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Are you a business owner feeling overwhelmed by the digital landscape? Perhaps you’ve heard that a digital consultant is the solution to your problems. But before you sign on the dotted line, it’s crucial to ask: Is your business truly ready to benefit from a partnership with a digital expert?
Hiring a consultant without the right foundation can lead to wasted time, money, and frustration. A digital consultant can provide immense value, but their success often depends on your business’s internal readiness.
👉 Who should read this?
- Startups are scaling quickly and need structure
- SMEs stuck in digital stagnation
- Traditional businesses transitioning online
If that sounds like you, this checklist will help you evaluate whether your business is in the optimal position to bring on a digital consultant.
1. Do You Have a Clearly Defined Problem?
This is the most critical question to ask. A digital consultant isn’t a magician; they are a strategist and problem-solver. Before you even start your search, you need to articulate exactly what you want to achieve.
- Wrong: “We need to do better online.”
- Right: “Our website traffic is low, and we need a strategy to increase it by 20% in the next six months.” or “Our social media engagement is stagnant, and we need a content strategy to boost it.”
Related: 5 Steps to Build a Digital Presence on a Startup Budget in Nigeria
✅ Checklist:
- Can you describe the specific digital challenge you are facing?
- Do you have quantifiable goals for the consultant to work towards?
2. Are Your Internal Teams on Board and Ready to Collaborate?
A digital consultant is not there to replace your team. They are there to guide, advise, and work with them. A successful collaboration requires open communication and a willingness from your staff to implement new strategies.
If your marketing or sales teams are resistant to change, a consultant’s recommendations may never come to fruition. Ensure you have key stakeholders who are enthusiastic about the project and committed to execution.
✅ Checklist:
- Have you briefed your internal teams about the potential for a consultant?
- Is there a designated person or team who will work directly with the consultant?
- Are your teams open to new ideas and processes?
3. Do You Have a Realistic Budget and Timeline?
Effective digital consulting is an investment, not a cost. Be prepared to allocate a realistic budget that reflects the scope of the project. This includes not only the consultant’s fees but also potential costs for new software, advertising spend, or content creation.
Example: Expecting a full transformation with ₦100,000 might not be realistic. But setting aside ₦500,000–₦1M with clear milestones is more aligned with industry standards.
Similarly, be realistic about timelines. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and a sustainable digital transformation won’t happen overnight.
Helpful resource: How to Set a Digital Marketing Budget
✅ Checklist:
- Have you researched the typical costs for the type of consulting you need?
- Do you have a clear budget allocated for the consultant’s fees and any associated project costs?
- Do you have a realistic timeframe in mind for seeing results?
4. Is Your Foundational Data and Documentation in Order?
A digital consultant’s first step is almost always an audit. They need access to your existing data to understand your current performance. This includes things like website analytics, social media reports, and customer data.
Having this information readily available will save you time and money, as the consultant can jump straight into analysis and strategy instead of spending weeks tracking down basic numbers.
Learn more: Getting Started with Google Analytics
✅ Checklist:
- Do you have access to your website analytics (e.g., Google Analytics)?
- Can you easily pull reports on your social media and email marketing performance?
- Is your customer relationship management (CRM) system organized?
5. Are You Willing to Embrace Change?
The purpose of a digital consultant is to identify what’s not working and recommend better ways of doing things. This might mean overhauling your social media strategy, redesigning your website’s user experience, or investing in new technology.
If you or your leadership are not prepared to make these changes, the consulting engagement will be a failure. The value is in the execution of the recommendations.
Related: Why Storytelling is Key to Digital Growth
✅ Checklist:
- Are you and your leadership team committed to implementing the consultant’s advice?
- Are you prepared to challenge your existing processes and mindsets?
The Verdict: Ready or Not?
- If you answered “Yes” to most of the questions: Congratulations, your business is likely in an excellent position to benefit from a digital consultant. You have a clear vision and a foundation that will allow a consultant to hit the ground running and deliver maximum value.
- If you answered “No” to several questions: Don’t panic! This is a valuable insight. It means you have some groundwork to do before you can effectively partner with a consultant. Take the time to define your problems, align your team, and organize your data. This preparation will ensure your future investment is a success.
By using this checklist, you can move from a state of digital uncertainty to a position of strength, ready to forge a successful partnership that drives real, measurable growth for your business.
💡 Next Step: If your answers suggest you’re ready, the next step is finding the right partner. At Firstwealth Tech, we help businesses like yours turn digital challenges into growth opportunities. Let’s talk
