1.Not knowing what you want to get out of the consulting relationship.

Are you looking for strategic guidance, or do you have a specific job to get done? Here are the top 5 reasons to hire a consultant.

- You don’t yet have a strategic plan or roadmap

- You need context to make a key decision

- You need key experience, or expertise . . . but not long term

- You have a project to complete with a clear beginning and end, but don’t have the right talent in-house

- You have a deliverable that needs to be completed quickly, but don’t have the bandwidth to make progress against it

5 Reasons to Hire A Strategic Marketing Consultant

1. You don’t have a strategic plan.

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2.Wanting (or getting) the consultant to produce recommendations in the proposal.

Don’t skimp on discovery. If your consultant is providing recommendations of what to do (or if you are asking them to) before a process of discovery has taken place, you’re getting cookie-cutter recommendations that may not be the right fit for your company or situation.

3.Asking the consultant to see other clients’ plans or deliverables.

The reason you hire a consultant is for expertise. If you have doubts about them, ask for references. Do not ask to see the work product that someone else paid for. Not only does it signal to the consultant that you’re not serious, it also calls into question your ethics. You wouldn’t want a plan that you paid for to be shared with another company, so don’t ask a consultant to

4.For startups, hiring before you’re ready.

The lure of a consultant who might be able to give you answers & insights can be strong, but don’t start screening consultants if you’re not serious and not ready to hire a pro. If these situations apply to you, you’re not ready.

• You don’t have sufficient budget to execute against recommendations. — having a great strategy is only useful if you have the resources to execute. If you’re budget challenged and own your company, consider bringing in an advisor and offering equity instead.
• Secretly, you think you can do it yourself. If you don’t trust that a consultant can do it better & faster, all you’ll do is frustrate yourself and the consultant. A good partnership is a two-way street.

Not sure whether you’re ready for outside help? Maybe I can help. Head over to Zumaeta Group and find out more.

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