Things to Consider, When Considering Marketing Methodology Consultants

Internet marketing is constantly growing. Websites, blogging, pay-per-click advertising, search engine optimization, and email newsletters are all mainstays of any solid marketing plan. This makes it that much more important to ask a potential marketing methodology consultant if they’re familiar with these concepts because they offer a greater return on investment (ROI) and create a solid foundation for all of your marketing efforts.

This is the first installment of a five (5) part series about, “Things to Consider, When Considering a Marketing Methodology Consultant.” It describes each of the concepts above and provides some questions to ask a consultant before you hire them. By taking a little time to familiarize yourself with Internet marketing, you’ll increase your chances of making the right choice.

A Website – Your 1st Priority

The Internet is filled with website creation tools and do-it-yourself software. Each promises to help you create your own website without the need for a professional. And they deliver just that… a website that was created without a professional.

It’s a combination of this “do-it-yourself hype” and “Johnny down the street” that has cheapened the art of website development. Would you replace the brakes on your car? Would you let a teenager do it because they’re cheap?

Anyone can learn the tech behind web design, but it takes time to perfect the craft. A knowledgeable marketing methodology consultant has experience and will help you create a website that:

• Improves Your Credibility
• Is Search Engine Friendly
• Effectively Extends Your Brand
• Is More Than an Online Brochure
• Helps Generate and Sustain New Business
• Creates a Solid Foundation for All Marketing

To make sure a marketing methodology consultant can deliver a website like this, ask them:

• How long have you worked in the industry?

  Emphasis on “worked”. Web design and programming used to be a hobby (albeit an intense one) in college, but I wouldn’t consider it as part of my professional experience.

• What other websites have you created?

  Admittedly, this is an obvious question, but make sure that you see several examples of a consultant’s work before you commit.

• What is your process?

  An experienced website developer who has built several websites before will have a standard process they follow. Ask about it early so there aren’t any surprises later.

• How familiar are you with XHTML and CSS

  Extensible Hypertext Markup Language (XHTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) are, in my opinion, the only way to design a website today. When implemented correctly, they help your website stay consistent between different browsers, allow you to do more design with less markup, and make your website more search engine friendly. If your marketing methodology consultant isn’t familiar with these technologies, keep searching.

• Are your websites standards compliant?

  Asking this question is like asking a certified pre-owned car dealer for a 110-point inspection. It ensures that everything “under the hood” of your website is as it should be. What makes standards compliant websites better than certified pre-owned cars is a reputable 3rd party is the one who determines a pass or fail.

• How do I make updates to my website?

  Older web development firms will try to bill you monthly to make regular updates to your website. This leaves you waiting for someone else to do, what is essentially, an easy task that you can truly do yourself. Newer firms empower their clients and allow them to make updates and add new pages to their website whenever they want!

My next article in this series will explain the explosive “blogging” fad and how it can be applied to business.

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