Jan. 10, 2026

Ep 171: Five Lead Sources That Filled My Consulting Pipeline

Ep 171: Five Lead Sources That Filled My Consulting Pipeline

Send us a text We map the five lead sources that drove the most revenue last year and share the simple systems that make growth feel calm: niche communities, guest podcasting, lead waterfalls, LinkedIn nurture, and referrals done right. The aim is clarity, not hustle, so you can double down on what works for you. • auditing closed-won deals to find true lead sources • how to find and show up in niche communities • a simple cadence for events and workshops as a lead waterfall • why guest podc...

Send us a text

We map the five lead sources that drove the most revenue last year and share the simple systems that make growth feel calm: niche communities, guest podcasting, lead waterfalls, LinkedIn nurture, and referrals done right. The aim is clarity, not hustle, so you can double down on what works for you.

• auditing closed-won deals to find true lead sources
• how to find and show up in niche communities
• a simple cadence for events and workshops as a lead waterfall
• why guest podcasting converts and how to pitch smarter
• using LinkedIn as a nurture engine, not a spray channel
• building a referral system with clear ICP and language
• using a super signature to train your market
• a repeatable, low-pressure path to being booked out

If this episode made things feel a little more doable, I'd love to help you take the next step with the booked out blueprint. It's a practical, low pressure session to clarify your offers, your marketing, and what actually moves the needle. You can book yours through the link in the show notes. You don't have to figure it out alone.


My Booked Out Blueprint starts with a private 45-minute interview where I learn your business, your goals, and what’s actually holding you back. From that, I create a custom roadmap showing your best route to booked out—no fluff, just clarity. It’s $397, and if you move forward into Booked Out in Six, that $397 is fully credited. Book Yours Here.

Join my events community for FREE monthly events.

I offer free events each month to help you master your business's growth through marketing, sales, systems, and offer strategy.

Join the community here!

Support the show


Schedule a Booked-out Blueprint >>> Schedule.
Come tour my digital home :) >>>Website
Wanna be friends? >>> LinkedIn
Let's chat every Tuesday! >>> Newsletter
Catch the video podcast on YouTube >>>YouTube
Join my event group for live events >>>Meetup


01:23 - Welcome And Episode Setup

02:37 - CRM Review And Five Lead Sources

04:22 - Niche Communities Strategy

10:30 - Guest Podcasting That Converts

15:48 - Lead Waterfall And Events

WEBVTT

00:00:36.570 --> 00:00:38.089
I'm Serena Block.

00:00:38.329 --> 00:00:42.489
This show is made for solo consultants who want to get booked out without burning out.

00:00:42.649 --> 00:00:46.810
If you've ever thought, I just want this to feel easier, you're not alone.

00:00:46.969 --> 00:00:54.969
Around here, we focus on simple, sustainable growth that actually fits into your life so growth feels doable instead of overwhelming.

00:00:56.250 --> 00:00:57.530
Hello, hello.

00:00:57.689 --> 00:01:02.570
Welcome to my first solo episode of 2026.

00:01:02.890 --> 00:01:05.210
Almost forgot what year it is.

00:01:05.449 --> 00:01:07.289
I'm starting off strong.

00:01:07.849 --> 00:01:18.569
Today I wanted to talk about what I'm doubling down on this year based off of what worked really, really well for me in 2025.

00:01:19.449 --> 00:01:23.049
So let's travel back in time, two weeks.

00:01:23.289 --> 00:01:28.170
I posted a LinkedIn post about the things that I'm doubling down on.

00:01:28.329 --> 00:01:32.969
So if you're watching this on video and you're seeing my eyes shift, it's because I have that post pulled up right now.

00:01:33.049 --> 00:01:40.169
So I don't forget any of the things that I realized really made an impact on my revenue.

00:01:40.409 --> 00:01:43.530
So shifty eyes, just ignore it, okay?

00:01:43.849 --> 00:01:44.490
Gotcha.

00:01:46.490 --> 00:01:46.810
Okay.

00:01:47.770 --> 00:01:50.569
So here's what happened.

00:01:50.810 --> 00:02:00.009
I went through my CRM and I personally use Streak because it integrates directly in my Gmail, which I love.

00:02:00.169 --> 00:02:04.490
I don't like extra tools where I have to log into something else if I don't have to.

00:02:04.889 --> 00:02:07.050
And it also integrates with LinkedIn.

00:02:07.289 --> 00:02:15.849
So if you have Streak, you can also get this little button on people's profiles, and you could just click it and it adds them into Streak.

