You have decided to take the plunge and committed to the idea of running a marketing campaign using the Internet, social media, and other online platforms to reach your target audience.

But where should you start? How can you be sure that you are making the right choice and don’t end up hiring a scammer?

You need to be extremely careful when selecting an online marketer, especially if you are just starting out. After all, you can’t afford to take a chance on someone who will rip you off or provide ineffective services.

To protect yourself and your business, we have compiled a list of questions you need to ask a prospective online marketing consultant before signing on the dotted line.

Do You Have Experience In My Niche?

No matter what business you are in, you are bound to have a niche. You can be extremely specific with your niche and still manage to reach a broad audience. When doing your research, make sure that the person you are considering working with is familiar with your niche and has the ability to reach followers/users in your niche.

If you are starting a blog or looking to expand your social media presence, make sure that your chosen consultant is experienced in creating content for blogs and social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.

How Much Experience Do You Have?

Even if you have selected someone with extensive experience in your niche, you cannot be sure that you are making the right choice if you don’t know how much experience they have. Do your best to find out how long they have been in business, how many clients they have successfully helped, and what their success rate is.

Some scammers will say they have extensive experience when in fact they have no qualifications or training. Find out as much information as you can before making a decision.

How Many Projects Similar To Mine Do You Have Under Your Belt?

You can ask the above question about the individual or refer to their portfolio to get an idea of what kind of work they have done and can do for you. If their portfolio is empty, it means they have never done any work in your niche. Be extremely cautious about someone who has never done any work in your niche and does not have experience in similar projects.

The above question is important because it gives you an idea of what kind of outcomes you can expect from their work. If you are not sure what to expect, it’s best to go with someone who has at least worked on similar projects.

How Much Will This Project Cost Me?

This is an obvious question and the answer will depend on a number of factors. First, decide how much you are willing to spend on the project. Then, find out what all the costs are (things like freelancer fees, domain name fees, etc). Finally, add up all the costs and multiply them by the number of days you will need the project to be completed. You should expect to spend at least three to six months’ income on a full brand marketing campaign. So, if your income is $5,000 per month, you should expect to spend at least $60,000 for a three-month SEO campaign.

If you are getting started with affiliate marketing, you will need to spend a lot of money on a quality product. The more you spend, the better the return. You can get a good feeling for the quality of a product by looking at reviews or visiting the vendor’s website.

What Types Of Research Do You Prefer?

Depending on your niche, you will need to know what kinds of research best suits your needs. For example, if you are writing an eBook on nutrition for cats, you will need to do a lot of research into what foods are most suitable for their diet. Alternatively, if you are writing an article for a popular blog in your niche, you may want to do some basic research into what topics the blog owner is interested in and write your article around these themes.

If you have decided to work with a reputable company with a good reputation, take a little time to do some research into what types of research they prefer and use. Reputable companies will usually say what kinds of research they prefer in their bios or on their websites (if they have one). Do a bit of research on existing clients’ websites and social media profiles to get a feel for how they work and what their approach is like.

If you are looking for a personal touch, you can find a good quality SEO consultant who will give you an idea of what is motivating their research and what makes them different from other firms.

What Is Your Approach To SEO?

This is one of the most important questions to ask a potential advisor. The person you are considering working with should be able to provide you with an adequate explanation of how they will approach your SEO project. Simply put, the person you choose should have a proven method of getting high rankings for your chosen keywords without breaking the bank.

If they can do this and can show you that their method is working for other clients, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by using their services.

To protect yourself from getting scammed, make sure that their method is both legitimate and safe. Check for reviews and ask friends, family, and colleagues who’ve used their services to find out if they are reputable.

What If I Get Sued By One Of My Competitors?

Although this is a scary prospect, you must be prepared for it to happen. Chances are, you will be sued at some point in your career, whether you are a solo entrepreneur or owned a business. When this happens, it’s called a competitior-compromised lawsuit. These lawsuits usually arise because the plaintiff believes that your product or service is infringing on their intellectual property rights.

To be on the safe side, you need to consider what would happen if you get sued. First, would you be able to pay your attorney’s fees? A competitior-compromised lawsuit can be really expensive to defend. Second, what would you do if you got a big judgment against you? Third, what would you do if you got found guilty of infringement?

Although these questions might seem too much for someone to take into consideration when choosing a marketing consultant, you must understand that the decision you make in this case will affect you for the rest of your career. Make sure you are choosing a reputable company with a good reputation and do your research before committing.

Can You Give Me References?

When hiring someone to help promote your business, it’s important to verify their references. Get in touch with previous clients or customers and ask if they are still satisfied with the services they received. Checking out a company’s reviews on third-party sites like Yelp and Google is also a good idea. A good online marketer should be able to provide you with several references.

If possible, you should also consider getting in touch with former clients directly to see how they are doing. This way, you can get a good feeling for whether or not the person you are considering is able to provide a good client experience. If possible, you should try to get this information from multiple sources to be on the safe side.

What Additional Services Do You Offer?

As a business owner or solopreneur, you will eventually need someone to help grow your business. If you decide to go with an online marketing consultant, make sure that they provide additional services like web hosting, email marketing, and social media management.

Some companies specialize in these areas and can offer you a complete package at a discounted rate. If you are just getting started, it’s best to go with someone who provides these additional services as part of their package. Being a one-man band doesn’t mean you have to do everything yourself. Hiring help is often a good idea and will make your life a lot easier. You will be surprised at how many tasks regular people are unable to do, even if they try hard.

How Quick Can You Get Me Results?

Even if you have decided to go with a reputable company with a good reputation, you cannot be sure of the results you will get if you use them. When doing your research, make sure that they can provide you with results quickly. You should not be afraid to ask for a progress report or to give them a deadline for the completion of the project. As long as you are planning to spend the money, you want to make sure that you will get your results quickly and that you will not be wasting your time.