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7 Considerations Before You Hire A Freelance Marketing Consultant

Here are a few things you should keep in mind:

1. Budget:

You should set a realistic budget. If you underspend to hire a freelance marketing consultant that does not have the level of expertise and attention to detail you need, you might end up with a wasted investment. Worse still, you might end up with someone who doesn’t help to build your business in a way that encourages potential customers to want to buy from you. Remember the expression “if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys”? There also needs to be a balance, though, with choosing a marketing consulting service that gives you a reasonable return on investment for that expense.

2. Relevant Experience:

Don’t be shy to ask for case studies or examples of past projects and their outcomes. If the marketing professional you’re talking to has tangible results to show you, such as increased sales, brand awareness or customer engagement, this is a good sign. Be aware that some people “out there” might be slightly less truthful or prone to exaggeration – a quick cross-check on LinkedIn can help here.

3. Skills:

Before you hire a freelance marketing consultant, determine what kinds of things you might need them to do and what skills they need to have. For example, do you need help with marketing strategy, social media marketing or SEO services? Should you be searching on Google using the search term, sales and marketing consulting for small business, freelance marketing consultant or independent digital marketing consultant? Make sure that the consultant you hire has the necessary skills to execute your requirements. If you’re not entirely sure what you need, then starting off with a general small business marketing consultant search might be a good idea.

4. Strong communication skills:

Effective communication is key for a successful relationship between you and the specialist you choose to work with. Find someone who can clearly articulate their ideas and listen to your needs and who, if necessary, works well with your team. 

5. Look at testimonials:

The references and testimonials from past clients can help you to gauge reliability and work ethic. Google reviews can give you a good idea, although be aware that some slightly shadier businesses can pay for reviews. LinkedIn is a good back-up source of testimonials. 

6. Check the marketing proposal:

Make sure the proposal given to you satisfies the areas you want covered and outlines some key action points that you have agreed on. Double-check what activities, hours and services it includes and does not include. 

7. Be ready to give your marketing expert all the information they need:

They will need the requested logins for marketing tech tools and an introduction to relevant team members, to start analysing and strategizing before work is carried out.

By considering the above factors, you can make an informed decision to hire the right kind of expert that fits with your company and that will help you achieve your goals effectively.  For more guidance on this subject, read the ultimate guide on hiring a small business marketing consultant by Catherine McManus, Small Business Marketing Consultant.