Digital Marketing Consultant Certification:
Digital Marketing is one of the few industries expected to continue to grow in the next few years. Almost every business wants to have a strong on-line marketing presence that will bring in new customers. A part time or full time career as a Digital Marketing Consultant can be very lucrative for those individuals who have an entrepreneurial spirit, the training and network, to support a full portfolio of digital marketing services.
The number one skill needed for success as a Digital Marketing Consultant? It’s at the end of this piece, but first the 2nd most important skill:
Digital marketing consultants must have professional analytical skills to assess the needs of a client, and what services will bring an excellent return on investment. There are so many opportunities, that this one skill, the assessment and recommendation ability, will be the foundation of their success, as well as their long term financial viability.
Let’s look at the basic areas a digital consultant must be familiar with:
- Pay per click advertising
- Face book advertising
- Search engine optimization
- Local search engine optimization
- On-Line reputation management
- Content development
- Blogging
- Web Site development
- Email marketing
- Public relations (P.R.)
Each area is a business within itself, and few businesses or agencies possess the skills to do more than one or two.. Add to that the natural bias a business has towards the services they offer, and that’s where a digital marketing consultant can provide huge value. Business owners and managers can be completely confused by the number of options and the selection of vendors for each. A Digital Marketing Consultant can provide the expertise and services that make sense for their unique in bound marking needs.
The average cost (Based on the Denver Colorado area in 2011) for the services listed above for a small business vary a great deal, but here are some general guidelines for costs:
Search Engine Optimization: $400.00 to $1500.00 a month.
Social Media Programs: $275.00 to $2000.00 a month
Pay per click management: $99.00 to $500.00 a month (Or 10% of the spend which ever is highest)
Content Development: $100.00 per page
On Line reputation management: $99.00 to $1500.00 a month
Blog produced: (4 a month) can be included in other services or $275.00 and up per month
Web Site Development: $85.00 an hour. Average rebuilds $1000.00
New web Site: Average cost $1500.00 to $7500.00
Email marketing: $50.00 an hour. Average 8 hours a month. $400.00
Public Relations: $500.00 to $5000.00 a month.
Consulting: $150.00 an hour.
In our experience the average small business will have a $500.00 to $3000.00 monthly budget. You can see the challenge. The planning and implementation process is the key success strategy for the business. Utilizing the right services in the right order is essential with these limited budgets.
Most Consultants make their income through either an hourly fee, combined with a monthly agreement, or by providing one of the key services and out sourcing the others. Accepting commissions from the vendors they recommend is unacceptable. A consultant must be unbiased, and therefore will earn there keep through the management of the entire program.
If a consultant can provide one of the key services, and has a disciplined prospecting program (sell to the right businesses) they can expect to earn $500.00 to $1500.00 a month per client. Managing up to 10 accounts a month is about as many as one person could do, but is possible in a full time effort.
Some consultants will evolve into an Internet Marketing Agency and provide the services by outsourcing each one, and making a certain margin on each account. Much like a General Contractor in construction, they are the manager, and responsible for the success of each component. Nothing wrong with this business model, it’s just important to call it an Agency, and not claim to be a consultant.
The number one skill needed to be a successful Digital Marketing Consultant, or Inbound Marketer.
What most “certification” programs miss, is the number one skill to be successful, that being how to sell digital marketing services. It’s a highly competitive unregulated field, and if you can not sell, you will starve. Depending on your individual financial goals, you will need to spend up to 70% of your time selling in one form or another, or outsourcing that process. That’s the big difference between this certification program, and all the others. We have been sales consultants for over 20 years, and specializing in Internet Marketing since 2003. This program, unlike all the others, will give you the process and training to bring in customers.
If you are interested in becoming a Digital Marketing Consultant feel free to contact our partner company Bayes Squared llc for information on their on-line 6 month programs, which include one on one consulting as you grow your business, or their in person classes combined with Internet webinar training, for a faster start. Prices start at $2499.00. for the fast start program, which can get you selling in two weeks. You can add new skill sets on a menu basis starting at $750.00 each.
Contact Bayes Squared llc at bayessquared@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/5StepSalesJumpStart
So often when I am working with clients on their social media efforts, they comment “Well, I haven’t really looked at it lately.” I am always a bit amazed. While social media can drain time from your business if not done strategically, not looking at your social channels can also leave money on the table. One of the most important strategic exercises you can engage with daily is commenting on your channels and other people’s postings.
