Know-How Exchange : Other

At the risk of sounding like a shill for MarketingProfs, there are a number of seminars in the archive here that can give you what you need and want. Not that long ago, for example, there was a series of seminars (perhaps 6 or 7, in total) on Small Business Marketing.

Depending on your own skills and interests, and the kinds of projects your clients need, almost any one of them could be useful. They covered a range of topics that would let consultants and small business owners tap into the knowledge and experience of larger companies, with real-world solutions to the problems of smaller/local businesses.

Hope this helps. Premium Plus membership will give you unlimited access to the seminar archive (with hundreds of seminars), so you'll end up with a wealth of information for a relatively small "tuition."

Why not start by networking in your community. Get to know the people that own businesses and find out their business needs. Learn what they need before you offer your services.

If you really want to run your own business but only have your diploma and no practical experience, I would suggest doing contract work. Look for companies that have entry level marketing positions open and let them know you'd be interested in filling the role part-time while they search for the right candidate.

I've often thought if I were new to this business and starting all over again, I'd do something like this. If it works, it's a great chance to make a ton of contacts and gain some really valuable and diverse experiences. (Make sure you are on LinkedIn so you can keep track of all your contacts!)

All the best!

Melissa