Boosting your business digitally today often feels like riding a runaway train. The fast-changing world of online marketing leaves many leaders dizzy and overwhelmed.
You know your website, ads and social media presence need work to stay competitive. But your team lacks the expertise and bandwidth to optimize these critical activities in-house.
That’s where bringing in a digital marketing consultant can help ensure your brand doesn’t get left behind. Expert consultants offer strategic perspective, innovative ideas and hands-on execution to maximize your online impact.
Pros of Hiring Digital Marketing Consultants
Deciding whether to hire a digital marketing consultant depends on fully understanding the potential benefits they offer as well as the possible downsides. Let's explore the key advantages consultants can provide if you choose the right partner.
1. Experience and expertise
Digital marketing changes rapidly. Consultants make it their full-time job to stay on top of the latest trends, tools, and best practices. They bring strategic perspective and deep expertise that your internal team likely lacks. For niche areas like search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, and email marketing, consultants offer invaluable specialized skills.
3. Objectivity
Internal teams can be too close to see the big picture clearly at times. Consultants provide an objective outside perspective, assessing your current marketing efforts and identifying opportunities for improvement. With no office politics or preconceptions, consultants can be bluntly honest about what's working and what needs to change.
4. Added capabilities
A consultant serves as an extension of your marketing team, adding capabilities your organization may not have in-house. This supplemental expertise helps you execute more robust campaigns and manage additional channels and tasks. Consultants also bring best practices from experience working with multiple clients.
5. Fresh ideas
Beyond specific skills, consultants also contribute new ideas and innovative strategies based on exposure to diverse industries and clients. An outside point of view helps challenge assumptions, avoid ruts, and find creative ways to connect with your audience.
Cons of Hiring Digital Marketing Consultants
While consultants undoubtedly bring important expertise to the table, they also have some inherent drawbacks to weigh. Be realistic about the cons before moving forward with a consultant relationship.
1. Cost
Consultants bill for their time, with fees ranging from $100 to $500+ per hour depending on experience. Long-term contracts often cost tens of thousands of dollars. For smaller businesses, the expense may not justify the investment. However, the right consultant should yield a positive ROI from increased conversions.
2. Learning curve
Initially, consultants need time to learn about your business, marketing efforts to date, and unique value proposition. This ramp-up period means you won't see immediate results. But once up to speed, a knowledgeable consultant will be more effective at driving outcomes.
3. Lack of follow through
Some consultants make recommendations then leave execution entirely up to your team. Without adequate guidance to implement changes, you can struggle to realize the promised benefits. Look for consultants who provide strategic advice coupled with hands-on support.
4. Misalignment
Ideally, consultants function as trusted advisors who put your interests first. However, some may push unnecessary services or continue contracts for too long. Search for consultants who listen, set clear scopes and outcomes, and align efforts with your goals.
As we’ve explored, digital marketing consultants can provide invaluable skills and outside insight for your business. But finding the right partner means assessing pros, cons and fit thoroughly.
Rather than going it alone, leverage firms like MSY Analytics. We help connect clients to digital marketing consultants who align with their specific goals, needs and budgets. And we provide ongoing management to ensure you achieve the promised results.
Don’t let digital marketing be a frustrating, fruitless endeavor. Partner with the experts at MSY to hire marketing consultants who deliver real impact. Let us guide you toward online success today!
