If you’re an entrepreneur just starting your business or a small business owner with a small team, you may wonder if you should hire a full-time employee specializing in marketing. That’s where marketing consultants come in.

These professionals can be hired on a short- or long-term contract to help businesses strategize, plan, and execute a marketing campaign and advise companies on general marketing guidance.

Marketers may offer various services to businesses to help them strengthen their brand, grow their audience, or promote a product or event. These services may include search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, paid advertising, email marketing, content marketing, growth strategy, and more. Whether businesses want to expand their reach online or in the local community, these pros can provide different services and strategies to meet their goals.

Marketing professionals typically charge for their services by the hour. Since they are not hired full-time on a business’s staff, they will only charge for their services and the time they spend working on those services.

Are you not sure where to start when it comes to hiring a marketer? First, research local marketing professionals or agencies near you. Staying local may have its benefits—these professionals know the local market and will have a local professional network. They may have an inside scoop on the best local marketing and advertising avenues to meet your business goals and budget.

You can also reach out to your professional network. Having a recommendation from a colleague or friend may help steer you in the right direction.

When you find marketing consultants you like, ask them to talk on the phone or meet in person. Discuss their services, pricing, and how they can help your business.

When talking with a marketing consultant, ask them about their experience and previous work with other clients. Finding someone who has worked with clients like your business is a good idea.

For example, if you’re a small business owner needing event marketing assistance, look for a marketer with experience promoting other small businesses’ events. If you need help producing video content, ask to see some samples of their video creations. If you’re looking for help with digital marketing and SEO, find a marketing agency that specializes in these areas and has proven positive results for their previous clients.

As a business owner, you may have to decide between hiring a consultant and a full-time, in-house marketing employee. Each scenario has advantages and disadvantages that should be considered. Cost, accessibility, skill set, and other factors are significant to consider. For example, hiring a full-time employee may cost more in the long run than hiring a consultant, but you may find a full-time employee candidate who has the exact skillset you’re looking for.

Always look for the BBB Seal when hiring for B2B services. It’s The Sign of a Better Business and means the business has been vetted against BBB’s Standards for Trust.

For more tips on marketing and running your business, visit BBB’s Business Content HQ. Learn more about BBB’s resources for all businesses.

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