Befriending Digital Nomads
When you become a copywriter, content strategist, or digital marketer, there are a few people you’ll inevitably meet who will become your friends for life. They’ll be the people who have shared the journey with you, who you’ve worked with and for, and who you’ll continue to consult with time and time again. These are the people you call when you have big ideas, when you need help with a particular task, or simply when you want to grab a coffee and catch up.
While it’s important to develop strong professional relationships with your clients, it’s equally as important to maintain strong personal ones. For those who spend a great deal of their time working alone from home, meeting new people and making new friends isn’t easy. If you’re looking for a content and marketing consultant, friending digital nomads who specialize in those areas is a great place to start.
Make Sure They’re Credible
When you’re searching for a content strategist, it’s important to be sure that you’re working with someone who is experienced, knowledgeable, and most importantly, can deliver the results you’re looking for. In an ideal world, you’d like to work with someone who has extensive experience in the industry, has worked on multiple large-scale projects, and has published award-winning content. That’s a tall order, but generally speaking, candidates who achieve those qualifications are well worth pursuing.
Unfortunately, not all experienced content specialists are created equal. While some consultants might possess those qualities, others might not. Before you make any promises to provide the content you need for your website or to develop a content strategy, you must be certain that the person you’re considering hiring can actually deliver the results you’re looking for. If possible, do some research into their past clients or work samples; it’s always a great idea to contact those who have previously worked with the consultant you’re considering hiring to get an idea of what they’ve accomplished and see whether or not they’re someone you want to work with. Research is key when it comes to hiring consultants; make sure you’re aware of all the positive and negative aspects of the person you’re considering hiring before you make a decision. In some cases, this might mean going above and beyond what’s required and interviewing colleagues, previous clients, and even the consultant themselves to get a clear picture of who they are and what they can offer.
Understand What They Will Accomplish For You
As a business owner or in-house marketing strategist who is looking to incorporate digital marketing tactics into your strategy, it’s important to understand what the consultant you’re considering hiring will be able to provide. In most cases, you’ll want to work with someone who is familiar with online marketing and the various platforms and techniques that can be used to drive traffic to a website or product. If you’ve never hired an online marketer before, it might be a good idea to consider some of the following options:
- Social media optimisation
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Content strategy
- Attracting, engaging, and converting customers through content
It’s important to understand what the consultant you’re considering hiring will be able to provide in terms of content, strategy, and digital marketing tactics; ensure that you’re aware of all their relevant experience and knowledge before making a decision. In some cases, it might be beneficial to have a think about what your end goal is and work with someone who can bring that about. In other cases, you might want to consider hiring the best skill set available regardless of whether or not you’ve defined specific goals. Remember: you’re not necessarily looking for someone to complete a certain task for you. You might simply want to have a think about what would be the best option for your company.
Consider All The Options
In some cases, it might be beneficial to consider all the options available to you rather than just hiring the first person that comes up. If you’re not familiar with the whole market, outsourcing to freelance specialists might be the best option; consider finding a digital marketing agency who has experience in marketing and content strategy for small businesses.
When it comes to marketing and content, not all companies will want to go the conventional route. If you’re looking to cut costs or create content to promote a brand or product, there are a variety of services that provide content for you to use without having to hire a dedicated in-house team. Think of it like this: if you’ve got a long-tail keyword that you know will bring in tons of traffic, why pay for adverts? You can get inexpensive content written for you about any topic you choose, using keywords and phrases to ensure that your target audience is reached. For a long time, this was the best way to get high-quality content without having to break the bank. While it’s still a popular option, now is the right time to consider other options as well; maybe look into inbound marketing, for example, where marketing and sales become part of a continuous conversation to create smarter, deeper connections.
Sometimes, the best option isn’t even necessarily the cheapest one. If you want to create a truly unique experience for your customers, consider spending a bit more money to engage with professionals who can create amazing visual content that will make every moment feel like a special event. There’s a reason why wedding photographers are often paid a lot more than regular photographers – the skillset required to take high-quality photographs is quite distinct from that of a standard photographer. If you do ultimately decide to go with the cheaper option, make sure you’re aware of all the advantages and disadvantages of having an in-house team vs hiring a freelancer. In most cases, having in-house writers and editors will result in better content as they’ll have more input into what’s written and more familiarity with the subject matter. However, if you do decide to go with the cheaper option, make sure you’re aware of the increased workload this might inevitably entail.
Don’t Forget About The Little Things
As a business owner or marketing professional who is responsible for the success of a product or service, it’s important to not forget about the little things. If you’re out of your element, you might want to consider outsourcing some of the little things to specialists who are better suited for the task. For example, if you’re finding that email marketing is a bit of a slog, why not hire an outside agency to do all the work for you?
In some cases, a company called Upwork specializes in contract work for small businesses and startups who are looking to outsource various tasks including writing, editing, proofreading, social media management, market research, and more. If you’re looking for writers to help you with articles or someone to edit your content, Upwork is definitely a place to consider. When it comes to outsourcing, there are several benefits; you don’t have to worry about staff shortages since you can outsource for as long as you want. Additionally, you can concentrate on what’s important to you and your business rather than having to worry about the minutiae of running a company. For those who want to try something new, freelancing is a great way to gain experience and build a portfolio of work while also being able to focus on what’s important to them without the administrative hassles of running a company. In some cases, this might mean having to take on some side-hustles to be able to make a living, but it could also mean gaining the freedom to do more of what you love.
Final Takeaway
As you can see, there are several ways to find a content and marketing consultant if you know exactly what you’re looking for. Whether you’ve got a clear idea of what you want or you’re just looking to gain a better understanding of the field, be sure to research the various experts in your area and consider all the options available to you.