If you have a small business newly online, the challenge of web management and online marketing may be daunting if you haven’t done it before. If you already have your hands full with other business concerns like production and distribution, a web consultant can help take some pressure off your shoulders.
A web consultant or online specialist can serve one or more of these functions in your business:
- Overseeing your web design and development;
- Writing and managing search engine optimized content for your website;
- Translating your marketing strategy into a web strategy;
- Social media and community management in the Web 2.0 environment – making the conversation work to your advantage;
- Training your staff how to manage your web presence.
Fees for web consultancy range from one-time website creation charges to hourly consultation rates or ongoing retainer fees. The opportunity cost? Time. Web management takes a chunk out of everyday business hours which you could use to focus on developing new products or streamlining your services instead.
There are a number of advantages to having a web consultant on board:
- Cost savings. You can avoid getting surprise bloated bills from separate service providers – a consultant can take care of choosing designers, developers, writers, and web marketing specialists scalable to your budget.
- Additional revenue and improved conversion rates. An expert who knows the web terrain well can map out areas to market your business and bring in more returns.
- Increased efficiency. No need to waste your valuable time learning web technicalities; a web consultant will serve as the project manager and gatekeeper, ensuring the smooth overall execution of web projects.
- Alternate business opportunities. A web consultant is well versed with many online earning opportunities like building partnerships and affiliate networks through which you can gain additional income.
- Speed to market. Your new products can break into the market in record speed with your web consultant’s know-how of the best technology to use – taking into account your customer’s needs and wants.
Have you tried bringing in a web consultant for your business? How has it given you an edge online?