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Digital media strategist vs media manager

The differences between digital media strategists and media managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a digital media strategist, becoming a media manager takes usually requires 8-10 years. Additionally, a media manager has an average salary of $96,475, 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 manager are digital marketing, kpis, and media planning.

Digital media strategist vs media manager overview

Digital Media StrategistMedia Manager
Yearly salary$62,947$96,475
Hourly rate$30.26$46.38
Growth rate8%10%
Number of jobs31,387110,888
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 87%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Average age4239
Years of experience410

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 manager do?

Media managers oversee the department that works on the different communication needs of the company. They execute the communications strategies of the company. They are expected to be updated with the current trends on media platforms. They should also be very familiar with the company and are attuned to the company's brand and image so that they can create relevant communications campaigns. Media managers oversee content creation on different media platforms. They manage the research related to the content they are working on. They develop materials and ensure that these materials are engaging and relatable to the target audience.

Digital media strategist vs media manager salary

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

Digital Media StrategistMedia Manager
Average salary$62,947$96,475
Salary rangeBetween $44,000 And $89,000Between $66,000 And $140,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonPennsylvania
Best paying companyGoogleMeta
Best paying industryMediaAutomotive

Differences between digital media strategist and media manager education

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

Digital Media StrategistMedia Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 87%Bachelor's Degree, 81%
Most common majorCommunicationCommunication
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityUniversity of Georgia

Digital media strategist vs media manager demographics

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

Digital Media StrategistMedia Manager
Average age4239
Gender ratioMale, 42.2% Female, 57.8%Male, 51.7% Female, 48.3%
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, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage12%10%

Differences between digital media strategist and media manager 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 manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage B2C media campaigns from inception to reporting.
  • Evaluate, select and manage relationships with PPC technology vendors.
  • Lead intranet and internet maintenance, content, development and marketing.
  • Execute vendor fund campaigns to achieve KPIs base on each individual brand s needs and drive ecommerce sales.
  • Utilize CRM software to maintain contacts, leads, ad sales, sales reports and advertisement run sheets.
  • Manage search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising for several B2B and health care clients.
  • Show more

Digital media strategist vs media manager 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 manager skills
  • Digital Marketing, 19%
  • KPIs, 5%
  • Media Planning, 4%
  • Media Management, 4%
  • PowerPoint, 4%
  • Google Analytics, 3%

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