If you’re a small business owner and considering working with a marketing coach or marketing consultant, then this article aims to help you identify which one is really the best for your business. As you and I both know, plenty of challenges come with running a company. Here at Hello Social, we completely get it; I understand more than most that it can be hard to figure out what to do next.
That’s where a marketing coach or consultant comes in. Let's take a look at what exactly they do and how they differ from one another so that you can make an informed decision about hiring either one or both.
What is the difference between a marketing coach and a marketing consultant?
If you're a business owner, you've probably heard the terms "marketing coach" and "marketing consultant" tossed around. But what do they mean?
A marketing coach is someone who works with your company on a one-on-one basis over an extended period of time. A marketing consultant, meanwhile, works with your company for a short period of time--say four hours or so--to solve a specific problem or issue that's come up in their business.
So which one is best for your needs? Let's break it down:
Who is a better fit for your business?
If you're looking for someone who can help you find solutions, a marketing coach is a better fit. They are great at helping you figure out what your business needs and how to get it. They also tend to focus more on the long term than consultants.
Consultants often work on short-term projects with companies that need specific services, like creating an ad campaign or developing social media strategies (but not necessarily both). Because of this focus, they aren't always as good at helping clients develop long-term strategies or understand their businesses in depth as coaches are able to do so--which makes sense since coaches usually spend more time working with individual clients over the course of several months or years than consultants do during one project meeting!
Which one should you choose if you have limited resources?
If you have limited resources and need help with your marketing strategy and tactics, then a marketing coach is the right choice for you. A good coach will work with you to develop a clear plan that's aligned with your business goals and then help execute it by providing ongoing support.
If you have more resources (time or money), then hiring a consultant may be better for your business because they can also provide insight into how to improve the overall health of your company. A consultant will look at everything from sales processes to hiring practices to help identify areas where improvements could be made without having them interfere with current operations or infrastructure at first glance.
How much do they cost?
The cost of hiring a marketing coach or consultant depends on the type of service they offer and how long you need them to be on your team.
The average hourly rate for a marketing coach is £150 to £350, with some companies charging as much as £500 per hour for their services. Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, hired a coach even when the business was growing exponentially. And it was one of the best decisions he made.
On the other hand, consultants tend to charge less than coaches because they don't usually provide any personal coaching in addition to their consulting work (though this isn't always true). Their rates range from £70 per hour all the way up into six figures depending on what kind of company you're working with--but most fall somewhere between £125-£300 an hour.
Many business owners make the mistake of hiring a consultant who’s at the top of their game, for example, Gary Vaynerchuk.
He’s incredibly successful, and yes, he’d be a great coach, if you’ve built a multi-million pound business. But, if you’re bringing in just under a million pounds in profit, he’s probably not the right consultant for you.
Marketing coaches and consultants can both work well with your small business, but it's important to know the difference between the two.
A marketing coach is a great resource for helping you grow your business. They can help you with specific projects, but they're also good at providing the kind of support that helps you become an independent marketer.
A marketing consultant works on a project-by-project basis. If you need help with something specific, like creating content for social media or putting together your website, then this type of professional might be right for you.
We hope this article has helped you understand the difference between marketing coaches and consultants. If you're looking for someone to help your business grow, we recommend finding someone who can offer both coaching and consulting services. It's also important to consider how much money you have available for hiring outside help before choosing which one works best for your particular situation!
Here at Hello Social, we can guide you through your marketing journey and encourage you if you’ve still got questions, to book a ‘Step Up’ call so we can take a deep dive into your marketing and offer some complimentary support.
Comentários