00:02:16.330 --> 00:02:20.889
So it's really simple and it cuts down on a lot of that manual labor.

00:02:21.129 --> 00:02:28.969
Yeah, it's only probably like two minutes of manual labor, but that can really add up if you're doing a lot of biz dev at any time.

00:02:29.210 --> 00:02:30.889
So I love Streak.

00:02:31.449 --> 00:02:49.129
Anywho, I went through Streak and I was going through my closed one clients from 2025, and I realized that there were five main sources for those leads, where they came from.

00:02:49.289 --> 00:02:54.250
So I'm gonna get into it, and then I'll give you some tips on how you can use that too.

00:02:54.490 --> 00:02:58.650
Now, just because so little asterisk here, a caveat.

00:02:59.050 --> 00:03:05.849
Um, just because these are the things that worked for me does not mean that these are the things that are gonna work for you.

00:03:06.490 --> 00:03:12.170
This is the reason that booked out in six is super custom.

00:03:12.330 --> 00:03:16.490
We start with a custom blueprint for you, a booked-out blueprint.

00:03:16.650 --> 00:03:19.530
Um, we do that because we're all different.

00:03:19.849 --> 00:03:23.129
Our businesses are different, we as humans are different.

00:03:23.370 --> 00:03:26.810
So everybody's business is different.

00:03:27.050 --> 00:03:32.250
And just because these five things worked for me does not mean that these five things are gonna work for you.

00:03:32.330 --> 00:03:33.689
So keep that in mind.

00:03:33.930 --> 00:03:35.689
But these are the things that worked for me.

00:03:35.930 --> 00:03:38.810
Okay, one niche communities.

00:03:38.969 --> 00:03:40.090
I know you're shocked.

00:03:40.170 --> 00:03:47.210
I talk about these all the time, but they are the easiest way to find clients for me.

00:03:47.450 --> 00:03:54.730
Almost every client I have had has been connected to a niche community I'm part of in some way or another.

00:03:54.890 --> 00:04:03.370
Either the referral came from there, I met them through there, I met them through an event that that niche community was putting on, something like that.

00:04:03.849 --> 00:04:07.129
So it's my top one.

00:04:07.530 --> 00:04:14.010
I generally use niche communities as like a warm watering hole.

00:04:14.250 --> 00:04:20.409
This is where I meet them because all of my ideal clients are gathering in the same place.

00:04:20.569 --> 00:04:21.769
Why wouldn't I?

00:04:22.250 --> 00:04:30.490
So I usually start with that niche community and then I connect with them all over on LinkedIn, which I'm gonna get into because that's number four on my list.

00:04:30.730 --> 00:04:32.409
And that's where I nurture them.

00:04:33.050 --> 00:04:36.569
Okay, so number one is niche communities.

00:04:36.730 --> 00:04:46.089
And if you want to start leveraging niche communities, one, scroll through my podcast because there are a ton of episodes about that.

00:04:47.050 --> 00:04:57.209
And two, start asking your clients, your referral partners, your business friends what niche communities they are part of.

00:04:57.370 --> 00:05:00.250
Because that is how I found all of my best ones.

00:05:00.409 --> 00:05:02.489
I always ask that question.

00:05:02.729 --> 00:05:07.929
You can't there's not a directory out there to just find the perfect niche community.

00:05:08.089 --> 00:05:13.449
I wish there was, and I am working on building one, but it doesn't exist yet.

00:05:13.849 --> 00:05:16.169
Uh, so start asking.

00:05:17.449 --> 00:05:20.409
And um that's number one.

00:05:20.729 --> 00:05:29.209
And number two, just take some time every single day to go in there, answer questions, and build relationships with people.

00:05:29.529 --> 00:05:46.649
My like the easiest way to do it without spending a lot of time is to just attend like one event a month that they are hosting, connect with all of the attendees who are at that event over on LinkedIn and start nurturing them.

00:05:46.729 --> 00:05:50.250
See if they want to hop on a connection call so you can get to know them better.

00:05:50.649 --> 00:05:55.529
Okay, so that's my little spiel on how I leverage niche communities.

00:05:55.689 --> 00:05:58.409
It goes much more in depth than that.

00:05:58.889 --> 00:06:06.489
I have an entire mission inside of Booked Out in Six on this particular topic.

00:06:06.649 --> 00:06:08.250
It's called Niche Networker.

