By 2023, the US’s spending on digital advertising is expected to reach $201 billion. Americans are spending heavily on digital marketing. It has become the modern way for businesses to win customers’ attention.
As digital marketing grows, competition also has become stiff. It’s not enough to invest in digital marketing; your strategy must be outstanding. You need an expert marketing consultant to up your game.
There are more than 200,000 marketing agencies in the US. How do you narrow it down to one agency or consultant? Keep reading to learn how to hire a marketer that suits your business.
What Is a Digital Marketing Consultant?
Digital marketing promotes businesses or services in a digital environment, like the internet. Digital marketing strategies use different tactics to build brand awareness and promote your business.
Digital marketing consultants assist companies with digital marketing strategies. They are crucial for getting businesses started on the right track using digital marketing platforms.
The consultant has a lot of experience in digital marketing. They have the skills, knowledge, and expertise to help companies succeed online.
A digital marketing consultant creates digital marketing campaigns that align with your business goals. They manage these campaigns and guide you through best practices. They help you reach your objectives within budget and time constraints.
What Does a Digital Marketing Consultant Do?
For a company to attract clients, they need a digital marketing consultant. The professional offers tactics to bring in the right traffic and maximize sales.
Here are some activities that you can do as a Digital Marketing Consultant:
Analyzing the Current Situation
A digital marketing consultant analyzes the current situation of their client’s business. They look into the social media accounts, their website, and competitors. They also conduct surveys or focus groups for customers and the target market.
Business Strategy
The outsourced digital marketer creates a business strategy for their client. They will look into the overall marketing strategy and make recommendations to improve it. They also create a digital marketing plan for their client.
Digital Marketing Campaigns
The consultant creates digital marketing campaigns for their client. They will create a content calendar, analyze the data, and optimize the campaign based on the results.
Measurement and Analysis
The consultant analyzes the data and makes recommendations on how to improve the campaign. They also create a monthly report for their client.
Project Management
The consultant manages all of the digital marketing campaigns for their client. They ensure everything is on track and that the campaigns are running smoothly.
Content Creation
The consultant creates content for their client’s website, blog, and social media accounts. They also create all of the copy for email marketing campaigns.
Website Development
The consultant works with the client to create a website that effectively promotes their business. They ensure that the site is optimized for search engines and mobile devices.
Strategy Planning
The consultant creates a digital marketing strategy for their client. They determine the best channels to use and reach their target audience.
What Are the Differences Between a Digital Marking Consultant and a Normal Marketing Consultant?
Digital marketing consultants help your business increase its online presence, sales, and brand visibility. They can do this through social media marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), and pay-per-click advertising. They also use content creation and email marketing strategies.
A digital marketing consultant is different from a normal marketing consultant. Digital consultants specialize in internet-based marketing. They have more experience with digital platforms and relevant tools.
As the internet grows, the services by digital marketing consultants have also evolved.
A digital marketing consultant and a normal marketing consultant also differ in communication. Normal marketing consultants use email and phone to communicate. Digital marketers use online platforms like blogs, social networks, and e-newsletters.
Digital marketing consultants also understand digital marketing reputation management and content promotion. They are conversant with conversion rate optimization for a variety of digital channels.
A digital consultant doesn’t focus just on selling you a service like normal marketers. They build your digital assets and capabilities.
How Much Does a Digital Marketing Consultant Charge?
Digital marketing pricing is a murky topic. Some “experts” quote astronomical prices to get their name out there. Other digital marketers want to undercut their competitors to win over clients. The truth lies somewhere in between.
There’s no hard and fast rule for digital marketing pricing. Different factors determine how much your digital marketing package will cost.
Here are some key factors that determine digital marketing pricing?
The Digital Marketing Agency Model
Are you looking for a full-service agency or digital marketing specialists? Full-service agencies are more expensive than specialists. This is because they have to charge more to cover the costs of all their services.
Cindtoro is a full-service digital marketing agency in the US. We, however, offer custom digital marketing solutions tailored to your specific needs.
Your Budget
This is the most important factor. You have to decide how much you are willing to spend on digital marketing. It will determine the type of agency and services you can afford.
When budgeting for digital marketing, view it as an investment rather than a cost. The initial costs may be high, but the return on investment is high.
Your Industry
If you are in a competitive industry, you will pay more. This is because agencies will charge more to help you beat your competitors.
The Size of Your Business
The size of your business also affects the cost of digital marketing. Small companies pay less than big businesses.
International businesses that target a global audience pay higher. Such companies need to customize their marketing strategies to match the diverse audience. This may mean using different digital platforms and content.
Also, the bigger your business, the higher pressure it is to beat competitors. Agile digital marketing needs to be implemented, which explains why it costs more.
