Even though a lot has been written about eCommerce and how you can do it right, doing it alone is still a challenging task. More often than not, entrepreneurs put all of their efforts into starting their venture, and their entire focus is on just beginning: getting all the logistics in motion, learning how to handle the financial side of things, etc. However, once the company is up and running, many business owners don’t really know what to do in order to take things to the next level. That’s where eCommerce consulting comes into play.
Suppose you’ve already had a business for some time, and you want to take things to the next level in terms of revenue. In that case, when it comes to increasing sales and the number of customers, getting some outside help may be the only way for you to reach those goals efficiently and effectively, without wasting time or money. A good eCommerce marketing consultant will help you develop a marketing strategy for your company that will allow it to maximize its potential and take the operation to the next level.
With that said, finding a good eCommerce consultant is not easy. As with most things nowadays, everyone on the internet claims to be a know-it-all expert or guru with the secret recipe to success, so sorting out the real experts from the ones that are just good at promoting themselves is a challenging task. That’s why we’ve prepared this article to help you find an eCommerce consultant that will genuinely take your business to the next level and will turn the everyday working process into a project with set goals.
How to Find the Best Ecommerce Consulting Firm for Your Company
We want to make the process seem easy and straightforward, so we won’t bother you with endless market analysis and statistics. Instead, we will focus on five great tips that you can follow in order to find an eCommerce marketing consultant that’s just right for you and your venture.
Let’s see what they are.
Ask for Referrals
The start is always the most difficult part – how can you begin looking for an eCommerce consultant when there are literally thousands of people on the internet who claim to be experts in the field? Our recommendation is to always start by asking for referrals. Many eCommerce businesses use digital marketing firms for their advertising campaigns, so asking other entrepreneurs and business owners for their recommendations is a great start. When people have a positive opinion about a brand or a company, they will wholeheartedly recommend the brand or company to you, so it would be helpful to get referrals to create your starting list of eCommerce consulting firms.
Check Out the Services They Offer
Now that you have a list of suitable options, you can research the firms on the list. The first thing you should look at is the services they offer. Services are an essential indicator of a consulting firm’s expertise. If you require multiple services, you have to check whether the firms on your list have them and eliminate the ones that don’t.
Finding a full-service eCommerce marketing consulting will be very beneficial for your business as they will specialize in a variety of advertising strategies and will be able to manage all your marketing campaigns simultaneously.
Look at Their Portfolio
Looking at a digital marketing company’s portfolio will allow you to get a feel for the work that the company is able to do for its clients, which makes it a great way to see whether the company would be a good fit for your own advertisement strategy. Along with that, by looking at the company’s previous work, you will know whether the company has expertise in your particular industry. It’s well-known that when a consulting firm understands the industry of your business, it’s able to generate better results.
Another thing to keep in mind is if a company has no portfolio available online. Usually, that’s not a good sign for the company’s integrity as a business, and it’s likely that company won’t be a good fit for you. If a firm is confident in its work, it will be more than willing to share it online.
Check Out Their Team and Company Values
Working with an eCommerce consulting firm is a partnership at its core, and if you find a good fit, it’s likely you will work with the company for a long time. It’s a good idea to find a firm that matches your own values and understands business in a similar way.
The first thing you should do is take a look at the company’s team, as they will be the people in charge of running your campaigns. It’s best practice to see what kind of experience they have and, if possible, chat with each member to get a feel of what they’re like as people. It’s always good to work with people who are able to share ideas and take criticism. A positive yet dynamic team is your best bet for a long, fruitful partnership.
The other thing you want to check out is the company’s values. It’s good if they match with yours, but it’s even more important that the consulting firm you’re considering values quality over quantity and actually puts the client first. Those two things will help you build a long-term partnership with the company that will bring you both success.
Find Out What They Charge
You’ve found a good eCommerce consulting firm with all the services you need and good accolades. Check its pricing to see if you can find a firm that fits your budget. Most consulting companies hide their prices, and you have to get in touch with them to learn their prices.
If you can find a company with transparent pricing, that might be the best option for you, especially if you’re on a tighter budget. If you’re not able to find one, then you have to find a company you want to work with and ask about its pricing. Make sure not to give away what price you’re willing to pay and to ask what each service or package of services will cost you.
In the end…
Finding a good eCommerce consulting firm is all about getting to work with people who have the necessary knowledge to take your business to the next level while making the process fun and collaborative. If you manage to find that in a company, then hold on tight and never let that company go.