To hire or outsource? After months of downsizing staff and slashing budgets, you suddenly find yourself short-handed when it comes to rolling out new marketing initiatives. Taking time to re-hire or acclimatize an internal person may take too long and hiring agencies can often mean unnecessary overhead and inexperienced staff assigned to your business.

Assess your current needs and then consider finding the right consulting company through direct meetings or industry-related referrals. Once you've determined the scope of the project, the following criteria can help you choose the appropriate consulting partner.

Expertise

We believe a good consultant should bring immediate value to an assignment because of their specific experience, network of contacts and track record of success for similar companies on similar projects. Look for those who bring proven concepts to a branding discussion or proactively offer strategic marketing ideas based on sound principles and understanding.

Communication

We believe a good consultant should be able to gather necessary information quickly and hit the ground running, providing comprehensive, clear and consistent communication against your expectations and goals.
By asking meaningful questions, a solid understanding of your internal and external environments and issues will help ensure that all strategies and tactics positively impact your bottom line. Only then can you expect the appropriate solutions to come forth.

Delivery

We believe a good consultant should not be out to "reinvent the wheel" with every customer. It's important to discern what is needed and then deliver what is asked. The investment to implement too many recommendations can be steep, especially if a branding history has already been established. Therefore, the consultant must be able to understand and work within the facts and parameters of a client's individual situation while remaining flexible and responsive.

Return on Investment

We believe a good consultant is driven to keep you closely informed when project milestones are not being met under the initial budget or time constraints. Every project should have measurable components and provide tangible results that move you closer to your business objectives. Showing ROI is an essential management tool that will justify the consultant's rate while allowing you to track your project's success.