I was hoping there a few marketing professional and others around who can help me clarify the value in hiring someone to assist with our marketing strategy.

Being a small business in the software industry, with an online sales channel, there a few obvious things we can try like GoogleAds, facebook, yahoo, MSN and linkedIn.

There are other things which are not as great for us, like TV ads and probably radio ads (without having a decent budget). Other options include news papers, magazines, conferences, direct mailing etc

I guess what I am trying to say is that any marketing strategy will have to be converted to one or more of these tools. I am trying to understand the added value... or what do I don't know that I don't know?

To get some of the basics I gone through a few books like "e-myth revisited", "duct tape marketing", "eating the big fish" and many many articles. as well as having some consulting sessions.

What are the services/results a marketing consultant can provide? how do they work?

thanks for all your help.