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Digital media planner vs social media specialist

The differences between digital media planners and social media specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a digital media planner and a social media specialist. Additionally, a digital media planner has an average salary of $55,361, which is higher than the $51,584 average annual salary of a social media specialist.

The top three skills for a digital media planner include powerpoint, media planning and campaign performance. The most important skills for a social media specialist are social media marketing, instagram, and digital marketing.

Digital media planner vs social media specialist overview

Digital Media PlannerSocial Media Specialist
Yearly salary$55,361$51,584
Hourly rate$26.62$24.80
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs39,00547,228
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 89%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

What does a digital media planner do?

A digital media planner helps clients planning to build an internet presence through online marketing. Crafting a successful digital media advertising campaign is not a simple task, and it requires a lot of data gathering and analysis. It is the digital media planner's job to ensure the client's business gets the most out of the internet by creating a workable plan to take advantage of the internet. A digital media planner's tasks are to monitor campaign performance, gather data from previous campaigns, and develop new strategies and plans for the company to follow.

What does a social media specialist do?

A social media specialist is an individual who is responsible for creating and administering content on all social media platforms to build an audience and ensure customer engagement. By using platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, social media specialists must create content that resonates with the interests of the intended audience. They are required to understand social media metrics so that they can use the information to ensure success in their social media strategy. Social media specialists must also work with industry professionals and influencers via social media to create a strong network.

Digital media planner vs social media specialist salary

Digital media planners and social media specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Digital Media PlannerSocial Media Specialist
Average salary$55,361$51,584
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $64,000Between $38,000 And $68,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateWashingtonHawaii
Best paying companyMama's Fish HouseMcKinsey & Company Inc
Best paying industryProfessionalProfessional

Differences between digital media planner and social media specialist education

There are a few differences between a digital media planner and a social media specialist in terms of educational background:

Digital Media PlannerSocial Media Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 89%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common majorMarketingCommunication
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Digital media planner vs social media specialist demographics

Here are the differences between digital media planners' and social media specialists' demographics:

Digital Media PlannerSocial Media Specialist
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 38.1% Female, 61.9%Male, 38.6% Female, 61.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 5.4% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 5.3% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between digital media planner and social media specialist duties and responsibilities

Digital media planner example responsibilities.

  • Manage the domestic and international marketing media budget - evaluate opportunities for acceptable ROI and ensure budgetary constraints are met.
  • Provide day-to-day campaign management on paid and SEO marketing campaigns to ensure successful results.
  • Set up and maintain all campaigns in DoubleClick
  • Put together POVs for potential partnerships and present feedback and findings.
  • Authore and present POVs on social media monitoring tools, site placements, and audience targets.
  • Analyze client KPIs to present media recommendations, executing largest $5MM campaign of year with fifteen media partners
  • Show more

Social media specialist example responsibilities.

  • Develop and manage blogger outreach program and KPIs.
  • Assist in managing the social network pages (Facebook/Twitter) as well as editing the site.
  • Create, curate, and manage all publish content (images, video and written).
  • Develop and help manage online links and search engine optimization (SEO) efforts to drive traffic to sites
  • Manage social media properties (Facebook, YouTube), including daily monitoring, posting, and content development.
  • Manage $15- $75K monthly PPC budget for 90 interactive agencies, totaling $24M annual ad spend.
  • Show more

Digital media planner vs social media specialist skills

Common digital media planner skills
  • PowerPoint, 9%
  • Media Planning, 8%
  • Campaign Performance, 8%
  • Digital Marketing, 7%
  • DoubleClick, 4%
  • Client Facing, 4%
Common social media specialist skills
  • Social Media Marketing, 8%
  • Instagram, 8%
  • Digital Marketing, 7%
  • Facebook, 7%
  • Twitter, 6%
  • Social Media Management, 5%

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