Digital marketing is relevant to almost any business today.
Isn’ it interesting to know that even when you do not have an online presence for your business, your potential customers might be searching for you?
How did you find us online when we do not even have a website? We haven’t spent a dime online.
It was a question from a newly-opened plant nursery owner near my home.
I smiled and said – you are not online yet, but your customers already are.
Yes, that’s right. No matter what you sell or offer, online marketing is important for you.
The digital age has revolutionized the business landscape. Today, we as customers expect to find everything online. Be it something to buy or simply the driving direction to a place.
Who and what is a digital marketing consultant?/h2>
Think of a digital marketing consultant like your online marketing expert.
A digital marketing consultant is a strategist and advisor who leverages various online channels to help businesses accomplish their marketing objectives. And, these objectives can be:
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Increasing brand awareness: Reaching a wider audience and solidifying a brand’s position online.
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Generating leads: Attracting potential customers and gathering their contact information.
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Driving sales: Directly contributing to increased revenue.
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Building customer loyalty: Nurturing relationships with existing customers to encourage repeat purchases and advocacy.
Digital marketing consultants use their experience, expertise and multiple paid and free digital marketing tools to help your businesses reach their goals – whether that’s getting the names out there, finding new customers, making more sales, or keeping existing customers super happy.
In summary, a digital marketing consultant is the person who helps you identify the right audience, reach out to them at the right time with the right messaging.
They help you define your KPIs, set up and fix your tracking strategy, and have performance reporting in place for you to view what’s working, what’s not, and to what extent.
In all, they take care of all important aspects of your digital marketing efforts.
What Do Digital Marketing Consultants Do?
Here’s the breakdown of a digital marketing consultant’s role:
The Detective Work: They dig into your website, social media and all your digital marketing channels. They also check what your competitors are up to. It’s all about finding what works, what doesn’t, and who your perfect customers really are.
Master Planners: They figure out the why behind your marketing (what you want to achieve!), and then map out the best way to get there. Which channels to use (think: SEO, those paid ads, social stuff), what kinds of content to make, the whole strategy, soup to nuts.
Get It Done Squad: Sometimes they even help make the magic happen – stuff like improving your website for search engines, setting up ad campaigns, or making your social media feeds super engaging.
It depends if you have chosen a done-for-your service or a guided consulting approach for your marketing goals.
Core Responsibilities of a Digital Marketing Consultant
The scope of work for the consultant you have hired can change based on your business and its digital marketing requirements, however there are certain things that apply to almost any business. Here are some of them:
Auditing and Analysis:
Website and digital presence review: Evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of a company’s website, social media pages, and other online assets.
Competitor research: Analyzing the digital strategies of businesses in the same industry to identify best practices and potential gaps to exploit.
Target audience identification: Defining the ideal customer profile including demographics, interests, pain points, and online behaviour.
Strategy Development:
Goals and KPIs: Setting clear digital marketing marketing goals and defining the metrics to measure success effectively and with ease.
Channel selection: Determining the best mix of digital channels (SEO, PPC, social media, etc.) based on the target audience and business objectives.
Tactical recommendations: Outlining specific actions to be taken on each channel, such as keyword optimization, ad campaigns, content creation, etc.
Budget allocation: Distributing digital marketing funds strategically across different channels and activities so the they can be subjected well for your business’ benefits.
Implementation and Management:
Search Engine Optimization (SEO):
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On-page optimization: Improving website content and structure for search engines.
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Off-page optimization: Building backlinks from reputable websites to demonstrate authority.
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Technical SEO: Ensuring search engines can correctly crawl and index your website.
Pay-Per-Click Advertising (PPC):
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Campaign development: Setting up ads on platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Bing Ads etc..
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Keyword research: Identifying terms that your potential customers are searching for.
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Ad copywriting: Crafting compelling ad text to bring potential customers to website.
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Bid management: Optimizing ad bids to maximize visibility and ROI.
Social Media Marketing:
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Content creation: Developing engaging posts, images, videos, etc.
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Community management: Responding to comments, messages, and fostering interactions.
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Paid social advertising: Running targeted ads to reach specific demographics and interests.
Content Marketing:
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Content strategy: Planning the types of content to create (blogs, infographics, etc.) and distribution channels.
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Content creation: Producing high-quality, informative, and engaging content.
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Content promotion: Sharing content through social media, email, and other channels.
Email Marketing:
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Email list building: Developing strategies to grow an email subscriber list.
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Email campaign design: Creating visually appealing and effective email campaigns.
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Automation: Setting up automated email sequences (welcome series, abandoned cart, etc.).
Analytics and Optimization:
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Data tracking: Setting up tools like Google Analytics to monitor website traffic, campaign performance, social media metrics, and other key data points.
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Reporting: Presenting data in an understandable format and providing actionable insights.
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A/B Testing: Experimenting with different variations of elements (headlines, call to action, etc.) to improve conversion rates.
