How To Hire a Freelance Marketing Consultant
How does it really work?
Is your business considering hiring a marketing consultant this year? That’s a question many business owners ask themselves at some point for many different reasons. However, with today’s changing business economy, hiring a freelance employee is becoming more common.
When hiring a freelance marketing consultant, you might ask the following questions.
What does a marketing consultant do?
Not every company can afford a full-time, in-house marketing person on staff. Outsourcing to professionals is the solution. Freelance consultants work with your budget to implement proven marketing strategies across a broad spectrum of marketing opportunities.
Most services include graphic design, collateral branding, social media management, design and oversight for new websites, and email marketing campaigns (just to name a few). A reputable freelancer should evaluate your current marketing and make suggestions on where to start. You’ll want to make sure you have the business basics in place before embarking on anything too complicated (or expensive).
What should I look for when hiring a marketing consultant?
You want to hire someone with marketing expertise and knowledge of sales, social media, website design, and technology. Key skills include excellent copywriting, creative thinking, attention to detail, being highly organized, and the ability to communicate with you throughout the contract.
Do they know your industry?
The right freelance marketing consultant should understand your industry nearly as well as you do. Freelancers tend to have a niche where they are experts in that field. For instance, a marketing professional who works with small businesses, homebuilders, real estate agents, landscapers, and designers will develop and nuance marketing plans specifically for those company brands. Keep in mind most freelance marketers should be capable of creating business basics for any company in any industry.
What does a freelancer’s work look like?
A reputable consultant should have a top-notch website, ongoing social media, a Google My Business listing, logo, and collateral that puts their skills on display. Does it look professional? Is the website easy to navigate? Is the copy fun and engaging? If the answer is no, you may want to move on to another option.
Will they prepare a proposal?
With so many choices and avenues to spend your budget, it can be hard to narrow down the “must-have” projects that fit your budget. A freelance expert can recommend where to start. Be sure to choose a firm that will evaluate, submit a Project Proposal, and walk you through a recommended plan. This should include the scope of work for all objectives, project process time frame, and an estimated cost for each.
How much do freelance marketing consultants charge?
Most consultants offer an hourly rate or a flat rate for recurring monthly services. Ask for a detailed marketing plan with consideration to the budget you had in mind. Depending on your agreement, annual contracts are usually paid monthly through automatic billing services. Some consultants may even offer an easy PAY NOW option that will allow you to pay by credit card.
