What Is a Digital Marketing Manager? How to Become One, Salary, Skills.

Digital marketing managers handle a company’s online marketing strategy, which often includes paid ad campaigns, email marketing, social media marketing and content marketing. Here’s what to know about a digital marketing manager’s needed skills, salary and how to become one.

 What Is a Digital Marketing Manager?

Digital marketing managers are responsible for creating and overseeing a company’s digital marketing strategies and campaigns. The main objective of digital marketing managers is to enhance their brand’s online presence and grow the customer base.

What Do Digital Marketing Managers Do?

Digital marketing managers are responsible for crafting and carrying out online marketing strategies through a variety of digital channels.

Digital Marketing Manager Responsibilities

• Create and establish digital marketing campaigns and oversee SEO/SEM, marketing database, email, social media and display advertising campaigns. 
• Select various digital channels on which to test ads.
• Monitor performance metrics for ads across digital channels.
• Collaborate with SEO, sales and marketing teams to plan new growth strategies.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities of Digital Marketing Managers

• Monitor performance metrics for ads and organic search across digital channels. 
• Create social media posts. 
• Oversee ongoing digital marketing campaigns. 
• Identify new trends and optimize ongoing campaigns.

Digital Marketing Managers Within a Company

Digital marketing managers are typically mid-level roles within a company’s marketing department. This role often reports to a senior marketing manager, director of marketing or VP of marketing, depending on the size of the company. Digital marketing managers are often individual contributors, but sometimes they manage direct reports. They may work closely with SEO and sales teams to establish digital marketing initiatives and report on the success of marketing campaigns.

 Importance of Digital Marketing Managers

Digital marketing managers are a key part of a company’s growth strategy as they help build a company’s online presence, run ad campaigns and engage new customers through social media and other channels.

What Skills Are Needed to Be a Digital Marketing Manager?

Qualifications to Be a Digital Marketing Manager

• Experience working on campaigns for different digital marketing channels.
• Understanding of marketing best practices.
• Ability to manage multiple projects within budget.
• Familiarity with the latest digital marketing tools and software.

Digital Marketing Manager Prerequisites

• Digital marketing managers often have a bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, public relations or a related field. 
• Strong portfolio of past digital marketing campaigns, including but not limited to paid ads and search, social media posts and SEO content.

Digital Marketing Manager Hard Skills

• SEO/SEM experience. 
• Basic design skills. 
• Data analytics. 
• PPC advertising. 
• Social media marketing.

Digital Marketing Manager Soft Skills

• Time management skills. 
• Communication and presentation skills.
• Collaboration and teamwork skills. 
• Creative thinking and problem solving skills.

Tools and Programs Digital Marketing Managers Use

• Google Analytics and Data Studio
• DART 
• Atlas
• HubSpot
• HootSuite
• MailChimp
• SEMrush
• Google Ads Editor
• Canva

How to Become a Digital Marketing Manager

Digital Marketing Manager Education and Experience

Most digital marketing managers hold a bachelor’s degree in marketing or a related field. Outside of education, having a proven track record of digital marketing experience is essential to becoming a successful digital marketing manager. Building a portfolio of ad campaigns, SEO writing and social media experience can highlight the skills needed in digital marketing. 

 Digital Marketing Manager Certificates and Courses

• Digital Marketing Accelerator
• Content Marketing Courses to Know
• Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate
• Harvard Digital Marketing Strategy Program
• SimpliLearn Digital Marketing Specialist Certificate

Digital Marketing Manager Career Path

Aspiring digital marketers often take marketing internships as the first step in their career. After that, they may take on roles such as marketing associate, marketing coordinator or marketing manager. Common titles held after digital marketing manager include senior marketing manager, director of marketing or VP of marketing. 

Digital Marketing Manager Salary and Job Outlook

The outlook for professionals working in digital marketing is promising. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the marketing and advertising field to grow by 10 percent through 2031. 

The full compensation package for a digital marketing manager depends on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s experience and geographic location. See below for detailed information on the average digital marketing manager’s salary.