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Continuous improvement: Iterating on strategies based on results to maximize ROI.
Why Hire a Digital Marketing Consultant?
While the obvious reason for choosing the digital marketing consulting services is your business growth, there are many more things to it. Let’s consider them one by one.
Expertise: Marketing consultants bring specialized knowledge and expertise to the table. And then, there are way too many thing to catch up on. An expert offering digital marketing consulting stay updated on the latest digital marketing trends.
Digital marketing changes faster, new developments come and old ones retire. That’s where digital marketing consultants come in. They’re plugged into all the newest strategies and tools, so you don’t have to spend all day scrolling through marketing blogs.
Consultants are basically your marketing brain trust. They’ve got the deep knowledge that comes from experience, and they’re always learning what’s hot and what’s not. That means you get cutting-edge solutions, not just the same old tactics everyone else is using.
Objectivity and fresh eyes: A digital marketing consultant provides an unbiased, outside perspective to identify opportunities that your company may miss internally.
Sometimes, you get so deep into running your own business, you can’t see the forest for the trees, right? Consultants are like… fresh eyes on the whole situation. They haven’t been staring at the same stuff as you day in and day out.
That means they can spot things you might have totally overlooked. Maybe it’s a killer social media strategy your competitor’s using, or a way to tweak your website that could get more people clicking. An outside perspective can be the key to those “aha!” moments.
Time Efficiency: A digital marketing consultant helps businesses save time and resources by quickly developing and implementing effective strategies.
Let’s be real, running a business means you’re pulled in a million directions. Who has time to become an expert in SEO, Facebook ads, AND email marketing? A digital marketing consultant takes that off your plate.
They know how to get things done fast. They’re not figuring it out as they go along – they’ve got proven strategies ready to roll. That means you save a ton of time (and probably some headaches, too!) by not having to DIY your whole marketing plan.
Focus: They allow you to maintain focus on your core business operations while outsourcing marketing efforts.
You’ve got a business to run, right? A digital marketing consultant lets you actually focus on the stuff you’re the expert in. They’ll handle the marketing side of things for you, so you’re not constantly distracted trying to figure out say – how to boost your Instagram followers.
Think of it like delegating at its best. You get to zero in on building your awesome product or service, knowing that the marketing stuff is in good hands.
Measurable Results: A digital marketing consultant focuses on achieving specific targets, tracking KPIs, and providing evidence of return on investment (ROI).
Consultants aren’t just about throwing ideas out there – they’re about results. They’re obsessed with numbers! Did those ads bring in more customers? Is your website getting more traffic? They’ll track all those important metrics (that’s marketing-speak for measurements). In the absence of a good marketing consultant, I have businesses failing to set up even the right Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
And the best part? They’ll actually show you whether what they’re doing is paying off. It’s not just a feeling – you’ll get the proof in the numbers.
Not all digital marketing consultants are created equal…
You’ll find a digital marketing consultant who do it all, and then the ones who specialize (like just in SEO or social media). Do your homework before hiring one:
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Got the Wins? Ask to see some success stories. Yes, it’s very important. Talks without proof is called bragging. Does your digital marketing consultant brag about achievements without showing real validations for their expertise? Take it a red alarm. Digital marketing is an easy to start business for anybody today, validation matters a lot.
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Do They ‘Get’ You? They need to understand your business well and what you want to achieve with it. Ask questions specific to your business. Create unique situations and ask them for the solution in the given scenario. It will help you understand if they understand your business well. It’s very important.
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Clear Talkers: Can they explain all that digital marketing jargon in plain English? Someone who knows a thing the best, will find it easy to explain in simple terms. If you hear a lot of jargons without their clear explanations to you, you have reasons to doubt.
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Budget Friendly? Make sure what they offer fits what you can spend. You will find a digital marketing consultant at varied prices. What someone would be charging for an hour, the others would work for the entire month on. It goes without saying that a marketing consultant with good expertise will charge higher, but then it should be justifiable and within your budget. Make sure you are able to find a balance between the cost and expertise.
Types of Digital Marketing Consultants
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Generalists: Offer a broad range of digital marketing services. The scope of digital marketing is broad. For that reason, you can find a marketing consultant who takes care of every aspect of digital marketing. And, it’s not necessarily bad.
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Specialists: Focus on specific areas, like SEO, social media, email marketing, or PPC advertising. You can find a digital marketing consultant who consults or offers services on the specific segments of digital marketing. And, it’s not necessarily great.
How To Choose The Right Online Marketing Consultant For Your Business
Choosing the right digital marketing consultant for your business is very important. You need to find someone who fits your requirements.
Get a marketing consultant with Proven Tack Records
When selecting a marketing consultant, it is essential to consider their proven track record. A consultant with a history of successful projects and campaigns can provide valuable insights and strategies for your business.
You should look for a consultant who has experience in your industry or at least in a similar niche. This will ensure they understand your target audience and the unique challenges that might be facing.