The Location of Your Business
Agencies charge more if you are based in a highly-populated area like New York or London. They also charge more if your business is in a more affluent area. If you are based in a small town, they will charge less.
How to Find a Marketing Consultant
There is no shortage of marketing consultants and marketing agencies. However, finding the right one for your business can be tricky. The process might take longer than expected, but it’s worth the effort.
Begin with a marketing needs analysis. Do you want to create a blog and grow your social media presence? Or do you want someone to create content and manage your PPC campaigns?
Figure out what you want from your marketing consultant. This way, you know which type of digital consultant you are looking for.
You can then search for competent digital marketing consultants. You have numerous options on how to do this. Try the following ways:
- Post online ads on job marketing websites or your website
- Search on online job platforms
- Ask for recommendations from friends and family
The three strategies will land you numerous digital marketers. However, you have to narrow it down to one. You have to vet the potential candidates to determine a suitable fit.
Be clear on what you are looking for during your search. The candidates should know your expected deliverables.
If you are new to digital marketing, it’s possible you don’t know where to start. You don’t know your marketing needs and possible solutions. Start by looking at your competitors.
Who is marketing their business? What types of platforms are they using? If they are using social media, what kinds of posts are they doing?
Are they doing any video? Are they on Instagram or Pinterest? Don’t duplicate their strategies; your goal is to familiarize yourself with digital marketing.
This will give you ideas on what to look for and potential digital marketing strategies.
How to Hire the Right Digital Marketing Consultant for Your Business
A good digital marketing agency can be a huge benefit to your business. With their expertise and knowledge, they can help you create a full-scale marketing campaign.
However, hiring a marketing consultant for your business can be a challenge. Research the different agencies available in your area. So, how do you find the right digital marketing consultant?
Here are some things to look out for:
Qualifications and Services
The digital arena is a complex place to navigate. It requires a high level of knowledge and expertise. Ensure that the professional you hire has the right skill set to help your business grow.
If a company needs help with its website, having a web developer is an excellent choice. If they need to boost their SEO, hiring a search engine optimization specialist is the way to go. If you are hiring an agency, consider a firm with diverse skills.
Fundamental expertise for all consultants is understanding their clients’ business. They should identify their goals and provide appropriate solutions.
A great digital marketing partner brings you a varied skillset and a diverse background. This way, they can contribute their expertise in many areas. They should have the expertise to handle everything from strategy planning and campaign execution.
The expertise will determine the services a consultant can offer.
Digital Experience
Digital experience makes most digital agencies stand out from their competitors. It is not enough to have the skills or knowledge to create a website. As a consumer, you want certainty that the company designs and develops high-converting websites.
Digital experience is a company’s history of creating digital products. Every company needs to have experience in its niche to appeal to the right audience. They should demonstrate how they helped clients achieve their online goals.
Examine the company’s website. If their site has poor navigation or information, this can suggest inadequacy. A consultant with many years of experience has encountered numerous challenges.
Their expertise makes them competent to offer valuable marketing advice.
Reputation
What are the experiences of other customers served by the consultant? Check online reviews or consult from family and friends. This will set your mind on what to expect.
Companies with poor reviews are an indication of inadequacy. Work with a company that shows the potential to deliver your desired results.
Consider the size of their network. Marketing consultants that have worked with large clients are more likely to get your business to its next level. They already have a strong network in place, so they know how to get you the results you want.
Digital Marketing Channels
The world of digital marketing is vast and full of options. It’s easy for a new business to get lost in the shuffle. Know what channels your agency offers.
You are better off working with an agency with expertise in different channels. The available options include social media, email, website, SEO, PPC, and others. A company with various options knows which strategy works best for which business.
Their advice is not limited to one option. This allows your business to explore potential marketing channels to grow your business.
Pricing
Digital market pricing matters; however, it shouldn’t be a primary factor to consider. Low-priced digital marketing services are not a guarantee for results.
Compare pricing with the value offered. If the value offered is worth it, paying extra than normal market rates makes sense. What’s important is working within your budget.
Customization
Businesses differ in models, target customers, and operation. You need a digital marketing solution that matches your needs. A consultant that offers a one-size fit for all may be limiting.
Work with a company that customizes digital marketing strategies. Remember your marketing strategy has to appeal to your specific audience.
Invest in a Competent Digital Marketing Consultant Today
You don’t have to be a digital marketing expert to take your business next level. You can work with a digital marketing consultant expert. If you are stranded on how to hire a marketing consultant, try the above tips.
Cindtoro Digital Marketing Agency offers a wide range of digital marketing services. We offer SEO, Web design services, digital billboards, and Pay Per Click (PPC) services. We work with local and international companies to provide the best.
Visit our website to learn more about our digital marketing services.