00:06:08.329 --> 00:06:09.769
It's mission number three.

00:06:10.009 --> 00:06:19.929
So if you were interested in that, the first step is to book a booked out blueprint with me so we can figure out which missions make sense for you.

00:06:20.089 --> 00:06:23.049
But we dig all into that in mission three.

00:06:23.370 --> 00:06:23.689
Okay.

00:06:24.329 --> 00:06:31.609
The second thing that gave me the best leads was guest podcasting, which I didn't even realize.

00:06:31.769 --> 00:06:36.569
So I slowed down on guest podcasting a lot in 2025.

00:06:37.049 --> 00:06:41.769
Like in 2024, I think I did over 400 guest episodes.

00:06:42.889 --> 00:06:45.849
And I did a handful in 2025.

00:06:46.569 --> 00:06:58.969
But I learned that about half of my clients that came to me where I thought they were cold, they actually discovered me on someone else's podcast.

00:06:59.769 --> 00:07:00.969
I had no idea.

00:07:02.729 --> 00:07:05.689
So I'm gonna double down on that and go back.

00:07:06.169 --> 00:07:08.169
I'm not gonna do 400 a year again.

00:07:08.329 --> 00:07:09.609
That was crazy.

00:07:09.929 --> 00:07:15.209
But I am gonna go back to that well and start guest podcasting more.

00:07:15.689 --> 00:07:25.529
I was originally doing it because I wanted to grow my own podcast, and typically podcast listeners are easier to transfer.

00:07:25.769 --> 00:07:31.529
I don't know, that's not the right way to say it, but if they listen to one podcast, they'll listen to another.

00:07:31.689 --> 00:07:36.969
So my goal for guest podcasting was just to increase my listenership for this show.

00:07:37.609 --> 00:07:42.889
But it turned out that I was getting a ton of clients from those guest podcasting spots.

00:07:43.209 --> 00:07:45.769
So doubling down on that.

00:07:46.009 --> 00:07:51.849
Now, previously I was using a VA who specialized in pitching me to other podcasts.

00:07:51.929 --> 00:08:00.009
And that's why I did so many of them because she would send me a ton that had agreed to have me.

00:08:00.409 --> 00:08:03.689
Um, now I'm gonna try PodMatch.

00:08:04.569 --> 00:08:09.209
So I have my clients use PodMatch because it's it's big for them too.

00:08:09.370 --> 00:08:12.729
So if you're a solo consultant, start guest podcasting, please.

00:08:12.889 --> 00:08:17.529
I interview hundreds of solo consultants every single year.

00:08:17.929 --> 00:08:24.250
And over 50% of them get clients from this specific strategy.

00:08:24.489 --> 00:08:31.370
So I'm using PodMatch because um I can also find guests on there too.

00:08:31.449 --> 00:08:38.409
So I can find guests, I can become a guest, and I'm really interested to see how it works.

00:08:38.649 --> 00:08:44.409
I have my clients use it if they don't have a VA to take care of their pitching, and they have loved it.

00:08:44.649 --> 00:08:49.129
I got the recommendation from another podcaster, and she loved it.

00:08:49.289 --> 00:08:51.610
So I'm excited to try that one.

00:08:52.330 --> 00:08:52.570
Okay.

00:08:53.370 --> 00:09:06.090
Oh, also before I move on to number three, so guest podcasting is something that we do in many hat marketer, which is mission number five.

00:09:06.649 --> 00:09:14.490
So that is something that we would get into that, along with figuring out what is your one thing that you're gonna do for your marketing.

00:09:14.809 --> 00:09:15.129
Okay.

00:09:16.889 --> 00:09:21.129
Number three, a huge, huge, huge way.

00:09:21.689 --> 00:09:35.209
I increased my email list, I increased my audience, and I got new clients was from the lead waterfall, which is mission number four.

00:09:36.409 --> 00:09:44.009
Um, so lead waterfall is like a source generally, usually it's some sort of event.

00:09:44.090 --> 00:09:45.370
It doesn't have to be an event.

00:09:45.529 --> 00:09:52.490
We figure out what makes sense for you, but it can be an event that brings in a lot of leads at one time.

00:09:52.889 --> 00:09:58.250
So lead waterfall is for me was um events.

00:09:58.490 --> 00:10:06.009
I use my meetup group, which has been a great source of leads and building relationships.

00:10:06.329 --> 00:10:12.490
And probably once a quarter I do a workshop um with Meetup.

