What Does a Digital Marketing Consultant Do? A Simple Explanation

If you’ve ever searched online for ways to grow your business, improve your website traffic, or get more customers through social media, chances are you’ve come across the term digital marketing consultant. It sounds professional, maybe even a bit confusing at first. You might be wondering: What exactly does a digital marketing consultant do? And more importantly, do I really need one for my business?

In this blog, I’ll explain everything in simple, everyday language—no jargon, no complicated theories. Think of this as a friendly conversation rather than a textbook lesson.

Table of Contents

Understanding Digital Marketing in Simple Words

Before we talk about a digital marketing consultant, let’s quickly understand digital marketing itself.

Digital marketing simply means promoting your business online. This can include:

Your website
Google search results
Social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook
Emails
Online ads
Content like blogs and videos

Basically, anywhere people spend time online—digital marketing helps your business show up there.

Now, managing all of this properly is not easy. That’s where a digital marketing consultant comes in.

Who Is a Digital Marketing Consultant?

A digital marketing consultant is someone who helps businesses grow online by creating smart marketing strategies. Instead of randomly posting on social media or running ads without a plan, a consultant looks at the big picture.

They study your business, understand your audience, analyze your competitors, and then guide you on:

What to do
Where to invest
What to stop doing
How to get better results

Think of a digital marketing consultant as a guide or advisor, not just someone who does tasks.

What Does a Digital Marketing Consultant Actually Do?

Let’s break this down step by step.

1. Understanding Your Business Goals

The first thing a digital marketing consultant does is listen.

They’ll ask questions like:

What do you sell?
Who is your ideal customer?
What are your short-term and long-term goals?
Are you trying to get more leads, more sales, or more brand awareness?

Without understanding your business goals, marketing is pointless. A good consultant never jumps straight into ads or SEO without this clarity.

2. Auditing Your Current Online Presence

Next, the consultant reviews everything you already have online:

Your website
Your social media pages
Your Google rankings
Your past ads (if any)
Your content quality

This is called a digital audit.

Many businesses are surprised to learn that small mistakes—like slow website speed, poor mobile design, or unclear messaging—are the real reasons they’re not getting results.

3. Creating a Clear Digital Marketing Strategy

This is where a digital marketing consultant truly adds value.

Instead of guessing, they create a clear, step-by-step plan. This may include:

SEO strategy for long-term traffic
Paid ads for quick leads
Content marketing to build trust
Email marketing for repeat customers
Social media strategy for brand visibility

The goal is not to do everything, but to do the right things for your business.

4. Helping With SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

One of the most common tasks of a digital marketing consultant is SEO guidance.

SEO helps your website appear on Google when people search for services like yours. For example, if someone searches digital marketing companies near me, you want your business to show up.

A consultant helps with:

Keyword research
Website structure
Content planning
Technical SEO improvements
Local SEO optimization

They make sure your website is built not just for looks, but for search engines and users.

5. Advising on Paid Advertising

Running ads without a plan can burn money quickly.

A digital marketing consultant helps you:

Choose the right platform (Google, Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
Set a realistic budget
Target the right audience
Write better ad copy
Track results properly

They don’t just focus on clicks—they focus on returns.

6. Improving Website Conversion Rate

Getting traffic is only half the job. Converting visitors into customers is the real challenge.

A digital marketing consultant reviews:

Website layout
Call-to-action buttons
Page content
User journey
Checkout or contact forms

Small changes like better headlines, clearer buttons, or faster loading speed can double conversions.

7. Content Planning and Guidance

Content is not just about writing blogs—it’s about telling your brand story.

A consultant helps plan:

Blog topics
Landing page content
Social media content
Email campaigns
Video ideas

The goal is to educate, build trust, and guide customers, not just sell.

8. Tracking, Analytics, and Reporting

Marketing without tracking is like driving with your eyes closed.

A digital marketing consultant sets up:

Google Analytics
Conversion tracking
Ad performance reports
User behavior analysis

They explain data in simple terms, so you actually understand what’s working and what’s not.

Digital Marketing Consultant vs Digital Marketing Agency

Many people confuse consultants with agencies, so let’s clear this up.

A digital marketing consultant:

Focuses on strategy
Gives expert advice
Works closely with decision-makers
Helps you make smart choices

A digital marketing agency:

Executes tasks
Has a team for ads, SEO, design, etc.
Works well once strategy is clear

Many businesses first work with a consultant and then hire an agency—or look for digital marketing companies near me that offer both consulting and execution.

When Should You Hire a Digital Marketing Consultant?

You should consider hiring a digital marketing consultant if:

Your marketing efforts feel scattered
You’re spending money but not seeing results
Your website traffic is low
You’re unsure which marketing channel to focus on
You want expert guidance before scaling

Even startups and small businesses can benefit from consulting—it often saves money in the long run.

Why Businesses Search for “Digital Marketing Companies Near Me”

Many business owners prefer working with local experts. When you search for digital marketing companies near me, you’re often looking for:

Faster communication
Better understanding of local markets
Trust and reliability
Face-to-face meetings (when needed)

A digital marketing consultant who understands your local audience can create more relevant strategies, especially for local SEO and regional campaigns.