Internet marketing is an art form. Anyone can set up a Facebook page, a blog or put videos online, but it's the Internet marketing specialist who makes Internet marketing actually work for you. For businesses serious about making Internet marketing work, hiring the right specialist is key to a successful marketing plan. Choosing the right person is the tricky part, though, just as with any essential hire in a key position. Here are some tips to get the right person for the job the first time.
1. Stay Local
While the Internet provides access across the globe, most Internet marketing strategies work best when they remain local. After all, it's locals who will most likely utilize your services or visit your location. Your Internet marketing specialist should be a local as well or have a deep understanding of your local market.
2. Proven History
This should go without saying, but you absolutely want a specialist with a proven track record of Internet marketing success. These past successes mean the specialist is more likely to make your plan a success as well. Ask for documented success stories and see how past plans would benefit your business.
3. Don't Fear Failure
A failed marketing plan can reveal a lot about a specialist as well, however. Just because a marketing plan did not work for one company doesn't mean it won't work for your company. A specialist who can talk about past failures with honesty and humility while also highlighting lessons learned from those mistakes might be the right fit. It's the specialist who can learn and grow who will get the job done for you, not the specialist who blames and whines.
4. Check the Lingo
Ten-cent words sound shiny and new and can trick companies into choosing an Internet marketing specialist who is all talk and no walk. If a specialist is using all the right lingo and terms and
sounds capable, check to make sure the specialist actually
is capable.
5. Money Talks (And Lies)
The most expensive Internet marketing specialist or the one offering the most costly marketing plan isn't always the best. You have to really consider why the specialist costs so much. Dig into a specialist's background to find out if the hefty price tag is worth the services you will receive in exchange. The cheapest specialist might be a bad fit as well. Underbidding competitors just to get jobs is no way to build credibility and a quality reputation.
If you're reading this, you've already made the smart move to hire an Internet marketing specialist. Now make sure you get the right specialist into place to start growing your business today.