There are certain people who you and your business need to avoid.
Some are easy to spot.
For example.
- The marketing expert who has to pester people on Linkedin, because their own marketing doesn’t work.
- The business consultant who claims to be in demand, yet offers free consultations.
- The leadership expert who’s just like all the other leadership experts. (Think about that for a moment).
- The social media marketing expert who needs to use paid ads or spam, to get your attention.
- The web designer whose website is outdated and ugly.
- The copywriter whose content is uninspiring.
Others are harder to spot.
- The strategist whose own strategy isn’t working.
- The accountant who understands the numbers, but can’t express what they mean to your business.
- The business coach who has never built a successful business.
- The success coach whose personal life and professional life is a mess.
- The Google ads or Facebook ads expert, who knows just enough to sound convincing.
Here’s the thing: With a slick website and some testimonials (fake or otherwise), anyone can claim to be an expert in anything. So, before you hire the services of an expert, ask them to back up their claims in a way that is both meaningful and verifiable.
Personal recommendation
The best way to avoid hiring the wrong provider, is via personal recommendation. Ask your friends and trusted contacts if they have someone suitable they can endorse to you.
However, there’s a critically important additional step you need to take, before acting on a personal recommendation.
Make sure to ask the person giving you the endorsement, if they have first-hand experience of the provider.
Otherwise a friend or contact may give you the name of someone they’re aware of, but have no actual experience of that person’s ability or effectiveness.
Even if they have first-hand experience of the provider’s work and their recommendation is glowing, still do some background research. Be as sure as you can be. Only when you are fully satisfied with their credentials should you consider hiring them.
I hope this helps you avoid making a costly mistake. Equally, I hope it helps you locate, and benefit from, the best quality providers for your business.