Marketers who sell social strategy consulting: how many of you enact the strategy and perform the day to day execution/ operations for your clients?
I am curious as I review many profiles of marketers providing consulting services; how many people end-up helping their clients with execution and operations based on the plans they build.
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Jun 24, 2014
We offer the client the choice:
- we create and manage - with full client participation in content
- we train, coach and afterwards support on an as-needed basis client operators
- we hire, train and manage an embedded person answerable to us but working for and with the client
Jun 4, 2014
It depends on how the contract is written, I personally will do both, meaning I'll do just the strategy or I will do the strategy and the execution if that's what the client wants. Often a client will tell me that they have a copywriter on staff so they don't need someone to write tweets for them. I then try to explain that writing a good tweet isn't as easy as it sounds and often copywriters are the worst person to ask. Sometimes they listen and keep me on, sometimes they don't. Often times, the final decision is based on what they have budgeted for the program. If they choose not to have me implement the campaign, I offer them some advice on how to implement, leave them with some examples of good tweets, FB posts, and so on and then ask if they would be willing to give me a testimonial in return.
Jun 4, 2014
As a consultant, I - Successiory - focus on empowering clients through strategy development, some execution as part of the training, and then I step back. I do full execution for clients who really can't, for a number of reasons, but not as a rule.
Jun 4, 2014
The Products I sell are so evolutionary that every last advertisement to most social profiles can be pre set.
I do create the clients a landingpage:
I allow client to run this for a week.
I redirect the page to their current webpage.
I send them daily report on all leads on the home office .
I make sure that the client know how time and moneysaving our products are.
Because social media marketing tools are so interactive the businessowner must have access to the system himself,
To update any specials or data as they happen.
Jun 4, 2014
It depends on the client. For gig campaigns I sub out portions, but for many of my restaurant clients I do the daily execution to maintain the authenticity and engagement that has been very carefully crafted.
Jun 3, 2014
We do offer social strategy consulting. It depends on the customer's budget and targets. That includes market research, business analysis, social marketing plan and coaching. We can also manage the social media operations.
Jun 3, 2014
As a social media coordinator, I consult with the client and execute of the plan, adapting it as I get to know the business, client, and product.
Jun 3, 2014
I work with a team that includes a project manager as well as the people who implement the marketing.
Two reasons for this. Number 1- I want people who specialize in specific areas to focus on the work day in and day out. It is a more effective way to produce excellent results for clients.
Number 2 My job is to prospect and bring in new clients and I focus on that so there is work available for the team.
Jun 3, 2014
We focus on strategy and execution. Being a 20 year advertising creative and director before setting up my own shop. You sell the work through then you deliver on what the client just bought. I find helping the client take it from concept to completion keeps them engaged and informed. This creates a comfort level which leads to trust that leads to a mutually beneficial relationship.
Jun 3, 2014
As a writer with a marketing bent I actually work with clients to create their strategy and then deliver the writing. I've found that the key skill most are lacking is the writing/content delivery. While they might need some guidance and direction on their social/content strategy...most are someway along the path. What they don't have is the internal skill set of writing, re-purposing content to fit different avenues and keep them all linked. This could be because I have approached the challenge through my experience as first a publisher and always a writer, and developed marketing nous along the way, rather than coming from the marketing specialist pathway.
That said, creating great content that is on message, well written and engaging is a skill, as it reworking that content across the range of social media platforms and keeping it all connected. Hope this helps.
Jun 3, 2014
We implement it for our clients, and our services include strategy sessions.
Jun 3, 2014
We provide strategy and often also provide social media execution/staffing for our larger clients - often as a stop gap as they work on hiring internal staff. We have also provided recruitment support and training for their internal staff on social media management best practices.
Jun 3, 2014
We have specific packages that start with consulting to define their personal brand and set the right direction for their marketing, then if they need us to implement, they can select a particular package including brand identity, web presence, social media and lead generation.
I believe that although consultants like they idea of teaching others to do it for themselves, we live in an era of "do it for me".
Jun 3, 2014
It depends on the business but in about 80% of the cases I don't only consult but do their copywriting and handle their social media accounts at least until I can find someone I can train to do it for them.
Jun 3, 2014
Some but do your home work. I found a person who did a complete social media integration from the emails to the booking of the courses from the email.I called the owner and compliments them on the senselessness of their social media.Not surprisingly the owner had their head of SM send me an email.I was flabbergasted.
Jun 3, 2014
Hi Jamie - All of my clients currently would rather me perform the day-to-day actions over DIY, however, many of them appreciate my coaching/training them. In the end, I always find they opt to have it managed for them because they really want to focus on what they do best and let me handle my area of expertise for them. It really is well worth it as far as time-saving for the client. They feel relieved immediately when they know that it is being managed. I love to train people, but I also l love being a social media manager so for me - it's a win/win. Whichever they prefer I'm game. So in answer to your question 100% I help my clients ongoing. If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask me. Thanks!
Jun 3, 2014
Hi Jamie,
Many of our clients express to us that they simply don't have the time to run their marketing. As a consultant, I'm more of a strategist to help them understand what they need based on their objectives. However, I run a marketing firm and we have the capacity to manage client's marketing efforts for our clients. As a consultant, I do provide training so that their inhouse person can start doing marketing on their end.
Jun 3, 2014
Hi Jamie- good question..I don't take on a project or client without first indicating that besides designing the marketing gameplan and strategy- that I also implement the day to day execution...very very important...I've found that way too many agencies sell the value, but when it comes to delivering execution- often times it's done by assistants or interns and not the marketer themselves. It's important to have team members that understand and can execute the 'vision' and goals/positioning of the brand and messaging. The goals and messaging can get lost when those at the top do the deal, and then hand off the work to others who are not a part of the vision. You've got to either do it yourself, or personally work with the team to execute the plan according to schedule, timeline, and most of all as the client wishes. Thanks for posting this question...best- g
Like a coach, also being a player, knowing how to execute and play the game is crucial. As a consultant, if you don't implement the plan yourself or have knowledge, experience or relationships that add VALUE to the social media marketing-you're not as valuable and ROI to the client as firms that do.