3 ways hiring marketing interns could hurt your small business
Taking on an intern can be a cost-effective way to accomplish extra work, but it might not be the best idea for organizations with limited staff. One marketer offers reasons to say no.
Entrepreneurs are used to operating on limited budgets.
Not spending money on marketing or delaying an effort until your organization earns enough to support a full campaign can be dangerous. A marketing budget—no matter how small—should be a key component of your early financial planning.
When outlining your budget, you might consider hiring a communications or social media intern. Although this theoretically solid strategy could keep costs low and contribute to your marketing efforts, it’s more likely to hurt your business.
Here are three reasons:
1. Interns lack industry knowledge.
The goal for many interns is to acquire knowledge while in a given position. Often this means they are coming to you green, seeking guidance. Interns can be inexpensive to hire, but they lack a deep understanding of your industry—or the work environment generally.
Sharing your knowledge, contacts and strategies can be time-consuming—and often outweighs the low-priced labor.
2. Sooner or later (and usually sooner), interns leave.
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