A good marketing consultant in the first 30 days conducts a deep-dive discovery and audit, analyzing marketing assets, performance data, websites, marketing channels, competitors, and brand consistency.
They conduct stakeholder interviews to understand customer pain points, gather insights from sales teams, customer service staff, product developers, and executives.
The consultant maps the customer journey to identify where prospects drop out of the sales funnel.
In the second week, they focus on developing a strategic framework, aligning marketing objectives, defining audience segments, and creating positioning and messaging frameworks.
They help in developing buyer personas, segment-specific messaging frameworks, and content mapping to the buyer's journey.
By week three, the focus shifts to tactical planning, including channel strategy development, content marketing blueprint, and marketing tech stack assessment.
In the final week, the consultant sets up a measurement framework for tracking progress and implements a 90-day execution plan.
Key characteristics of good marketing consultants include asking insightful questions, connecting marketing to revenue, and balancing strategy with execution.
Clients should provide transparent data access, connect consultants with key stakeholders, and be open to uncomfortable truths for successful collaboration.
Red flags in marketing consultants include focusing on tactics before strategy, presenting generic recommendations, and avoiding discussions on measurement and accountability.