More companies today are hiring marketing consultants to augment their in-house team. And it’s pretty easy to see why.

Marketing is the right hand to Sales, making up one half of a duo that’s a central factor to a company’s success. Small and large businesses alike struggle to cover all their bases while trying to propel their company forward, and marketing efforts are no exception.

The good news is your in-house marketing team doesn’t need to do it all alone. Marketing consultants work with your internal staff to create and implement marketing strategies, monitoring results and tweaking tactics along the way. An experienced consultant can make a world of difference as your company grows and tackles more complex marketing initiatives, bringing consistency and efficiency to the marketing department’s efforts.

Should hiring a marketing consultant be on your to-do list? Let’s find out.

1. Your Team Lacks Certain Skill Sets

Sometimes, creating a marketing strategy demands skills that exceed the scope of your marketing department. An effective marketing consultant can identify these shortcomings ahead of time and adjust the project or bring in the right support.

Your need may not be permanent, so bringing in a temporary consultant to fulfill a key role for a certain period is an excellent alternative to hiring a new salaried employee. Independent marketing consultants can end up saving you money while offering a wealth of skills and resources that you can benefit from.

2. You Aren’t Seeing a Return on Your Marketing Efforts

Marketing projects often don’t come cheap. Even the most disciplined marketing department can unintentionally go over budget. With 40% of companies struggling to prove the ROI of their marketing activities, this is clearly a huge problem. Much of it has to do with a lack of focus (constantly trying new things with no tangible results) and insufficient planning which often results in underperformance.

A skilled marketing consultant will not only help develop more accurate budgets for each project, but also implement objective-focused key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure that C-Suite executives know where the money is being spent and can tie the marketing team’s efforts to increased business.

3. You’re Struggling to Grow

If business has become stagnant or is in a downward spiral, you may need to reassess your current marketing plan.

Part of a marketing consultant’s job is to help build your business. This may include:

• Identifying opportunities to attract new clients and increase engagement and loyalty with current clients
• Setting well-defined goals in line with the company’s objectives (both short- and long-term)
• Managing your brand and putting out any fires if needed – damage control, so to speak
• Smoothing interdepartmental communication (especially between Sales and Marketing)

A marketing consultant will implement repeatable processes to ensure that your marketing department runs like a well-oiled machine, setting you up for success long after they’re gone.

Hiring a Marketing Consultant Means Taking Back Control

Hiring a marketing consultant helps put the reins back in your hands to take your marketing efforts to the next level. You gain the expertise of a seasoned marketing professional without the associated costs of a full-time employee.

Ready to hire a marketing consultant? Contact Us today to get started.