Ask for specific examples of their work, such as case studies or client testimonials. Do not ask for screenshots or marketing dashboard data from the previous clients. It’s unethical for a digital marketing consultant to do that.
However, a qualified consultant will be able to provide you tangible results that demonstrate their ability to deliver. It is also important to consider the size and scope of their previous projects. Make sure they have experience working with businesses of a similar size and complexity to yours.
A proven track record is not the only factor to consider when choosing a digital marketing consultant. However, it is a strong indicator of their competence and ability to help you achieve your business goals effectively.
By taking the time to research and select a consultant with a proven track record, you can increase your chances of success working with them.
A consultant who understands your specific industry and business goals.
A consultant who understands your specific industry and business goals is a valuable asset to have on your team. They can provide you with insights and recommendations that can help you achieve success considerably faster.
Such digital marketing consultants will have a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in your industry. They can help you identify new trends and developments that could impact your business.
The consultant will have a strong understanding of business principles and practices. They can help you develop and implement strategies that will help you reach your goals.
They will be able to tailor their recommendations to your specific business needs. They will take the time to understand your company’s unique challenges and opportunities.
The consultant will be able to provide you with an objective perspective on your business. They can help you identify areas where you can improve and make recommendations for change.
Digital marketing is comprehensive. The strategies might differ based on the types of business. Working with a consultant can save you time and effort. They can take care of the research and analysis needed to develop recommendations for your business.
Get a marketing consultant excellent communication skills.
Hiring a marketing expert with effective communication skills is an investment that can pay off in the long run. It helps you ensure that you are able to able convey the right messages to your potential and existing customers.
An expert offering marketing consulting services must have great communication skills. It is immensely helpful not only in communicating with the clients effectively but also in being able to write compelling contents for ads, social media, and websites .
Hire a consultant who gives you clear deliverables and align with your budget.
When hiring a consultant, it is essential to consider factors such as clear deliverables and budget alignment.
A consultant should provide a clear understanding of the deliverables expected from their services. The deliverables should be well-defined, specific, and measurable to assess the success of the project. Your marketing consultant should be able to articulate the expected outcomes and how they align with your digital marketing objectives.
It is also crucial to discuss budget expectations with your consultant upfront to ensure alignment. You need to ask for a detailed proposal outlining the costs associated with their services.
The budget should be transparent and agreed upon by both parties to avoid discrepancies or misunderstandings during the project. The consultant should be willing to work within the client’s budget constraints and explore cost-effective solutions.
Which Digital Marketing Strategies Can Help Me Achieve My Goals?
Every business is unique. A digital marketing strategy that works for one business, may not necessarily work for another even in the same industry. If you are wondering to know which marketing strategy is going to work for you, the answer depends on several aspects.
For instance, what do you sell or offer, what unique selling propositions your products or services have got, who your ideal customers are, etc..
You need to get answers to a reasonably good number of questions to formulate the right digital marketing strategy. To tell you the truth, this very question is the reason you need to consider hiring one of the digital marketing consultants for your business.
It’s the responsibility of the the consultant to analyze everything and come with the right set of the marketing strategies for your brand. He/She will be subjecting their expertise and the knowledge of digital marketing to choose the right set of marketing channels, tools and and marketing strategies for your brand.
Where to find the best digital marketing consultants?
Here are some of the places you need to spend some time researching to find the right marketing consultants for your marketing efforts.
Industry directories:
Search online directories that list digital marketing consultants in your region or with expertise in your industry.
Online Communities:
Look for consultants affiliated with top mentoring or consulting market places and in online communities. There are communities for specific fields of digital marketing. For instance, if it is about Google Ads, go to Google’s official community for ads.
Client testimonials and reviews:
Read reviews and case studies on consultant websites or clutch.co to understand their past work and client satisfaction.
Social Media Website:
A good consultant would not sit ideal, he/she will be sharing knowledge on social media networking websites like Linkedin, Twitter etc. Spend some analyzing contents to find the right consultant for your requirements.
Google Search:
Search Google for with the terms like – digital marketing consulting, marketing consulting services, digital marketing consultancy, etc.. Go beyond the ads when you are using Google search. See who ranks in organic results, if a consultant claims to promote businesses, they should be able to do it for themselves too.
Start shortlisting candidates and make a list. Now contact them one by one and request for proposals and discovery calls. Go talk to them. Have your questions ready. Ask your heart out.
Analyze your interactions and digital marketing proposals that you have got and then make a final selection.
How long should I hire a digital marketing consultant for?
It depends on your specific marketing goals. Digital marketing is not a one time thing, it’s a continuous process. You might stop or slow down on the digital marketing campaigns once your specific goals have been achieved, but your competitors won’t.
For that reason, consulting services should be taken as an ongoing activity in digital marketing. However, working for a long with a consultant if your in-house team have become competent, you can go ahead to stop the service. Yes, you can always get back and hire one when you need.
