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What does a marketing communications specialist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Mike Bromberg
What does a marketing communications specialist do

A marketing communications specialist is an individual who is responsible for creating all the marketing materials that are distributed to customers to increase brand awareness for the company's products or services. To create these materials, marketing communications specialists must collaborate with graphic design teams. They are required to track their marketing performance so that they can identify ways to improve their marketing strategies. Marketing communications specialists must also set up interviews and press conferences as part of their marketing campaign.

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Marketing communications specialist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real marketing communications specialist resumes:

  • Accomplish increasing the number of followers for the company's twitter account.
  • Create and manage distribution of bi-weekly HTML compliance notifications to subscribers, as well as monthly HTML newsletter.
  • Monitor and manage general company email address and company LinkedIn page
  • Lead information management, collaboration, CRM, and business intelligence initiatives.
  • Promote company wins by leveraging intranet access while managing logistics for the entire business development team.
  • Improve aesthetics, effectiveness, ROI and time-to-market of marketing communications by re-designing and effectively managing the development process and procedure.
  • Consult on website placement of program specifics such as membership information, Facebook, twitter, and retail rewards program.
  • Launch and run twitter account for company CMO.
  • Learned HTML to get a basic understanding of making updates to web pages.
  • Post Instagram photos from mobile phone on various convention fashion styles and police preparations.
  • Overhaul Salesforce campaign nomenclature to facilitate search capabilities and understanding of the campaigns run by the demand generation team.
  • Collaborate with senior sales leaders on development of target and strategic account lists using existing Salesforce accounts and Hoovers.
  • Create web presence by providing copy, SEO, social media content as well as creating company website using WordPress platform.
  • Participate in departmental SEO efforts.
  • Launch department Instagram account (@ harttcommunitydivision )

Marketing communications specialist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 8% of Marketing Communications Specialists are proficient in Digital Marketing, Project Management, and Graphic Design. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.

We break down the percentage of Marketing Communications Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Digital Marketing, 8%

    Created multimedia use-case scenarios and featured them across multiple digital marketing channels, which resulted in directing product release strategy.

  • Project Management, 7%

    Project Management: Managed Verizon s national bill media marketing communications program at a high level of responsibility and accountability.

  • Graphic Design, 7%

    Directed corporate communications, including advertising, graphic design, collateral promotions, website design and maintenance, trade show management

  • Web Content, 6%

    Maintain company website utilizing web content management systems ensuring accurate and current material and usability.

  • Press Releases, 5%

    Managed all media and public relations including developing and writing all press releases and representing hospital at community and marketing events.

  • Marketing Campaigns, 5%

    Identified and compiled content and web surveys for customer-dedicated internet micro sites used in the successful launch of customer-direct marketing campaigns.

"digital marketing," "project management," and "graphic design" are among the most common skills that marketing communications specialists use at work. You can find even more marketing communications specialist responsibilities below, including:

Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a marketing communications specialist to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "market research analysts must evaluate large amounts of data and information related to market conditions." Additionally, a marketing communications specialist resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "content development based on market research and data analytics. "

Communication skills. Many marketing communications specialist duties rely on communication skills. "market research analysts must be able to clearly convey information when gathering material, interpreting data, and presenting results to clients.," so a marketing communications specialist will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways marketing communications specialist responsibilities rely on communication skills: "plan and oversee key marketing communications activities from research through content development. "

Detail oriented. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of marketing communications specialists is detail oriented. This skill is critical to many everyday marketing communications specialist duties, as "market research analysts must pay attention to minutiae to evaluate data." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "coordinated all tactical details of community outreach events including registration, promotion, presentations, information displays, volunteers and invoices. "

Most common marketing communications specialist skills

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Compare different marketing communications specialists

Marketing communications specialist vs. Social media specialist

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.

