes and average outcomes over time.
This can even be verified independently by organisations to give you an edge above any other consultant in your space.
Most Importantly: Use The Feedback To Improve
Another highly useful aspect is that it provides valuable feedback on areas for improvement.
Great feedback is how we defy stagnation - embrace whatever feedback you’re given and decide where you can improve.
You can reflect on whether you’re following:
Also consider whether you’re following the steps to make your recommendations stick.
It’s a good habit to stay in touch with past clients and regularly evaluate the long-term results of each client project. Not only does this remind them about your work, but it also provides you with ongoing feedback and opportunities to work together again in the future.
Good luck!
Connect with Rich
Are you new to the newsletter? Subscribe for free
Follow me on LinkedIn for more insights
Learn to write persuasive business proposals with my Proposal Mastery course.
Get 1 to 1 personal coaching. Get a personal coach to help you grow your consultancy practice. Tackle topics like positioning, client acquisition, delivering exceptional value, industry leadership, and building the systems to thrive. Hit reply or learn more about my coaching approach.