There was a lot of chatter today about hiring a social media consultant.
Can we reel it back in for just a moment? Can I jump up on my soap box for a second?
If you are a small business owner you need to check your facts. Period. Sure you may not be able to afford a big marketing house, but do you really want to cut corners and hire someone who is “just” a social media consultant?
No.
You wouldn’t take a piece of pie to Thanksgiving dinner would you? No, you’d take the whole pie.
So as you go out and RESEARCH someone to bring in to your company to help you with your marketing, PLEASE find someone who’s a marketing professional that ALSO gets Social Media. Not someone who just “does” social media.
The lights in my house seem to dim randomly. Can’t afford an electrician, but I figure I could afford to hire a light switch specialist. Know any?
I’m sure there are… let me Google that for you and find a random person professing their expertise in light switches…
If the business can’t afford a marketing professional with social media skills and experience, outsource the critical strategy & planning work to a marketing professional. Consider having them guide & measure the social media consultant’s work as well.
Jon – light switch specialists die an early death. They don’t know anything about circuit breakers.
Good advice, Teddy!! At least you didn’t say fuse box..
Well said. I’m with Teddy, too (although I’ll never admit it publicly) – if budget is the issue, let an Agency do the heavy lifting and fill in the details (meaning tactical work) with your internal team. Quality seminars, webinars and fantastic blogs (like this one) can help with the self education, too.
Bottom line – if you can’t invest money, you will need to invest some time learning in order to have a prayer of success. Marketing isn’t for the faint of heart.