Most business owners today realize that SEO and Google ranking are integral to revenue, and according to a new study by research marketing group Ascend2, 50 percent of companies facing challenges in this area are not utilizing social media effectively. Hiring a skilled social media consultant is a great way to boost your website traffic and revenue, because they connect your target customer to your business’ brand. They can help you with a range of services, including developing a social media strategy, setting up Twitter, Facebook and other accounts, and managing the content, such as link posts, blog announcements and events and promotions.
It’s important to infuse your Web presence with a professional, overarching plan that will help solidify your branding efforts. There are many types of social media professionals eager to offer their services; however, be mindful of their focus when you reach out to hire, because their expertise and your specific needs may not be a match.
Experience
Social media consulting is a relatively new career area, and therefore the experience level is often measured by project quantity and scope rather than years. Ask to see the consultant’s portfolio of work and an explanation of the problem each campaign solved and resulting revenue returns. If your budget is limited and you need to work with someone with less experience, look for someone who has handled your trade or business category in the past with successful results. This will reduce the learning curve and time required to complete the work.
Demonstrated Professional Social Media Network
A person who describes him or herself as a social media professional must have a Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest account that demonstrates an ability to do the job. Connect with your candidates on LinkedIn and Facebook and view their profiles. Look for an active posting history with comments and lots of signs of engagement.
A Sound Strategy
Before you sign on the dotted line with a social media consultant, get an overview of the services being offered, along with a few specific tactics he or she plans on using with your particular business. Do not be shy about asking for the reasoning behind the information. If they balk at a logical request, working with them would likely be a one-sided and unsuccessful process.
Experience in Your Industry
There is a social media consultant with experience in your industry waiting to help you with specialized knowledge of your customer, product and service, but finding her may be a challenge. It may be useful to contact an industry association or network with competitors and colleagues to find an industry favorite. This expertise may demand a higher price point, but the project would be completed faster, which would reduce the expense. Asking for a price sheet with services will help you remain within your budget.
Guest post by Jay Himmelman
Jay works for a burgeoning social media startup, and he hopes to learn as much as he can by researching and writing about social media and tech trends.
