Businesses, organizations, nonprofits, and a great many individuals are attracted to the promise, and claims of social media.
If you look at the conference schedule of any large business, or organizational gathering, you are sure to find social media experts present touting the benefits of blogs, and social media.
If you have been a reader of this blog, for any period of time, you will find that I too am in the camp of social media evangelists, because of my real life experience in the business world.
These tools will give you the ability to have your own television station, your own magazine, your own newspaper, your own radio station, your own newsletter, all melted into one very unique tool, and available to your organization with a very reasonable investment.
The problem is, whenever you have this much attention, and this much money chasing something, it invariably brings disreputable types out from under every rock in sight.
Let me share with you 5 critical questions to ask before you hire a social media consultant.
Please read on...
5 Critical Questions to ask before you hire a Social Media Consultant
When you have made the decision to hire a social media consultant, then social media is no longer under question, the consultant is.
Here are 5 critically important questions to ask them:
#1 - What evidence do you have to share, from your own personal experience, that would motivate us to invest our organizations hard earned dollars with you?
If you were going to have brain surgery, you would not want a brain surgeon who had never performed surgery on a brain! Book learning isn't very comforting when someone is going to cut open your head. You want your brain surgeon to be experienced, and successful. Right? This is no different. If someone has not been a business, or organizational leader, and created a successful social media program, how on earth are they going to teach you? Demand empirical evidence.
#2 - What return on our investment should we expect?
If your consultant isn't asking you this question, then you should immediately be suspect. Anyone that has ever taken money out of their pocket, or business, or organization, and made an investment of this nature, expects a return. Otherwise, why would you do it? A great many "consultants" are there as technicians. They do not have owner mindsets that would expect a return. You should be looking for this, from your consultant, and you shouldn't even have to ask. If you don't hear this language, then you have a technician, and not a consultant.
#3 - If we use your company, how might you assure our success?
Again, listen carefully, watch their body language, and look them straight in the eyes. You are going to spend precious resources to seek a benefit. Again, if your "consultant" is there to merely sell you a blog, then you must keep looking. Frankly, you can have a blog up and running in 5 minutes, and do so for free! The blog is not the solution, it is the tool. The deeper relationships, the better communication channel, the ability to be more search-able on Google, the ability to have more control over your public relations, and much more, are your objectives. NOT having a blog. If you hire a consultant, they should be there to hold your hand for no less than 6 months, and preferably for a year.
#4 - Tell me about your business experience?
This may seem a peculiar question, but you want to be working with someone who has successfully run a business, or enterprise. They should be painfully aware of how precious each, and every dime is to your organization. Unfortunately, many who come from government, or educational environments have no such experience. To them, it is all theory. Theory is good. But when I am spending my money, I want experience. I want to hire a consultant who has a very good, and successful track record. Beware of the smooth talkers. They may be able to string a beautiful sentence of words together, but have never even so much as balanced their personal check book.
#5 - What questions are they asking you?
A respected consultant is not looking for a sale. He, or she, will be looking for a relationship. Therefore, the professional is going to be asking themselves, "Can I help this company, and is this the right relationship for me? A business relationship, in many ways is like a marriage. You want to make certain that you can live together, have mutual goals, and dreams, can communicate, and also important, when times are tough, committed to the relationship. A good consultant, many times is going to need to hold your feet to the fire. A good consultant will bring accountability to the table, on behalf of your organization. A good consultant, no different than a good football coach, is going to get to know your strengths, and weaknesses, and work hard to get you to the desired objective. Sometimes, that means a little delicate nudge. Does this person possess that ability?
Please understand, these 5 questions are certainly not exhaustive. There are many other questions to consider. However, you ask these 5 questions, and they will help you sift through a lot of potential pain, and heartbreak.
Here's how we can help!
If you are considering the hire of a blog/social media consultant, we would be greatly honored to be a part of your implementation team.
Click here to learn how Blog Consulting, LLC can help your organization build, and manage your own social media site.
