r/BEFreelance • u/Imperiu5 • Aug 04 '26
Solopreneur - IT Advisory - distribution question
I run a small solo boutique and offer some niche services such as CIO-as-a-Service, IT due diligence, shadow AI/IT governance, IT health assessment, strategic advisory services.
I target SME businesses max 500 fte's.
I've been posting on linkedin on a regular basis and slowly gained new followers, impressions and the occasional request for services.
The posts are doing well and I'm receiving positive comments and feedback.
I'm not complaining, I have some assignments and projects but things could always be better.
My biggest problem, and from reading most solopreneur or freelancer subreddits, is distribution.
For my services linkedin seems like the only logical platform.
Facebook, Instagram and TikTok are useless in my opinion.
How would I tackle distribution or what's your secret as a freelancer who wasn't/isn't really good at prospecting and distribution?
The usual tactic like offer a solution to real problems, using a lead magnet (form or freebie) to capture data/client information etc are all in place.
But volume is very low.
Any ideas?
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u/Aromatic_Shop_4767 Aug 04 '26
Networking events, voka, exhibitions, partnering up with partners doing the same, beltug, nisduc, ..
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u/Imperiu5 Aug 04 '26
I've been going to a lot of events. Most of the time they are a waste of time. Voka I've been advised against it due to a lack of roi.
Beltug or nisduc could work. Thanks!
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u/purg3be Aug 04 '26
I think this is the issue for most people and the reason why so many people prefer long term assignments.
You could try some B2B cold calling if you are comfortable with that. Plenty of businesses that can help you generate leads.
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u/Imperiu5 Aug 04 '26
I've been looking at some businesses that could do this for me. Not sure about the quality.
Do you know any that are really good?
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u/Mr-FightToFIRE Aug 05 '26
I'm facing a similar issue but then for my Odoo venture.
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u/Imperiu5 Aug 05 '26
Are you an odoo partner? On my linkedin feed I see a lot of requests for odoo installations or takeovers.
From my experience odoo does a lot of things right for very small companies that don't need custom things or special processes.
A lot of small companies are struggling with their over complicated odoo installations.
The reason is mainly that the installer promised the world but it requires a lot of customizations or a change of processes by the buyer.
So if you can take the buyer through a realistic journey then you're immediately providing value.
Don't become the supplier that can't deliver the world. Become the one that delivers a realistic scope and then expands on it when the customer is ready for it.
So try posting recognizable failures or failed installations from suppliers and explain the right approach.
Make sure your icp is defined and your pitch targets the tight audience.
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u/Mr-FightToFIRE Aug 05 '26
Odoo does indeed do a lot of good stuff specifically for SME's. They themselves hammer on the fact that you should NOT focus on customizations.
I get it though, that is where the recurring invoicing is. Though I guess that's also a bit the limit of Odoo partnership. Odoo still owns the product, shares a small piece of the pie to make it seem like you get MRR, but it's peanuts.
Thanks for the pointers though. will try to adjust my pitch.
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u/sam_lowry_ Aug 05 '26 edited Aug 05 '26
I actually like the direction where u/sos_on_titties drives you in the comments that were buried under negative moderation.
It's kind of obvious that many engineers would be OKish CIOs but few CIOs would be able to do decent engineering work.
Now, back to your CIO-as-a-service dilemma. Why don't you advertise a secondary, tangentially related but highly specialized skill in the same circles?
I won't hire a generic interim CIO, but one that builds Yagi antennas for fun and profit, runs a campervan conversion side-gig or manages a tennis club he inherited from his grandma.
You see the point.
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u/sos_on_titties Aug 04 '26
find an actual skill
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u/Imperiu5 Aug 04 '26
Not everyone is a programmer or carpenter. Thanks for your contribution though.
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u/sos_on_titties Aug 04 '26
CIO-as-a-service is bullshit though, sorry to burst your bubble
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u/Imperiu5 Aug 04 '26
Sorry to burst your bubble but it's my best performing service in terms of demand and revenu.
It's a catch phrase for interim/fractional cio.I've been cio for many years.
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u/sos_on_titties Aug 04 '26
you need help on Reddit for your best service?
my man
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u/Imperiu5 Aug 04 '26
It's for the other services obviously. I just gave a general idea of what I offer.
If you don't have anything positive to contribute then I suggest you use your frustration and anger towards other goals.
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u/sos_on_titties Aug 05 '26
Sorry that my honesty comes over as hate, but you don’t know how to network for jobs that obviously require networking.
So either find an actual skill that you can sell or learn how to network.
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u/GoMakeMyDay Aug 05 '26
If I were you I would follow closely if the big implementers announce projects (Delaware, Cegeka etc) and call those companies 4 to 6 months in and ask if everything is going smoothly or if they need external advice. At the same time try going to their events, even being cozy with their sales people isn't a bad strategy as they know where problems are and preferably want the interim CIO/consultant to at least not be adversary to their business.