In FTTH marketing departments, and for that matter, any industry’s marketing team, there is always too much work to do and not enough people to do the work.
While you wait for the budgeted headcount to be hired, ask yourself this question from Business Insider, “What is not getting done?” It might be time to consider hiring a consultant as another set of hands. If you immediately think, “Yes!”, then define what the gap is and what you need; finding the right consultant is important.
Key Considerations for Hiring a Consultant
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- What industry are you in? Does the consultant have experience understanding what you do with little to no training?
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- What staffing budget do you have? Weigh the cost/benefit of hiring a consultant vs. full-time headcount (FTE). Companies that compare full-time employee rates to consultants may miss the context. Flexible staffing not only means you can allocate resources efficiently by paying only for the expertise you need when you need it, but it also reduces expenses related to recruiting, onboarding, and training.
- What is a “Nice to have” that should actually be a priority? Programs that you know will increase revenues either by subscriber/customer gain or increased revenue through upgrading to higher value packages, yet do you and your team have time to implement them? For example, in the Fiber Broadband Industry, a great program to implement is to get your customers to act as advocates for your service, which increases adoption rates by 3-5 times compared to baseline groups.
The Bottom Line
Little to no training for the right consultant, combined with cost savings from hiring a consultant rather than a full-time employee, enables you to implement programs that your team and you do not have the bandwidth to get off the ground. Do your research to find the right fit. Consider investing in a consultant.
If an FTTH marketing consultant is needed, email or call me to explore what the right consultant can do for your business.
References
Business Insiders-https://www.businessinsider.com/sc/what-the-job-market-freeze-means-for-workforce-in-2026
Robert Half- https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/hiring-help/the-many-benefits-of-a-flexible-staffing-strategy
Cornell University-https://arxiv.org/abs/math/0606278?utm_
FAQ Section
Q. How do I know if I should hire a consultant or just wait until I can add headcount?
A. Start by looking at what the delay is costing you. Are key initiatives slipping, or is your team stuck in execution mode? Waiting often is the more expensive option. A consultant can move faster, tackle a specific problem, and advance progress, giving you time to evaluate long-term hiring needs.
Q. How do I convince my superiors that hiring a consultant to do some of the work my team does not have time to complete?
A. Ask your consultant to help you run a Return on Investment model (ROI) that shows Cost per Action (CPA) to show that the short-term cost to get a program up and running outweighs the benefit.
Q. How do I find a consultant that is right for my industry and my project/s?
A. Use LinkedIn as your primary search tool. It is the fastest way to find consultants with relevant industry experience, review their work, and validate credibility. Look for people who demonstrate how they think through real problems and can point to results. For example, if you are in fiber broadband, look for a consultant with FTTH experience. This same principle applies in any industry.