1. Knowledge and experience – A good marketing consultant will have knowledge of today’s latest marketing channels. Experience and the ability to show work done for other client’s is a plus, though don’t discount a young start-up…remember you were one too!
2. Excellent communication skills and an outgoing personality – A good marketer should be able to communicate both with you, your employees, vendors, and customers. If you are looking for someone to blog for your website, make sure this person can show you some of their written works. Most marketers are enthusiastic and energetic; make sure your personality type will mesh with theirs. This is a relationship that will require frequent discussions, so the ability to communicate what you want and listen to their recommendations is an important component to your success.
3. Interest in your industry – A good marketing professional can market most any business successfully, but a great marketer will become almost as passionate about your business as you are. That’s when you know you’ve found the right person to work on your account.
4. A team of professionals– Your marketing professional should have a network of people readily available to help implement any task. From graphics artists, to print shops, to photographers, and the local press– these are the additional people it may take to effectively implement your plan.