We looked at the average marketing communications specialist salary and compared it with the wages of a social media specialist. Generally speaking, social media specialists are paid $2,409 lower than marketing communications specialists per year.Even though marketing communications specialists and social media specialists are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require digital marketing, graphic design, and web content in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between marketing communications specialists and social media specialist. For instance, marketing communications specialist responsibilities require skills such as "project management," "seo," "marketing collateral," and "crm." Whereas a social media specialist is skilled in "social media marketing," "social platforms," "social channels," and "hootsuite." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Social media specialists earn the highest salaries when working in the professional industry, with an average yearly salary of $52,527. On the other hand, marketing communications specialists are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $70,324.social media specialists tend to reach similar levels of education than marketing communications specialists. In fact, social media specialists are 2.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Marketing communications specialist vs. Marketing lead

A marketing lead is an individual who is responsible for overseeing a team of marketing specialists to help a company achieve its marketing goals. Marketing leads are required to create and manage marketing plans so that they can deliver marketing campaigns on time and escalate issues that may prevent prompt delivery. They can incorporate a mix of different strategies in campaigns such as digital publishing, templates, and training. Marketing leads must work closely with account managers and sales engineers so that they can empower them to effectively position the company's products differently from their competitors.

A career as a marketing lead brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a marketing communications specialist. In fact, marketing leads salary is $50,671 higher than the salary of marketing communications specialists per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Marketing communications specialists and marketing leads both require similar skills like "digital marketing," "project management," and "press releases" to carry out their responsibilities.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, marketing communications specialist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "graphic design," "web content," "content management," and "communication strategies." Meanwhile, a marketing lead has duties that require skills in areas such as "healthcare," "digital transformation," "strong project management," and "salesforce." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

On average, marketing leads earn a higher salary than marketing communications specialists. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, marketing leads earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $118,478. Whereas marketing communications specialists have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $70,324.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Marketing leads tend to reach similar levels of education than marketing communications specialists. In fact, they're 4.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for marketing communications specialists in the next 3-5 years?

Mike BrombergMike Bromberg LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor, East-West University

Digital media (and new media) are classes where students can learn cutting-edge techniques for how we view and manage media. Recently, I led a class that analyzed "fake news" and how information that we consume, even from traditionally reliable and name-brand sources, can report inaccurate and distorted content due to politics or ideology. We looked at the research to answer questions such as "how do you determine if the news is fake or not?" and "is an opinion piece considered fake news?"
How we get our information will be more relevant, and new media platforms will continue to change how it is consumed.

I felt it essential to engage students with sources from both liberal and conservative views, especially with the discussion on fake news. For many people, unfortunately, ideology is more important than facts.

Marketing communications specialist vs. Media specialist

Media specialists are individuals who establish and administer content on various social media platforms. The job involves monitoring site metrics, overseeing creative design, and responding to reader comments. Specialists offer advice to administrators and teachers on the use of non-print social media. They work for huge enterprises with multimedia departments, new media departments, and in-house websites. The skills the job requires include trend awareness, social media ads, community management, strong visual aesthetic, and understanding SEO.

On average, media specialists earn lower salaries than marketing communications specialists, with a $3,161 difference per year.Using the responsibilities included on marketing communications specialists and media specialists resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "digital marketing," "project management," and "graphic design.rdquo;

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a marketing communications specialist is likely to be skilled in "channel marketing," "facebook," "marketing collateral," and "crm," while a typical media specialist is skilled in "video production," "photography," "adobe creative suite," and "sem."

Media specialists earn the best pay in the professional industry, where they command an average salary of $57,470. Marketing communications specialists earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $70,324.Most media specialists achieve a similar degree level compared to marketing communications specialists. For example, they're 1.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Marketing communications specialist vs. Communications internship

When it comes to a communications internship, the tasks will vary depending on the organization or industry involved. However, one of the primary responsibilities is to observe proper etiquette in dealing with people and other situations. There will also be the need to accomplish administrative tasks such as producing paperwork and other documentation forms, maintaining records in a database, designing presentations, and coordinating with other team members. Furthermore, it is also important to develop various ideas that will help in multiple projects involving public relations.

Communications interns tend to earn a lower pay than marketing communications specialists by an average of $20,535 per year.While both marketing communications specialists and communications interns complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like graphic design, web content, and press releases, the two careers vary in some skills.Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A marketing communications specialist uses "digital marketing," "project management," "marketing campaigns," and "channel marketing." Communications interns are more likely to have duties that require skills in "patients," "promotional videos," "adobe creative suite," and "community engagement. "communications interns enjoy the best pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $38,090. For comparison, marketing communications specialists earn the highest salary in the technology industry.communications interns reach similar levels of education compared to marketing communications specialists, in general. The difference is that they're 3.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of marketing communications specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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