Need Help with Marketing, But Not Ready to Hire Staff? Why Using a Marketing Consultant Might Be Your Best Bet

Benefits of hiring a marketing consultant and tips for locating a good match for your business.

Canton, GA (PRWEB) February 1, 2006 -–

As businesses grow, they often need additional marketing resources before they are ready to hire permanent staff. Sometimes a start-up company just needs specialized assistance with a particular project - like creating a web site or developing a brochure. But once things get going, businesses typically have an ongoing need for help in directing and managing a variety of marketing-related activities.

“The majority of my clients are small and mid-sized businesses that need ongoing assistance, but ONLY on a part-time basis,” explains Lori Reed Tilt, owner of Tilt Marketing in Canton, GA. “I work primarily with companies that need a ‘marketing director’ to help them develop their strategy and accomplish key projects, but they simply do not need a full-time employee. As they continue to ‘grow’ they may need a permanent person in the future, but I can effectively help them fill the gap in the meantime.”

While it is very common for businesses to hire accountants and attorneys, some owners are reluctant to bring in marketing assistance. However, a skilled marketing consultant can bring great value to the team and help dramatically improve marketing results. Here are several reasons to consider adding a consultant to your team:

Add “Seniority” Without Adding Staff:

A marketing consultant can allow you to affordably add a senior business development or marketing executive to your team on an “as needed” basis. They can also mentor and train junior employees to boost productivity.

Gain Specialized Marketing Expertise:

If you need to address specific marketing issues on a project-by-project basis, a marketing consultant is a great resource. For example, a consultant can help develop a corporate identity package or develop a direct marketing campaign.

Overcome a Personnel Shortage:

A marketing consultant can provide you with qualified, temporary assistance to get you through a crunch. Also, there are no costly employee benefits or taxes to pay.

Get Relief from Deadline Pressures:

When multiple priorities come crashing in all at once, a marketing consultant can help you meet your deadlines without compromising quality.

Benefit from an Outsider’s Perspective:

A marketing consultant can offer you unbiased recommendations and provide you with a second opinion to help you make informed business decisions.

Make the Most of Your Time:

Think about the marketing activity you enjoy the least. Now, think about handing that activity off to a qualified consultant. With a good marketing consultant in your corner, you can get more done and make the most of your valuable time

“In selecting a consultant, it is important to identify your goals and find someone to work with you as a ‘partner’ in the process,” says Lori Tilt. “You should feel comfortable exchanging ideas and brainstorming with them. To avoid surprises, I also suggest clearly defining the work to be accomplished and the corresponding compensation upfront. Most consultants, like myself, also work with a team of other resources and can help pull in the right specialists on an as-needed basis.”

To find a good consultant, Lori Tilt suggests first asking locally and/or within industry-related groups for referrals. Always be sure to check references. Local chamber of commerce offices can often provide names. Other resources are professional associations such as the American Marketing Association (AMA) which offers a directory of specialists by category. Businesses can also turn to websites aimed at linking consultants/freelancers with projects, such as: http://www.guru.com or http://www.sologig.com and/or http://www.ifreelance.com.

“I believe ‘being involved’ is vitally important from both a personal and professional perspective,” explains Lori Tilt. “In selecting a consultant, I suggest looking for someone who is ‘connected’ in your community and/or industry because they will typically have access to greater resources.”

Lori Reed Tilt is a member of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, the Citizens’ Roundtable Committee (a steering group for Cherokee County’s comprehensive planning process), the BridgeMill Sixes Service League (BSSL) and is a sponsor and volunteer for the historic Canton Theatre. She has been involved with the Georgia Chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) since 1990 and has served as a guest speaker for Richard K. Rodgers’ Marketing Architecture & Engineering Services class at the Georgia Institute of Technology since 2000.

Over the years, Lori Tilt has learned about the power of networking and enjoys bringing people together. She suggests businesses hire marketing consultants who proactively seek out other related specialists for collaboration and who can provide referrals when needed.

“For example, I am continually looking for other marketing professionals to compliment my capabilities,” says Lori Tilt. “While doing research for clients, I am also finding new helpful online resources,” she further explains. “I list links on my website so others may benefit from my research. I fully believe that being resourceful is essential, and is another important quality you should look for in selecting a marketing consultant for your business.”

Lori Tilt offers her clients customized assistance with strategic planning, business development and public relations. Her mission is for Tilt Marketing to be a premier marketing and public relations resource for clients in Cherokee County and the surrounding areas. Clients she has worked with include: Canton Theatre (Canton); CENTURY 21 (Woodstock); Engineering Strategies, Inc. (Marietta); Mark Robillard Architects, Inc. (Canton); Midtown Alliance (Atlanta); Speedheat U.S. (Woodstock), and zumBrunnen (Atlanta).

“My passion is marketing,” enthusiastically states Lori Tilt. “I love seeing businesses achieve their objectives and ‘grow’ as a result of our activities. Consulting gives me the opportunity to work on numerous interesting projects for a broad range of clients AND gives me greater flexibility to balance the needs of my family. It is a ‘win-win’ for my clients too, because they have access to senior-level assistance that is truly affordable and yields positive results.”

For more information about Lori Reed Tilt or Tilt Marketing please visit: http://www.tiltmarketing.com.

###