The term ‘consultant’ often gets a bad rap, thanks to the approach taken by certain people brandishing that label.

If your view of external consultants has been skewed by those who are more interested in making a quick buck than delivering value, I’ve got some good news.

Pick the right consultant, and it could have a seriously positive impact on your business. This is particularly the case in digital marketing.

What is a digital marketing consultant (DMC)?

There was a time when most businesses would have a dedicated marketing department. Consisting of a manager (who might report to a marketing director) and some execs, these teams would typically be expensive to run (they all need Apple Macs and Adobe subscriptions, don’t you know…) and seemingly intent on ostracising themselves from the sales team, with whom they should be working closely.

Ok, so not all in-house marketing teams were like that, but the cost of running those departments can quickly spiral out of control.

This is in part why so many businesses now outsource their marketing efforts. However, the smart companies are those who focus their investment on consultancy services. A digital marketing consultant (DMC) is someone who isn’t employed by the companies for whom they work, but who bring with them significant experience that helps businesses create and see through lead-driven marketing strategies.

3 signs you need a DMC

So, how do you know if you need a DMC? What common signs are there that indicate your business is only running at half-mast when it comes to one of its most important functions?

1. You don’t have enough experience in-house

As noted previously, finding the right marketing talent for your business isn’t easy, and running a team of that kind in-house can become incredibly expensive.

If your sales director is also tasked with marketing but has little experience in the latter, or if you have a junior team of marketing execs who are hungry but a little wet behind the ears, some external, experienced assistance will ensure they have achievable campaigns and goals to work on.

2. Your digital marketing plan or strategy is gathering dust

I’ve lost count of how many digital marketing plans I’ve seen gathering dust.

It starts with the best possible intentions; people sit down to plan out their marketing strategy and even the individual campaigns that will help them achieve their goals. But, once that plan is committed to paper, everything else that comes with running the business takes over.

The result? All of that hard work goes to waste. And you know what? Most marketing plans really do have some gold within them - and you’ll know if you aren’t giving yours the attention it deserves.

3. Your marketing efforts aren’t producing any leads

Marketing exists for several reasons. It helps businesses build engaging brands, attract large audiences and create a tone of voice that gives the organisation a notable presence within the industry.

It’s main aim, though, has to be lead generation. After all, what use is an email marketing campaign or Google Ads account if it doesn’t result in a consistent, predictable stream of incoming leads for the sales team?

What you should expect from a DMC

This, thankfully, is pretty straightforward.

A reputable, experienced DMC will fast become an extension of your team. Give it a few weeks of working with them, and it won’t feel like they’re external at all. The best DMCs know how to get under the skin of a business and work with the stakeholders and team members to ensure the marketing strategy is carried out effectively.

Your DMC will be proactive in communication with you, visible (i.e. not just on the end of email communication) and honest; if you expect results that are unachievable, they’ll tell you why that’s the case. Equally, they’ll know when you have a brilliant idea and will ensure it is realised.

How to select a DMC

Well, let’s be honest - you’ve landed on the right web page when it comes to DMC selection!

There’s no silver bullet to finding the right DMC. Sometimes you’ll click with them immediately, sometimes it just won’t be a good fit. But there’s absolutely no harm in having a chat to see where the opportunities lie.

So, get in touch today and tell me all about your business!