What does a marketing consultant do?

[Joe Smiley]

[John Lagoudakis]

Hi Mr. Bob,

A marketing consultant helps you to brand your product or service in the market to make sure you get the message across of what it is you do to the people that need to see it.

[Maria]

A marketing consultant works to further the brand, image, and market share of the company for which they work. This can include a wide variety of activities. For example, one day, a marketing consultant may be helping their company improve its brand image among users of a certain social media outlet such as Facebook or Twitter. The next day, they may work with designers to put together a brochure or complete a marketing package to help land new customers. For this reason, the ability to work cooperatively with others is one of the most important skills a marketing consultant can have.

Marketing consultants generally work in an office environment, and their work tends to be more mental than physical. They often spend a great deal of time on the telephone, helping to coordinate efforts among different departments, such as legal and design. They are also generally responsible for being able to identify and quantify the results of various marketing campaigns or projects.

Most employers want a marketing consultant to have a degree in marketing, communications, or business, though some other fields (such as graphic design) may be equally desirable. While there aren’t any broadly requested standardized certifications (beyond a bachelor’s degree in a related field), knowledge specific to the industry in which the employer is situated is generally a requirement as well.

Marketing Consultant Tasks
Plan and assist in implementing marketing initiatives of the organization's products and services.
Measure the effectiveness of marketing, advertising, and communications programs and strategies, determining position in the marketplace.
Provide support and insight in the building of strategic marketing plans and help determine position in the market.