Do you want to know how to get better at marketing? Do you have a knack for understanding what consumers want and need? If so, then being a marketing consultant may be the perfect career choice. In order to become an expert in this field, there are a few things that you should do:
First of all, read up about best practices when it comes to marketing because digital tactics are always evolving. Secondly, work for a great marketing leader or take courses for more formal training on marketing strategy. Thirdly, find the right company that is willing to hire someone with your skillset – but don’t settle! Find a company that embodies your professional values. Finally, once you land that job as a marketing consultant, put these tips into practice and watch your business thrive!
Build a relationship with your client. To do this job well, you need to love people. Your relationship with your client is essential. From the very beginning, ask them how they like to communicate, what makes them feel good and what they need to show their boss to prove their success.
Pro Tip: If a person is not listening to you, not responding to emails and giving you the cold shoulder – it means you get to practice by putting your relationship first a bit more.
Maintain positive working relationships with talent. Do you need creative directors, artists, translators and writers to fulfill your project’s wildest dreams and meet your deadlines? In an agency or in freelance work, talented people juggle a lot. Their process is not always linear. Be sure to develop shared language and check-points with each of these people and with the team.
Pro Tip: Even if you are in a hurry, do not rush your feedback to a creative. Start with the positive. And nothing is more frustrating than mocking them up the jist of your idea on Canva – unless they ask. Share all client celebrations with them, as they miss out on the one-on-one relationships and you become their source of positive news.
Communication is your job, so set the foundation right away via internal and external check-ins and a strong reporting schedule. Make sure you have a clear communication plan with the client, this helps avoid the onslaught of late night emails or Saturday texts. At JSR, we like to hold one 15-30 minute meeting each week and send one weekly report email that informs our clients about what we need from them, what we’re working on, and what’s next. This gives you a chance to be open and transparent regularly. Tell the client right away when something may be late and use these reports to call out if the scope expands and necessitates a small rewrite of the contract.
Deliver for your clients. Provide marketing advice to your clients and be willing to have serious discussions; when using commercial jargon, be cautious. Deliver what you promise or more. Set goals together and maintain consistent communication to avoid the, “Didn’t you say you’d?” conversations.
Play both sides. You’ll be in charge of navigating the client’s requirements, demands, procedures and technological restrictions within your internal company process and order. Make sure you find a link between them that doesn’t leave you up all night pushing tasks from one software to the next.
Understand the scope will shift. Remain accountable to the scope and your client. Do they have a quick unexpected need? Go above and beyond – complete it. At JSR Strategies short-term wins can account for up to 8% of the contract. Once they become the norm, take the time to rewrite the contract.
Have fun. You are in marketing, after all. Use your skills to further the causes you support and create things that make you laugh out loud. Life is way too short for a monotonous commercial.