Your social media consultant will be eyes, ears and voice of your companies’ online identity. Social media consultants assist companies in managing their online presence on blogs and other popular social networking sites. That means you need a consultant who can raise brand awareness, deliver traffic to your website, and boost your bottom line — all while keeping your company’s reputation as the top priority.

Although there are a lot of “Social Experts” floating around the internet, many consultants talk a big game, but fail to deliver results. Below you will find a list of five questions that you should ask your prospected social media consultant.

1) HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE A SOCIAL MEDIA CRISIS?

As we have seen in recent news involving the US Airways disaster, social media marketing campaigns backfire. So, it’s crucial to know how your consultant will react to a social media disaster. I would also encourage you to ask the consultant how they would avoid a crisis in the first place.

2) ARE YOU CONNECTED TO INFLUENCERS IN MY INDUSTRY?

In a perfect world, consultants will already have established connections with industry influencers that will assist in building awareness for your product or service.

To find out how well connected a consultant is, scan their accounts and track their engagement. An established consultant will interact with influencers within the industry.

3) HOW WELL DO YOU UNDERSTAND MY MARKET?

A social media consultant should understand your industry and your target market. But, in order to find out what they know, you may have to quiz them on the market or look at their track record. If you are in a niche market, educating your consultant on your brands role may lead to a strengthened campaign.

4) IN WHICH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM DO YOU SPECIALIZE IN?

As new social platforms emerge, it’s a difficult task to become an expert on every platform. However, consultants can specialize in multiple social platforms. It’s important to understand which platform your consultant understands the best. If a consultant tells you that they excel on every platform, be weary because they may not be as qualified as you would have expected.

5) WHAT SOCIAL CAMPAIGN IDEAS DO YOU HAVE FOR MY BUSINESS?

After discussing your business with your potential consultant, it’s important to ask them what ideas they have for your business. This will allow you to see a preview of what they have to offer as a consultant. If they lack creativity, then you should think twice before hiring them. How would they spark social media actions, reactions and interactions on your behalf to benefit your business?

CONCLUSION

After reading this blog post, I hope it helped you further examine your social media consultant, As well as identify qualities you’d expect from a good consultant.

Thanks for reading! Still want more? I have more content here: yes, content! And if you know someone that is looking for a social media consultant, pass this article to them. It might give them the insight they need to select a qualified consultant. ☺