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Digital media strategist vs media director

The differences between digital media strategists and media directors 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 strategist and a media director. Additionally, a media director has an average salary of $112,564, which is higher than the $62,947 average annual salary of a digital media strategist.

The top three skills for a digital media strategist include digital marketing, client facing and search engine marketing. The most important skills for a media director are digital marketing, video production, and media planning.

Digital media strategist vs media director overview

Digital Media StrategistMedia Director
Yearly salary$62,947$112,564
Hourly rate$30.26$54.12
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs31,38722,511
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 87%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

What does a digital media strategist do?

Digital media strategists assist in building ad campaigns outlined to catch potential clients' awareness and keep existing customers' fealty. Their responsibilities include determining the campaign's target demographic, assessing the best time to run the campaign, and figuring out which medium to use. Also, they analyze data from surveys, develop a budget-friendly ad campaign media, as well as assessing the effect a campaign's online presence will have on its selected audience. Skills required include strong critical and analytical skills, creativity, and excellent communication skills.

What does a media director do?

A media director spearheads and oversees a company's entire media-related activities, including marketing and advertising campaigns. They are in charge of setting goals and guidelines, liaising and building positive relationships with external parties, conceptualizing plans for projects and campaigns, and developing strategies to optimize operations. It is also their duty to address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as a media director, it is essential to monitor the progress of different teams, leading and encouraging them to reach goals while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Digital media strategist vs media director salary

Digital media strategists and media directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Digital Media StrategistMedia Director
Average salary$62,947$112,564
Salary rangeBetween $44,000 And $89,000Between $73,000 And $172,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonNevada
Best paying companyGoogleGoogle
Best paying industryMediaProfessional

Differences between digital media strategist and media director education

There are a few differences between a digital media strategist and a media director in terms of educational background:

Digital Media StrategistMedia Director
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 87%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common majorCommunicationCommunication
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityStanford University

Digital media strategist vs media director demographics

Here are the differences between digital media strategists' and media directors' demographics:

Digital Media StrategistMedia Director
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 42.2% Female, 57.8%Male, 62.0% Female, 38.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 5.1% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage12%16%

Differences between digital media strategist and media director duties and responsibilities

Digital media strategist example responsibilities.

  • Manage, analyze and optimize ROI for partner campaigns.
  • Manage company website including photography of all images, update images and information as necessary.
  • Offer PPC, SEO, SEM Google programs, and websites.
  • Train in audience exchange segments for mobile and digital including CPC, SEO, SEM, and
  • Research and implement 3rd party ad serving tools such as DoubleClick.
  • Work on monthly media post performance reviews, POVs and media decks for the client.
  • Show more

Media director example responsibilities.

  • Manage course creation process from media asset creation to LMS formatting.
  • Manage a team performing mastering and short run duplication of 1000-1500 fully finish DVD products per day.
  • Manage online advertising including multiple search engine sponsor link (PPC) campaigns and display campaigns with different traffic providers/networks.
  • Utilize basic HTML, CSS and advance Photoshop techniques to maintain and update the website.
  • Maintain $2600 pvr while keeping high CSI and SSI.
  • Record video clips and post on YouTube and website.
  • Show more

Digital media strategist vs media director skills

Common digital media strategist skills
  • Digital Marketing, 14%
  • Client Facing, 10%
  • Search Engine Marketing, 5%
  • Campaign Performance, 5%
  • Facebook, 5%
  • Google Analytics, 4%
Common media director skills
  • Digital Marketing, 10%
  • Video Production, 9%
  • Media Planning, 6%
  • Client Relationships, 5%
  • Facebook, 4%
  • TV, 4%

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