00:10:13.370 --> 00:10:26.090
And then I'll do guest workshops in other people's communities, and then every single month I have a free consultant mastermind.

00:10:26.649 --> 00:10:43.370
And all of these combined to bring me really warm and good fit leads, and also just surround myself with brilliant freaking people that I wouldn't have met otherwise.

00:10:43.610 --> 00:10:52.009
So I'm getting that lead waterfall, which is the goal of lead waterfall, but I'm also just like meeting some really cool people.

00:10:52.409 --> 00:10:54.569
So that's number three.

00:10:55.610 --> 00:10:57.769
Um, four is LinkedIn.

00:10:57.929 --> 00:11:07.370
So LinkedIn has always been probably 90% nurture mechanism for me rather than discover.

00:11:07.529 --> 00:11:17.929
I do have some leads that come in cold from LinkedIn, but I generally leverage LinkedIn as a place to build my relationships.

00:11:18.169 --> 00:11:25.529
So I discover them through either the lead waterfall or niche community or a guest podcast.

00:11:25.689 --> 00:11:30.169
And then I'll connect with them over on LinkedIn, and that's where we start becoming friends.

00:11:30.409 --> 00:11:36.490
I comment on their content, they comment on mine, we talk in the DMs, we build relationships.

00:11:36.730 --> 00:11:39.129
So that's what I use in LinkedIn.

00:11:39.289 --> 00:11:47.769
And LinkedIn is also something that we learn in the uh mission three, which is niche networker.

00:11:48.569 --> 00:11:50.889
Why can't I remember which thing is which?

00:11:52.090 --> 00:11:52.250
Okay.

00:11:53.529 --> 00:11:56.649
Um, and then five, let's talk about number five.

00:11:56.889 --> 00:11:58.409
It is referrals.

00:11:58.569 --> 00:12:06.250
So you might be laughing because my LinkedIn profile says referrals are great, but a steady pipeline is better.

00:12:06.409 --> 00:12:12.569
Now, the thing is, referrals are always going to be great, but they dry up.

00:12:12.809 --> 00:12:18.889
Usually after one, one and a half years, referrals aren't coming in as steadily.

00:12:19.049 --> 00:12:20.809
It's not something you can rely on.

00:12:21.049 --> 00:12:25.769
So building a referral system is what's really important.

00:12:26.409 --> 00:12:33.449
Um, so that's something that we do in mission two, fast cash, along with four other sales systems.

00:12:33.689 --> 00:12:36.490
But referrals are still a freaking awesome thing.

00:12:36.809 --> 00:12:44.250
And they almost always convert because they're coming from the lead is coming from a trusted source for the other person.

00:12:44.889 --> 00:12:51.209
Um, they might not always be a good fit on your end, but they are the easiest to close.

00:12:51.370 --> 00:12:57.689
They're like probably a 90% conversion rate on referrals, but you need a good system around it.

00:12:58.009 --> 00:13:08.009
And you need to have the right people on your referral team to be able to leverage them and get the right fit people.

00:13:08.970 --> 00:13:11.049
So those are my five.

00:13:11.769 --> 00:13:15.689
And um, I'm just gonna reiterate them real quick for you.

00:13:15.850 --> 00:13:19.289
So, number one is niche communities.

00:13:19.529 --> 00:13:26.730
So remember to ask around when you're on those networking calls, ask what niche communities people are part of.

00:13:26.889 --> 00:13:32.169
These are usually invite only, and there's no way to get that invite without asking.

00:13:32.649 --> 00:13:35.289
Number two is guest podcasting.

00:13:35.529 --> 00:13:42.009
This year I'm gonna try Podmatch and see how that works for me instead of a VA.

00:13:42.090 --> 00:13:43.850
So I'm excited to try that.

00:13:44.090 --> 00:13:46.490
Number three is the lead waterfall.

00:13:46.649 --> 00:13:49.850
So you need to find the right lead waterfall for you.

00:13:50.090 --> 00:13:58.009
I have done a ton of booked-out blueprints lately, and the lead waterfall I suggest is not always the same for people.

00:13:58.090 --> 00:13:59.529
So it's not always an event.

00:13:59.689 --> 00:14:04.009
Sometimes it is a specific strategy around guest podcasting.

00:14:04.250 --> 00:14:07.289
Sometimes it is speaking on a stage.

00:14:07.529 --> 00:14:16.009
So not always the same, but for me, it is virtual events, and it's a combination of things.

