The world today is driven by social media ranging from conversations that can make or break companies to epic social media posts that go viral and drive revenue, and aside from conventional/standard social media marketing there’s a special place for social media consultants that solve complex problems. But what exactly do they do?

Social media consultants are like the special forces of marketing where when all else fails – from internal marketing teams to outside social media agencies – you need someone on your side that understands your business (and has a proven track record) to guide you in the right direction and get the job done.

Essentially, a social media consultant is your magic carpet ride to finding the destination without wasting time and money going down theoretical paths where the results are unknown. Let them help you remove the blinders and execute on the real mission based on their experience.

For example, since the early days of social media up until now we’ve guided cool companies throughout the world (startups to Fortune 500s) and many times it takes an outsider to truly highlight core roadblocks then break through them to achieve goals. That’s where social media consultants shine.

Below are some of the other questions we get around social media consulting:

What Should I Expect From a Social Media Consultant?
Looking at the deliverables a social media consultant provides and what you should expect, you’re looping in an expert to solve challenges you’re facing and having a person or team that guides you in the right direction – and that helps you achieve your goals – is the expectation to have.

What Does a Social Media Consultant Charge?
In previous posts we covered the costs of social media consultants and it really comes down to company goals and what consultants are providing guidance on. For example, we guide Fortune 500s on social media strategies and charge $300/hr and also provide social media expert witness testimony for high-profile cases and our hourly rate is $1,250/hr because we’re one of the few experts in that field. The costs are all relative.

The moral of the story is that you have to do your homework, find what’s best for you then execute and run like crazy.