This document provides guidance on when and how to hire a social media consultant. It discusses reasons for hiring a consultant, including being overwhelmed by data, needing help with a large campaign, or requiring innovation from an outside perspective. Regarding when to hire a consultant, examples include during strategy implementation, tracking/measuring campaigns, or addressing stalled campaigns. The document advises vetting consultants by their experience, online footprint, and connections, and avoiding those without credentials or an online presence.