00:14:16.169 --> 00:14:27.850
So I do paid workshops, I do monthly free masterminds, and then I do guest speaking engagements in niche communities, all virtual.

00:14:28.009 --> 00:14:28.970
I have two kids.

00:14:29.129 --> 00:14:30.889
You might have just heard the vacuum turn on.

00:14:30.970 --> 00:14:33.129
That's one of them in the other room right now.

00:14:33.689 --> 00:14:35.689
Um, I need virtual.

00:14:35.850 --> 00:14:37.929
I don't have time to go someplace.

00:14:38.649 --> 00:14:40.730
Four is LinkedIn.

00:14:41.129 --> 00:14:47.689
So, I mean, a ton of people do get just their inboxes flooded with leads.

00:14:47.769 --> 00:14:48.490
And good for you.

00:14:48.649 --> 00:14:49.529
That's not me.

00:14:49.769 --> 00:14:52.409
I use LinkedIn as a nurturing mechanism.

00:14:52.649 --> 00:15:02.569
So I find my leads or they discover me through those niche communities, guest podcasting, lead waterfall, those three things that I mentioned earlier.

00:15:02.809 --> 00:15:08.250
But I build those relationships, I nurture them, I become closer with them on LinkedIn.

00:15:08.569 --> 00:15:10.809
And then five is referrals.

00:15:11.049 --> 00:15:15.370
So you can't rely on referrals to just remember that you exist.

00:15:15.610 --> 00:15:26.009
You need to build a system around them so they remember you, they know exactly how to talk about you, and they know who your ICP is, ideal customer profile.

00:15:26.569 --> 00:15:29.289
So you're not getting wrong fit leads.

00:15:29.449 --> 00:15:36.889
That tends to be the case with referrals, is either they dry up after one to one and a half years.

00:15:37.449 --> 00:15:48.889
And two, when you do get them, they're usually thinking of you for something that's not really a great fit, like an old offer, the wrong ICP.

00:15:49.129 --> 00:15:57.129
So you just need to be super clear about communicating who you work with and how you work with them.

00:15:57.370 --> 00:16:01.289
And I'll just give you a little tip here since I'm talking anyway.

00:16:01.610 --> 00:16:13.049
But one like super subtle way to do that is to create a super signature where you're explaining exactly who you work with, what you do with them.

00:16:13.370 --> 00:16:26.250
So like people literally repeat my uh my super signature to me and to referrals because it's so ingrained in their head because they're seeing it all the time.

00:16:26.490 --> 00:16:32.569
So I use a super signature at the end of all of my LinkedIn posts, and I have it in my email signature.

00:16:32.809 --> 00:16:38.169
So people are getting it all over the place, but it's also just like in their brain.

00:16:38.329 --> 00:16:43.850
So that's one way you can systematize in order to get the right fit.

00:16:44.090 --> 00:16:45.049
Leads.

00:16:45.769 --> 00:16:47.610
Okay, that's a wrap.

00:16:47.929 --> 00:16:52.970
Thank you so much for joining me on this solo episode.

00:16:53.209 --> 00:16:55.689
Let me know what you think in the comments.

00:16:55.929 --> 00:17:00.569
Um, we have comments on Apple now, Spotify.

00:17:00.730 --> 00:17:02.169
This is also on YouTube.

00:17:03.129 --> 00:17:05.529
And let me know if you have any questions.

00:17:05.769 --> 00:17:11.049
And if you are interested in joining Booked Out in Sex, don't be shy.

00:17:11.289 --> 00:17:14.890
The link to book your booked out blueprint.

00:17:15.049 --> 00:17:20.170
My husband calls it a bob, um, is in the show notes.

00:17:20.329 --> 00:17:28.009
So you can book that there, or you could just email me hello at Sarah Noelblock.com and find out if it's a good fit for you.

00:17:28.170 --> 00:17:31.850
Because maybe you're like on the on the edge, you're not sure.

00:17:32.170 --> 00:17:32.730
All right.

00:17:32.890 --> 00:17:36.170
Thank you for joining me, and I will see you next week.

00:17:36.650 --> 00:17:42.890
If this episode made things feel a little more doable, I'd love to help you take the next step with the booked out blueprint.

00:17:43.050 --> 00:17:49.210
It's a practical, low pressure session to clarify your offers, your marketing, and what actually moves the needle.

00:17:49.370 --> 00:17:51.530
You can book yours through the link in the show notes.

00:17:51.610 --> 00:17:53.690
You don't have to figure it out alone.