HR consultants - if you wanted to target small businesses, independents how would you go about it?

[Overseasmom100]

A friend has set up on her own and wants to offer her services to small businesses said I would help. However do you get a foot in the door to offer your services? Email campaign, flyers, personal letter, is there an association she could link up with?

Help a friend set up as Accountant for small business, we knocked on doors during opening hours and left leaflets.

What was the respond rate?
I think she was thinking of doing like an email campaign through a database of contacts

HR people - are there any organisations she could link in with that would give her access to small businesses in her area?

Any advice from the evening mumsnetters?

Surely your friend has done their own research? Nobody is going to start her business for her. There is loads of information out there.

I'm a HR professional, albeit not an independent consultant. If I were to start up as an independent consultant, I know what I would do to try and get my business off the ground. If your friend had a specific question or idea, I would gladly assist, but what you (or your friend) is essentially asking is for mumsnet to write the business plan for you.

I would question your friends credibility: firstly because your friend hasnt done her research (otherwise she wouldn't be asking those questions) and secondly for taking business advice from someone (you) whose thinks that posting that question on mumsnet will give her the answer. Disclaimer - I love mumsnet and there are some hugely talented people here, but if I were starting That type of business, I wouldn't be asking those types of questions here, although I may ask other questions.

I apologise if my post is narky, but your post has irrationally annoyed me. Running a business, I imagine must be hugely challenging as you both sound underprepared.

It's a brave move and I hope it works out.

Thank you

Linked in/social media

Where would she get the email addresses for the email campaign, to comply with GDPR? I mostly delete unsolicited email.

HR consultants I know do the following:
Advertise in local papers.
Become members of local business groups
A column in local papers with general HR/career advise.
Sponsored FB ads (not a fan of this as see fb as more for personal use)
Linked in
Website
Promoted search pages
Word of mouth.

Thank you some great ideas to pass on

Sorry forgot to reply.
The actual walking into the premises and doing face to face resulted in 1 in 20 actually being interested.
I think email tends to be lost as junk mail.
Hard copies also got a 1 in 100 response.

I belong to a local business facebook group - people are always asking for recommendations for accountants, HR bods, lawyers, web designer etc. HR people give free advice and support and build up their reputation that way hoping to generate sales from it.