5 tips to supercharge your marketing recruitment

---

Marketing is a complex engine and often requires expertise in multiple channels in order to be successful. Many businesses struggle to find an individual that has expertise in all the required channels when in the throws of marketing recruitment and are left in need of additional support. What's more, in today's world businesses are struggling to find the budget to secure a permanent resource and are understandably hesitant to sign with an agency that will charge high costs with lengthy contracts.

Below we share five tips to ensure your search for a marketing resource is optimised from the beginning, helping you get it right first time.

1. Figure out what you need now, in the next 12 months and in the next 2 years

Before you do anything, it's important that you evaluate where you are now, what

your immediate needs are and what you envisage your needs being over the next 12-24 months, in order support your business strategy. Once you know this, you know what to include on your wish list for marketing resource - be that a virtual support specialist, permanent head or an agency.

2. Consider what will work best for you

It might be that a permanent head is what you need and you have the budget to cover any gaps in expertise. There is no right or wrong decision when it comes to this, but in order to ensure you don't waste time, you should write down what expertise you are looking for and decide whether you're likely to get that from a single employee, or whether you need to look to an agency or virtual support specialist.

3. Look for what you need in the right places

There are too many options when looking for specialist resource. If you need an employee, we recommend placing a listing on LinkedIn via your company page and sponsoring an advert, with the addition of qualifying or screening tests for specific skillsets.

LinkedIn is far superior to job sites such as Indeed or Reed, because you can find individuals that might not actively be looking for a new role, but would be tempted by something you have to offer. Those working with recruitment agencies or browsing Indeed and other job sites, are already looking for a new role, and aren't always the best candidates. Sometimes (not always) those that are currently in a job and aren't actively looking elsewhere are likely to be great candidates - loyal, without a wandering eye, but open to opportunities if they aren't being treated well and given access to appropriate development.

If you're looking for an external resource, a good starting point is to search for local specialists, with their own website and an array of experience that aligns with your business needs. Agencies are great, but they often require a large budget and a minimum monthly spend. Virtual specialist support provides you with the ability to flex and scale in line with your individual requirements and the expertise you require, with no need to fork out for sick pay, annual leave and pension payments.

4. Look at testimonials and previous work where possible

Testimonials, references and previous work/portfolios are key. These give you an idea of the quality of work you can expect from any individual, whether you're hiring an individual or an agency. Don't take work from an agency as a whole, it's important you see work from those that will be working on your account to ensure you're happy that they are producing the quality of work you are looking for.

5. Time tracking and pricing transparency

If you find an agency or individual, it's worth looking for an idea of pricing on their website. If you're looking for a website build, this will likely be a priced around the level of site you require, but task or small project requirements such as logos, business card or flyer production or social media copywriting/image production will be based on an hourly rate, so you can compare this rate to other local providers.

In addition to this, it's wise to find someone that uses time tracking so that there is transparency in the time actually spent working on your account.

For further information on virtual specialist support, feel free to get in touch via our contact form.