More and more small business owners are hiring proven marketing consulting and coaching agencies to equip them with a marketing system they can implement and manage without the continued use of the marketing consulting and coaching agency.

Have you ever considered or actually hired someone to help you with your marketing strategy and execution? If so, was it a good or bad experience?

I respect John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing very much. In fact, I’ve worked with him in my past and would recommend his amazing book, Duct Tape Marketing, to all small business owners. Something you should know about John–he’s not normal! John has that amazing ability to be a successful small business owner, coach, author, & speaker. He does all of these things well and doesn’t sacrifice one area to be great in another area. Besides, he is such a good guy.

Two days ago, I saw a Twitter message from him providing a link to a new post he wrote entitled, The 5 Things You Most Uncover Before You Hire A Consultant or Coach.

My goal is for John’s post to help you if you’re considering hiring a marketing consulting or coaching agency.

Summary: The 5 Things You Must Uncover Before You Hire A Marketing Consultant or Coach

• Are they strategic thinkers? John says, you should look for a listening consultant/coach with “big ears” that will not prescribe a one-size fits all approach to small business marketing. I tell our clients that we must link your strategic marketing vision with revenue producing day to day activities.
  
• Do they have the right kind of experience? Anyone can call themselves a consultant or coach. What is their specific experience that made them successful in Corporate America and as a small business owner themselves? I share with our clients that we are focused on small business owners with a highly focused niche from start-up to $3 million dollars a year in revenue. In this example, our business is not ideal for a Fortune 500 company.
  
• Do they employ a process framework? Can your prospective consultant or coach demonstrate a clear process or system showing you how they are going to partner with you and take your from where you are to where you want to be in your marketing? Is there a clear time table or schedule of delivered events?
  
• Can they demonstrate documented results? Great consulting and coaching agencies believe the best form of selling is when other satisfied clients are willing to share their results and experience with you.
  

• Do they have a network of relationships they can share? John says this about a demonstrated network of relationships, “a coach that has built relationships with “best of class” providers, mentors, advisers, and strategic partners is probably more prepared to serve your long term needs and make introductions to the kinds of resources and people that can impact your business in ways that no Power Point deck of good ideas ever will”

How will this post help you to possibly interview and hire a marketing consulting or coaching agency?

I’m curious, if you’ve hired a marketing consultant or coach before, what are the top 2 reasons you did so?

1. Reason #1
2. Reason #2

If you’ve never hired a marketing consultant or coach before, what are the top reasons preventing you from doing so?

1. Reason #1
2. Reason #2

Click here and you can read John Jantsch’s American Express Open post, The 5 Things You Must Uncover Before You Hire A Marketing Consultant or Coach.