Five Empowering Strategies for Aspiring Notion Consultants
Published on January 26, 2024
Do you find yourself fascinated with Notion, experimenting with its versatile features, and conjuring up innovative solutions? Have you ever considered transforming this passion into a rewarding profession?
As an aspiring Notion Consultant, you're on the cusp of an exciting journey. The world of Notion Consultancy offers a thriving platform to showcase your skills, solve complex problems, and make an impact all while doing something you love.
I’ve compiled five transformative strategies to power your journey from a passionate Notion user to a successful Notion Consultant. Get ready to unlock new heights of professional growth and success as I share with you some of the top tips I’ve learned as an experienced and Certified Notion Consultant.
1. Leverage Comprehensive Training to Enhance Client Experience and Boost Revenue
One vital yet often neglected aspect of being a Notion consultant is offering effective training. It’s easy to forget that not all clients are familiar with Notion; otherwise, they wouldn't need our services! This gap provides an excellent opportunity for you to share your expertise. By not offering this service, you could be missing out on significant revenue.
There are two main ways to deliver training: via recorded videos and live sessions. There are also two key times during your engagement when training is most effective.
For recorded videos, use apps like Descript or Loom to create and integrate training throughout the client's workspace. These short, digestible tutorials simplify complex workflows, ensuring all users can fully utilize your Notion setup.
However, I highly recommend live sessions. Whether in person or online, live sessions allow you to connect with clients and users. They can significantly enhance user adoption and improve your public speaking skills at the same time.
The best times for training implementation are:
- Before starting your build, provide a basic Notion 101 to excite users and prepare them for their new system.
- After creating your solution, a complete walkthrough of your new system is essential. Depending on your build's size, you might need to divide this into smaller groups, focusing on individual team spaces or workflows.
You might ask, "How much should I charge?" Training in information technology is highly sought-after, and not everyone can deliver it. Therefore, don't just set an hourly rate. Consider a rate reflecting your training's value and the time you spend preparing your lesson. For smaller recorded videos, set a base price so clients can select how many short videos they'd like to embed, enhancing your service's value.
Effective training is a crucial aspect of being a successful Notion Consultant. Remember, the right training at the right time can transform a user's experience and ensure full adoption of your Notion solutions. So, start planning your training strategy today and empower your clients to fully leverage the power of Notion while maximizing your earning potential with each client.
2. Maximizing Efficiency by Prioritizing Your Most Productive Hours
Time management is a crucial aspect of any profession, and being a Notion Consultant is no different. Over the years I’ve been able to identify my peak productivity hours and have guarded them with my life. As a Notion Consultant, I highly recommend blocking out your productive hours with building workspaces rather than meetings. Setting aside fairly large chunks for building so you can really embrace your flow state - which can be easy to do with Notion!
If possible, it's even better to schedule meetings only on certain days. One advantage of Notion Consulting is that it doesn't require dozens of meetings to accomplish work. Much of the necessary communication between meetings can be easily managed online, reducing the need for constant calls.
A practical tool like Google Calendar can be your ally in managing your schedule effectively. Try to group your meetings together in time blocks to maximize your efficiency. If you're already implementing this, or if you have other strategies, feel free to share them in the comments.
3. Embrace Simplicity in Design and Functionality for User-Friendly Solutions
As a Notion Consultant, your goal is to create solutions that ANYONE can use with ease. More often than not, the solutions that companies need are straightforward. For instance, if you're designing a task manager, it's unnecessary to include numerous properties for users to monitor their ‘happiness index’ and other superfluous features.
Instead, concentrate on creating user-friendly views that allow people to find what they're looking for effortlessly. Remember, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, and it's your path to creating successful Notion solutions.
I’ve seen a lot of creators build templates based on their own perceived market requirements and the rabbit hole of features runs deep. Remember - this is for the client’s need and you don’t have to action every exciting idea you come up with, especially if they didn’t ask for it!
Strangely enough, this is one of the hardest strategies to implement and overexcited beginners will surely learn this lesson the hard way (that was me, the overexcited beginner 🙊).
4. Establish and Maintain Clear Boundaries and Defined Roles During Collaboration
A successful project requires clear boundaries, processes, and defined roles, and it's your responsibility to lead this. You are a Notion Consultant in addition to a Project Manager and as someone experienced in both fields, I’ve found these strategies crucial for a successful project. Begin by identifying the key stakeholders and decision-makers in the project during your initial conversation - and document it.
Once this is confirmed, ensure no additional parties are involved. Here's how I do this:
- During the first Discovery Call, I always confirm who the Project Manager is. They are my primary contact, and all emails are directed to them.
- I include communication guidelines in both the contract and onboarding to clarify when and how clients can reach me.
- I involve the Project Manager or decision-maker in all requirements-gathering sessions.
This last tip may sound a bit crazy, but as a Notion Consultant you will be involved in a handful of workspaces at the same time, and many times people will use the @mention feature to contact you. If it’s not directly related to feedback on a certain aspect of the workspace build, I like to keep all communication inside email instead. I think email still comes with a certain understanding that you can’t/won’t be able to respond instantly and allows some leeway for managing client conversations.
This is not what I would recommend to my clients who only have one workspace to monitor. However, as a Notion Consultant overseeing many workspaces, funneling important conversations to your email can save valuable time and ensure the right people are involved in the right conversations.
5. Harness Your Imposter Syndrome as a Driving Force
Imposter Syndrome can often be perceived as a hurdle. However, as an aspiring Notion Consultant, you can transform it into a powerful strategy. Accepting that feeling unsure or doubtful is a part of the learning process. Use these feelings as motivation to continually improve and expand your knowledge. Remember, every expert was once a beginner, and in fact, this role is so new that you can actually create your own unique style of Consulting. Embrace the journey of growth and let your imposter syndrome fuel your drive to become a successful Notion Consultant.
There's a profound saying that the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, and the second best time is now. This couldn't be more applicable to your journey as a Notion Consultant. Don't delay getting started. The world of Notion Consulting awaits you.
If you're uncertain about where to start, consider joining the Notion Consultants Course to gain a comprehensive understanding of the profession. If you've already embarked on this journey, ensure you stay updated by subscribing to content that provides insights into this field.
BONUS Tip: Personalize Your Communication
Remember to always confirm Discovery calls personally. This means non-automated confirmations, where you've taken the time to research their website and understand their needs. This personal touch not only establishes your authenticity but also reassures the client that you're committed to their project.
Embarking on a journey as a Notion Consultant can be an exciting and rewarding experience. With these tips in your arsenal, you're well-equipped to navigate this path successfully. Remember, every great journey begins with a single step, so take yours today and dive into the world of Notion Consulting.
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