I have worked with a number of social media consultants and have a couple things to mention that are worth keeping in mind. 1:Pay attention to how the "expert"

I have worked with a number of social media consultants and have a couple things to mention that are worth keeping in mind. 1:Pay attention to how the "expert" talks about social media. They should be talking about how it is just a channel...not an end in itself. Granted, it is a powerful channel with some unique characteristics. They should be asking you questions about what type of value or messaging your customers might want to hear about in that channel. 2. Think about whether or not you can do this on your own. You would be surprised to know how much impact the owners of a business can have when they handle some of the social media strategy themselves. If you just focus on one or two channels it doesn't take any time at all. Once an owner or team member learns about how the channels work, they are the best ones to see the unique opportunities for their business.